Chalston Beach Resort

Spread out across beautifully manicured grounds that lead down to sandy Calangute Beach, Chalston Beach Resort is a lovely mid-range choice that attracts a mix of international and domestic tourists seeking good value and a stunning location. The property was built in 1986 and is spread out over a number of Portuguese colonial-style villas and other structures painted in bold hues of yellow, red, and blue. The main white-colored building is finished with rust-red trim. The lobby is housed in one such structure and features a few sets of dark wicker sofas with rust-hued pillows accented by soft lighting and a few statues depicting life in Goa. A vintage car at the entrance adds flair to the property (and creates plenty of opportunities for cool photo ops). The large grounds are beautifully manicured with grassy areas and a smattering of tropical trees, including palm trees and banyans. Small seating areas are situated throughout the grounds, making it a good spot for those who want to lounge without leaving the property. 

Chalston Beach Resort is located at the end of a side road that juts off one of the main north-south beach roads that runs through Calangute, extending all the way down to the northern stretch of Calangute Beach. There's a massage center near the main entrance. Plenty of shops, restaurants, and other hotels sit in the immediate vicinity. It's about a 15-minute walk up the beach to Tito's famous nightclub in Baga. Getting to the popular Saturday Night Market in Arpora takes about the same amount of time by car. It's a 45-minute drive to Old Goa and Panaji, the capital city of Goa. The international airport in Vasco de Gama takes anywhere from just under an hour to 90 minutes to reach, depending on how heavy traffic is.

This hotel offers five types of units: Standard AC Rooms, Standard Large AC Rooms, Superior Rooms, and Annexe and Superior Garden Cottages. Decor varies a bit, but in general the rooms have terra-cotta hued tile floors and matching rust-colored bedspreads, curtains, and upholstered furniture. Other furnishings include dark-wood tables and cabinets and white walls, with orange accent walls in some units. Lighting is soft, with sconce-style lamps and soft fan lighting, plus a fair amount of natural light from windows. Cottages have a slightly different look. While there still are pops of orange, white walls with dark-wood beams create a Tudor vibe. Standard units sleep two people in two twin beds (often pushed together), while their Standard Large counterparts and even bigger Superior Rooms add balconies or terraces and are spacious enough to accommodate extra beds for a fee. Amenities found across categories include flat-screen TVs, mini-fridges, safes, and air-conditioning. Wi-Fi is free in rooms and throughout the hotel. Bathrooms across all units are more or less the same, with tan-and-cream tiling and wet-room style showers (without shower curtains). Basic toiletries are provided and there are small shelves for storing bath products, but it might not be enough space for some guests.

This hotel offers several nice amenities, though it's number-one draw is the prime location right on the beach. There are plenty of lounge chairs and umbrellas for guest use right on the sand, and the hotel's massive open-air restaurant is located at the sand's edge, with views of the sea beyond. The menu is extensive, with a heavy focus on Indian and Indo-Chinese food plus a large selection of alcoholic beverages. A free and extensive hot buffet breakfast is standard, and upgraded a la carte items are available for a fee. Room service is available during restaurant hours. While most of the guests head straight to the beach for swimming and sunbathing, there is a huge pool right on the property -- but only a few lounge chairs are available. There's free hotel-wide Wi-Fi and lots of free on-site parking in the hotel's front lot, but there's no spa or fitness center.