A friend recently asked me to book a room for his father who was going to be in Managua, Nicaragua for 3 days. One of the options that kept popping up was the Camino Real, just about 1.3 miles from the César Augusto Sandino airport in Managua. It had been several years since I had stayed there…about 10 to be exact so I thought I’d give it a try and update my experiences at this hotel.
The Camino Real is old by Managua, Nicaragua hotel standards. It was built in 1971 and was the choice of excellence for many years in Managua. However, time has taken its toll. That isn’t to say, however, that the management hasn’t made good efforts to make your stay here a pleasant one.
One thing that stands out about the Camino Real Managua hotel is the lush green vegetation that envelops the property. It’s well maintained and a welcome change to the concrete jungle that Managua has become.
The entrance and lobby are welcoming. There you will also find the hotel lobby bar.
On the other hand, as I mentioned, the hotel is definitely dated. The Nicaragua tourist pictures that decorate the halls of the rooming area were there the last time I stayed, in 2004. The rooms are painted well but the décor is dated. The bed is stiff – no pillow tops here – and the pillows themselves are low to medium quality. AC works nice. Shower stalls are modern but the faucets and showerhead are well overdue for a change. The complementary toiletries are of good quality. No coffee maker in the room but there is a hairdryer and your ever so useful telephone in the bathroom.
Here comes the best part of this hotel: the breakfast buffet. It is generally included with the price of your room. If you have to purchase it, they want you to pay in cash. Click here to see prices. I will say that this is the best breakfast buffet value you will find in Managua, in any of the hotels. Excellent service, excellent variety and quality of food. Coffee was A+. What more can you ask for in the morning? The buffet is served from 6:00-10:30 a.m.
Don’t forget to see the nice collection of tropical birds and a big turtle in a caged gazebo just off the lobby entrance, near the carport.
Some travel sites rate the hotel as a 3 star property. I would give it 2 1/2 stars, mostly because of the aged condition. However, the staff service is excellent and the restaurant is 4 star. If you can get this room for $60-70 and you are traveling from the airport, it is a good value. By the way they do have a complimentary shuttle with limited hours and it’s just 5 minutes to the airport. Check hotel prices here.
