Is Nicaragua as dangerous as the US State Dep't. website claims???

Probably easiest to stay at the Best Western that late.
I like the Footprint guide!

No, theyre just making all that s_ t up. Its as safe as Disney - F _ _ -ing Land!

I started to have similar reservations after I booked my ticket and I saw the same State Department info. I am glad that I went anyway!! I felt safe in Nicaragua. I arrived around 9 PM too on a Friday night and I was very glad that I had arranged a shuttle through Paxeos to Granada through that night.

If you are looking for the Moon handbook be sure and get the September 08 release.

If you have time, just order the Moon book from Amazon. I am not sure when my last trip with an LP book was, maybe 3 years ago. Not that Moon/RG/Bradt are perfect, but it's good to have alternatives for a few reasons, not the least of which is exploring different hotels & restaurants but also to read different opinions/options.

I went alone--only a 5-day trip to Leon because it was actually not a trip I'd planned to take--and most people think I'm in my early 20s. Felt very safe, and wished my Spanish were better because people want to chat.

As long as you aren´t a total moron, you should be OK. There are plenty of dumb travelers here to keep any would-be thiefs busy.

Edited by: electric_lady

I just returned 4 days ago from a month in Nicaragua. It is a very safe country. I never once felt in danger, even in Managua which is no more dangerous than any other big city in the world, just use your commonsense! The only frustrating thing was my terrible Spanish! Still the people are very patient, very friendly and eager to help. So no need to worry about the safety issues there. Oh and I am a female traveling alone (tall and blonde) and there was never any advances from the men other than an interesting stare and the odd comment (which I mostly didn't understand! :).

As for the Moon guide..actually I ended up traveling with the Moon and LP (long story). The LP, although an older addition had a lot more information regarding bus times etc, the Moon is crap in this regard, there is virtually no or little info regarding buses etc. The moon has good maps, LP a close second. Moon, of course has more up to date info and more general info as it's a much bigger book and a later addition. They both have their strong points, just depends what is important to you.

Oh and I agree with Electric Lady..plenty of dumb travelers out there...just don't be one yourself and you will be fine!

Sailbird said: "there was never any advances from the men other than an interesting stare and the odd comment (which I mostly didn't understand! :). "

you didnt miss much:)

My buddy that is driving from USA to Argentina in a VW Bug, said once he left Honduras, Nicaragua felt like a country club, and he put his guard, almost all the way down.

Thank you, everyone. I was in Honduras in 2003 and never felt in danger there, nor (solo) in Guatemala or Panama. Or Mexico. Or in various other places which are considered dangerous (the Central African Republic).... So I guess I shouldn't have read the US State Dept's info sheet! (But it's true about all the pea-brained travelers. A friend of mine knows somebody who handed over all his money to strangers in Italy. Why? They said they were money inspectors!)

I decided to spend my first night in Managua (I get in at 9 PM and was planning to go directly to Granada, but this way I'll also get to enjoy the view in daylight the next day). Have booked a room at Hotel La Pyramide, which looks very nice (online recommendations). Can anybody recommend a good place in Granada and Leon?

If anyone has any other Nicaragua travel tips (do and don't), I'd be very happy to hear them!

Muchas gracias.

Hennagaijin82