The Comfort Zone - Budget Friendly Accommodations in Pearl Lagoon

Are you looking for a budget friendly place to stay while visiting Pearl Lagoon? There are several options available, one of which is the Comfort Zone. 

The Right Side Guide web site (http://rightsideguide.com) describes the property in the following way: "Comfort Zone – About a block and a half left of the wharf, down a sidewalk that heads toward the water, right hand side about 20 meters from the street. Small establishment but with new rooms with big beds, ensuite bath and televisions. Martha and Dariel are gracious hosts and detail oriented. Budget to Midrange".

When Dariel showed us around the property he told us that they "treat their guests like family" - isn't they way we all like to be treated? Currently, the Comfort Zone has 4 rooms to choose from.  Two rooms have a double bed with private bathroom that rents for only 300 cordobas per night ($12.00 US), and the other two rooms have a double bed, a single bed and private bathroom that rents for a little more - 350 cordobas per night ($14.00). When we inspected the rooms we could see that they were clean and well maintained.

Martha and Dariel also have a small store where you can find any toiletries that you may have forgotten. 

Comfort Zone - Pearl Lagoon, Nicaragua

The Comfort Zone is nothing fancy but is a safe, clean, comfortable option for your visit to Pearl Lagoon. Give them a call at: 8829-7113, 8659-3557 or 8632-1037

Comfort Zone, Pearl Lagoon - room with double bed

Comfort Zone, Pearl Lagoon - room with double and single bed

Grocery Store - Comfort Zone, Pearl Lagoon

Visa Renewal in Costa Rica and a stay at the RIU Guanacaste

view from our room at the RIU Guanacaste

In order to renew our Nicaraguan Tourist Visa we only need to leave the country every 180 days (roughly 6 months). I think it's funny that before we moved to Nicaragua I thought how fun it would be to have a "forced" vacation every 6 months. In reality though, we have found that a trip to Costa Rica hasn't been as carefree and fun as we anticipated. It's not that we have encountered any dangers, and Costa Rica is certainly beautiful but somehow we've always come home feeling that we "missed" something and the expense of the trip wasn't worth it.

In April it was time to leave Nicaragua to renew our Visa but this time we decided to have a different experience in Costa Rica. Instead of having to "count our pennies" for every expense we decided to try something totally new for us - an all-inclusive resort. Yes, I hear you! Anyone who knows us has heard us say that we don't think an all-inclusive vacation is the way to go.... So.. we are eating our words! After checking out some of the resorts in the Guanacaste area of Costa Rica we finally decided on the RIU Guanacaste. Now, according to the folks on TripAdvisor this resort has a sketchy past in regard to it's treatment of the environment and although I respect their concerns we decided to stay there because the reviews from travelers were mostly favorable and they had the best price.

Chizu and Pat at the border

A few days after we booked our 3 nights at the resort we found out that our good friend Chizu was going to be visiting us and wanted to come to Costa Rica with us. We couldn't be happier to share this experience with her. We did have to change our plans to a certain degree. In order to meet her at the airport we needed to arrive in Managua the night before she was due to arrive. We opted to stay at the Best Western Las Mercedes across from the airport.  Although they aren't what you would call "budget accommodations" we enjoyed the opportunity to just relax and not worry about anything.

Chizu's flight was at noon and after grabbing a quick bite to eat we headed to Casa Silas in Granada for the night in preparation for an early departure the next morning. We again traveled to Costa Rica on TicaBus but this time we left from the Granada terminal. The trip across the border was uneventful and we arrived in Liberia about 11:30 a.m. We had scheduled a transfer to the RIU Guanacaste with Maleku Tours since there is no bus service that would take us past the resort.

