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urgent accommodation help needed

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Living in Nicaragua for 2 months in july. no accommodation sorted, need help badly.
15 years ago, April 27th 2008 No: 1 Msg: #33694  
Hi,

I'm going to go volunteering in Nicaragua in July for 2 months but have no accommodation sorted. I've heard you can get really cheap accom ($50 a month???) but I can't find anything. This is REALLY urgent. If anyone has any good info, websites, books, first hand experiences, anything, please help me out!

Cheers,
Darren Reply to this

15 years ago, May 7th 2008 No: 2 Msg: #34498  
Darren,

I will be heading to Nicaragua in a week or two. If you re-post a message on this forum to remind me in 2-3 weeks, I'll try to remember to keep something of a lookout. I'm assuming you're looking for around the $50/month you're talking about. Where in Nicaragua are you looking? I plan to visit San Juan del Sur, Granada, Leon, the Esteli area, and just a very few days in Managua (not much for the tourist in Managua). Reply to this

15 years ago, May 7th 2008 No: 3 Msg: #34545  
Cheers man,

Yeah anything about $50 a month would be great. I'll be staying in Leon so if you see anything there I'd really appreciate it. If you hear of any homestays and the like it'd be perfect. I'll post a message to remind you in 2-3 weeks then.

Thanks again,
Darren Reply to this

15 years ago, May 7th 2008 No: 4 Msg: #34573  
Darren,

Sounds good, be sure to remind me and when in the Leon area I'll see if I find anything. $50 does sound pretty low, even by Nicaraguan standards. However, I was only there for a week in 2006 and then was in Granada (which seems to have become more expensive in the last two years for tourist gringos!) Take care...

Gary Reply to this

15 years ago, May 24th 2008 No: 5 Msg: #36222  
N Posts: 7
Gary,
I have enjoyed reading through your detailed blogs..very entertaining and introspective. I was wondering if I could "tag along" in Darren's quest for lodging in Nica? Although my search would differ a bit. I am looking for a nice (clean, a/c, screened windows, etc) house/condo for rent near the beach, preferably in s. juan del sur. Around 300 - 500 dollars a week. Please let me know if you happen to see/hear of anything. We will be arriving in july! Reply to this

15 years ago, May 24th 2008 No: 6 Msg: #36223  
Hi R,

I am currently in Granada, but will be heading to San Juan on Tuesday (at least that's the current plan. If it changes, I know I will make it to San Juan before heading home, so no worries on getting an "on-the-ground" view). I will let you know what I see, but you may want to post another reminder to the post so I don't forget. I'll try to remember to post something in the coming week or so. Thanks and take care...let me know of questions. I can tell you right now I'm looking at Gran Oceano for my own stay, but don't know if it's good or bad other than what I see online.

By the way...I think you are arriving in about the hottest time for Nicaragua, though I was last here in August - no better! Thanks...

Reply to this

15 years ago, May 24th 2008 No: 7 Msg: #36263  
N Posts: 7
Gary,
Hello there! Thanks for getting back to me. So where are you currently? My favorite city in Nicaragua (at least since my last visit) was Leon. I love the intellectual influence there, well traditionally it was the "intellectual city." My husband is from Managua, and left during the war. We have been back once, around 6 years ago. We are planning to travel in July only because as educators, that is our time off.
So, back to the humidity we come, but this time with our two children. That should be interesting! We are basing our stay in Managua, as my husband has family there, but will be traveling to San Juan del Sur, Leon, Granada, etc. By the way, have you traveled north, like to Jinotega or to Esteli? Reply to this

15 years ago, May 24th 2008 No: 8 Msg: #36264  
N Posts: 7
Gary,
oops, I see, you are in Granada. Please excuse the first sentence of my blog....Haven't had my coffee yet 😊 Reply to this

15 years ago, May 24th 2008 No: 9 Msg: #36268  
No problem! It's fascinating to hear you are originally from Nicaragua. I have not been to Leon, and to be honest may not make it there this time around. I wanted to go, but starting to run a little low on time. Perhaps I can do a day-trip there? I will have to see, though tomorrow I will head to Managua for two days. I might inquire with the hotel if there is somewhere I can leave some of my luggage in a secure location so I don't have to carry absolutely everything. Either that or the hotel I'm at now has struck me as trustworthy too. It will likely be the same note on Jinotega and Esteli, I'll take a look but uncertain if I'll make it. To be honest, now after three months of traveling I have to admit my sense of adventure is waning some. I know once I've been home for a while, though, I'll be ready soon enough for more travels - either back to Central America for business, or perhaps new destination. While in the Amazon, I met a guy who casually mentioned an idea I might have to explore.

