Iberostar Selection Riviera Cancún

“Great time!”

Great hotel! Great experience!, lots of effort and hard work being done by the staff too! Shout out to Araceli the barista for making the best iced coffees!! I loved my beach front view and would definitely come back again!

“A Mostly Enjoyable Stay with Some Dining Frustrations”

I recently spent four nights at Iberostar Selection Riviera Cancún as a bit of a scouting trip before deciding where to spend a longer nine-day vacation next month. My visit coincided with the Mexican summer holiday period, and the resort was full, just to add some context. Overall, I enjoyed my s… more

I recently spent four nights at Iberostar Selection Riviera Cancún as a bit of a scouting trip before deciding where to spend a longer nine-day vacation next month. My visit coincided with the Mexican summer holiday period, and the resort was full, just to add some context. Overall, I enjoyed my stay, but it was a mixture of very positive experiences and a few frustrations. As a solo traveller who doesn't drink alcohol, dining is one of the highlights of my vacations. However, when you're travelling alone, a long wait for a table can feel even longer because you don't have anyone to chat with while you wait. I initially went to the Italian restaurant but was told there would be about a 45-minute wait, so I decided instead to try the Spanish restaurant. That turned out to be a better decision. I only waited about 10 or 15 minutes before being seated. My waiter, Manuel, provided friendly, attentive service, the food was very good, and hostess Andrea made me feel genuinely welcome. The following evening I returned to the Italian restaurant to try my luck again. Unfortunately, this was probably the low point of my stay. After waiting close to an hour for a table, I found the appetizers disappointing. The olives were so warm that I only ate one because they simply weren't enjoyable. The bruschetta reminded me more of pizza bread with tomato paste than a traditional bruschetta. The burrata was fine and, in fact, it was the only thing I ate before deciding to cancel my main course and finish my dinner at the buffet instead. During my time at the Italian restaurant, the atmosphere was extremely busy and rushed, and I watched a steady stream of guests arriving, being told about the long wait, and leaving disappointed. Breakfast on Sunday morning was another challenge. Around 9:50 a.m., the line was out the doors and down the pathway. That evening I dined at Nopal, the Mexican restaurant, and once again had a wonderful experience. My waiter, Jesús, was friendly and personable, and hostess Andrea remembered me from my visit to the Spanish restaurant two nights earlier, which was a thoughtful personal touch. The Abuelita chocolate cake was absolutely delicious, and the churros served with three different dipping sauces were excellent. I enjoyed the evening so much that I had hoped to return the following night to try more of the menu, but unfortunately the restaurant was closed. One thing I noticed during my stay was that La Brisa was not open during my first three evenings but was open on my final night. Since the resort had been full during the Mexican summer holiday period, I couldn't help wondering whether having another restaurant available earlier might have helped reduce some of the pressure on the other restaurants. My final evening at La Brisa was a wonderful way to end the trip. The atmosphere on Monday evening felt noticeably calmer than it had over the weekend. My waiter, Eduardo, was warm, friendly and genuinely enjoyable to talk with throughout the meal. As a solo traveller, conversations like that become part of the vacation experience and are something I genuinely appreciate. One thing that impressed me throughout my stay was the professionalism of the staff. Even during the busiest periods, they remained courteous despite dealing with long waits and understandably frustrated guests. I also appreciated seeing hostess Arantxa again on my final evening. She gave me a warm welcome, and it was a pleasant way to end my stay. Outside of the restaurants, I enjoyed the quieter pool area much more than I expected. Although this is a family-friendly resort and it was completely full during my visit, I often found myself almost alone in the swim-up pool, particularly in the mornings and late afternoons. Many guests naturally gravitated toward the main activity pool, leaving the swim-up area surprisingly peaceful. With its bridges, mature palm trees and different viewpoints, it was also an enjoyable area to walk around and photograph. The grounds were attractive and well maintained. The beach itself is quite small, but during my stay there was very little sargassum, which allowed me to enjoy walking barefoot on the sand and putting my feet in the water. While the beach may not be the resort's strongest feature, I appreciated having it available when conditions allowed. Overall, I left with mixed but positive feelings. My concerns relate more to how the resort managed what was clearly an exceptionally busy period. Long waits for breakfast and dinner can have a real impact on a short vacation and may influence the impressions of first-time visitors. At the same time, I experienced some genuinely excellent hospitality. Would I return? Yes, I would. My stay had a few frustrations, but it also had enough genuinely positive experiences that I would happily consider coming back. Hopefully, on a less busy week, the excellent service provided by the staff would be matched by a smoother dining experience.

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