The Westin Residences Panama: Everything You Need to Know About Panama's First Marriott-Branded Building

Look, Panama has beach properties. Coronado, Buenaventura, Bocas del Toro - they're beautiful, but they're also 60-90 minutes from Panama City. That distance sounds romantic until you need a specialist doctor, your kid has a school event, or you've got a business meeting downtown. The Westin Residences at Playa Bonita changes the game entirely. Picture this: You're literally 15 minutes from downtown Panama City, 45 minutes from Tocumen International Airport, and when you look out your window at night, you see something most beachfront properties can't offer - dozens of cargo ships lit up like floating cities, waiting to transit the Panama Canal with Taboga Island silhouetted in the background. It's not just ocean view; it's a living, breathing tableau of one of the world's engineering marvels. And here's the kicker: A new bridge over the Panama Canal is under construction, which will make Playa Bonita and the adjacent Panama Pacific development essentially an extension of Panama City proper. Traffic? Gone. You'll have metro access right across the street in Panama Pacific, cutting your travel time even further. This isn't just buying at the beach - it's buying at the intersection of beach paradise and urban connectivity, right before that intersection becomes the hottest real estate corridor in Central America.

Let's talk money, because the pricing structure here is genuinely impressive for a Marriott-branded beachfront project. You've got three main unit types: The entry-level units are 80 square meters (just under 900 sq ft), configured as 2-bedroom, 2-bathroom condos starting around $450,000. Perfect for couples, small families, or investors looking for the most accessible entry point into Marriott-branded real estate. Then you've got the rockstar units - the lockoff concepts. These are the ones flying off the shelves, according to investment advisor Liz who's selling the project. They're 2-bedroom, 2-bathroom with an optional third bedroom, sitting right on the front of the building with the jaw-dropping canal views. Here's why people love them: They function as two separate apartments in one unit. You can live in one side and rent the other, or rent both when you're not there. They start around $640,000-$650,000. At the top end, you've got the penthouses launching soon - the top three floors of the building - with 3 and 4-bedroom layouts from 169 square meters (about 2,000 sq ft) up to 4,000 sq ft. These start at $860,000 and go up from there. Now here's where it gets really interesting: the payment structure. This is pre-construction (delivery in 2029), so you're not dropping everything at once. It's 40% down over the construction period in milestone payments: 15% at contract signing, then 10% every 6 months until you hit 40%. On a $450,000 unit, that's about $67,500 initial payment, then roughly $45,000 every six months. But wait - there's more. The developer offers in-house financing for the remaining 60%. You only need to put down an additional 10% at completion, and they'll finance the remaining 50% for 5 years, interest-only payments (rates comparable to local banks) with a small annual principal reduction of around 10%, then a balloon payment at year five. No prepayment penalties. No pre-approval process. No bank bureaucracy. For investors or retirees who have assets but don't want to liquidate everything immediately, this is financial flexibility you rarely see in Latin American real estate. And if you want traditional bank financing for longer terms? DoPanama works with mortgage brokers who can arrange loans with as little as 30% down, extended terms, available to borrowers up to age 80-85.

Branded residences aren't just about slapping a famous hotel logo on a building and charging more. When you buy into the Westin Residences, you're buying into an operational ecosystem managed by Empress Burn Hotels and Resorts - Panama's largest hotel group operating the Meridian, Crown Plaza, Holiday Inn, Intercontinental Playa Bonita, and Gamboa Resort. They know how to run hospitality properties, and that expertise translates directly to residential management. On-site, you'll have everything a five-star resort offers: multiple restaurants and bars, a fully-staffed wellness and lifestyle center (including pickleball courts - because of course Panama's expat community is obsessed with pickleball), co-working spaces for digital nomads and remote workers, multiple swimming pools, and a dedicated clubhouse right on the ocean with its own wellness center and dining. The property management is hands-off for investors: Burn's corporate rental division (called B) handles all short-term rentals in conjunction with on-site management. You're not fielding 2 AM calls about broken air conditioners or managing Airbnb calendars. They handle everything, you collect checks. If you want to live there full-time? Absolutely, it's a residential building. Want to come down 3-4 months as a snowbird and rent it the rest of the year? Perfect, that's the model most buyers are choosing. The Marriott affiliation also means you're tapping into their global booking system and loyalty program - your unit gets marketed to millions of Marriott Bonvoy members worldwide. That's distribution muscle independent landlords simply cannot replicate.

