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Bambu Hostel
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Avg. €30 /night, 2/18 - 2/19
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About
#1 of 4 hostels in David
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WE ARE A BACKPACKERS' HOSTEL, NOT A HOTEL OR AN INN OR LODGE
We just completed a large out door kitchen with ten burners and loads of counter space all you need to create a gourmet creation (or a backpackers bowl of pasta) in the comfort and beauty of our flowing garden and pool..
When you are done following all the other tourists to Boquete and Bocas; come spend some time in David. This is real Panama. You will be interacting with Panamanians rather than always being around other tourists. This is a chance to stay at a super cool hostel and explore a real Panamanian city. Dance all night long to Salsa, Merengue, Rock and Reggaeton.. Great restaurants and shopping; and David is cheap!!!! 1/2 The price of Costa Rica. How about a $1 beer in a bar? David is a safe and friendly city too. Get your Latino on in David! New Jungle House in Garden at Bambu Hostel see photo below, built on stilts from native wood and bambu walls with tin roof, sleeps 10 backpackers and overlooks the sparkling pool, only dorm of its kind in Panama! Lonely Planet Recommended International Backpackers Hostel with a Pool and Deluxe tropical gardens in David Panama.We welcome Backpackers and International Travelers from all corners of the world. David is fun! It has everything that a weary traveler could need to recharge the batteries, fine dining, casinos, movie theaters, inexpensive shopping, nightclubs and discos, festivals, and, within 45 minutes, awesome mountains, Caldera Hot Springs, Playa Barqueta and Costa Rica. Come stay with us at Bambu, relax in the garden, swing on a hammock with a cold beer at the Bambu pool bar, dip in the pool and watch the tropical birds flying in the backyard. We have very few rules here, just come with a good attitude and have fun, but just remember this:
If you think that you are going to have it all for a low price, think again. When you choose to stay at a hostel you need to accept the unwritten (until now) agreement of hosteling. The agreement is that there is a trade off.
The deal says that you will receive a awesome travelers' community with lots of amenities, in our case, a clean luxury swimming pool, wifi, gardens with hammocks, amazing outdoor kitchen, laundry service, travel services, computers with skype, phone calls, books, games, a pool side bar with $1 beer, excellent and cheap seafood meals, etc .
What you might not get is 100% quietness, privacy and comfort. That is the trade off at most backpacker hostels.
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Property amenities
Free parking
Free High Speed Internet (WiFi)
Wifi
Pool
Outdoor pool
Bar / lounge
Poolside bar
Laundry service
Good to know
HOTEL CLASS
Star ratings are intended to indicate the general level of features, amenities, and services to expect. This property is classified according to Giata.
HOTEL STYLE
Budget
Residential Neighbourhood
Location
C. La Virgencita, David Panama
Getting there
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We perform checks on reviews.
Tripadvisor’s approach to reviews
Before posting, each Tripadvisor review goes through an automated tracking system, which collects information, answering the following questions: how, what, where and when. If the system detects something that potentially contradicts our community guidelines, the review is not published.
When the system detects a problem, a review may be automatically rejected, sent to the reviewer for validation, or manually reviewed by our team of content specialists, who work 24/7 to maintain the quality of the reviews on our site.
Our team checks each review posted on the site disputed by our community as not meeting our community guidelines.
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Detailed Reviews
I stay this year in Gregg's Bambu Hostel in David which is very central and a good place to plan trip to surrounding sites. It is a typical hostel, nothing too fancy but I found it clean and like especially the BBQ outside they made one night and when Gregg and Mike did some music. They have four computer and WIFI what you can use for free! The staff is fun. Sure it is no luxury and the private rooms are often booked out but it is what to expect from a backpacker place. I would always come back.
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Date of stay: January 2011Trip type: Travelled with friends
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Room Tip:Â For private rooms call before
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from lapkin, Owner at Bambu Hostel
Responded 26 May 2011
thanks for remembering us, even though it's been a few months. You are super cool, and everyone needs to love Sue! I sure do!
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
We only spent a night here on the way to Boquete, but would've spent longer here if we'd had time. The pool, poolside bar and gardens (where breakfast is served) makes it feel more like a hotel - great value for money. The atmosphere was friendly and relaxed - the right balance between social but quiet enough to get some sleep. There's loads of info about local tours available and the owner and staff were very helpful. David seems to be generally overlooked as a tourist attraction but there seemed to be plenty to do. Our room (double ensuite) was very clean with air-con.
There are lots of restaurants (Italian, Chinese etc as well as Panamanian) within walking distance and we felt very safe wandering around at night. If you're arriving by bus it's about 10 minutes by taxi from the bus station in a residential area.
