Sands Beach Club Madness
Hola amigos y amigas!
This is the first official post I am writing from my new home in Panama!
Jeff and I arrived in Panama to start a year-long adventure a week ago, as you might have heard from Shannon at Whats Up Whimsy on her November 5th post (click here to read it). We’re here for some fun in the sun and to get some work done, but the work part seems tricky when there’s so much tropical beauty around us that beckons to be enjoyed.
We had a great time celebrating Jeff’s birthday here during our first week and managed to get out to a pretty cool beach party venue on Friday night. This beach club was packed because it happened to be the Friday night during Holiday Week (which is pretty much celebrated as Panama’s birthday of independence from Columbia). Needless to say, we had a great time partying with some new, fabulous friends, and I had a great time snapping photos of this glamorous new beach club called Sands that is within walking distance of the house we’re staying at.
This image of the Club's entrance area sums up the outdoor beach club's design concept.
I was very impressed with the design concept behind the Sands Beach Club & Resort – and I loved partying the night away in flip flops on our local beach, Playa Serena. For some reason, sand feels even sweeter when it’s between your toes at night!
All furnishings and walls were made of concrete block covered in white plaster (typical construction methods of Panama), so when we visited the resort during the day, it had a very different atmosphere – it was more a space for families to enjoy the beach and the pool…a typical but very contemporary beach club complete with white day beds, white upholstery and synthetic woven dark brown outdoor furniture.
But in the evening, coloured lights were used to inject high energy into the otherwise relaxing space. The lights were strong and changed colours constantly – it was as if we were partying inside a kaleidoscope!
The same entrance sign lit up in green (sorry for the lack of focus).
We ordered a bottle of Smirnoff vodka for our group (which cost $50 US and came with cranberry juice, red bull, ice and limes) and danced the night away surrounded by flashing lights and fellow party animals.
Myself and Jeff had a great time at the Sands Beach Club & Resort in Coronado, Panama.
The area was partially canopied with giant vinyl coverings that resembled boat sails. Luckily, it had rained all day long so the skies were clear and stars were in view above us in the evening. It was a surreal party experience, that’s for sure.
The white awnings and furnishings were spruced up with vibrant coloured lights all night. Don't you love the marshmallow seats?
This platform had extra seating for guests - beside it to the right is another platform that looks the same where the DJ was set up. As you can see, everyone was dancing...no one was sitting!
There was also a large projection screen showing rock bands performing (although the imager did not correspond to the techno/dance music). You can see more of the beautifully coloured spot lights here.
This was my favourite part of the club - you could lounge on day beds that looked out to the water with drinks.
I was pretty tempted to jump the Sands "fence" and traipse along the beach that was lit with blue, pink and yellow lights, but I was having too much fun with my new friends.
The main bar was also illuminated in a variety of vibrant hues - this giant palm tree definitely added to the tropical-chic vibe.
This photo doesn't look so glamorous since I had to use the camera flash, but I wanted to show you the great river-rock bar. This change in material and texture really spiced up the bar area.
Not too shabby of an evening considering it cost us very little. Jeff paid an $8 entrance fee but ladies were free. It cost us $16 to drink the whole evening. We left right as our new friends were ordering another bottle of Smirnoff – we aren’t used to this insane party vibe just yet!
My main critique of this venue were the washrooms. Obviously the standards are not the same for North American and Central America – there were only 2 washroom stalls int a very small, un-stylish washroom. I would’ve liked to see the white plaster walls or stone treatments repeated in the washroom for consistency, but no. Plain white tile flooring (that was actually pretty slippery) and basic run of the mill washroom stall doors. The space was so uneventful I forgot to take a photo to show you!
Design Dispute:
Washroom critique aside, what do you think of this space?
- I liked the openness of the venue (anything outdoors is A-ok in my books!).
- I appreciated how colour was introduced to the space through the use of lighting (allowing the venue to remain beachy and family accessible during the day time).
- I would’ve preferred if the cover charge wasn’t so high, but that’s not exactly a fair commentary on the design.
