Azul Beach Resort Riviera Cancun

I booked this Iberostar property based on its representation as a “prime beachfront location.” That is simply not accurate. There is no functional beach. The shoreline consists of rock, vegetation, and structures with steps going directly into the ocean. There is little to no usable sand and no practical way to access or enjoy the water in any way that aligns with what most people would reasonably expect from a beachfront resort. This is not a temporary condition. Staff acknowledged this has been the case for years. What’s most frustrating is how the resort handles this. When I raised the issue through their official guest channel, they responded by talking about “sargassum.” That had nothing to do with my complaint. There is no beach, period. Redirecting to seaweed is a deflection, not a solution. Beyond that, the overall experience reflects a pattern of poor operations: I was served fruit that was clearly spoiled, with a strong odor and not safe to eat. Management saw it firsthand. The public restrooms at the pool were in unacceptable condition. The waterless urinals were so poorly maintained that the ammonia smell burned your eyes. I brought management into the restroom to experience it themselves, and the issue still wasn’t corrected at the time. Basic room setup was incomplete on arrival. Only bath towels were provided. Hand towels and washcloths had to be requested. Dining was inconsistent. Long waits, unavailable menu items, and food quality that didn’t match what was advertised. Individually, some of these might be brushed off. Together, they point to a property that is not being maintained or operated at the level it is marketed. The core issue remains this: this resort is sold as beachfront, and it is not. That is a fundamental misrepresentation and it impacts the entire experience. If a real beach is important to you, do not rely on the marketing here.

I've now stayed at the Quetzal/Tucan (closing May 15th-December-ish for some reno), Paraiso Beach/Del Mar, Selection Cancun and now this resort in Quintana Roo. **Side Note** I talked to several guests that seemed to indicate that they thought they booked the Selection Cancun and not Selection Riviera Cancun (seems it was a travel agent area, not necessarily Iberostar). So, PSA to make sure you know what you're looking at and booking. **** Food: 3.5/5 --> Food was okay. The buffet (breakfast) was probably the best of the Iberostars I've stayed at. The only notable issue was a lack of fresh fruit juices in the morning. That's not to say they didn't have them, but the other resorts had all the options whereas this hotel had a few. The restaurants were largely disappointing compared to the other Iberostars. Some of this could just be issues from transitioning from the prior owner but numerous times the descriptions did not match the food served. I will note the pizza (the actual pizza shop) and burgers (grilled fresh most days by the fun pool) were actually good. Oh and the buffet area was small and didn't open until 1pm so the lines sometimes got long for that. They make some sort of mexican dish on the ocean side of the mexican restaurant for lunch that I would recommend instead and/or the pizza/burgers. Beach: 1/5 --> Posted two photos. Going in I knew the beach was smaller than I experienced at others, but what I didn't fully expect is the Caribbean Sea to look like a muddy southern US lake. I can get over the beach, but the ocean water itself was utterly uninviting. I'd recommend booking catamaran tours and/or taking an uber to Puerto Morelos and going to a beach club if you stay here and want some beach/water time. Room Quality --> 5/5. Probably one of the nicest rooms I've stayed at for an Iberostar. Loved the couch outside on the balcony. Pool/Pool Bar --> somehow both a 5/5 and 2/5. 5/5 because the pools are beautiful and great. 2/5 because there are three separate pool bars (including the star prestige pool) plus some private pools. Combined it really spreads people out and makes it feel less fun during the day. Not that I'm looking for a party, but things were much tamer. Misc (grounds, location, etc) --> 3/5. Can't beat being close to the airport and Puerto Morelos is an amazing town (both beach and inland sides). The grounds are beautiful but not as beautiful as the Quetzal/Tucan, probably nicer than Parasio and the hotel zone Selection. Lobby is blah. Summary --> I knocked a point off because of opening jitters (fire alarms went off multiple times for no reason, restaurant food not being up to par with other iberostars, etc) and another point because of how uninviting the ocean water is. We actually extended our vacation by 4 days and relocated to the Quetzal because we missed that beach and water so much. Undecided if I'd come back to this one. If the water at least looked inviting, I could move on from the small beach. Staff as usual was great.

Jorge’s water aerobics class is fantastic! Lots of fun, high energy, and a great workout. Jorge is the best!

This is a party hotel. Music is played all day until 8:30 pm. If you are looking for peace and quiet, do not stay here. The hotel should provide a heads up. The beach is small and disappointing. Seaweed has taken over and has been a problem in the last few years. Friendly staff, clean, well kept, nice amenities, food is decent. Upon arrival, hotel staff will ask you to attend a presentation for 1.5 hours to get you to return for future stays. The shuttle service warned me about this and said not to attend.

We are traveling as a couple and are here at the resort. The staff are friendly, the swim up room is large and kept very clean. The beach is small and not great for those who vacation for the beach life but the pools are awesome. Food is great so far but go early to catch a spot. Drinks are lovely and the breakfast buffet is good with a lot of options. Very much enjoying our stay so far!