There are lots of restaurants (Italian, Chinese etc as well as Panamanian) within walking distance and we felt very safe wandering around at night. If you're arriving by bus it's about 10 minutes by taxi from the bus station in a residential area.
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Date of stay: May 2013Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Value
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Room Tip:Â If you're getting a dorm bed, the treehouse looks good.
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I had a wonderful time at the Bambu Hostel. The staff were extremely friendly and helpful. They went out of their way to make sure that I enjoyed my stay and got to know the best the area has to offer. Of course, it is not a five-star hotel, it is a traveler's hostel, but it more than makes up for it with warmth, atmosphere and service. Highly recommended!
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Date of stay: November 2012Trip type: Travelled solo
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I read about this hostel in a guidebook on my way from Costa Rica to David...went there last minute, wish I didn't.
Worst hostel I stayed in Central/South America...
1 small standing fan in the room for 10 beds. It was hot and humid.
The room is in a wooden shack that if anyone walks up the stairs or in the room, the whole room shakes. If you like to shake while you sleep, go here.
The kitchen is dirty, cupboards look like they havent been cleaned since the place was made...bad lighting everywhere.
Yeah they have a swimming pool...
Worst hostel I stayed in Central/South America...
1 small standing fan in the room for 10 beds. It was hot and humid.
The room is in a wooden shack that if anyone walks up the stairs or in the room, the whole room shakes. If you like to shake while you sleep, go here.
The kitchen is dirty, cupboards look like they havent been cleaned since the place was made...bad lighting everywhere.
Yeah they have a swimming pool...
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Date of stay: April 2013Trip type: Travelled solo
Value
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We enjoy hostels and have stayed in hostels throughout the world, so we are not faint hearted. And its very very rare I have ever felt the need to write such very strong contructive criticism - I loved the ambience of the hostel, as stated the chilled vibe. The pool area is great, lovely staff and lovely guests. HOWEVER, the next morning we were approaced by the rudest man I have ever met as a Customer!! HE TOLD ME HE WAS THE MANAGER, I am a manager in the industry in England, if I ever spoke to anyone in that manner I would be fired!!. He said we had to check out by 10.30 am I told me we had already checked out, he was so rude, he said no you haven't your still here! This was 11am, we were saying good bye to some fellow guests, he said if we wanted to stay after 10.30 am we had to pay $5 each this was policy and he didn't make rules and he was just the messenger. The fellow guests were as astounded by his manner as I was. I was told by another person he speaks to people this way on many occassions and that his name is Peter. My suggestion to the owner is that you speak to Peter and remind him about the 'chilled vibe' so many of your guests value in your hostel. I was so annoyed by his very his aggressive rude manner in such a lovely place I felt i had to write so others can be warned and hopefully not have to experience this.
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Date of stay: January 2014Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from agent421, Owner at Bambu Hostel
Responded 7 Feb 2014
Hi, I am so sorry for your experience. Keep in mind that a hostel has a lot of moving parts and getting guests in and out in a timely way helps us manage the flow of guests in the high season.....having said that there is no excuse for rudeness and we had a staff meeting to discuss proper customer service. I do appreciate the fact that you took time to write this and to give us 4 stars in spite of your discomfort at the checkout. If you ever would like to stay again I would like to offer you a free night in a private room.
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
While the pictures for the hostel look good, it's too far from the town centre, had a pool that didn't look clean enough to swim in, and had staff that weren't all that attentive. David as a whole didn't have that much too offer; I'd only recommend staying if you have to.
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Date of stay: July 2013
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I was traveling with my father in law and brother in law on a working vacation. We were moving some earth around on a farm on Via Volcan when our lodging reservations fell through without warning at the last minute during Semana Santa (Easter week). We had to wait a couple days before a room here opened, but the wait was worth it.
For a budget price the three of us were able to share a room with an air conditioner, make use of an adequately equipped kitchen, and have laundry facilities for $5 a load. Plus the Hostel Bar and pool--definitely a great deal.
But the best thing about it was the interaction with other travelers. It's been a while since I have hit the trail and not worry about finding a place where we can fit all our children.
For a budget price the three of us were able to share a room with an air conditioner, make use of an adequately equipped kitchen, and have laundry facilities for $5 a load. Plus the Hostel Bar and pool--definitely a great deal.
But the best thing about it was the interaction with other travelers. It's been a while since I have hit the trail and not worry about finding a place where we can fit all our children.
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Date of stay: April 2013Trip type: Travelled with friends
Value
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Location
Cleanliness
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Room Tip:Â Get a private room with an air conditioner. In the hot city of David, it is worth the extra...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Very far from anything in the city, expensive rooms. We woke up at 6 am because of the noise- our room was in front of the road. The breakfast(not included of course) was a joke.