Playa Bonita isn't some remote beach town that developers are trying to will into existence. It's already home to the Westin Playa Bonita Hotel, the Dreams Resort, and the Casa Bonita residential building (which DoPanama clients are already using profitably for short-term rentals and snowbird living). The beach itself is gorgeous - wide, swimmable, with that incredible nighttime view of illuminated cargo ships waiting for their canal transit. But the real story is what's happening across the street in Panama Pacific. This former U.S. military base is being transformed into a master-planned community that's basically becoming Panama City's newest borough. Right now, it already has: Arrocha Smith supermarket (Panama's best grocery chain), Starbucks, Novey hardware store, English-speaking medical facilities, and the International School of Panama Pacific. That last one is huge for families - you can literally live at the beach and have your kids in a top-tier international school five minutes away. They're doing football, triathlons, mountain biking - all year round because Panama is perpetually sunny and warm. But here's the catalyst that's going to 10x property values in this area: the new bridge over the Panama Canal currently under construction. Once that bridge opens, you'll have metro access from Panama Pacific directly into downtown Panama City, and the travel time drops to an almost comical 15 minutes with zero traffic concerns. You'll also have easy access to Tocumen International Airport - five to seven minutes from the metro station to airport, then just minutes to your Westin Residences unit. Austin Hess, DoPanama's COO, put it perfectly: 'Playa Bonita and Panama Pacific really is going to become like an extension of the city.' This is one of those rare moments in real estate where you can see the infrastructure investment coming and position yourself before prices reflect the new reality. October 2024 brings a price increase on the Westin units, so early buyers are locking in pre-appreciation pricing.

Let's talk returns, because that's why most of you are still reading. The Westin Residences offers multiple investment angles depending on your goals. For cash flow investors: You're buying into a professionally-managed rental program with Marriott's booking engine behind you, in a beach location that's chronically undersupplied relative to demand (Panama City has millions of business travelers and tourists annually, but very limited beachfront accommodation options within 20 minutes of downtown). The Casa Bonita building next door is already proving the rental demand concept for DoPanama clients. Your rental income will be a function of unit type, view, and season, but the hands-off management means this is truly passive income. For appreciation investors: You're buying pre-construction in 2024 at introductory pricing, with delivery in 2029 - that's five years of Panama's continued growth, the completion of the canal bridge and metro extension, and the full buildout of Panama Pacific's amenities. Historically, Panama City real estate has appreciated 3-7% annually depending on area and property type, with well-located, branded properties outperforming. You're also getting the milestone payment structure, meaning your capital is deployed gradually rather than all at once, preserving liquidity. For retirement account investors: Here's something most people don't know - you can buy Panamanian real estate with your self-directed IRA. Liz, the investment advisor, mentioned this is becoming increasingly popular: 'A lot of people are buying with their self-directed IRA. They've got cash sitting there and that's a super simple process.' You set up a local structure owned by the IRA, and the property becomes an IRA asset. Your rental income flows back tax-deferred (or tax-free in a Roth), and you're diversifying out of stocks and bonds into hard assets in a growing economy. DoPanama has handled these transactions many times and can walk you through the process. One often-overlooked advantage: inflation hedge. Panama uses the U.S. dollar as its official currency, so you don't have currency risk, but you're investing in a growing emerging market economy. As Latin American wealth increases and Panama's infrastructure improves, hard assets like beachfront real estate in prime locations become increasingly valuable. You're essentially getting emerging market growth rates with developed market currency stability.