- I would’ve liked to see better displays of bottles behind the bar area – a couple of floating glass shelves with prominently displayed bottles would make the bar area really shine!
- It couldn’t hurt to invest in a couple of nicer-looking garbage bins that are seen around the bar area….the magic is in the details!
- I was happy to see how well lighting was used, even if it was basic white flood lighting to up-light or back-light palm trees and canopy displays. Lighting can really transform a space.
What are your thoughts?
Please leave your thoughts in the comment section below. I really do love to read your comments and do my best to personally respond to each and every one! Thanks for reading.
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A Little Bit About Me
Welcome to Passport To Design! My name is Tania. I love Design almost as much as I love Travel, and here is where my two loves collide. Check out the "About Me" page for more info. Thanks for reading. Happy travels, my dear design-loving friends.
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wow! looks like fun! it’s cold here.:( oh, and, happy belated Jeff!
Twitter: TLC_Designs
| November 11, 2010 at 5:26 pm
Jeff says thanks, Wendy :) Wish you didn’t have to be stuck in the cold! Ouch.
Twitter: Staci_Edwards
| November 11, 2010 at 5:36 pm
So good to see yo two are settling in nicely! ;)
Happy belated Jeff!
And I’m with you Tania – I need a nice washroom facility.
Next time have a mojito for me please!
anywhere there is beach and palm trees is A okay with me? HOWEVER from a person who has problems using public facilities or PUPF disorder … I would be unhappy w/washroom facilities it sounds like … LOL
Glad to hear U R settling in … Happy belated Jeff …
Twitter: MaureenCmodecor
| November 11, 2010 at 5:55 pm
I want to be you!!!
I love that the resort took care to make it family friendly during the day, but magically changes the atmosphere to party time at night. What fun. I love the different textures you have described…plaster, river rock, sand, palm trees, vinyl “boat sail” coverings and lets not forget the best feature…the water….I would so be on those day beds facing the water ALL DAY ?and ALL NIGHT….aahhhh!!! I’m not sure about the “flashing” lights…but that could be an age difference thing. As far as the washooms are concerned…i have yet to go to a resort where the washrooms connected to the beach are anything above sub-standard or standard simply because they get a lot of abuse from the amount they are used each day, plus sand, water and sunscrren etc. My biggest pet peeve with public washrooms has been and always will be cleanliness. I can tell you are a DETAIL person….i agree with the bottle display, but maybe they simply need the convenience of quick storage when closing up?….I probably would not have noticed the garbage cans unless they were overflowing or bug -infested. BTW jeff is a cutie pututie and you are adorable. Have fun…don’t WORK too hard.
Twitter: TLC_Designs
| November 11, 2010 at 6:00 pm
Thanks for the critique, Maureen! I know I can always count on you for honest and insightful comments :) I plan to return to Sands one day when it’s a regular evening and see how the place is holding up without the largest holiday party crowds. Thanks again for the kind words – much love to you :)
Twitter: TLC_Designs
| November 11, 2010 at 6:01 pm
We are settling i slowly but surely, thanks Sharon :) I should mention that the washrooms were not dirty, but they were just boring and uneventful. At least a nice slab of granite for the counter would have made a better impression, but instead, the basic laminate counters and white porcelain sinks will have to do. I think Maureen makes a valid point – no sense in spending money on the washrooms when they are used for the beach goers by day.
Twitter: TLC_Designs
| November 11, 2010 at 6:02 pm
Staci, I have yet to consume a mojito because we can’t find mint at the grocery store, but I’m planning to plant some in the yard (like I did back in Toronto) so the mojitos can flow in abundance! I will drink the first one in your honour :) Thanks for the comment, friend!
Twitter: FullCircleDsgn
| November 11, 2010 at 6:46 pm
Wow!!! Tania… Looks like an amazing place… great photos. I’m jealous, I wanna go somewhere! lol
Twitter: TLC_Designs
| November 11, 2010 at 6:49 pm
Thanks for stopping by, Doyle :) I had to plan my move to Panama for years, but all the hard work has paid off. If you want to go somewhere, just go :) You never know what kind of greatness you’ll experience!