front lobby heading towards the pool - RIU Guanacaste

We arrived early at the RIU Guanacaste - long before the official check-in time - although our room wasn't ready they gave us our bracelets and told us to go and enjoy lunch and return later to check into our rooms. We were starving by this time, so we literally raced down to the buffet lunch and dug right in! We were almost overwhelmed by the selection - remember we have been in Nicaragua for a year - there was so much to choose from. Check-in was a breeze and we were happy to find that we had adjoining rooms. The rooms were nice but not extra special. We had a view of the ocean from our little balcony but didn't spend any time out there. The grounds are well kept and we enjoyed walking around them. We saw quite a few iguanas sunning themselves on the pathways.

buffet decoration - RIU Guanacaste

We found that the food was good whether you ate at the buffet or at one of the specialty restaurants. The only restaurant that we didn't have a good experience with was La Toscana - the Italian one. While the food was good, we found the service was terrible. The table that we were seated at was totally blocked from the view of the waitstaff. Others that came in after us were served before us and we had to ask for everything - bread basket, wine glasses refilled, dishes cleared etc. The night that we were at this restaurant we were asked to fill out a survey - and you can bet we did!

On our last night at the resort we enjoyed the Grill and Steakhouse - you have to make a reservation to eat here. The food was excellent and the portions were huge. We also loved the location because it is the closest restaurant to the beach and so there was a beautiful sunset while we enjoyed dinner.

pathway leading to the pool - RIU Guanacaste

So, besides eating what else did we do at the RIU? Well, the pool was a huge draw - and not just because there was a swim-up bar! Although the resort has a nice beach area we found that there was a big undertow and Pat (who can't really swim) didn't feel safe - so we spent most of our time in the pool.

The animation team put on Water Aerobics everyday which Chizu and Pat eagerly joined. There was also a nature walk that took us along the beach and the guide pointed out different plants and animals. The highlight of the walk was seeing a large troupe of Howler monkeys with a number of babies - they were a lot of fun to watch. I would recommend joining this free tour if you ever stay at the RIU Guanacaste. There was also nightly entertainment - a Michael Jackson show, karaoke and another show that I can't remember the name of. The shows were both ok - fun to watch but they won't win any awards with them.

So... all in all, I must say that we thoroughly enjoyed our 3 night vacation at the resort. In fact, we were talking about meeting Chizu there again next year! We found that we definitely got our moneys worth going the all-inclusive route and we came away relaxed and happy with the overall experience.

Pat, Debbie and Chizu enjoying a cold one in the pool - RIU Guanacaste

pool aerobics - RIU Guanacaste

view from the Steak House - RIU Guanacaste

fabulous steak dinner - RIU Guanacaste

Casa Ulrich - Pearl Lagoon, Nicaragua

resident mascots at Casa Ulrich

We traveled to Pearl Lagoon over New Years - a trip that was decided at the last minute. Since there are few options for accommodations in Pearl Lagoon we were a little concerned that we would have difficulty finding a suitable place to stay with such short notice and over the holiday period. After reviewing the accommodations in Pearl Lagoon listed on TripAdvisor and Vianica we narrowed our choice down to Casa Ulrich. We received a quick response to our email indicating that they did have a room available (only $15.00 per night for a room with shared bath).

a hearty Nica breakfast at Casa Ulrich, Pearl Lagoon

We left Managua on the 9 p.m. bus and were on the 6:30 a.m. panga from El Rama to Bluefields. We arrived in Bluefields at 8:10 a.m. which meant that we were able to make the 8:30 a.m. panga to Pearl Lagoon. Arriving in Pearl Lagoon by 9:30 a.m. we were on the doorstep of Casa Ulrich hungry and tired. No problem! Our hosts - Fred and Reyna had a room ready for us and Fred fired up the grill for a delicious Nica breakfast.

Fred and Reyna took over the property that has become Casa Ulrich three years ago and are in the process of making many improvements. Their waterfront property has a number of budget priced rooms that share a couple of bathrooms as well as six rooms with private baths. They have a couple of rooms that can accommodate families or small groups traveling together. There is also a large restaurant where you can sit down and enjoy the view as well as Fred's culinary skills. Fresh shrimp and fish is always on the menu!  We spent five nights at Casa Ulrich and ate almost all of our meals there.

