Staying in Managua

For an 8am flight I would just stay at the hotel right across the street from the airport, you can walk to it. The hotel is a little pricey but it's a large property where you can walk around, have some drinks and the food is not bad.

You need to be there at 6am at the latest, rush hour and typical capital mayhem should be avoided...and getting lost...

it depends. Are you planning on coming up the day before early enough to see the city? if you are coming in early the day before you can stay really anywhere in the city and spend the day sightseeing. If your flight leaves at 8, youll want to be there before 7. Traffic isnt too bad until about 630 or so. It will take you about 20 minutes from the carretera masaya / metrocentro area if you leave early. 30 minutes if you leave a little later. Its not bad.
The place across from the airport i would only use as a last resort just because its so expensive comparatively. There really is no need to be paying 80 dollars a night anywhere in nicaragua unless its an all inclusive resort or something. Plenty of good places for less than half the price all the way down to less than 1/10th the price.

You might want to try the Bello Horizonte area. They have some good places to stay, great food, some night scene, and are just straight up the road 5-7 minutes from the airport.

any recommendations, #3?

Ive stayed in hooters hotel, which i highly recommend. About 30 dollars a night which includes breakfast. The owner is super nice. 3 blocks south of bello horizonte rotunda.

But there is hotel don quijote, which is about 40 dollars.
If you like luxury/american style hotels with a pool, etc. There is hotel hex.

Others in the area i dont know much about other than just what ive seen, but i know will be much cheaperthan hex or don quijote. Hotel casa sacjuanjoche, or hotel bello horizonte, or nicaragua guest house.
There are also a few hostels in the area if you just want a bed for cheap.

thanks!

The backpackers Inn is pretty popular and it's located right by Metrocentro on Carratera Masaya. There are good places to eat near by (Zona Hippo is a popular local hangout, american style) and places to go out in you're looking for that.
You cando last minute gift shopping at the mall and Metrocentro also has a movie theatre and plays some movies in english.

Not sure if the hostel has a system to get you to the airport but a cab should be around 100 cords a person if you haggle right. 20 - 30 minutes by cab.

Cheers.

100 cords per person is if you haggle wrong as a foreigner.

That ride should cost no more than 60-70 cords combined for two people.

Whoa, that's a crazy deal. Good to know thanks!

It usually takes me a least 5 cabs before I can land 100 cords to the airport but I guess I need to work on my "foreigner-ness"