Volcanoes In Nicaragua or Ancient Greek Ruins In Turkey?

We surpassed the 5,000 follower plateau on Twitter with the @AboutTravelling account. It seems like a great time to do another installment of our ‘Twitterverse’ series of articles. Yes, a series of articles that were supposed to come along once a month or so but in reality show up about once per year. These are articles where we explore the world through some of incredible mutual Twitter followers.

There were four great resorts/hotels throughout the world selected for this article. However, we decided it was best divided into two separate articles featuring two resorts each. These are simply such great locations that putting all four together would have created too lengthy of an article and would have diluted the quality.

So, today we’re looking at one great hotel in Grenada, Nicaragua then another great hotel on the Mediterranean coast of Turkey. We have no affiliation with any of these resorts and have never physically visited them. We’re just trying to draw attention to some great places to visit around the world that your travel agent might never suggest. The images included in this article are graciously borrowed from each hotel’s official website. Each site has large galleries of images to give potential visitors and incredible virtual preview.

Hotel Xalteva

The Condo Hotel Xalteva was built in 2007 and is located in the heart of Grenada, Nicaragua. Not on the Pacific Ocean, this is not exactly the Caribbean beach resort you might typically visit for a week in the winter. however, it has the heat, pool, spa and all other activities you’d get at a beach resort but with so much more.

Granada is a city of around 120,000 located in the west central part of Nicaragua. It’s not salt water that’s the feature but Lake Nicaragua. Lake Nicaragua, aka Lake Cocibolca, is the 20th largest fresh water lake in the world. It is the only home to the Nicaragua Shark, the only freshwater shark in the world.

The list of day trips from Hotel Xalteva is endless. Visit the isletas of Lake Nicaragua, created from the eruption of nearby Mombacho Volcano. Visit Masaya Volcano by night. Explore the area’s waters by kayak. Zipline through the rain forest canopy. Relax in hot springs. There are rural tours through the countryside of Nicaragua and there are city tours of Granada and Managua. And, there is much more.

In U.S. dollars, regular rooms range from $78 to $100 per night, depending on season. One bedroom suites go from $114 to $173 per night. Two bedroom suites range from $146 to $205 per night. Weekly, and even monthly, rates are available.

Getting there is fairly straightforward. You simply fly into Managua then make the 40 minute trip to Grenada. Direct flights are available from the United States. Canadians will have to make at least one connecting flight.

Check ’em out:

Twitter: @HotelXalteva

Official Website: Hotel Xalteva

Yali Hotel

At first glance at the official website, this doesn’t look like an overly appealing place to stay. However, once you take a look at the location and surrounding area, it starts to warm up. Once you dig into the history of the area and the ancient ruins that abound, this becomes a major hidden treasure that really must be considered.

The name of the city/town where the Yali Hotel is located is Side. Side sits on a tiny peninsula, jutting out into the Mediterranean Sea in the south of Turkey. If visiting, you would fly into the international airport at Antalya, about an hour’s drive away.

The hotel literally sits on the edge of the Mediterranean. The area around the hotel is rocky but there is beach a bit further down the coast. A standard room at the Yali goes for 64 Euros per night while a Deluxe room goes for 78 Euros per night.

Side is an ancient Greek city that was founded around the seventh century BC. The known history of the area dates back to the tenth century BC. Adding some validity and excitement to the location is the fact that Alexander The Great occupied Side in 300 BC. Emperor Augustus ruled in the Roman era around 25 BC. Many ancient ruins are available to explore in the area.

Check ’em out:

Twitter: @YalihotelSide

Official Website: Yali Hotel Side

Some Final Words

Coming very soon, we bring you two more great spots from our Twitterverse. Without getting into too much detail, we’re traveling across to the other side of the world and checking out resorts in India and Cambodia.