So, if you happen to be visiting Pearl Lagoon you can't go wrong staying at Casa Ulrich!

view from the back of Casa Ulrich, Pearl Lagoon, Nicaragua

view of second story accommodations at Casa Ulrich

budget room at Casa Ulrich - Pearl Lagoon, Nicaragua

Casa Ulrich has space big enough for families

room with private bath - Casa Ulrich, Pearl Lagoon

quiet sitting area - Casa Ulrich, Pearl Lagoon

view of second level restaurant - Casa Ulrich, Pearl Lagoon

Rental House Search in León - How easy is it?

Recently we received an email from one of our readers who was looking for a furnished house to rent here in León. They had read our previous blog about our search and discovery of our little house that we found online (you can read about it by clicking here). They checked out the online websites to look for a small rental but they weren't able to find anything available. I wasn't very surprised that they couldn't find anything available online because most of the available houses are NEVER listed.  León has a lot of "rooms" available for students (after all it is a University town) but very few furnished, vacation and long-term rental homes (unlike Granada which has a lot of homes to choose from).

So how can you find out about available rental homes in León? Simply put - you have to conduct your search at ground level.... This means walking around a neighborhood that you like and looking for signs that say "For Rent" or in Spanish "Se Aquila" or "Se Renta". Be prepared that you may walk through an entire neighborhood and see no signs posted but that doesn't mean that there aren't any homes available... So how do you find these hidden gems? You have to ask around. Talk to the families that run the local pulperia. They usually know what is happening on their street. Ask people in the neighborhood - people you pass on the street. For example, we saw the house that is pictured below and stopped to photograph it and a passerby told us that it  was still for rent but that it is also rented furnished. Often times they know someone that has a house available.

You may find that it can take a few days or weeks of combing the streets so be patient - you can find what you are looking for.

House for rent in Guadalupe

Hotel El Casino, Casares, Nicaragua

Hotel El Casino is a cute, boutique hotel on the pacific coast of Nicaragua. It is located in an authentic fishing village where the day to day action happens right in front of you.

This hotel only has twelve rooms but is a great value at only $25.00 a night ($35.00 if you want air conditioning). The rooms aren't large but they have everything you need. There is a ceiling fan if you choose not to have air conditioning but be warned that it may not be enough if you have a room facing the ocean. The ocean front rooms get the afternoon sun and can be quite warm at the end of the day. That being said - you can't beat the view from these rooms! While we were at the hotel they were in the process of expanding the deck from the ocean front rooms which will greatly increase the appeal of them.

Nicaraguan breakfast

Hotel El Casino has a number of sitting areas where you can relax with a good book, enjoy a movie on their projection screen or simply enjoy the company of friends - new and old. Enjoy looking at all the beautiful Nicaraguan art treasures that the owner has brought for your pleasure. There is a pool table should you desire to rack up a game. With an on sight restaurant and bar there is no shortage of delicious food and drink to tempt your appetite. You will especially enjoy the fish dinners cooked fresh from that morning's catch.

We stayed at Hotel El Casino for three nights and took all of our meals in their dining room and on the small beach patio.

It is an easy commute from León using Interlocal buses. You take the small Interlocal at the León bus terminal to La UCA station in Managua. In Managua you switch buses to the Interlocal that is heading to Diriamba (final destination is Jinotepe). When you reach Diriamba you switch to the Interlocal that goes to La Boquita and Casares. The total cost for these buses was only 184 cordobas for the two of us!

We highly recommend this hotel to all budget travelers.

View of Hotel El Casino, Casaras from the beach

View of the bar/kitchen.

View from the second floor, where the rooms are.

Fishermen arriving with their catch.

