This was the second trip to Granada for my wife and I, and the last time we stayed right in the Parque Central area. While it was beautiful, it could be quite noisy at times. Just so that everyone understands - Granada, like most towns in Nicaragua, is ALWAYS noisy. DO NOT go there expecting "peace and quiet"! You WILL be disappointed! You are experiencing a culture, go live in it! At all times of the day, every day of the week, there are celebrations, fireworks, bands, vendors, horse carriages, birds, dogs, roosters and parrots all vying for attention. Contrary to popular belief, roosters do NOT only crow at sunrise!!! You need to have some understanding of Spanish, although we noticed a few more English speakers in the tourist area this year. This time we were looking for something outside of the business area, but still within walking distance. You are STILL going to hear roosters, dogs, and the occasional firecracker no matter where you stay, but the Central area has the most activity. Condo/ Hotel Xalteva was just far enough away from the center, but still a quick easy walk to the "tourist area". The Xalteva property is beautiful, and walking through the front gate is like being dropped on a tropical island. It looks JUST like the pictures. The pool is large and clean with a great waterfall feature, and is surrounded by palm trees and tropical flowers. There is small tiki hut where Ana and Ivana prepare breakfast every morning (included depending on your package). Tables and a hammock are located on a patio under a shady, vine-covered trellis, the perfect place for a quiet cup of coffee or to read a book. There is a gas grill available if you want to grill your own food (there is a Pali market about 2 blocks away with excellent meat, chicken and basic staples). There are plenty of lounges around the pool. There is a bottle service for rum, beer and wine during the day. We opted for a suite for our two week stay. Suites have a fully equipped modern kitchen and definitely are the way to go, although the smaller rooms are very nice. If you want a good view of the Mambacho Volcano, I suggest a 2nd floor suite. You will also get the occasional view of an iguana or a rooster sunning themselves on a nearby roof. The A/C was only used a few times as there was an almost constant breeze through the windows. The accommodations are immaculate, the beds are comfy, the towels are soft, the linens are better than you will find in most Central American hotels. Pool towels are provided. The balconies have comfortable rocking chairs and small tables. It is very easy to meet other guests and we had many interesting conversations sitting on the balcony in the evenings. You feel like you belong to a small community. Condo/Hotel Xalteva is a beautiful place, but it's the staff that makes it just perfect! From Melissa the manager, to Anna, Margarit and the rest of the staff (even the nighttime security guard) they are just unbelievable. They made us feel more like family than guests.The service was amazing, always with a smile, and their English was SO much better than my Spanish. There was nothing that we needed that wasn't immediately provided, from an extra pillow, to advice on tours, taxis, and customs. I even got some help with my Spanish. I swear, I never saw a staff member that wasn't busy and smiling. The common areas (tile walkways and balconies) must get mopped 10 times a day! We saw Melissa attempt to eat lunch one bite at a time over a three hour period while taking care of guests, staff, and maintenance. She never sat! The security guard at night swept up flower petals, separated trash that some guests didn't, and watered the plants.I wish I could start a business and steal them all! We will definitely go back to Xalteva next trip!…
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