Selina Granada

Friends asked me, why the [!*@#!%!] are you going to Nicaragua? I enjoy adventure and diversity, [usually while staying at a Five Star Resort] but Nicaragua was right next door and one of those countries I knew I'd go... one day... but my schedule just so happened to work perfectly for a quick post trip from Coast Rica, so I went. If you're researching Nicaragua, then you already know you're traveling to a Third-World County... right? And if you've never planned a trip or vacationed in a Third-World Country, one needs to know there are learning curve's... [big ones] so do allot of research and learn as much as you can first, and while reading my review, keep in mind Ive just gone from Fretee to polyester blend sheets. Take it from me The hotel you choose shouldn't be based on reviews such as @Gisela V or @Dominique C. I stayed here two nites after a six nite stay at the Four Seasons - Peninsula Papagayo Costa Rica, talk about nite & day...but I knew the culture shock I was in for, and the thread count I'd be sleeping on, and I still enjoyed every minute of my stay. Let me back up a bit. I left Costa Rica by car on muddy, pot hole narrow roads the entire way, and add in a dicey boarder crossing into Nicaragua a bit scary [I thought crossing into Brazil from Argentina was stressful] but, by simply drinking a warm coke from a plastic baggy my thirty plus minute hold up flew by. [that's my story and I'm sticking to it] I arrived late afternoon, was warmly greeted, promptly checked-in and thankfully escorted to my suite... or I would have gone in the wrong direction, the humidity was really taking a toll on me. My rooms decor was exactly as I expected, the flooring was tile with lots of grout, nice and cold to my bare feet [a good thing] and the simple but functional bathroom had more tile, countertops were tile as well, with a whole lotta grout. [yup you guessed it, I'm not a big fan of grout] I had a king sized bed with... you guessed it poly blend sheets and Air-Conditioning that cooled to room down like I was in the Alps, and a quaint view. After a cold shower I hit the streets looking for food and an adult beverage, while seeing a few sites, I found The Tapas Kitchen & Bar, the Tapas were so delicious, I couldn't tell if I was in Granada or Barcelona... and accompanied by a few Mojito's... the drive and boarder crossing became a mere memory. My second day began early with a trip to an active volcano, never quite knew what burning sulfur smelled like, [I do now] the volcano was fascinating, making a great morning into afternoon activity. Back at the hotel I washed the stench off best as possible and headed down to the bar for a beer and people watching, it was a fun couple of hours, also, my way back to the hotel I stopped road side and had a few empanadas yum yum yummy. Nearing the dinner hour I ventured out once again, this time I found El Zaguan Bocadilio, OMG... the scent coming from inside was outa this world, and BAM, I found dinner. I ordered Ribs, some side dishes and a few ice cold beers, [F] those Ribs were awesome, and a perfect way to end my adventure, I know there are countless restaurants to choose from but I was oh so happy with these two, not to mention so much food/drink for so little money. The next morning, knowing it was going to be a long-ass day, I woke early, ate breakfast in the hotel, two nice young ladies greeted me and took me to a table, they must have seen my blood-shot eyes because coffee was brought to me fast. Breakfast was simple but tasty and I took my coffee back to my room to clean up and check-out. Unlike my arrival, departing I booked a flight on Nature Air from Managua, Nicaragua, to San Jose, Costa Rica. I hired a driver and arrived just a bit over an hour to the Augusto C. Sandino International Airport [MGA] from the hotel [I think he drove 80mph the entire way] and waited for my puddle jumper to The Juan Santamaría International Airport [SJO] I say puddle jumper because Nature Air uses the same planes while on Safari in Africa. I very much enjoyed my brief stay at The Hotel Alhambra and in Granada, Nicaragua. Enjoy! Lastly I'm just going to say it, I have a huge pet-peeve when I come across reviews like what @Rosy R wrote [WTF] Trip Adviser this isn't a hotel review period. And the insinuations this dirt-bag is implying should never have been published nor kept on line the past five years, Enough said!