LOVE AT FIRST: TRIBAL HOTEL IN NICARAGUA

A beautifully decorated bohemian outpost in the sleepy colonial city of Granada, Nicaragua, is the new object of my affection. Opened by Jean-Marc Houmard (of NYC’s Indochine and Acme) and business partner Yvan Cussigh, the seven-room Tribal Hotel is low-key and tropical and tastefully in-line with the country’s modest vibe. Rooms are $110-$185 a night.

GOOD TO KNOW:

Nicaragua is for those who love the sense of discovery. “It’s a new destination in a way, because it hasn’t been ruined yet by mass tourism. You have to be okay with traveling 45 minutes on a bumpy, unpaved road. Do not expect luxury. Do expect good design and affordable prices. And monkeys and bugs and surprise adventures.”

Tribal Hotel is 50 minutes from Augusto César Sandino International Airport (MGA) in Managua, and 90 minutes from the beaches of San Juan del Sur and the Costa Rica border.