Top 5 Reasons to Visit All-Inclusive Azul Beach Resort Riviera Cancun

When planning a family vacation, parents have a lot of considerations to juggle.  They want to ensure their children will have fun, the hotel will be clean, and the food will be yummy, among many other things.  While we are all worrying about the kids, let’s not forget about the adults!  Parents themselves want to have a chance to relax and have fun too.  Altogether it can get quite stressful to pick the right place amongst a sea of possibilities.

Azul Beach Resort Riviera Cancun in Mexico makes all those worries drift away.  This all-inclusive resort in the Mexican Caribbean caters to families as well as adults with an abundance of activities to do from the relaxing spa, pools, nightlife, entertainment, kids’ activities and more - - you do not even have to leave the resort to have a wonderful time.  If you do want to venture out and explore the area, that can be easily arranged by the concierge for you as well.

Recently, 50 of my Macaroni Kid Publisher Sisters got to go on a girl’s only vacation to experience it for ourselves at our annual Macaroni Kid Silver Boondoggle.  While I was able to have some much needed me time, it was not difficult at all to imagine all the fun my family would be having there too.

Here are my top 5 reasons why Azul Beach Resort Riviera Cancun would make an excellent destination for your next family vacation:

(1) It’s all-inclusive!

Put that wallet away, you will not need it!  I absolutely hate having to carry things with me and am always worried about where I will stash my wallet so it will be safe while out and about.  An all-inclusive means that everything is already paid for with your stay (minus a few worthy extras).  You can relax and not have to worry about lugging your money with you as you enjoy the beautiful grounds.  There are some extra activities you may want to bring it back out for though such as snorkeling or enjoying a meal at the award-winning Le Chique Restaurant.  More on that below.

(2) The pools are plentiful and beautiful

I am definitely a pool person.  To me, there is nothing better than to have the warmth of the sun on your face while floating around in a crystal blue pool and feeling the cool water surrounding you.  My room was in building 3 and I had the luxury of being able to walk right outside my backdoor and into one of the many pools on property.  I felt like a kid in a candy shop.  This is the type of luxury guests have come to experience at Azul Beach Resort Riviera Cancun.

There is no shortage of pools to choose either.  There are 6 in fact!  From the adult-only pool complete with cabanas and swim-up bar, to the family pools and the special kid-centered pool and splash pad, you will have a lot of fun exploring all that there is to offer.  The luxury does not stop with the adults at Azul, but transcends to even the smallest of family members.  Near the kids' clubhouse is a special little haven for the kids in your life.  There is a splash pad, slide, and even special child-sized pool loungers. 

Remember to pack a pool tube so you can float your cares away.

source: JORDAN HAMPTON PHOTOGRAPHY

(3) Kids of all ages enjoy all-inclusive activities!

It can be hard to please kids of multiple different ages at the same time.  Your teen is not going to be into the same thing as your preschooler.  But at Azul they can feel like their needs and wants are being met while having a fun time as a family as well.  At the kids' clubhouse called the “Azulitos Playhouse”, you can join your kids or drop them off.  They can enjoy one of the many daytime or evening activities where the staff encourages play and makes sure every kid feels included and entertained.  My children are huge My Gym Fitness Center fans and there is one right at the clubhouse!  Here there are plenty of opportunities for your child to have fun with ropes, parallel bars, trampolines, springboards and more.

For the teens in the family, there is the Extreme Breeze Teens lounge which is designed for 13 to 17 year olds.  At the lounge teens can enjoy movies, music videos, Xbox, video games, billiards, and air hockey.  Does your teen enjoy something more active?  There are also daily activities such as rock climbing and volleyball!

(4) The service is the top of the line!

I can say without a shadow of a doubt that this beautiful resort has impeccable customer service from every single person I encountered.  They all seem invested in making every vacation the absolute best it can be and they exceeded all expectations.  You can rest assured that you are in good hands as they have the best staff to guest ratio in the industry (2:1).  I was also worried about having to break out into my not-so-good high school Spanish, but the staff speaks English fluently and I only had to break out the occasional “hola” or “gracias” as I desired. 

The grounds and hotel rooms are kept in impeccable condition.  My roommate and I shared a room with two queens.  Our room was very spacious and there was plenty of room for us both to spread out.  There are many different kinds of accommodation choices to fit your type of family, complete with connecting suites.

(5) The food is all included as part of the Karisma Gourmet Inclusive^® Experience!

Leave the greasy fast food at home and come and experience meals that will actually get you excited to eat them!  At our welcome dinner we enjoyed a wide array of traditional Mexican food at the beautiful and authentic Zocalo restaurant.  This by far was my favorite meal of the trip!  At Azul, their food buffets are elevated to artistic displays that are as visually beautiful as they are delicious.  While we happily treated ourselves to this outstanding meal, a mariachi band and singer entertained us with their beautiful music.  I truly felt the spirit of Mexico with all of its vibrancy.

As an additional treat, we got to have dinner at the very exclusive Le Chique restaurant during our stay.  While this is an extra experience, I can guarantee that it will be an experience unlike you have ever had before.  This AAA Five Diamond restaurant and winner of "Best Restaurant in Mexico" by Travel + Leisure México has surprises around every turn during this 14-course meal.  The vibrant colors, bold flavors, smooth textures, and innovative plating push the boundaries far beyond what you think food can look or taste like.  I still am thinking of all the scrumptious bites that I was fortunate to experience and the lively conversation it inspired amongst my friends at my table.

TIPS & TRICKS

• Bringing a baby or toddler in tow?  Azul Beach Resort Riviera Cancun has you covered!  As part of their inclusive experience, they offer strollers, cribs, pack ‘n plays, bottle sterilizers, organic baby food and more so you don’t have to get bogged down in things to pack.
• Also for babies, there are Gerber products available at every restaurant so your babies meals are even included too!  Natural baby food can also be requested to be made by the chefs.
• You also do not have to bring pesos to this resort, as the American dollar is also accepted!
• Don’t worry about having to buy or bring any outlet converters, as they match the same kind we use in America, with even USB outlets as well.
• Room Service is all included and 24/7!  Craving a cheesecake at midnight?  No worries!  Want to plan breakfast in bed?  Call them and arrange a time you would like it to be delivered as breakfast requests can get hectic.
• There is a Starbucks on property.  I repeat, there is a Starbucks on the property.  AND IT IS INCLUDED!
• There are no lifeguards on duty so be sure to keep an extra close eye on your kids and bring any sort of puddle jumper that would be helpful.
• When traveling by plane from the NYC/Long Island area, there are nonstop flights available at just about 3.5 hours each way. 
• Don’t forget to get a passport or make sure yours and your family's are up to date!
• The resort is a quick 20-minute car ride from the airport.
• Don’t forget to unplug, unwind, and make lasting memories to hold onto forever.
• When talking about family vacations, a running joke is that it truly isn’t a vacation, parents just watch their kids in a different place.  While that might be true to a certain extent, at Azul Beach Resort Riviera Cancun, everyone can feel like this vacation was designed for them and be treated to the luxury we all crave and deserve.

The author was a guest of Azul Beach Resort Riviera Cancun for the purpose of this review. All opinions are those of the author. No other compensation was received.