Hotel (Design) Review: Punta Chame Villas in Panama

Posted on Nov 10, 2011 in Design Election, Featured | 7 comments

I recently had the pleasure

of experiencing a night in the Punta Chame Villas – a small hotel with 15 rooms in the beautiful and remote town of Punta Chame in Panama – and I am pleased to report that I had a wonderful time.

Punta Chame is home to one of my favourite beaches in the province of Panama. The sand is soft and the water is a lovely shade of perfection. The beach draws a serious kite-surfing crowd (it can be crazy windy at the point!) and offers gorgeous views of Panama City and mountains in the distance.

THE DRIVE

Getting to Punta Chame Villas is easy – the entrance to the town of Punta Chame is clearly labelled from the Pan-Am highway and Punta Chame Villas has recently posted signage inside the town along the road to keep you on track (just keep going straight down the main road and turn left onto Calle “R”). The roads are perfectly paved (a welcomed change from the embarrassingly bad state of the roads in Coronado) and the drive is quite scenic. Driving through the lush, green landscape with mountains in the distance and overgrown forest on either side of the street reminds me of a scene out of Jurassic Park.

 THE ARCHITECTURE

The hotel boasts a very stream-lined, contemporary architectural style. The centrally located stairwell and hallways are left open to the elements – a great way to take in the fresh sea breeze on the climb to your room. The stairs are well appointed with safety railings and the structure appears to be very secure and clean – fresh paint, nice light fixtures and non-slip floor tiles. Most architecture in Panama depicts a basic “form-follows-function” mentality, and while Punta Chame Villas is no exception, it was nice to see an effort made to introduce some organic finishes to the white stucco facade.

 THE ROOMS

Punta Chame Villas offers 2 bedroom options – single or double rooms. The queen mattresses are super comfortable and of high-standard North American quality. The bedsheets were clean and crisp, and the four pillows contributed to a deep sleep. The A/C unit worked well and cooled the room down in 20 minutes, and a ceiling fan helped keep the room cool through the night.

The first thing I noticed when I entered the room was the lack of furnishings and art. After chatting with the friendly owner, George, he told me that he likes the rooms to reflect the style of his home – simple, minimal and clean. And that’s exactly what they are! But from a designer’s perspective, I would like to see a small console table under the wall-mounted flat screen TV (after all, the room is large enough to accommodate it) as well as a small stool to accompany the makeup table/office desk.  But truly, the large closet space offers plenty of storage for clothing, so it’s not really necessary (I’m just picky about balance, and I thought the room could use a little more in terms of furniture placement). Although I do admit that I was relived to find a neutral colour palette – sometimes Panamanian interiors can be a little too colourful for my taste.

A small balcony with double doors opens to the garden area behind the hotel and introduces a nice breeze into the room when open. I would have liked to sit out on the balcony during sunset, but there were no chairs (and the doors opened outwards so there isn’t much room to store chairs). I’m sure if I had asked the very friendly and accommodating staff for 2 chairs, they would have delivered, but it would be nice for Punta Chame Villas to supply a chair for guests in the bedroom that can be used on the balcony.

The bathroom was small compared to the large bedroom, but it was very clean. We did have a problem with the hot water in the shower – in the evening before dinner, we had nothing but freezing cold water. After dinner, we had nothing but scalding water. The next morning, we had lukewarm water but very little water pressure. This can sometimes be a problem for most communities in Panama, so I don’t necessarily fault the hotel. George did mention to me that the entire complex is supplied with a water well and filter – the water is safe to drink and very fresh – a definite plus. I spoke to some other guests who mentioned the water temperature and pressure in their rooms was fine.

 

FROM A DESIGN PERSPECTIVE…

If you’re looking for a comfortable, rustic space with a tropical flare to spend your holiday, Punta Chame Villas is perfect – if you want chic furnishings, white tablecloths and upholstered loungers, this is not the place for you. Personally, I was smitten with the tropical ambiance, it contributed to a very easy-going and comfortable weekend. The odd kitschy decor (fishing nets hung from the ceiling of the bar, knick-knacks made from sea shells, etc) is somehow well-suited to the space, it actually reminds me of the locally-made crafts one would expect to find in a small island town.

Locally-made wood furnishings comprise the seating and dining furniture in the indoor and outdoor areas. The thatched, bohio roof of the restaurant, complete with wood beams made for a fabulous place to enjoy one of the BEST dishes I’ve had during my time in Panama (sorry, no photos, I was too busy stuffing my face with delicious jumbo prawns in homemade batter with a side salad).  The rooftop bar is a great venue to host a casual sunset event with views of the ocean in the near distance and the lush greenery.

 

THE HOTEL GROUNDS

The hotel grounds are very well-maintained and very lush. I was impressed with the amount of well-groomed plants and flowers that adorn the main entrance, the walkways, the outdoor dining areas and the pool area. I’m a SUCKER for good landscaping – the more green, the better…so I felt right at home. I also enjoyed how many hand-painted signs were scattered throughout the property – a nice touch.

AND THE VERDICT IS:

The natural finishes and the rustic furnishings make Punta Chame Villas feel like a tropical oasis. The staff were all wonderful and very attentive. The food was beyond delicious and well-priced (expect to pay anywhere from $8-$18 for a generously portioned main course). In terms of a relaxing getaway, Punta Chame Villas is a great, affordable option if you’re looking for a rustic, casual, simple, remote tropical getaway with little fuss.

Click HERE to check out Punta Chame Villas’ official website for pricing and reservation information.

Note: All photos were taken by myself (and my new camera!) at Punta Chame Villas.