The owner was nice, but the place was very amateur
The owner was nice, but the place was very amateur
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Date of stay: January 2014Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from agent421, Owner at Bambu Hostel
Responded 22 Jan 2014
We have a relaxed, laid back environment at bambu; and we are having fun while making sure we get our work done too. We are like a big family here. As an owner I take the time to stop and chat, give travel advice, and learn about our guests and what they are doing down here in Panama. Certainly many hostels have a more "business like" feeling, and perhaps he perceived this as amateurish, but i strongly disagree. Continuing responding to his comments. The hostel is located 7 minutes by car or mini bus to downtown. In addition, we have lots of supermarkets and shops, including an awesome seafood place in front of the hostel, and an excellent Lebanese restaurant within 5 minutes walking from the Bambu. Like most hostels we are a large house, and we are located in a great neighborhood in David. You might hear an occasional car drive on by, or a dog bark, or a rooster. This is real down to earth Panama, and its a great experience to be part of it. Hotels by contrast are located in city centers or business areas, and are 20 stories up, hence the absolute quiet rooms and privacy. Are you a hostel person or a hostel person is a question that all travelers need to ask themselves. Our breakfast for $3.50 is 2 scrambled eggs with onions, peppers, 2 slices of deli ham, 1 deli cheese, 2 wheat toast and a cup of coffee. The idea is to put something in the belly to start the day, Its cheap and it gets you going. The reviewer said it was a joke. It's just breakfast lets move on. The room that he rented was a $27 double with AC and cable TV and wifi. It is clean, has good bedding, and orthopedic mattress. The reviewer feels that it was pricey. I disagree. When you add in the crystal swimming pool, pool bar, hammocks, wifi, computers, kitchen, travel desk, and not to mention a staff that really likes you and wants to know how you're doing. This seems reasonable to me. And now we have an amazing state of the art outdoor kitchen to top things off.
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
I have only stayed at a few hostels, and Bambu is the best one by far. Great amenities: pool, bar, kitchen, a/c in the room, free internet, 24-hour reception - everything you need. The staff is super friendly and helpful. Greg (owner), Peter (manager), and Michael (jack-of-all-trades) went out of their way to ensure that I had a pleasant stay. Special thanks to Michael who would drop everything to help me out if I had a question or needed assistance. The buildings and grounds are clean and orderly, and I felt comfortable and safe. If you need to stay in David, this is the place!
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Date of stay: September 2013Trip type: Travelled solo
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We went to David to renew our visa, stayed in Bambu hostel two nights. The staff helped us in many ways even late and early.
We found a nice atmosphere and good accommodation with pool for reasonable price.
The place is not too big so you can meet the owners and meet other travelers.
If we need to come back in David we`ll be back.
We found a nice atmosphere and good accommodation with pool for reasonable price.
The place is not too big so you can meet the owners and meet other travelers.
If we need to come back in David we`ll be back.
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Date of stay: August 2013Trip type: Travelled on business
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
yes. there is a stadium here in town. Its a fun night out to watch a professional game, and its verry low priced.There are food and snanks/drinks being served too.
Hot Springs, waterfalls, canyon swimming, bambu hostel (see the coati), beach, rain forrest visit, ...festivals carnivals..
You can take a bus for .35 cents, find the bus that is going to 'frontera' (frontier) ask to get off at the 'azucerera' (santa rosa sugar factory) with your back to the sugar factory walk about one block take your first right and see bambu hostel sign 4 houses on the left...alternatively take a taxi from the bus terminal at about 3 USD
hi I just put the inquiry into the hostel please give us a day to give you an answer in a budget for your request
"Jungle dorm is a fun experience if you are fine with sleeping in an outdoorish environment"Read full review
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PRICE RANGE
€30 - €30 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
ALSO KNOWN AS
bambu hotel david
LOCATION
PanamaChiriqui ProvinceDavid
NUMBER OF ROOMS
7
Prices are provided by our partners for one room, with variable occupancy rules as provided by the property, and reflect nightly room rates, including all taxes and fees known to our partners. Please see our partners for more details.
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Frequently Asked Questions about Bambu Hostel
What are some of the property amenities at Bambu Hostel?
Some of the more popular amenities offered include free wifi, a pool, and a lounge.
What food & drink options are available at Bambu Hostel?
Guests can enjoy a lounge and a poolside bar during their stay.
What are some restaurants close to Bambu Hostel?
Conveniently located restaurants include El Chalan Chiriqui, La Casa Mexicana, and Dairy Queen.
Are there opportunities to exercise at Bambu Hostel?
Yes, guests have access to a pool during their stay.