LunArena Barefoot Comfort

The staff were kind and tried to help, but the penny-pinching rules clearly came from management. I personally wouldn’t recommend staying here. Casa Cielo cost 30% more and felt more luxurious. Our ground-floor room smelled musty and moldy, and was dark and dingy. The paint was peeling, the bathroom was stained, and there was soap on the windows. The towels had termite dust on them, and our patio terrace had no chairs. To use a beach chair, you had to buy a drink. Even with continental breakfast included, an espresso pod cost $50 pesos or €2.5. Breakfast was supposed to start at 7am, but at 7:40 the brewed coffee still wasn’t ready and nothing else had been prepared, so we left.

The staff were friendly and attentive, and I had a great view from my room. The beach is just around the corner, so the location is fantastic. The rooms could use a refresh, and breakfast was only okay. There’s no fridge in the room, which was inconvenient. Since the hotel is secluded and the area gets dark, a few more lights along the path would help in the evenings.

Dayberht in particular went out of their way to help us make the most of El Cuyo. They also helped with tours and local tips, and the beach chairs and tent made our stay extra special. The rooms were spotless, the food delicious, and our stay at Luna Arena was wonderful. Can’t recommend it enough!

I stayed at the sister hotel Dos Mares rather than LunArena, which recommends that guests use its pool, rooftop, and beach. Guests of Dos Mares can use LunArena’s beach chairs, but on both days we tried, they were all taken. It wasn’t a big deal for us, though it would be nice to have more chairs available. The hotel is right near the edge of town, beside one of the most beautiful beaches. The pool and restaurant area is charming. Customer service was 5/5, and I have to say it was better than at Dos Mares. Rodrigo made our visit top notch by going out of his way and offering to bring us drinks on the beach. We’ll definitely be back.