New to the scene, and one of the best values in Tela, is Hostal Don Rodrigo (9 Calle and 1 Av., tel. 504/448-0303, www.hostaldonrodrigo.com, US$18 s, US$26 d, or US$31 s and US$43 d with a/c), with the same owner as Hotel Cesar Mariscos. Tasteful rooms have walls of white adobe and exposed brick, attractive furnishings, tile floors, stylish artwork, and some king beds. For those who don’t mind the four-block walk to the beach, this is an excellent value, despite the rather unfinished concrete top floor.

Anonymously modern from the outside, but with nice, new rooms is Hotel Colonial (8 Av. between 8 and 9 Calle, tel. 504/448-3222, US$31 s, US$45 d, including breakfast). Headboards, nightstands, and chairs are hand-carved wood, and there is a restaurant (open 8 a.m.–5 p.m.). The location is on a noisy street a couple of blocks from the central park, not ideal for solo female travelers. Those seeking peace and quiet can request one of the much quieter inner rooms.

Hotel Bella Vista (tel. 504/448-1064, US$30 s or US$48 d), a block south of Hotel Sherwood (both have the same owner), is nothing fancy, but the decent rooms have air-conditioning and are well-maintained, and it’s only a block from the beach.

For self-contained apartments, try Ejecutivos (tel. 504/448-1076, www.ejecutivosah.com, US$32 s/d, US$34 for three adults, US$37 for four), which features spacious studio-style apartments (that is, no separation between the living and sleeping areas) with fully equipped kitchen, air-conditioning, and TV on the first and second floors of a modern, gleaming white building four blocks from the beach; on the third floor are somewhat smaller rooms equipped with air-conditioning, TV, and hot water, but no kitchen, for US$26–32.

A creatively designed place to stay is Hotel Gran Central (tel. 504/448-1099, grancentral [at] hotmail [dot] com, US$40 s, US$50 d), in a two-story house near the old railway station, thoroughly renovated and remodeled by the French owners. The spacious rooms are tastefully decorated, with palm trees painted in warm hues on the walls, and all have air-conditioning and TV. Guests also have use of Internet. There is a larger suite with kitchen available as well. The owners serve breakfast (not included) in the downstairs café and have a small bar.