It all looks very impressive Tania. I think it’s hard to go wrong in a setting like that. I’m not much of a party goer myself but I really like the beds. The big screen seems a miss but maybe they have certain events where they are appropriate?
Bad bathrooms are always a turnoff for me. I think it usually reflects how much the staff cares (regarding cleanliness.) I usually discover the best bathrooms where you least expect it. Tucked away in some department store. And the poorest ones where you would have expected great bathrooms. Like movie theaters here have the WORST. Takes away from the whole experience of visiting one.
Hope you continue to have a great time and keep shooting cool pictures!
Twitter: TLC_Designs
| November 11, 2010 at 11:20 pm
Thanks for the comment, Björn :) I;m not a party goer either, this just happened to be a surprisingly fun night at a surprisingly great venue – but maybe that means I’m easily impressed since I don’t do the club thing too often. Thanks again for stopping by, love to see you on the comment boards!
Twitter: Indounik
| November 12, 2010 at 1:48 pm
Hei, Tania, glad to hear you’re settling in. Takes me back to my move to Bali in 2006 and all the strange, amusing, exotic, and downright crazy encounters I had plunging headlong into another culture. How sweet was that first night sitting on the verandah of my little house watching kunang-kunang (fireflies) flitting across the rice paddy just over my wall.
The Sands has a bit of a Bali vibe to it from what I can see in your fotos. The contempo beachside party vibe of Seminyak. Hard to go past that blue guitar!
It’s a little late but Selamat Ulang Tahun (Happy Birthday) to Jeff. I hope you two have the time of your lives down there. A little present for you: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZiRf8o4VrnY Here’s to fireflies!
Twitter: TLC_Designs
| November 12, 2010 at 2:07 pm
Thanks for the birthday gift, Indounik! I will pass it onto Jeff, I’m sure he’ll love it :) The Sands did have a Bali vibe, but not quite as magical as Bali seems to be! I still would love to spend some time in Bali long term.
Twitter: ShannonKFitz
| November 12, 2010 at 9:39 pm
Hey Tania!
Wow! What a great night night you had! I am really digging this place and don’t think I’ve been to a nightclub like it! My favourite elements were the river rock on the bar and the day beds to lounge on – what better way to spend the night is knocking back a couple of drinks on a bed? Have a great weekend Tania!
Ah, so we’ve discovered your hidden goal of putting your design-eye review into all of the beach clubs in Panama. You will need the whole year to get through that assignment. This location looks relaxing and unpretentious. That is a good vibe when entering a club for a party. Have a great time!
Twitter: SogniESorrisi
| November 14, 2010 at 5:00 pm
A year in Panama, how exciting! It is definitely one of the places I’ve been meaning to visit. These kinds of clubs are the best kind. I’ve never felt like partying more than when by a beach.
Twitter: jayhiggins
| November 27, 2010 at 7:50 pm
You’re my new muse… great experience would also like to hear about your epicurean adventures there as well. I’ve been to Costa Rica and was planning on adventuring further into Central America and Panama seems intriguing!
Twitter: TLC_Designs
| November 27, 2010 at 8:19 pm
Thanks for the comment, Jay :) I will be posting some food-inspired design too – wait until you see some of the beautiful fish dishes from over here. Delicious! Panama is much different from Costa Rica – in my opinion, there’s far more infrastructure. Panama’s skyline gives some other major cities fair competition. Hope you’ll come back and read more soon.
a year in Panama sounds amazing…my son has travelled there and it looks like he is heading back down there in January. I look forward to more of your posts about your journey :)
Twitter: TLC_Designs
| November 27, 2010 at 10:32 pm
Thanks, Yvonne :) Whereabouts will your son be visiting? Any idea? It’s a beautiful country, lots to see and do! I can’t wait to explore more of it and share it with all of you.