Casa Chameleon Mal Pais
# Swank Meets Hype
# Swank Meets Hype
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- Casa Chameleon Mal Pais, Mal Pais to Cabuya Road, Puntarenas Province, Puntarenas, Costa Rica
- Price guide: $$$$$
- Official website
Condé Nast ranks Casa Chameleon in Mal Pais, Costa Rica, as the third best hotel in Central America, but does it really live up to the hype? In this video, Swank will find out. We’ll take you on a full tour of this 10-room all-bungalows resort, nestled in the remote town of Mal Pais on the Nicoya Peninsula. From the moment we checked in, we had some concerns, from mismatched furniture in the library to being so close to a dusty road. Join us as we explore the good, the bad, and everything in between.
Mal Pais is a quiet town with not much to do besides hitting the beach, which is a five-minute drive or a 20-minute walk from the hotel. You’re better off heading to nearby Santa Teresa for a bit more action. Casa Chameleon’s pool is on the smaller side, but we had high hopes for our room’s private plunge pool. Spoiler alert: it wasn’t quite what we expected. From the lack of on-site amenities like yoga, a spa, or a gym, to the confusing interior design of the rooms, we’ll give you an honest look at whether this resort deserves its high ranking.
Despite some disappointing aspects, there were highlights, like the friendly staff and a surprisingly good breakfast. But with room prices starting at $400 and going up to $650 per night, it’s fair to expect more. Watch through the end to see our final thoughts and why we think Conde Nast might have missed the mark on this one.
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