We enjoyed everything about our stay at Luna Blue. The hotel rooms were nice. Our patio was wonderful. The people who work at Luna Blue are top notch. Alex was very helpful with any questions we had. They have a bar that has live music most evenings but all is quiet by 11pm so you can get some sleep. They serve complimentary coffee and breakfast breads each morning at the front desk. We will be back next year!

This small hotel has a good location as it is only a stone-throw away from the busy (and touristy) 5th Ave, and it offers free umbrella and chairs at Mamita's Beach Club, which is a short walk (5-minute at most). They have connections with other beach clubs as well, but the other ones are farther away. I love the hotel garden as it is very relaxing to sit there. The garden is lush and well-maintained. And three nights a week, there is live music at the bar area from 8 to 11pm. There is also a pool which we never had the chance to use. Free cake, tea/coffee is served in the morning as a light breakfast.

We stayed in the cheapest room, which I think it's the small rooms on the ground level. Our room faces the garden and there are lawn chairs just outside our room. The room itself is clean and functional. The only minor issue is that it can get stuffy as there isn't a window - the glass door with screen functions as the window. So we can only turn on the air conditioning to keep the room cooler. I think it is probably better with the slightly more expensive rooms as they have more windows. Next time, we'll give those rooms a try.

The staff and the owner are friendly, knowledgeable and provide good restaurant suggestions. We stayed away from the restaurants on 5th Ave after the first night. If you want to try out more authentic Mexican food, walk north, away from the touristy strip. You'll find cheaper and better food. Bring a small flashlight as some of the side streets aren't very well lit at night. But we felt really safe to walk around in the non-touristy parts of town.

Stayed at Luna four days with wife, 26 year old daughter and her ex-college sorority sister. We all were impressed with Luna's owners, staff and boutique hotel amenities. Location is perfect for partying, restaurants, beach scene and shopping. The two girls and I hiked about the area for three of the four days. Go over to the beach, turn right about 3/4 mile to Senor Frog and return by Fifth Avenue and you will walk past at least 60 restaurants and bars of every description as well as equally numerous tourist stands, silver shops and high end luxury goods. Favorite restaurant was "Capricci Latino" 80 yards away. Close second choice restaurant "Tierra Madre" 450 yards away. Daily specials and happy hour deals abound. Another hike.. again to beach..turn left.. perhaps one mile, you will leave tourist zone. Being adventurous, we headed inland on swampy, dirt path into the "less fortunate" neighborhood of Playa. At no time, during 10 plus miles by foot through Playa del Carmen did we feel threatened in any way. Wish I could say the same about my home town.

May I offer a few tips to first timers? Cancun airport full of official looking greeters who delay you with time share, hotel/transportation deals or other inducements. Walk swiftly past them with a smile and a "No, gracias" until you get outside where more legitimate transportation awaits. Next tip..always confirm taxi prices before getting in cab, always. Lastly, if you decide to enter any of the street vendors shops on delightful Fifth Avenue, a useful phrase is "Sola estoy mirando, gracias". Translated as " I'm only looking, thanks." Hope you enjoy the Luna Blue and the fun, safe town of Playa as much as I did.

I read many reviews of small hotels in Playa del Carmen and decided upon the Luna Blue for several reasons. I was impressed by the numerous return guests, the value , and was also pleased that the property owners were hands on individuals and former US residents in case we had any language difficulties.

The residents of this community could have not been any friendlier and we could not have felt any safer if we had been in our own home town. We were greeted with smiles and "hola" at every turn.

We stayed in room six during our stay and enjoyed the spaciousness of both a full size and a twin bed, a large kitchen with a dining area and the most amazing private balcony looking into trees and lush vegetation. Each morning I enjoyed hearing the garden come alive with the numerous birds that live in the tree tops and watching the resident cats at their food bowls. Such a peaceful way to start the day.

I don't want to over glamorize this hotel just because I fell in love with it. The room furnishings and fixtures are not perfect and show a little wear. That being the only negative in my opinion. The positives are a tremendous location one block from La Quinta (5th Avuene) with too many restaurants to count, a warm and helpful staff who were quite fluent in English, and a lush tropical garden setting.

The irony of this review is that I penned my draft while at a glamorous all inclusive resort in Playacar, about a 25 minute walk from Playa del Carmen. We decided to spend only three nights at the Luna Blue and then moved to an all inclusive for five nights. I can assure you it will not be a repeated mistake. After experiencing "real Mexico" at the Luna Blue and the vibe of the village of Playa del Carmen, we will head straight to the Luna Blue when we come back to this area and will become one of the many return guests you read about.

Also, be sure and check out By the Way Spa across the street for a fabulous hour long massage for $30 and great nail services.