To preface it all, I must say that I've only stayed at one all-inclusive resort before and my family and I are avid travelers having stayed at incredible locations throughout the world -- with several visits to Mexico, especially the Cancun-Riviera Maya area. But we had no idea how much we'd enjoy our weeklong stay at this beautiful resort. 

 

 

To begin with we were greeted with warm towels and delicious drinks at check-in, a process which was seamless and stress free. And as we were led to our rooms, I immediately loved the sense of intimacy of this resort -- it's spacious but has a very cozy feel and the grounds are impeccably cared for. The overall resort has a modern tropic decor with beautiful splashes of greenery and winding water features/pools throughout. You'll immediately notice the swim-up balconies in one area of the resort, and if you're like me, you'll wish you booked one of those units! But I also love that there is plenty of common   seating areas and cozy spaces to just sit back and unwind, giving you sense of relaxation wherever you look.

 

 

During our vacation, we stayed in a family suite which was equipped with all the amenities and all the space we could want for our family of four. The rooms are tastefully decorated in a modern style and our little 2-year-old loved the lounge furniture on the balcony. It's the perfect spot to enjoy the sunrise/sunset while also feeling the breeze in the air. While we aren't the type to spend too much time in our rooms -- opting for the beach or pool instead -- the rooms at Azul Beach are perfect for those who prefer to enjoy the comforts of in-room dining and relaxation. And yes, the beds are extremely comfortable and will give you plenty of restful nights of sleep!

 

 

What can I say? The food was truly what sold it for me -- the food at Azul Beach is second to none. Everything here is gourmet inclusive and it is delicious! I can't say enough about all their wonderful dining options -- from Italian, to Asian, to crepes and sweets and grilled delights -- they have it all. But my favorite restaurant at Azul Beach by far was Latino -- a Latin inspired eatery that serves up the most delicious dishes and a ribeye steak you will never forget! At each of the resort's five restaurants, they offer courses and a la carte dining so your meals are served fresh. And of course drinks and spirits are free flowing at this all-inclusive resort so you can always get a delicious beverage along with your meals. They make THE BEST mojitos here -- my personal favorite is the mango mojito! And for those with children, make sure to bring them to Scoop, where they can get a sweet or savory crepe and ice cream. Children will also enjoy the character breakfast at Chil Bar. And room service was great as well for the few meals we decided to take it easy and just relax in our rooms. Young or old, the dining options at Azul Beach are plentiful and delicious.

 

 

Although a smaller boutique resort, Azul Beach has tons of activities to keep you busy. From yoga and beach soccer to cooking classes and spanish lessons, there is always something to do each and every day. Kids have their slew of options as well via the NIckelodeon Kids Club and nightly shows for all ages. 

 

 

My husband and I indulged in a beachside couple's massage and we had the best time. There's something truly soothing about getting a full-body massage under a cabana that's hanging over the ocean and hearing the waves hit the shore. I highly recommend this to anyone looking for a wonderful way to relax. The resort's Vassa Spa also offers in-spa massage services, facials, hair/makeup styling and use of their spa. The service at Vassa Spa is excellent and you will walk out of there feeling like a new person. 

 

 

My prerequisite for staying at any resort is the beach -- is it swimmable? My family and I are total beach people, so it's really important for us to stay somewhere where we can utilize the beach without having to go too far. The beach here is beautiful and not crowded at all, giving you the opportunity to spend hours on end enjoying the aqua blue waters without ever feeling like you're too far from the comforts of your room. The shore is also well maintained by the resort staff and cleaned of any seaweed that may wash upon the shore. The first thing I noticed when we wandered onto the beach area were the incredible beach beds that lined along the shore -- can you say, "perfect place to nap?" There are several beach beds so you don't feel like you have to fight for a spot and yes they are absolutely comfortable and the perfect place to relax all day long. The beach is safe enough to bring little children who can also frolic along the sand or play with beach toys provided by the resort. After a long day at the beach we spent several hours in one of their many pools until the sun came down and there are plenty of lounge chairs along the pools for those who simply want to sunbathe or relax without having to get in the water.

 

 

If there's one thing that truly sets apart Azul Beach Hotel from other places I've stayed at, it's the customer service and overall guests experience. Throughout our weeklong stay, I truly felt like the staff really went out of their way to make sure we were well taken care of in every aspect of our vacation experience. In the restaurants we received the best service from staff who always went out of their way to greet and talk to us and made sure we enjoyed every part of our meal. They were courteous and friendly, never rushing us even on the many nights we dined late -- often times being the last people left in the restaurant. Whenever we were in communication with the front desk or concierge, we were always so impressed by the willingness of the staff to meet our needs and accommodate any requests we had. They even arranged for a glass of milk to be delivered to our room every night in time for our little one to go to bed. From beginning to end, we were always treated with such warmth and professionalism, truly making it one of the best vacations we've ever had! 

 

Overall, our experience at Azul Beach Hotel could not have been better and it's a resort I highly recommend to anyone looking for a wonderful and relaxation vacation where you will be well taken care of from beginning to end!