Enjoy the sunset from the deck at Hotel El Casino, Casares, Nicaragua

Hostal Dulce Sueno, Managua

We recently took our first visa run to Costa Rica via TicaBus. Our departure was scheduled for 6 am and because it would be very expensive to use private transportation from León to Managua that early in the morning, we decided to find an inexpensive hostel for the night prior to our trip. After searching the internet we found a place only a 1/2 block away from the TicaBus Terminal - Hostal Dulce Sueno.  We made our reservations via email and received prompt confirmation.

We arrived at the hostel about 3 pm on a Sunday afternoon and they were just finishing preparing our room. The room itself was small but had a double bed, small desk, TV and a private bathroom. There was a floor fan to help cope with the heat. The room had a window (with no screen) that looked out onto the courtyard.

Upstairs there were some more rooms and we also found a nice rooftop terrace with some chairs and hammocks for relaxing. We purchased some food from a small comedor next to TicaBus and sat at the kitchen bar to eat it. (note: there are not any restaurants open nearby on a Sunday evening)

We found Hostal Dulce Sueno to be very basic, but pleasant. Definitely a bargain at $16.00 a night.

Hostal Dulce Sueno - entranceway

Hostal Dulce Sueno-looking towards kitchen

Hostal Dulce Sueno - private bedroom

Trips to Investigate Nicaragua - Accommodations

We have had two trips to Nicaragua to investigate the cities that appealed to us as future homes.  For our first visit in August 2009 we stayed in Granada and did very little travel outside of the city. We knew we would be having subsequent visits to Nicaragua and wanted to get a good feel for the city.  We chose accommodations that, for the most part, were small hotels and off the main tourist path. We tended to stay in medium priced accommodations. Also, since we were in Nicaragua we wanted to stay in accommodations that we wouldn’t be able to enjoy at home – something that was more “typical” Nicaraguan. 

Our second trip in September 2011 was split between Granada and León. We were able to find a suitable apartment to rent in Leon and loved being a part of the local community. We felt that this enabled us to “experience” what it would be like to actually live in the city. Although we did enjoy some of the local restaurants we also had the pleasure of shopping at the local markets and supermarket.  We also got into the routine of purchasing our daily fruit and veggies from the woman who would walk past our house at 6:30 in the morning shouting out (really loudly) that she had some fruit for sale.  Once she knew she had potential regular customers it was no time at all and she was stopping at the gate to see if there was anything we needed.

Following is a summary of the various accommodations we enjoyed while we were vacationing in Nicaragua.

Hotel Mozonte – This hotel is located in Managua near the Austrian Embassy and Laguna de Tiscapa. It is in the style of a Spanish colonial with the rooms around a central courtyard with a nice pool. The room we had was large with 3 double beds. It was clean but not “modern” and could use some updating. The bed was comfortable but I remember thinking that the sheets were “scratchy” and could use some fabric softener. The room price includes breakfast and there was a nice selection; it was served in a little dining room. The staff spoke good English and was very professional and helpful. We had arranged with the hotel to have a driver pick us up from the airport and the driver was on time – we had a huge sense of relief when we came through the doors and saw a sign with our name on it.  All of our arrangements were made via email. This is the only hotel where I have been charged less than I was expecting which was a nice surprise. The price on the website must be for “high-season” and we visited during “off-season”. There is a computer in the main lobby which has internet and is available to guests. We stayed here August 2009 for our first night in Nicaragua.

Hotel Patio del Malinche – This hotel is located in Granada just two streets away from La Calzada – the main tourist street of the city. It is a large Spanish colonial building with two central courtyards. The room we had was small but sufficient for our needs and was located right off the pool on the lower level. The staff was very efficient and all arrangements were made online prior to our arrival.  Breakfast is included in the price (there is a small selection to choose from) and is served in a nice courtyard setting.  At no extra charge we were able to store our suitcase while we travelled and picked it up when we returned to the city. Laundry service is available as well as internet. We stayed here August 2009 for two nights.

