Azul Beach Resort Riviera Cancun

In January my husband and I made our first visit to the Iberostar Cancún Riviera and we absolutely couldn’t wait to come back, therefore we booked a return trip even before we checked out. And boy, are we glad we did! So many improvements in such a short time. Not that there were many downsides to the resort to begin with but with the opening of any new resort, there has to be a learning curve. So, now for the improvements from good to great - first off - the beach. Now obviously- a beach can’t be built in a day but there’s little doubt that Iberostar is taking the lead of that particular section of beach to trap the sand and clean up the seaweed. We also experienced faster service at the specialty restaurants as well as a wider selection on the menus. Finally, we noticed an increased confidence if not commitment from the staff as they adjust to being Iberostar employees which is a whole other level than at other resorts. Needless to say, our second stay was perfection and we can hardly wait to return. Big thanks to all our friends at Riviera but most especially to the Star Prestige team, Elizabeth, Michelle, Ivan, Rosalino, and Ramon. Also our friends with The Club, namely Cecily, Egor, Syra, and Vicki as well as resort managers, Dennis and Elena. Last but definitely not least we send a giant gracias to special friends, Guadalupe and Ana in housekeeping, Prestige Pool Concierges Sergio and Mauricio, as well as the bartenders Jose and Raul. Needless to say, we highly recommend the Riviera to those that have not yet visited and we send our sincere thanks to all those special people that made our vacation so perfect.

Great daily yoga class from Jorge!

Mike the front entrance concierge was so helpful, professional and went out of his way to make our stay as good as it can be, top member of staff and very genuinely wanted to do a fabulous job.

We were so overjoyed with this hotel! - Our favourite part was our little terrace (we were on the main floor so I'm calling it a terrace. All of the balconies had the same perfect set-up). We loved the comfy couch and chair on our terrace and spent so much time reading there and not needing to worry about sunscreen because it was completely covered and shady. - The staff was amazing and friendly. - The food was excellent! (Try the sea bass at the Caribbean restaurant) - If you are not a beach person, this hotel is the perfect place to relax! (They have people clearing the sargassum off the beach every morning but unfortunately, the beach is still not great.) A few super minor disappointments: - At the buffet, there was great Mexican food for all 3 meals, but they only put guacamole out for dinner. - The jacuzzi in our room didn't have hot water (even though our shower had hot water). On the day we tried, it was barely warm water. So if the jacuzzi is important to you, check that it has hot water before you unpack. - I showed up at 7:30am for yoga one day but there was no instructor. I waited a while with a few other people. Otherwise it was perfect and I hope to go back!

Iberostar Selection Riviera Cancun was overall a great resort for our group trip, though the experience had a mix of strong highlights and a few noticeable inconsistencies. We traveled as a group of about 10 people, and the property itself is very well kept and visually appealing, with a solid overall all-inclusive setup. My wife and I stayed in Building #2 in a swim-out room. While the room was a bit smaller than others in our group, the swim-out access more than made up for the reduced space and was definitely one of the best parts of the stay. That said, there were some frustrations around room classification and access. Our swim-out connected directly to a “Members Only” pool that included a swim-up bar we were not allowed to use, and this was never communicated at check-in. It was especially frustrating given how close the bar was—less than 100 feet away—but were not allowed to use it. At the same time, friends staying in Building #1 also had swim-out rooms but they connected to the main pool which had the main pool bar, which added to the confusion around how room categories were explained and booked. Service-wise, one of the standout positives was Sergio, our server at the pool. He was consistently attentive and fast with drink service, which really helped offset some of the limitations we experienced with the restricted bar access. His effort genuinely improved our stay. Food at the resort was solid but inconsistent depending on venue. The buffet was exactly what you would typically expect from an Iberostar—reliable, with a decent variety, but not particularly memorable. The Italian restaurant was only okay. My wife ordered the carbonara and I had the tagliatelle with ragù, the pasta tasted fresh but was VERY al dente. The carbonara in particular was off in terms of flavor and execution, and overall we found the Italian dining experience to be below what we’ve had at other resorts in the Cancun area, including other Iberostar properties we’ve stayed at before. We also shared the Lasagna which was the best thing either of us had. The Mexican restaurant was more hit and miss. The first visit was excellent thanks to a fantastic server named Enrique, who really elevated the experience. However, the second visit was noticeably weaker in service quality. We were brought appetizers without plates, and ended up waiting several minutes before being able to flag the server down to request them. After another delay, we had to ask again before plates were finally provided, which took away from what should have been an enjoyable meal. One of the biggest disappointments overall was the beach. Compared to other resorts in the area, it was not very usable or appealing, which is something important to consider if beach time is a priority for your trip. Overall, the resort works well for groups and has strong service pockets and good facilities, but consistency—particularly in room communication, dining service, and beach quality—could be improved.