Austin Hess opens the video asking: 'Are you considering a new life in a tropical country? One known for its safety, great vibes, awesome medical system, and incredible outdoor adventures and activities.' That's not marketing fluff - it's a genuine description of Panama's expat value proposition, but let's get specific about what life at the Westin Residences actually looks like day-to-day. Your morning: You wake up to ocean views and the sound of waves. You head to the on-site wellness center for a workout or maybe hit the pickleball courts (seriously, the expat pickleball scene here is thriving). Grab breakfast at one of the resort restaurants or make it in your full kitchen. If you're still working remotely, you head to the co-working space with high-speed internet - because yes, Panama has excellent internet infrastructure. Midday: Maybe you're running errands. You drive five minutes to Panama Pacific for groceries at Arrocha Smith (which stocks U.S. brands and local produce), hit Novey for home supplies, grab a Starbucks. If you need medical care, the English-speaking facilities are right there - and Panama's healthcare is genuinely world-class. The country ranks 95th globally in the WHO's healthcare systems performance (compared to the U.S. at 37th), with costs running 30-70% less than U.S. prices for comparable care. Need specialist care? Downtown Panama City's Hospital Punta Pacifica is Johns Hopkins-affiliated and 15 minutes away. Afternoon/Evening: This is where the location shines. You're close enough to Panama City that if you want culture, restaurants, business meetings, or nightlife, you're there in 15 minutes. But you're also at the beach, so if you'd rather spend the afternoon swimming, paddleboarding, or just reading by the pool, that's your reality. Come evening, you're watching those cargo ships light up against the sunset, maybe having dinner at the oceanfront clubhouse. Weekends: Panama is an outdoor adventure paradise, and you're positioned perfectly to access it. Want to mountain bike? There are trails nearby. Feel like hiking? El Valle de Antón is under two hours. Want to explore the canal? Gamboa is close. Island hopping? Taboga Island is visible from your window and easily accessible. The country is so geographically compact that you can literally do rainforest hiking in the morning and beach sunset in the evening. For families with kids: Your children can attend the International School of Panama Pacific, participate in year-round sports (Austin mentions his kid doing football, triathlons, and mountain biking), and grow up bilingual in a culturally diverse environment. The year-round summer weather means outdoor activities never stop. This is the lifestyle arbitrage that's driving Panama's expat boom: First-world infrastructure and safety, emerging market prices, developed-country healthcare, tropical weather, and adventure access. The Westin Residences puts you at the geographic center of all of it.

Here's the current sales status as of this video: Phase A has been 'flying out the door' according to Liz, with most of the prime view units already sold. These were the first-release units with the introductory pricing. If you want Phase A inventory, you need to act quickly because selection is limited and prices are increasing in October 2024. Phase B is launching next month (relative to the video date), which means fresh inventory with new view options. This is your chance to get in on units that weren't available in Phase A - possibly different orientations, floor levels, or configurations. The pricing will still be competitive, but expect it to be slightly higher than Phase A's introductory offers given how quickly Phase A sold. The Penthouses (top three floors) are also launching soon. These are the premium units for buyers who want maximum space and luxury: 3 and 4-bedroom configurations from 169 square meters (~2,000 sq ft) up to 4,000 sq ft, starting at $860,000. If you're a larger family, multi-generational household, or you simply want the prestige of penthouse living with the absolute best views in the building, this is your category. Strategic buying advice from what we're seeing: If you're price-sensitive and want the best deal, move on remaining Phase A inventory before October price increases. If you want more selection and don't mind paying slightly more, wait for Phase B launch. If you want the best of the best and budget isn't your primary concern, get on the penthouse waitlist now. The lockoff units (2-bed/2-bath with optional third bedroom) are the bestsellers across all phases because of their rental flexibility. If you're even considering renting out your unit part-time, the lockoff configuration is probably your best bet.

Here's what makes DoPanama different from a typical real estate agency: They're a licensed and bonded real estate company (PJ-1430-2023), but they're structured as a full relocation service. That means they're not just selling you a condo and wishing you luck. Austin Hess is the COO and Lead Relocation Specialist. Nalini Navarro Guardia is President and Legal Director - yes, they have an attorney as a company principal. Adam Phillips is Content Director, creating educational content like this video so you can make informed decisions before ever contacting them. They have over 140 affiliate brokers across Panama, which means whether you ultimately buy at the Westin Residences, in Boquete's mountains, in Coronado's beach community, or downtown Panama City, they have local experts in every market. They can present you with the most available options on the market all in one place, then work with their affiliates to find off-market properties that fit your specific criteria. Their process: If you're just starting to consider Panama but don't know which area is right for you, take their free 23-question 'Where Should I Live' relocation survey on dopanama.com. It takes 3-5 minutes, then they'll set up a complimentary 30-minute Zoom call with Austin to discuss your results and provide general guidance. No sales pressure, just information. If you're already in Panama or planning a visit, stop by their headquarters inside the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in Panama City (level P, right in front of the pool) or their information desk at the Hilton Hotel on Avenida Balboa (10 feet inside the front doors, staffed Monday-Friday 8am-5pm). They request you WhatsApp or call ahead (+507 6443-3341) so they can allocate proper time for your consultation. They also handle visa and residency assistance through their legal team - remember, their president is a licensed attorney. Panama offers several expat-friendly visa programs including the Friendly Nations Visa, Pensionado (retiree) Visa, and various investor visas. DoPanama can walk you through which program fits your situation and handle the application process. They also work with mortgage brokers for financing, self-directed IRA specialists for retirement account purchases, property managers for rental management, and relocation coordinators for everything from getting your driver's license to finding the best cell phone plan. It's comprehensive, which is what you need when you're literally moving to another country.