Isla El Roble – This place is located on one of the islands of Granada. They have “all inclusive” pricing which included your accommodations, food and a tour of the Isletas. When you book this retreat you are reserving the whole island for your group – which can be a couple up to 12 guests. The price increases per person. The cook and housekeeper come on a daily bases, however the boatman will sleep on the island at night and acts as a night watchman. We enjoyed the island to ourselves every afternoon as they all went home for a couple of hours.  There is a nice swimming pool as well as an area to swim in the lake and two kayaks were also available for use.  The staff spoke limited English with us since we were trying to improve our Spanish – they were efficient and never intrusive.  Mealtimes were set to our schedule. The food was local Nicaraguan fare – very flavourful and good portions. One beer was included with your meal; however, wine was extra. It was truly a relaxing time with amazing views. Arrangements were made online and we met with the local contact when we first arrived in Granada to finalize arrangements. He had a lot of practical information and suggested areas of Granada that we should avoid (for safety). This company can also arrange tours to other parts of Nicaragua. We stayed here August 2009 for three nights.

Casa Silas – This quaint Bed and Breakfast is located in the heart of Granada only a short walk away from the main square. It is a recently renovated Spanish colonial with a central plunge pool – just perfect for cooling off after an enjoyable day of sight seeing. The room was large and comfortable with a good sized bathroom – the owner’s artwork is on the walls. Breakfast is served in the dining room and is delicious – especially the smoothies.  Laundry service is available and if you are planning an excursion and want to take a lunch with you then just ask and they will have one ready for you.  The owner is Canadian and has lived in Granada for a number of years.  He is very knowledgeable about Nicaragua and Granada in particular. He knows the best places for meals and has good suggestions for things to do around town. All arrangements were made online and they had Skype available to call home. They will arrange airport pickup as well as put you in touch with an excellent tour operator. We stayed here in 2009 for the majority of our trip and returned in 2011 for two of nights.

Hostal El Carmen – This is a newly opened hotel not far from the central square in Granada and is a good value for the budget minded traveller. We rented an “apartment” for $21.00 per night (Sept. 2011) and felt it was a great bargain. The kitchen has everything you need if you are planning to make some meals while you are in Granada. The apartment also has a TV with cable. The bathroom is large and the bed is comfortable. The only problem we had was that the ceiling fan was located over the dining room table and the air didn’t flow to where the bed was. If you rent a “room” it is also nicely appointed and a great bargain. Our friend paid $10.00/night (Sept. 2011).  It was a basic but clean room with a good sized bathroom. There is no TV in the room.  The owners told us that they are planning on installing a swimming pool in the courtyard in the near future which will certainly add to the appeal. This couple also manage a house located in another part of the city where they rent rooms or the whole house at a reasonable price. They are very friendly and knowledgeable of the area. All arrangements were made online. We stayed here in September 2011 for three nights.

Apartment in León – We found this apartment online (not listed with any company or travel website that I know of) and communicated with the owner via email. The location of the house is just outside of the downtown area, an easy walk through the local community. The owner lives in the US and has family in León that looks after the day to day management of the apartment. It is called an apartment but is more like a little “row” house. There is a little front porch that you can sit in and enjoy the activity in the neighbourhood, a dining area, TV area, good sized kitchen and bathroom and there are two bedrooms. There is a washing machine available to use but no internet. The place is a good size and clean. However, it isn’t immaculate. It is obvious that the family lives there when it isn’t rented and could use a nice coat of paint to freshen the walls.  It is a nice place to stay if you want to have a real taste of what life is like in León. All arrangements were made online and a deposit was sent to the owner in the US. We were met at the Cathedral and taken to the home and given instructions on how everything worked.  Although the owner speaks good English the family speaks mainly Spanish.  We were provided with a cell phone to use while we stayed at the apartment which was a nice perk. We stayed here in September 2011 and rented it for two weeks but ended up staying for only nine nights because we unexpectedly returned to Granada for our final few nights.