Moonshine Hotel

The room didn't feel secure: its shared terrace door, also used by another room, had no lock, so someone could get in at any time. I couldn't sleep because of the clubs nearby, which played loud music until 4 a.m. every night. It was so loud my bed shook. The hotel was nothing like the photos either. It looked old and neglected, and was completely unclean.

Our room was clean when we arrived, but the nightclub noise was unbearable, with vibrations that made the room shake. Another frightening moment came when there was a fire next door. The receptionist or manager pounded violently on our door and shouted for us to open it. We worried it could be a lunatic or criminal, and there was no peephole or door chain. The open prostitution in the area also made things feel a bit shady.

Joseph, Fernanda, and the other staff members were very nice. The hotel has a nice old-fashioned colonial style, though the rooms could use touch-up paint and some dusting of the fans. The little pool was nice. It's in a lively “Hot Stuff” spot, so the nearby nightclubs can make it noisy, but tourists come looking for fun, right? There's no coffee area, meals, snacks, or even bottled water for guests, which they should work on. Getting around Playa del Carmen can be difficult, but help with tours or bikes is available.

I filmed my new music video here and had a lovely time. Right in the city center, the area is always lively, but inside it feels like a green bubble. Every room has AC, and there are plenty of little terraces where you can relax.