Azul Beach Resort Riviera Cancun

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!

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 We had an amazing service & stay, and I would especially like to thank Octavio, the concierge. He was always kind, attentive, and genuinely happy to help with anything we needed. His warm smile and positive energy were like sunshine ☀️ and made every day of our vacation even more enjoyable. Octavio is a wonderful person and a true professional who makes guests feel welcome and cared for. Thank you for your kindness, your dedication, and for making our stay so special. We truly hope to see you again on our next visit! 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 I would also like to thank the wonderful young lady Shanty at the reception desk. Unfortunately, I don't remember her name, but she was absolutely amazing. She was always welcoming, kind, professional, and genuinely caring. She made us feel at home from the very first moment. Some people simply have a special gift for making others feel comfortable and happy, and she is definitely one of them. It's not easy to say goodbye to people like her because they leave such a warm impression on your heart. Thank you for making our stay so memorable. We will always remember your kindness. 1 time #2318, 2 time #4309

I’ve never stayed in a hotel before where every single member of staff has been so so friendly, genuinely nice and happy to help!! My family and I have had the best time on our 10 night stay! Everything was clean and the food was great! I have nothing bad to say about this hotel at all and I highly highly recommend it!