In the Los Robles area just west of Carretera Masaya, Hotel Los Robles (in front of Restaurante La Marseillaise, tel. 505/2267-3008, www.hotellosrobles.com, $102) blends colonial charm with business-minded amenities; their breakfast buffet is splendid.

Casa Naranja (from Tip-top Chicken on Carretera Masaya, 1 block west, tel. 505/2277-3403, www.hotelcasanaranja.com, $110) gets consistently favorable reviews from travelers for its understated colonial style and green backyard patio—a welcome respite from Managua.

Managua’s premium chain hotels cater to business travelers with expense accounts (and travelers who want to splurge at the end of their trip). Your safest bet in this category is Intercontinental Metrocentro (tel. 505/2271-9483, mga-metro [at] interconti [dot] com, www.ichotelsgroup.com, from $150), with its convenient location next to the Plaza Metrocentro and Zona Rosa, and its good service. El Inter is one of the tallest buildings in the city, has standard smallish rooms (club level are the nicest), pool, event center, and overpriced bar and restaurant.

The old pyramidal Hotel Inter at the base of the Tiscapa Crater is now the Hotel Crowne Plaza (located in Plaza Inter, tel. 505/2228-3530, managua [at] interconti [dot] com), a landmark since the Somoza days; its rooms afford supreme views of the lake.

Other nearby options include Hotel Hilton Princess (Carretera Masaya, tel. 505/2270-5045, $169–219). One block west and one block north of the Princess, and a short stroll from a dozen excellent restaurants, the Hotel Seminole Plaza (tel. 505/270-6496, www.seminoleplaza.com, $119) is owned by the Seminole Indian tribe of Florida; the hotel is typically a bit less expensive than the competition.

The Holiday Inn (Pista Juan Paul II, tel. 505/2270-4515, holidayinn [at] tmx [dot] com [dot] ni, from $100) is the least conveniently situated of the premium hotels, but its interior is lovely and the service excellent.

The Camino Real (U.S. tel. 800/948-3770, caminoreal [at] centralamerica [dot] com, $120) is very close to the airport, just minutes away on Carretera Norte, and is adjacent to a casino.