All photos this page: ©2007 Scott Doggett, Special to WhozHereNow.com

Ten years ago, taking a shower at the seaside Hotel Las Brisas was an adventure. At eye level, columns of termites worked the decades-old clapboard walls with military precision, one column hauling tiny bites of the hotel off to an unseen mound while colleagues moving in the opposite direction passed by to pick up loads.

A glance at the shower floor revealed holes where chunks of rotten boards had simply fallen away, revealing a lapping sea below. My, oh, my, has the Hotel Las Brisas changed.

Today, the termites are gone (or conducting covert operations), and the floor holes have been patched. Guestrooms had always contained ceiling fans, but some now sport air-conditioners and cable TV as well.

Nightstands, dressers and well-lit mirrors have been added to all guestrooms, most of which now also have firm mattresses on a flat surface (no more slats you could feel through cheap mattresses).

The finest feature at Las Brisas remains its spacious seaside veranda with views of gently rocking sailboats on a picturesque bay. Hanging in a handcrafted hammock, reading a good book, playing cards, or otherwise enjoying moments on the veranda are splendid ways to pass time.

Room rates have risen with the improvements, from a mere $7 in 1997 to a still-reasonable $25 today. Now, if only its owners would permit travelers to book reservations online....
Location

Calle 3 at Avenida H

Bocas Town, Isla Colón

Bocas del Toro

Panama