From San Salvador, El Salvador to San Jose, Costa Rica, the Hotel REAL Intercontinental literally has been my “home away from home.” I wish they had hotels in every city I will be going to in South America and would continue to sponsor “Journey to Olympic Golf” with fabulous accommodations. I have stayed at four properties over the last weeks and each one has been a real treat. While comfort, security and fine dining are to be expected and consistently there at the highest quality level what intrigues me about the REAL Intercontinental hotels is the way they uniquely identify with and share the local culture and city atmosphere in each country.

CLICK here for pictures and videos of Andy’s stay at the Hotel REAL Intercontinental San Salvador

My very first visit to a REAL Intercontinental in San Salvador.

San Salvador was my first stay ever at a REAL Intercontinental. My lasting first memory will be how special I felt being welcomed by everyone. From Alberto behind the desk to Fernando the concierge I was immediately drawn into and enjoying the Salvadorian culture. Local artist Fernando Llort’s piece “El Camino Real de mi Pueblo,” the story of my people, say sit all. The Real Intercontinental San Salvador and the people of the country are welcoming tourists with open arms!

CLICK here for pictures and videos of Andy’s stay at the Hotel REAL Intercontinental Tegucigalpa, Honduras

These two little elevator buttons are very important for business and other frequent travelers!

On to Tegucigalpa, a beautiful drive up into the rock faced mountains. Not a huge height (about 1,000 meters) but dramatic nonetheless. The functionality of the Real Intercontinental locations came quickly to me- in the nicest part of town next to the biggest and most modern shopping malls. Women must love to stay at REAL Intercontinental hotels! But more than the functionality, the personality of REAL Intercontinental people was as evident as in San Salvador. Maybe that is why they call it a REAL hotel, the people are real, welcoming, interactive, entertaining and fun to be with. Just check out my videos with Tegucigalpa’s General Manager Alfonso Martinez and Concierge Dania Ferrera and you will see what I mean!

CLICK here for pictures and videos of Andy’s stay at the Hotel REAL Intercontinental Managua, Nicaragua

Splendid rooms, highly functional for work and comfortable for fun!

In Managua it was easy to find the REAL Intercontinental even for a guy without a GPS or a street-level detailed map! See a sign (if you are lucky) for the mall and follow it. What really impressed me was the Concierge Jeasson Comacho. Let’s face it, it was mid afternoon when I arrived and all I wanted to do was check in, change my clothes and head to the golf course. That being said, there is only one golf course in Managua and it is not like they host a PGA TOUR event every year at the Hotel REAL Intercontinental. When I came down, Jeasson had the directions to the golf course ready and handed them to me with a “play well” farewell. Amazingly I drove right to the golf course without getting lost!

CLICK here for pictures and videos of Andy’s stay at the Hotel REAL Intercontinental San Jose

It was a sad good bye for me when I checked out of the Hotel REAL Intercontinental San Jose.

Sadly, San Jose is to be my last Hotel REAL Intercontinental stop in Central America. I called ahead for directions and found it easily even though I arrived well after dark. Hungry I went over the Multiplex Mall which was of course across the street to get something to eat. Not a shopper by nature I was horrified to remember and realize that it was Black Friday. Now I am not current on Black Friday in America but it seemed ten times more intense then when I last found the latest and first Super Nintendo and 3-in-1 Fisher Price pool, ping-pong and something else table for my kids who are no longer kids these days. Returning to the sanctuary of the REAL Intercontinental I was comforted by Oscar the bar manager and settled down for a comfy and warm sleep amidst the pristine sheets of the best hotel in  Central America!