You don’t hear “luxury hotels” and “Nicaragua” together very often, but there are a scattering of above-average places to lay you head there and we’ve just posted reviews of them. Follow this link for the best hotels in Nicaragua.

Some of them are going to involve a bit of compromise; don’t expect the city hotels to be on par with what you would find in Mexico. The business chain hotels will meet expectations though, especially considering the price, and the hotels in Leon and Granada are in evocative colonial buildings that retain their character.

The real action at the top end of the scale is on the Pacific beaches around San Juan del Sur. There you will find two fine resorts that are on par with what is on offer in nearby Costa Rica, but at a considerably lower rate. These are Palermo Villas Hotel and Resort (pictured above) and the chic eco-lodge Morgan’s Rock.

Check out all the reviews for luxury hotels in Nicaragua.

After lots of delays and a soft opening where travel writers practically had to don a disguise and sneak in to get a look, Mexico’s first Mandarin Oriental hotel is really truly open. Our correspondent was one of the first to get a good look at the place after all the construction was done and the whole place was open to guests, so go here to see her review of the Riviera Maya Mandarin Oriental.

So what’s the verdict? Like the other Mayakoba properties, this one sits on a section of land that is perpendicular to the water, so only five casitas are actually beachfront and the rest are in the mangroves. There is more land here though so the rooms feel very private and secluded. There’s an obvious Asian influence, both in the minimalist style of the furniture and bedding and the superior service that the Mandarin Oriental chain is known for.

If you’re the type that values a view of the sea from your room above all, this resort is probably not your best choice. If you want to enjoy pampering from an attentive staff and have ample privacy, you won’t be disappointed. Just get ready for some frequent golf cart rides.

See other reviews of the best hotels in Mexico.

I got back from Honduras recently and have posted some new reviews of some of the best hotels on Roatan Island and one new one for Copan.

All our Honduras hotels come with a caveat or two I must admit. There is not one hotel in the whole country that is on par with the high-end resorts in Mexico or Argentina, but things are improving all the time as more tourists (and more demanding tourists) join the scuba divers that have been the mainstay there. So don’t expect any of these places to blow you away with their opulence or dazzling amenities, but each is special in its own way. Where would I go back to tomorrow if I could? The Lodge at Pico Bonito. I can’t remember the time I last felt that relaxed and at one with the natural world.

Here are the new Honduras hotel reviews:

Hotel Marina Copán — Copán Ruinas, Honduras

Barefoot Cay — Roatan, Honduras

Infinity Bay Spa & Beach Resort — Roatan, Honduras

Palmetto Bay Plantation — Roatan, Honduras

I recently returned from a trip to Roatan Island in Honduras, where the cement trucks are very, very busy these days. One of the best–if not the best–beaches on the island is West Bay, which has a string of hotels and restaurants on a beautiful crescent stretch of sand. There’s a new condo complex which is also operating as a hotel: Infinity Bay. It’s not finished yet, but the essentials are ready: rooms, pool, and bar. You can read the review of Infinity Bay Roatan on the Luxury Latin America site, but here’s a quick video tour to give you a taste.

We just posted a review of El Convento Boutique Hotel in Antigua, Guatemala. While Antigua is full of interesting hotels that are full of personality, only a few try to serve upscale travelers who are more concerned about service and pampering than the price. So El Convento, which just opened in February, is a welcome addition to the scene.

Like Antigua’s Lion’s Inn, El Convento was built from scratch rather than being a restoration job in a historic home. The architects and designers have done their best to give the illusion of gravitas though, with a strong attempt to make the structure blend in with the Convent of Las Capuchinas across the street.

On another note, we also just added two hotels in Guatemala City, the Vista Real Hotel and Westin Camino Real. Neither one has any chance of making a “best in the world” list anytime soon, but both are comfortable for anyone stuck in the capital for a night or two, especially if you pay the minimal premium to upgrade to a business class floor or a suite.