- Mexico Holidays
- Puerto Morelos
- Azul Beach Resort Riviera Cancun
This stunning and luxurious resort is ideally situated in the city centre close to the main sightseeing attractions and a few minutes from the popular Playa del Carmen. The property is also a mere 20 minutes' ride from the airport, being very convenient for all those visiting this amazing place for leisure or business. Among the impressive accommodation units types, guests will find their ideal bedroom or suite. All of them are beautifully appointed and some have a private hot tub for added comfort or can be connected to an annexed room when travelling with the whole family. Guests will be impressed with the myriad of dining and entertainment options that can be found in the hotel, including a fantastic swimming pool or a convenient spa with restorative treatments. Moreover, all members of the family will have a great time at the hotel, thanks to the dance and cooking classes.
Pamper yourself with a visit to the spa, which offers massages, body treatments and facials. You're sure to appreciate the recreational amenities, which include 6 outdoor swimming pools, outdoor tennis courts and a 24-hour health club. This property also features complimentary wireless Internet access, concierge services and babysitting (surcharge). Guests can catch a ride to nearby destinations on the local area shuttle (surcharge).
Due to the surrounding area and the number of steps around the hotel, it may not be suitable for those with mobility difficulties.
From the moment we arrived, what a beautiful getaway, resort . The entire property is stunningly clean, beautiful, creating the ultimate getaway atmosphere. Warm beach, nice pools. But what truly sets Iberostar apart is the staff. Every single team member is remarkably kind, attentive, and genuinely goes above and beyond to make you feel special.
And the food? Las margaritas?!!! Incredible! Every meal was delicious, with so much variety and wonderful quality. So many choices.... From a brazilian, and american soul, I truly recommend this dream gateway.
We have just returned from a 10 day relaxing holiday here and it was amazing! The hotel and its grounds are kept immaculate. All the staff we encountered were lovely and friendly and it never felt ‘forced’. We were lucky enough to be upgraded to ‘Star Prestige’, which meant we had access to the pool and swim up bar in the members area. All around this pool were Cabanas, which offer shelter from the searing heat at times! Loungers and sun umbrellas were also available too. There is also a Star Prestige members bar which is open 8am-11pm just inside the hotel lobby, which was really comfortable and air conditioned. Mauricio from the Star Prestige pool bar area absolutely made our holiday, always friendly and chatting, and of course up for a laugh! This pool was quite quiet at times, however, but that’s probably due to the time of year we went, but in no way did that spoil it for us, as we wanted a nice chilled out holiday, which is exactly what we got. There was also numerous other pools to choose from. There were plenty of activities going on throughout the day, so you could get involved as little or as much as you liked without constantly getting hassled by the animation team. They were always walking round telling people what activities were on and at what time, and if you politely declined, they didn’t keep going on at you to join in! The restaurants were also really nice, with varied menus, all cooked to order. Our favourite being the Spanish restaurant. We only ever had breakfast in the buffet restaurant as at evening time we always went to one of the other restaurants and never had a problem getting a table. The restaurants operate on a ‘first come, first served’ basis, so no need to book, however, at busier periods of the year, I can imagine it wouldn’t be as easy to get a table. If I had to find any faults around our stay, they’re minor…In some of the restaurants it would’ve been nicer if the food was served piping hot, but it wasn’t every meal we had, and in no way detracted from the taste. Lastly, the fixed sunbeds that were in the pool at the Star Prestige pool bar were quite uncomfortable due to the mosaic design of them, but again in the grand scheme of things not a massive issue. All in all, we had a wonderful, chilled relaxing time. I would absolutely recommend this hotel to people if they’re thinking of a holiday to Mexico. The transfer time from the airport is about 30 minutes, and from the moment we stepped through the doors of the hotel, we were greeted warmly, which also continued throughout our stay. My husband and I usually like to go to different hotels each time we travel abroad, however, I wouldn’t hesitate to stay at this hotel again. The whole 10 days we were there, were pretty much perfection. Thankyou for a wonderful holiday x
What a fantastic hotel!!!!! Staff go above and beyond at all times. Food is amazing even in buffet restaurant. We are leaving tomorrow...gutted. we've had an amazing holiday!!!!! Great entertainment....cannot fault a thing. Great drink service even in cabana on beach. Massive pat on the back to each and everyone of you.
After reading reviews, we went into it with low expectations. But, for the price, we couldn’t beat it. And we were surprisingly blown away! And are even currently looking at booking another stay here later this year.
As long as you go into your trip knowing you are going to spend all of your time at the pool, you will have a wonderful time. Honestly the beach being crappy wasn’t an issue for us at all. We booked a swim out room and enjoyed the convenience of never having to leave our room. It was honestly perfect!
Easily the best food and service we have had in Mexico in years! Do not miss Gala night!
Honorable mentions:
Mario- pool concierge. went above and beyond!
Alondra- was so sweet and kind and always helpful!
Wendy- activities. Also went above and beyond.
I recently had the pleasure of staying at Iberostar Selection Riviera Cancun for a short getaway, and I can honestly say that I thoroughly enjoyed my experience. After seeing all of the reviews and videos on social media, I was curious to see whether the resort would actually live up to the hype.
