Blue Moon Hotel Rating: 3.5 Pearls

South Beach, Miami, Florida

Like many of its South Beach art deco neighbors, the 75-room Blue Moon was built in the 1930s and is now listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

There are two wings: the art deco wing and the Mediterranean wing. Architecturally, both are actually art deco, but on the inside the two wings retain distinct personalities. The art deco building is colorful and charismatic, in a '70s sort of way; polygons (especially triangles) and the color blue are the dominating motifs. By contrast, the Mediterranean wing -- the main building, essentially -- is more sedate, with sleeker, more modern rooms.

All rooms were renovated in 2012, and though the hotel kept the distinct styles, each has updated decor with sleek, white and brown beach themes. The hotel joined the Marriott Autograph Collection as part of the renovation.

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Located on Collins Avenue, about six blocks south of the high-end hotels, the Blue Moon sees less foot traffic from shoppers and guests at other hotels; it's nothing like the dense throng on Ocean Drive. It's in the center of South Beach, an ideal mid-point in the art deco district, within blocks of several iconic buildings, including the Park Central Hotel and Casa Casuarina, better known as the Versace Mansion. The location also puts you within blocks of most of SoBe's most popular bars and clubs. If you're looking to drink (and drink, and drink ...), the Clevelander, a block away on 10th and Ocean, is the place to be -- at least until the thrill of its '09 reopening wears off.

The area is generally safe -- well-lit and trafficked enough to make even petty crime a rarity.

Beach one block away

It's a three-minute stroll to one of the most famous beaches in the world, where a jumbled horde of bikini babes, jacked dudes, couples on vacation, and families with kids play on a stretch of sand 100 yards wide. South Beach makes it clear why there's a diet named after it.

In the mornings, the occasional runner trots along the harder, inland half of the beach. By the afternoon, the joint is packed with sunbathers; at dusk the scene thins out again.

The hotel provides beach towels as a part of the mandatory "daily amenity charge." You can rent chairs and umbrellas from one of the countless Boucher Bros. stands dotting the beach.

Mobile snack stands are also scattered along the beach, selling soft drinks and chips (note, however, that alcohol is not allowed).

Rooms and bathrooms were renovated in 2012 after joining the Autograph collection. Rooms now have a white and sandy brown palatte with modern, beach-themed decor.

• Rooms start at 300 square feet, which is on the smaller side for Miami hotels.
• Standard guest rooms are available with two double or queen beds, or one king size bed. One-Bedroom King Suites are also available with pull-out sofas.
• Beds have pillowtop mattresses with Frette linens.
• 32-inch flat-screen TV with premium cable channels, including HBO, and pay-per-view movies.
• Alarm clock with iPod docking
• Room service available, though not 24 hours
• Lather tolietries
• Bathrobes available in all rooms
• Work desks in all rooms
• Free Wi-Fi and wired Internet in all rooms
• Cribs are available for all rooms, but rollaways are not permitted in any.
• In-room safes large enough for a laptop
• All rooms are smoke-free

• Room service is available daily
• Newspaper delivery upon request
• Small outdoor spa pool; renovated in 2012
• Concierge desk in the lobby
• Free Wi-Fi throughout the property
• 24-hour business center
• Valet parking only (for a fee)
• Pets are not allowed
• There is a manditory resort fee for hotel basics
• Also noteworthy: Despite being built in the '30s, the Blue Moon is quite handicap-friendly, with a wheelchair ramp out front and a motorized wheelchair lift in the lobby.

Rooms are on the smaller side, and connecting rooms and rollaways are not available. However, cribs are offered free of charge and can fit in every room type. Suites have pull-out beds and can easily accommodate cribs.

The hotel has one restaurant and one bar area, both of which were part of the 2012 total hotel restoration.

• FIX serves American fare for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
• Blue Moon Lounge is a pub that also serves bar food for lunch and dinner.
• Room service is avaiable for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Local restaurant delivery is also available through the hotel.