Azul Beach Resort Riviera Cancun

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.

The resort is lovely. I booked a swim out room in building A The room was clean and extremely spacious, I was by myself but there was plenty of storage for my things and probably a family of 4 The safe in the room was a little challenging at first as the directions don't match eat you need to do The food was hit or miss. Buffet was good for lunch and breakfast but got really crowded so I chose to skip a few meals. The pizza at the pizza restaurant was good, but ask for crispy so they cook it thoroughly Carribean was not good the first time, but some folks we met made recommendations so we all ordered NY Strip and was tasty Mexican was really good, my favorite. Apps were great and we just ordered a bunch and skipped the main course Italian was OK but nothing memorable The main pool bar was super crowded. The resort should have double staffed as Lissandro was overwhelmed at times. He was great though The live music was good, but not too many shows compared to other resorts. The gym was small and got crowded if there were more than 5 people working out Id definitely go back I appreciate the staff, everyone was friendly

Decided to try the new Iberostar resort this year when I got a great price (we are Iberostar members)! Resort, pools, room, employees, food and grounds are amazing! Beach sucked but we knew that going in. We're pool people. We didn't think it would matter but we found we missed our daily beach walks enough that we probably won't be back. The beach is very small (maybe 20-30 feet wide) and you cannot walk past the resort property due to sea walls on either end. We tried each of the ala carte restaurants once and loved them all. We splurged on a premium swim out room, which also had an outdoor hot tub. It was amazing! We had a fun and relaxing week!

This resort is billed as an Iberostar Selection level resort. Having taken numerous trips to Iberostar Selection resorts in Mexico, we expected the same level of service that we have received in the past. This resort doesn’t meet those standards and we have had a much better experience at the Del Mar and Quetzal. There is virtually no beach either to walk or for swimming! Pools were ok and the best experience was the pool exercises, where the instructor was excellent! The specialty restaurants in one word were terrible. One person in our party ordered sea bass and was given a substitution without consulting them. Another evening we just left the food in the specialty restaurant and went to the buffet, which was very good. We never went back to the specialty restaurants. The staff were excellent, they had the training that we had come to expect from the Iberostar chain. They made their best effort to engage guests and gave excellent service in all respects. After discovering the Mexican Iberostar chain 15 years ago we have been loyal customers every year. We could return to the Maya or the Playa Mita but this resort has soured our opinion of the Iberostar chain.

We had booked for Cuba in Feb but when everything got cancelled we scrambled to book another swim out anywhere warm. Normally I spend weeks researching resorts before booking but we didn’t have time so we took a gamble and booked here. For this traveller the gamble payed off. We had an amazing week, once we finally got there. We had a ridiculous convoluted bus ride from the airport. We were the closest resort but the last to be dropped off. A nauseating 2+ hours bus ride to go a whole 17km. My advice, book the private transport. This is an older resort rebranded and renovated by Iberostar in Nov. We stayed in the premium swim out room so we had king bed, walk out access to the pool, indoor jacuzzi and outdoor jacuzzi. Bed was firm but comfortable (I like softer but it was perfect for my wife). Room was nice, comfortable and spacious. The patio was nice and comfortable and we spent every day in the pool. Here are some of my thoughts Pool- 2 large pools with several different areas to go depending on what you were looking for. Swim up bar area was lively and fun, because thats where all the events and entertainment were hosted. The section by our room was a little more quiet. We laved the pool but there is one big downfall…. Access. There are no steps down into any pool (except the privileged pool). You have to jump in, climb down a ladder or in our case, walk down the slippery surface of the concrete and tile lounger at our room. Anyone with mobility issues will have difficulty getting into and out of the pool. That being said, my wife has reduced use of her one arm following recent shoulder replacement surgery, and we managed to make it work. Food- 4 restaurants. Buffet, Mexican, Italian, Spanish, and Caribbean. Lots of choice at the buffet, regular and seasonal menus at the other restaurants. Portions at a-la-carts are small but we never walked away hungry. Best thing was lunch: the burgers by the pool were amazing. Entertainment each night was simple and good and usually over early. The resort is pretty quiet by 10, which is perfect for us as we are not party people. The beach: we never went to the beach. It’s seaweed season in Cancún and it was unusable, but there were always spots at the pool. Now for the most important thing: THE STAFF: The staff here is EXCEPTIONAL. Everyone here is pleasant, friendly, attentive and helpful. Our concierge Sol was instrumental in making our stay so special, without her it would have been a much different trip. Jesus was super helpful. He also got our private dinner set up and later helped at the pool. Humberto was our waiter for a private dinner by the water. Nice meal and great service. Alex went out of his way to keep everyone happy and well taken care of at the pool. I swear he never stopped. And then there was Jorge the fitness instructor. Our concierge Sol put us in touch with Jorge to help my wife with her arm. Jorge came and did several private physiotherapy sessions in the pool. He is a kind and gentle person and I really appreciate him taking time out of his day to help my wife. All in all a great vacation and exactly what we needed.