I can understand better now why you are traveling in July, though! Given that situation, I would do the same. By the way, if you need accommodation in Granada, I think I can heartedly endorse Hotel Terrasol. It's new but nice. You'll have to inquire on rates, but it has been very reasonable for me - especially for what you get. Basic but modern room with A/C, cable, firm but comfortable bed, and clean. Restaurant is great. Google their website and they can tell you more. Do make sure to ask them about beds, though. I think at this moment they have only one queen bed in rooms, but may have a rollaway and are working on a room with two beds.

Okay, I hope all is well and I'll look forward to talking with you soon. I think Travelblog discourages email addresses on blogs (and I don't need my email on a public blog...I already have all the giftcards, medicine to do amazing things to me, dates from frisky woman, British lottery tickets, and who knows what else without publishing an email), though you could probably send a private message to me through my particular blog if you had additional questions. Take care and I'll talk with you soon.

Reply to this

15 years ago, June 1st 2008 No: 10 Msg: #37041  
Hi R,

Okay, here's my observations on San Juan. I hope this helps some...

I actually stayed at Hotel Colonial (http://www.hotel-nicaragua.com). The people were pretty friendly, though spoke little English. The good is that the rooms were clean and reasonably comfortable, if basic. A/C worked well, plus the room had a ceiling fan. Note if you need heavier blankets at night, the bed really only has sheets and they didn't seem to have anything heavier than another sheet. My room, #5, was a queen size bed (I think) and there wasn't a lot of additional room, but did have an armoire and desk. I did see other bed options in other rooms. The TV was on the desk, and does have cable to include New York stations and English Central American stations. Bathroom was reasonably modern. I would compare it a lot to a Days Inn or similar (though a little cleaner than some Days Inn's I've seen). Rate for me was $45/night including tax and continental breakfast (eggs and such available for a buck or two). The hotel is right in town and only a block from the bay, so pretty convenient. Downsides: a couple of ants made their way into the room (nothing overwhelming, but a few). Other bigger concern is they seem to have power trips. At first I thought it was just the power problems I have observed of Nicaragua but later realized it was only the hotel that had no power. It seemed to be turned back on within a few minutes when they turned it back on. You might want to inquire on that, or if you stay here make sure you're asking if you lose power in the room.

I also looked at Hotel Victoriano(http://www.hotelvictoriano.com/). I actually looked at the rooms, and they were quite nice. Everything you'd pretty much expect in a nicer U.S. hotel: A/C, nice decor, cable, security boxes, etc. Now, they did quote a fairly high price at $100-115/night. That said, maybe if you contacted them and asked about a weekly rate they could do something for you. This one is on the bay and near everything else in town.

I also saw two others from the outside. I didn't get the opportunity to look inside, but both looked nice and seem worth at least checking out: Casa Marina(http://www.sanjuandelsur.org.ni/hotels/luxury/casamarina.html). This is not their exact website that was on the side of the hotel, but I don't remember it and didn't find it in a Google search. Finally, there is Inn on the Pacific (http://www.innonthepacific.net).. I personally found their website a little annoying as I didn't see a way to turn off the music, but looks nice from the outside and on the bay too. Their rates looked to be a little on the higher end of your budget at $80-125.

I hope that is of some help for you, R. There are a number of other hotels to explore, many of them small and more basic. Let me know if you have other questions.

Darren, I will still let you know if I make it to Leon or gather information, but keep looking for alternate information. I am thinking I may not make it there this time around. I'm sorry about that...have you thought about seeing if there's a church in Leon you can contact? Perhaps they would have a parishioner that would entertain a homestay? Just a thought...

Reply to this

15 years ago, June 13th 2008 No: 11 Msg: #38394  
N Posts: 7
Hi Gary,
wow, thanks so much for the detailed info. That is great! I will look into the hotels you mentioned. I am getting pretty excited as the time approaches. I can't wait for school to get out 😊

So where are you now?

Best,
Renee Reply to this

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