Hotel Granada

We had the opportunity to stay at Hotel Granada this weekend, right in the heart of the famous tourist city of Granada, Nicaragua.  It boasts 47 guest rooms, 6 conference rooms, a huge, beautiful pool, bar and restaurant service and other amenities.  Breakfast is included with each stay.  It does have true colonial charm, as the pictures indicate.  I enjoyed staying there, as I think most would.  There are a few details, however, that keep it from being a real jewel of a hotel.

The rooms are small.  Additionally, the selection of toiletries available weren’t good.  It shows an attempt that just falls short: two bottles of local “Aloe Vera” conditioner and one decent quality bottle of conditioner.  Huh?  They cut corners there are it just wasn’t right.  Additionally, the rooms are a bit musty.  If you have allergies to mold, the rainy season in Nicaragua can cause problems.  The A/C worked very well.  However, it has a disco-light indicator that robbed me of some much needed rest.

This hotel has tremendous potential.  It just needs a push of better quality  in a few aspects to get it over the 2 1/2 star rating that I am giving it (out of 5) and easily become the top notch hotel that it is begging to become.  Hilton, are you listening?

Final Calle La Calzada
Frente a Iglesia Guadalupe
Granada, Nicaragua
505-2552-6990/2552-2974
Check prices

Tuvimos la oportunidad de alojarnos en el Hotel Granada este fin de semana, justo en el corazón de la famosa ciudad turística de Granada, Nicaragua. Cuenta con 47 habitaciones, 6 salas de conferencias, una enorme y hermosa piscina, bar y servicio de restaurante y otros servicios. El desayuno está incluido con cada estancia. El hotel tiene  cierto encanto colonial, como indican las imágenes.  Disfruté de mi estancia allí, y creo que la mayoría lo haría.  Hay algunos detalles, sin embargo, que impiden que el Hotel Granada sea una verdadera joya de un hotel.

Las habitaciones son pequeñas.  Además, la selección de jabón y champú disponible no era buena. Un detalle que quedó a medio palo: dos botellas de una marca local “Aloe Vera” acondicionador de pelo y una botella de acondicionador de pelo de calidad decente. ¿Eh?  Un detalle desagradable. También las habitaciones huelen a moho. Si tenés alergias al moho, la temporada lluviosa en Nicaragua puede causarte problemas. El aire acondicionado funciona muy bien y es una ayuda.  Sin embargo, tiene un indicador de incendido que parece luz de una disco – luz que me privó de un merecido descanso.

Este hotel tiene tremendo potencial.  Solo hace falta un empujoncito en algunos campos para levantarlo de las 2 1/2 estrellas (de 5) que le voy a dar a un nivel de uno de los mejores hoteles en Granada, algo que seguramente pueda llegar a ser.  A ver…¿dónde estás Hilton?

Final Calle La Calzada
Frente a Iglesia Guadalupe
Granada, Nicaragua
505-2552-6990/2552-2974
Averigüá precios

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Granada

 

One of the most beautiful tourist destinations you will find as you vacation in Nicaragua is the city of Granada.  It’s famous for many things but one of the most outstanding features of this tourist destination are Las Isletas.  You can find a few hotels and restaurants in the area but mostly you will find natural beauty in and among the 365 small islands.  Check out this house built on one of them!!!

Uno de los destinos más bellos que encontrarás en tus vacaciones en Nicaragua es la ciudad de Granada.  Es famosa por muchas cosas pero uno de sus rasgos sobresalientes de este destino para el turismo son Las Isletas.  Hay unos hoteles y restaurantes cerca de Las Isletas pero lo que más te impresionará es la belleza natural entre las 365 isletas.  ¡Mirá esta casa construida sobre una de las islas!English: The Cathedral of Granada seen from th...

English: The Cathedral of Granada seen from the bell tower of the La Merced Church, Nicaragua. Français : La cathédrale de Granada vue depuis le clocher de l’église de La Merced, au Nicaragua. Русский: Собор Гранада, Никарагуа. Deutsch: Die Kathedrale von Granada, vom Glockenturm der La Merced Kirche aus gesehen, Nicaragua. Nederlands: De kathedraal van Granada, gezien vanuit de klokkentoren van de La Merced kerk, Nicaragua. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

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Roadhouse Drinks & Food

 
 
 

If you are in Granada, Nicaragua and wish you went to TGI Friday’s in Managua, have no fear.  Roadhouse Drinks & Food will more than satisfy your urge.  In fact, if you look at the picture, there are remnants of a TGI Friday’s interior, complete with a Frankenstein doll (probably copped by an ex-employee at you know where).  The menu has typical American fare with great appetizers, decent drinks and good food.  We had a chicken sandwich and a hamburger.  They were both really good.  Check out those fries!  You can see the prices here.

On a scale of 1 to 10:  7

Si visitás Granada, Nicaragua y lamentás no haber ido a TGI Friday’s en Managua, no hay falla.  Roadhouse Drinks & Food te satisfará.  De hecho, viendo las fotos, hay restantes del interior de un TGI Friday’s, completo con un muñeco Frankenstein (quizá cachado de un ex-empleado de ya sabés quien).  El menú tiene una oferta americana típica con sabrosas entradas, bebidas decentes y comida muy buena.  Comimos un sandwich de pollo y una hamburguesa.  Los dos estuvieron bien sabrosos.  Mirá las papas!  Podés ver los precios aquí.