It did! 🙌🏾
This is a smaller, newer resort, and that was actually one of my favorite things about it. The property was easy to navigate, everything felt fresh and well maintained, and I never felt like I had to spend half my vacation walking from one end of the resort to the other.
I was only there for a short, sweet stay, but the resort and, especially, the staff definitely left a lasting impression on me.
🏖️ Beach Access
Although Iberostar Selection Riviera Cancun is not technically considered a beachfront property, you can access the beach directly from the resort.
That said, manage your expectations. The beach area is very small and not really walkable, so if you’re booking specifically for long beach walks or a wide, expansive stretch of sand, this may not be the resort for you.
For me, it wasn’t a dealbreaker because I was more interested in the overall resort experience than spending my entire vacation on the beach.
🛏️ Room & Value
One of the things I loved most about this resort was the reasonable price point. I also really appreciated that pool-view rooms are standard, so there isn’t an additional upcharge just to have a nice view. 👏🏾
I stayed in a one-bedroom suite with a king-size bed, and I was very happy with my accommodations. The room was comfortable, modern, and fit perfectly with the overall feel of the property.
For what I paid, I felt that I received excellent value.
🍽️ Dining
The resort has four specialty restaurants:
🇮🇹 Italian 🇲🇽 Mexican 🇪🇸 Spanish 🏝️ Caribbean
There’s also a pizzeria and a buffet serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
A couple of things to know before you arrive:
The specialty restaurants aren’t all open every day, so definitely check the schedule when you check in and plan your dinners accordingly.
Also, the restaurants do not accept reservations. Seating is first come, first served, so timing is important.
I learned that lesson one evening when I tried to dine at La Brisa, the Caribbean restaurant. Unfortunately, I arrived too late and was told the waitlist was approximately an hour long, with no guarantee that I would actually be seated.
Fortunately, the staff stepped in and helped turn the situation around.
👏🏾 Standout Service
The entire staff was incredibly kind, friendly, and helpful, but Ceidi and Mario deserve a special shoutout.
After I left La Brisa because of the long wait, Ceidi approached me and genuinely tried to make the situation right. She offered me another dining option, and I was able to get seated at Nopal, the Mexican restaurant.
What impressed me even more was that she didn’t just help me in that moment and move on. Ceidi followed up with me while I was dining to make sure everything was okay and also explained my options for dining at another specialty restaurant the following evening.
That kind of follow-through really stood out to me. It’s one thing to solve a problem; it’s another to actually check back in and make sure your guest is still having a good experience.
Then there’s Mario.
I rented a cabana for the day, and Mario was my server. This man took GOOD care of me! 😂🍹
He made sure I always had a drink, kept my water bottle filled with ice-cold water, and checked on me periodically throughout the day without being intrusive.
He was attentive, friendly, and genuinely seemed to care about my comfort.
Mario understood the assignment. 👏🏾😂
🎶 Entertainment & Atmosphere
My stay was during the resort’s off-season, so the property was relatively quiet and definitely wasn’t at full capacity.
Honestly? I loved it.
Even though there weren’t a ton of guests around, the resort still made a great effort to keep everyone entertained. There were daily activities during the day and entertainment in the evening, so it never felt like the resort had completely slowed down for the off-season.
Although this is a family-friendly resort, there weren’t many children during my stay, which made the atmosphere feel especially peaceful and relaxing.
If you’re looking for a massive, high-energy resort with crowds everywhere, this probably isn’t the right fit.
But if you prefer something smaller, newer, quieter, and easier to navigate, I think this property is definitely worth considering.
💡 One Area for Improvement
If I had to identify one thing I’d like to see the resort improve, it would be the lighting around the property at night.
To be clear, I felt safe during my entire stay. However, some of the pathways were quite dim, and the lighting that was present wasn’t particularly bright.
I especially noticed this in the stairwell vestibules. The light fixtures were there, but they weren’t turned on. Increasing the lighting in these areas and along some of the pathways would make getting around the property at night feel more comfortable and would improve visibility.
It’s a relatively small thing, but it’s the type of detail that can make a big difference in the overall guest experience.
⭐️ Final Verdict
I genuinely don’t have any major complaints about my stay, which is saying something because I can definitely be particular when it comes to resorts. 😂
For the reasonable price, newer property, comfortable accommodations, standard pool views, dining options, daily activities, evening entertainment, and—most importantly—the staff, Iberostar Selection Riviera Cancun earns a well-deserved 10/10 from me.
The small beach, first-come, first-served restaurant seating, and dim lighting at night are things I’d recommend keeping in mind when deciding whether this resort is right for you. However, none of those things negatively impacted my overall experience.
Sometimes a resort doesn’t have to be the biggest, fanciest, or most extravagant property to make a great impression.
Iberostar Selection Riviera Cancun gave me exactly what I wanted: a beautiful, modern property, excellent service, plenty to do, good dining options, and a relaxed atmosphere without feeling overwhelming.
Would I return?
Absolutely.
Would I recommend it to friends and family?
Without hesitation.
Would I book it again?
Let’s just say I wouldn’t need much convincing. 😂
🌴☀️🍹 Iberostar Selection Riviera Cancun — I’ll definitely be back!
