Azul Beach Resort Cancun
Here a review of Azul Beach Resort Riviera Cancun, Mexico – a small all-inclusive resort that has fantastic pools, amazing food, and a variety of activities for everyone in the family to enjoy.
Choosing the perfect all-inclusive resort in Cancun is like trying to pick the right coffee at Starbucks. With so many choices available, it can be overwhelming. However, just as I have techniques for helping you find the best coffee, I also have methods for assisting you in selecting the ideal resort. It’s important to note that simply searching online, sorting by price, and picking the first option is not the best approach. To demonstrate, I’ll evaluate how the Azul Beach Resort Riviera Cancun fairs based on my selection process, which could help determine if it’s right for you.
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The trip from the airport to the resort took about 30 minutes. The resort is located outside the Hotel Zone, making it a peaceful vacation spot. Although it’s great for short and relaxing trips, Azul Beach Resort also provides tours to nearby cenotes and ruins, which require a travel time of around 45 to 60 minutes.
This is the view from my balcony. It’s nice to be able to see the Starbucks from my balcony, especially when it’s located under a palapa at the Azul Beach Resort. I took this photo around 7:00 in the morning. Despite the resort being almost fully booked, there were no crowds of people in sight. I really enjoyed my room; it was spacious with tasteful decorations that weren’t overwhelming. Overall, I could see myself living there.
I ended up staying in a Junior Suite instead of an ocean-front room, which I had thought I requested. However, I ended up enjoying the views of the pools and vegetation. On Sunday night, we had a lovely storm and I had a great time sleeping on the large sofa on my balcony while listening to the rain.
Due to my busy schedule of touring Karisma properties, attending training and meetings, I did not have much free time. If I did, I would have taken a few minutes to enjoy the hot tub in my room. Attached is a photo of a junior suite that I captured using my iPhone at around 5:30 in the evening, with all the lights turned off. The light in the photo is solely from the natural evening light. This is a junior suite at Azul Beach Resort.
To give you an idea of what to expect from our all-inclusive resort, here are the key features:
Despite the numbers, Azul Beach Resort Cancun has a small footprint. However, the resort is well-designed and everything is within a short walking distance, yet it doesn’t feel cramped. The arrangement of the pools throughout the grounds and the plants that separate the different areas create a pleasant and relaxing tropical atmosphere.
The Azul Beach Resort is a great place for families to visit. They offer a range of activities that are suitable for all ages, including a kids club called Azulitos Playhouse for children between the ages of 4 and 12, as well as the Extreme Breeze Teens program for teenagers between 13 and 17. Other activities available at the resort include tennis, archery, ping pong, water polo, Spanish lessons, and dance classes. Additionally, the Playhouse splash pool is available for use.
Children between the ages of 5 and 17 are welcome to enjoy spa services with adult supervision at Azul Beach Resort’s Vassa Spa. Please note that 15-17 year-olds may not appreciate being referred to as “kids.” Additionally, the resort offers amenities such as baby monitors, baby baths, cribs, changing tables, and strollers, which can be difficult to bring on a plane.
At Azul Beach Resort, you can find baby robes and slippers to make your kids feel like little grown-ups and enjoy the vacation just like you do. And yes, I used “vacation” as a verb. By the way, the mini robes are absolutely adorable
During my trip, I only had the chance to watch sunrises at the Azul beach due to the excessive seaweed. Although it is a lovely and suitable beach for kids to play in, seaweed was a problem during our visit. This is a common issue across Quintana Roo and the Caribbean.
I didn’t try all eight restaurants, but the ones I did try were enjoyable. Although it’s not exactly refined gourmet dining, I still appreciated every meal, even the Italian food which isn’t usually my preference.
The following is a list of restaurants available:
I wish there was a quick-service restaurant available for those who want to grab a burger or hotdog on-the-go instead of having to sit and order. Nevertheless, Pizza Pizza, which is located adjacent to the kids pool, was surprisingly satisfying. Although I prefer being outdoors, I didn’t try the room service. However, according to my friends who did, it was delicious. In the podcast episode, we ordered drinks from the patio, and they were promptly delivered – it was truly remarkable.
I enjoyed the bars, especially the Mojito bar which had their signature drink, the cinnamon Mojito, that was amazing. They also serve some great local beer with some very good tacos. Although you may not find the best cocktails at pool bars, they had varieties of whiskeys and beers, and everyone who requested a drink was served without any rejected requests. The pool bars were really fun!
We a great time participating in a Tequila tasting session organized by the Azul Beach Resort. The tequila and mezcal expert provided us with different types of tequila along with food pairings while sharing some fascinating information on Mayan mythology and the art of spirit-making. He even demonstrated a bad pairing to help us understand the difference. Overall, I would definitely recommend this enjoyable activity.
The Azul Beach Resort Riviera Cancun has a Starbucks. While the drinks are not included, they can be charged to your room. The prices are similar to regular Starbucks stores. This Starbucks is unique because it’s located under a large palapa and has hammocks, swings, and swinging beds. It also offers Spanish lessons and painting classes. Check out the picture from my room above.
The Starbucks located at Azul Beach Resorts is really great!
I am excited to go back to Azul Beach Resorts with my friends or possibly with my wife for a romantic trip. However, if I am planning a family vacation, we will search for a destination with a safe beach for swimming, most likely not in Quintana Roo. We may consider the Azul Beach Resort Negril in Jamaica or the Azul Beach Resort Montenegro.
Other Similar Resorts in Cancun:
| Live Aqua Resort Cancun | Hyatt Ziva Cancun |
| Moon Palace Resort | Riu Resort Cancun |
| Iberostar Selection Cancun | Hyatt Zilara Cancun |
| Hard Rock Resort Cancun | Excellence Resort Cancun |
| Royal Solaris Cancun |
I recommend these travel resources for Mexico that I personally use:
🏨 Hotels: I have found that Expedia and Booking.com consistently have the best deals on hotels and resorts in Mexico. If you prefer to stay at a vacation rental, check VRBO that is usually cheaper than AirBnB’s added fees!
✈️ Flights: To find the best flight deals to Mexico, I always use Kayak. Remember to subscribe to their price alerts for the travel dates you want. Another great alternative for flight deals is Expedia.
🚗 Rental Cars: I always use and highly recommend Discover Cars because it allows me to compare several car rental companies and view ratings on various factors such as overall value, pick-up procedure, agent efficiency, car condition, and total time taken.
🚙 Cancun Airport Transportation: For the fastest and easiest way to travel, I suggest arranging a private transfer with Cancun Airport Transportation. Honestly, no better way to travel from the airport to your hotel or resort.
🤿 Tours & Activities: For tours and activities in Mexico, I highly recommend using either Viator or GetYourGuide. These websites offer a full refund if you cancel your booking 24 hours before the start of the tour, and they also provide excellent customer service in case of any issues.
🚨 Travel Insurance: I always suggest purchasing travel insurance as a precaution before traveling, especially after a recent accident in a taxi in Mexico. For short trips, I recommend Travel Insurance Master, whereas for digital nomads, Safety Wing is a better option.
📷 Best Camera for your trip: I always carry with me a GoPro, It’s light, compact, takes great video and pictures, and most importantly, it’s waterproof! You just can’t go wrong with one. If you are interested in higher quality video and photography, I always carry with me on my trips and highly recommend the Sony A7IV which I think is the best travel DSLR Camera out there.
☀️ Biodegradable Sunscreen: Remember to include a good sunscreen to protect yourself from the summer sun. I always use and suggest Sun Bum Sunscreen, which is vegan, reef-friendly, and cruelty-free.
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