Our stay: February 14–16, 2024 · Last updated: October 29, 2026
We spent our first two nights in Panama at the Waldorf Astoria, and it’s still one of my favorite travel hacks we’ve ever pulled off. Two nights, a room upgrade with an amazing view, breakfast every morning, $200 to spend on property, and a total bill of $10.
How we got it for $10
I booked both nights through Amex Travel as Fine Hotels + Resorts stays. The first night I booked in December 2023 and the second in January 2024. Each night was $205, and because the bookings landed in two different calendar years, each one got the $200 Platinum hotel credit. That left $10.
Then I emailed the hotel, explained we had two back-to-back reservations, and asked them to keep us in the same room. They made it easy.
The credit works differently now: it’s $300 for January–June and $300 for July–December.
What came with it
Because both nights were Fine Hotels + Resorts bookings, each one came with:
- A $100 property credit. With two reservations we had $200, and put it toward dinner.
- Free breakfast for two.
- Late checkout, which gave us a whole morning in Casco Viejo before our flight.
- A room upgrade with an amazing view.
The stay
We landed around 6 a.m. on Valentine’s Day after a red-eye. Our room wasn’t ready until about noon, so I worked from the hotel’s little business center and moved upstairs once we checked in. Jake hung out at the pool and got drone footage of the skyline.
The welcome gift was waiting on the rooftop terrace: a mini bottle of Cavit Cabernet in a crystal ice bucket, macarons, meringue kisses and a bowl of fruit chews. Since we were there on Valentine’s Day, the hotel also left us heart cookies, one in Spanish and one in English.
The pool, bar, restaurant and breakfast area are all on the upper floors, so you’re eating with a view of the skyline. And the breakfast buffet was SO good.
Dinner at the hotel
We used our $200 credit at the hotel restaurant the first night: a savory tart with seared shrimp, crispy mini tacos with guacamole, salmon over asparagus with an orange sauce, and a chocolate lava cake to finish.
Would we stay again?
Yes. It’s a great soft landing after a red-eye, it’s a short taxi to Casco Viejo, and with the Amex credit it’s one of the best-value luxury stays we’ve had.
Good to know
- Book through Amex Travel (Fine Hotels + Resorts) to get the property credit, breakfast, late checkout and upgrade.
- Booking across two credit periods? Email the hotel to keep you in one room.
- Albrook airport (for flights to Chitré and Pedasí) is a short taxi away.