En escala de 1 a 10:  7

Roadhouse
del Catedral 2c al lago
Calle La Calzada
Roadhousegranada1@yahoo.com
2552-8469/8882-2773

Charly’s Bar and Restaurante

 

I finally got to Charly’s Bar and Restaurante in Granada, Nicaragua, after hearing so much about it.  I am not an expert on German food but I have eaten my share of it.  Charly’s is the real thing…surprising, in fact, to find this gem of varied food in Granada.  There is a real variety of German food on the menu.  Dishes vary in price from soups for C$90 ($4) to sauerkraut pork chop and sausage plates for C$250 ($10.75). German beer (a dark version I drank for C$90 ($4) was particularly rich.  The surroundings are pleasing.  Great music in the background on some German based internet radio station playing all rock in English.  The service, by Charly himself, was great.  I will definitely be back.

On a scale of 1 to 10, Charly’s get’s a 9.

Después de escuchar tantos buenos informes, al fin pude ir a Charly’s Bar y Restaurante en Granada, Nicaragua.  No soy experto en la cocina alemán empero la he probado bastante.  Charly’s es de verdad…me sorprendió, de hecho, hallar esta gema de restaurante en Granada.  Hay una verdadera variedad de comida alemán ofrecido en el menú.  Precios de los platos varian entre C$90 ($4) para diferentes sopa hasta C$250 ($10.75) por platos fuertes como el sauerkraut con chuleta de cerdo y chorizo.  Una cerveza oscura alemana que costó C$90 ($4) fue particilarmente rica.  El ambiente es agradable…se escuchaba una emisora de radio alemana (por internet, seguro) que tocaba solamente música rock en inglés.  El servicio, por Charly mismo, era excelente.  Yo vuelvo, ¡¡¡claro que sí!!!

De 1 a 10, le doy un 9 a Charly’s.

Charly’s Bar
De Petronic, 4c al Oeste y 25 vrs al sur 
Granada / Nicaragua
2552-2942
charly.steinmaier@charlys-bar.com

Malacatoya

As I was waiting for the barge to take us across the river at El Paso, Granada in Nicaragua (road to Malacatoya), I saw some colorful skies (very uncommon for April) that indicate that the rainy season is not far away.

Mientras esperaba la barcaza para llevarnos al otro lado del río en El Paso, Granada in Nicaragua (camino a Malacatoya), vi unos cielos coloridos (no tan común por el mes de abril) que indican que la época invernal se nos acerca.

 

 

 

 

TransNica–Nicaragua to Costa Rica

We jumped on the 6 a.m. TransNica bus in Granada, Nicaragua.  They asked us to be there at 5:15 a.m. which we did (lots of people up and about at that hour so we felt quite safe sitting on the sidewalk steps outside the TransNica terminal). 
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By 7:30 a.m. we were at the Nicaraguan border (Peñas Blancas).  On the bus you give your travel documents (passport) to the bus agent, as they take care of the immigration movements.  Nicaraguans don’t pay any fee.  However, Nicaraguan residents pay a $1 Rivas tax fee.  All other foreigners pay $3, which includes the $1 Rivas tax fee and other fees. 

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We were on the bus again at 8:55 a.m. and on to the Costa Rican border.  There each traveller must personally present him or herself to the immigration offices.  Note: all travelers who are not Costa Ricans or Costa Rican residents must show a return ticket or a ticket valid for departure from Costa Rica.  If you don’t happen to have one, you can buy one for $25 outside the immigration office.  It has no expiration date so it can be used at any future time.  U.S. citizens and those with a U.S. tourist visa do not pay anything upon entrance to Costa Rica.

By 9:45 a.m. we were done and on our way to Liberia, Costa Rica (our final destination), arriving at around 11:00 a.m.  Our ticket was good all the way to San José but our destination was Tamarindo Beach, so we asked the driver to leave us off in Liberia, close to the Food Mall (with Burger King, Pollo Tropical and Papa John’s). 

Liberia is a good stopping point for all the beaches in the Guanacaste region of Costa Rica.  It also has an up and coming international airport – Daniel Oduber Airport (LIB) – which has become a popular arrival and departure for tourists and residents of Nicaragua alike.

TransNica tickets can be purchased in many travel agencies in Nicaragua.  One-way passage costs $29/round trip $58.  The busses are comfortable with A/C and a bathroom on board.

Treehouse [Casa en los arboles] Poste Rojo

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In Caña de Castilla, Nicaragua (10 km. from Granada and 2 km. from the famous ‘Lung of Central America’ – the majestic Mombacho cloud forest), you will find a really unique backpacker hostel called Treehouse Poste Rojo.  With its incredible views and nature up close, you will be taken over by this rustic destination.  The place is run by temporary volunteers from all over.  They have a decent menu and will cook to order or you can eat ‘family style’.  From km. 56.5 on the highway to Granada or Nandaime (at the stop of a Salón del Reino de los Testigos de Jéhová) you will have a bit of a hike up into the woods.  Just follow the signs.

En Caña de Castilla, Nicaragua (10 km. de Granada y 2 km. del famoso ‘Pulmón de Centroamérica’ – la majestuosa pluriselva Mombacho), vas a encontrar un hostal para mochileros llamado “Treehouse Poste Rojo”.  Hay vistazos increíbles y naturaleza ‘en tu cara’ en este destino rústico.  Voluntarios se encargan de proveer los servicios básicos a los huéspedes.  Hay un menú variado.  También podés optar por comer al estilo familiar, o sea todos juntos.  De km. 56.5 de la carretera Granada-Nandaime (hay un Salón del Reino de los Testigos de Jehová) vas a tener que caminar y escalar hasta arriba a la selva.  Seguí los rótulos.

www.PosteRojo.com

info@PosteRojo.com

8903-4563

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