Managua , General info:
10/10

Nicaragua on the whole is on the mend from hurricanes, earthquakes, etc. People love Americans! However, you must not display your wealth unless you want to hire a guard.

Nicaragua takes its name from Nicarao, chief of the indigenous tribe that lived around present-day Lake Nicaragua during the late 1400s and early 1500s.

Some Nicaraguans know English, but it is a good idea to know some Spanish before you go. You can get by showing what you want with your hands.

Managua , Cheap stuff:
10/10

Getting by on a shoestring is possible, only if you live the Nicaraguan lifestyle--beans, rice, fruit, etc. and native handicrafts. Transportation can be quite reasonable, depending on what you want, taxis, buses, mini-bus or Bluebird school type buses (not recommended).

When you deal with people at the Mercados (marketplaces), generally the price will be a bit high for merchandise. Just say "No" which usually gives you a second price and if you want the item, that is the time to buy it. Another "No" will get you a better price, yes, but then, the merchant gets cheated and is not a good reflection on the Americano.

Managua , Different stuff:
10/10

Nicaraguans are famous for their hammocks and are splendid.

Zip lines are also available in the canopy in Nicaragua; however, this author does not know where they are located.

Managua , Don't miss:
10/10

Be sure to go see The Peace Monument in former downtown Managua in the earthquake zone. Another must see is Granada for its Spanish Colonial Architecture and, also, see Masaya for volcano and handicrafts, such as hammocks.

Managua , Food:
10/10

If you want American, Chinese, or Native Nicaragua meals, and go to a restaurant, expect to pay about the same as in the United States. Otherwise, street vendors have plenty of tropical fruit and bocadillas (chucks of charcoaled grilled meat).

Managua , Hotels:
10/10

There are new hotels available in Managua, as it is a rapidly growing city, so expect to spend about the same amount as in Untied States. The Hotel Intercontinental is the hotel Howard Hughes stayed in the early 70's.

Generally, do not expect hot water to take a shower!

Managua , Safety:
10/10

Generally, it is a good idea to keep valuables well hidden, perhaps in a plastic bag. Displaying wealth of any kind is not recommended, such as, cameras, jewelry, purses, etc. This is generally true in most Central American countries.

New York City , General info:
10/10

New York City (officially the City of New York) is the most populous city in the United States of America. Its business, financial and trading organizations are significant players in the nation's economy and in the world. The city is also one of the world's most important cultural centers with hundreds of world-class museums, galleries, and performance venues. Home of the United Nations, the city is also perhaps the world's largest diplomatic center.New York is the most diverse city in the world. Whatever your ethnicity or race, there's a slice of New York that feels like home. Nearly 40% of all New Yorkers were born outside the US.

New York City , Cheap stuff:
10/10

Cheap walking, nothing else.

New York City , Different stuff:
10/10

Numerous major American cultural movements began in the city, such as the Harlem Renaissance, which established the African-American literary canon in the United States. The city was the epicenter of jazz in the 1940s, abstract expressionism in the 1950s, and the birthplace of hip hop in the 1970s. The city's punk and hardcore scenes were influential in the 1970s and 1980s. The city has more than 2,000 arts and cultural organizations and more than 500 art galleries of all sizes. The city government funds the arts with a larger annual budget than the National Endowment for the Arts.

New York City , Don't miss:
10/10

Broadway theatre, or a Broadway show, refers to a performance, usually of a play or musical, presented in one of the 39 large professional theatres with 500 seats or more located in the Theatre District of the New York City borough of Manhattan. Broadway theatre is the best known form of professional theatre to the general public in the United States and the most lucrative for the performers, technicians and others involved in putting on the shows. The Broadway theatre district is a key tourist attraction in New York City.

Rich nightlife.

New York City , Food:
10/10

Has all the eating options covered and you can find almost every type of food available and every cuisine of the world represented. There are literally tens of thousands of restaurants, ranging from dingy $2-a-slice pizza joints to the $500-a-plate prix fixe sushi at Masa. Thousands of delis, bodegas, and grocery stores dot every corner of the city and DIY meals are easy and cheap to find. Street food comes in various tastes, ranging from the ubiquitous New York hot dog vendors to the many middle eastern carts at street corners in mid-town. Fruit stalls appear at many intersections from Spring to Fall with ready to eat strawberries, bananas, apples, etc. available at very low cost. Vegetarians will find New York to be a paradise with hundreds of vegetarian-only restaurants and good veggie options in even the most expensive places.

Don't miss - The New York Hot Dog, vendors all over the city sell hot dogs from carts. The New York Pizza, a peculiarly New York thing, you can buy pizza, with a variety of toppings, by the slice from almost every pizzeria in the city.

New York City , Hotels:
10/10

New York has some of the most expensive hotels in the world. Expect to pay up to $50 for a hostel style hotel; around $100-$200 for a budget room with shared bath; $250-$350 for a mid-range hotel with a decent room and a restaurant and/or room service; and much higher in the many high end hotels in the city. In the mid-range and splurge hotels, it often pays to ask for a corporate rate. Most rooms below $200 in Manhattan are small with room for a bed, a tv and little else.

New York City , Safety:
10/10

In contrast to a dangerous reputation it once arguably deserved, New York in the 1990s and early 21st century became one of the safest cities in the United States. City had the lowest crime rate of among the 25 largest U.S. cities, with New York's crime rate decreasing during periods when the nation as a whole saw increases. Violent crime in New York City has decreased 75% in the last twelve years and the murder rate in 2005 was at its lowest level since 1963.