Hello and happy July! We just got back from 6 days in Cancun and I got a bunch of messages on Instagram asking where we were staying [I usually don’t share my exact location for safety reasons until I return], so I thought I’d give a proper run-down of our resort. We stayed at the Iberostar Selection Cancún. I had told Mike all I really wanted was an awesome pool and a hot tub on our balcony, and after combing through probably 50 resorts, we landed on this one.
I will say, the pool was FABULOUS. It was probably the best resort pool I’ve had. The swim-up bar was well run and the pool was never too crowded. Also, our beach was incredible. We could literally spill out of our infinity pool onto the sand. Right next to the main pool bar was the kids splash pad/water slide area, which was great. And just behind that was the Kids Club, which we utilized multiple times. The staff there were so nice and they had a calendar of their activities so we could plan our day around what Dillon wanted to do there.
Now, I wanted to also give an honest pros/cons list of the resorts, as I know I personally find these really helpful when planning trips.
PROS
- Proximity – It was super close to the airport as well as the to shopping district. It was right in the middle and also had a great beach to walk along. We used Cancun Airport Transport for a private shuttle, which ended up being $75 round-trip for the 3 of us for a private van that had a stocked cooler. They were waiting for us at the airport and then picked us up promptly at the resort when it was time to leave. We also were very close to a few different malls/shopping districts [we went to La Isla Mall, which was SO nice but it’s outdoor, so keep in mind it gets hot, and things don’t open until later]. Mike found some cigar stores to get Cubans nearby, too.
- Pool/Beach – These were truly fabulous. It was perfect for Dillon to swim since it never really got deep. The bar staff was super nice and the pool was not elbow to elbow. There were tons of opportunities for pictures at the infinity wall. The food truck there also had some of the best food on the resort. The popcorn chicken was SO good; we ate that every day! They also had quesadillas, loaded fries, and sandwiches to satisfy the whole fam. The bar next to there was usually empty, too, if the pool bar was too backed up. There were plenty of chairs and we never had an issue getting a space or towels. This was what we wanted on this trip was a good pool, and we got just that.
- Kids Club – obviously.
- The Spa – Mike and I splurged on a Couples Massage and it was AMAZING! I’ve been to some really beautiful spas around the world, and this one is definitely up there. The service itself was amazing, but they had some really incredible amenities for before and after, like hydrotherapy pools, a steam room, multiple different shower formats, a spa water/tea bar, and hot tubs. I wish we would’ve planned to have more time to enjoy those. I would highly recommend buildling this into the vacation budget if you end up here.
- The Staff – They were so nice. Everyone from the bartenders to the kids club folks were pleasant and helpful.
- Our Room – Once we got in the right one, it was awesome. It was very spacious, had a pull-out couch that Dillon could sleep on with doors that closed, and there was a ton of storage. The bathroom had two sinks and they loaded us up with a ton of towels. The closet and safe situation was also decent. The hot tub on our balcony was definitely my favorite part. They kept the mini fridge stocked with Sodas and Beers, which was nice, too.
- Wi-Fi – We had our phones on airplane mode the entire trip with no issues. The connection was strong and remained as far out as the beach.
CONS
- Room Change – I’m not sure if this is a con, per se, but they did put us in the wrong suite to start so we had to change rooms after already unpacking, which was a bit annoying. If you want a view like ours, you need to book an Suite Ocean Front.
- Elevators – They only had 2 elevators for the entire resort which were quite small and had no AC. It made for some very close contact and stinky rides.
- Key Card Sensor – I’m not sure if it was just our room, but the sensor for the key card took many, many attempts to open the door, which wasn’t ideal with a child who usually had to go to the bathroom by the time we got to the door, ha!
- Ice Machine – The water and ice machine on our floor [and the floor below us] were broken, so I had to remember to bring my water bottle to the buffet or the pool bar to get it filled. It’s not a deal breaker for me, but just something to check on in case you need to work around it.
- TV – I feel like this is hit or miss at hotel/resorts now, but ours didn’t have an option to log in to any streaming, so were left with mostly Spanish channels, 1 English cartoon channel, and 2 English HBO channels, Again, not a deal breaker as we weren’t in the room much, but it would’ve been nice to have a few more options. I would load up the iPads and phones with shows if this is something that would be an issue for you.
- Hotel Renovations – I’m sure this isn’t a forever issue, but there was a lot of updating going on across the hotel, so we heard a lot of jackhammering from our room during the day. Also, they were re-doing the gym, so that was closed, which was a bummer. If those things are important to you, I’d definitely inquire about them before booking.
- The Food – I’ll save the biggest/truest Con for last. I’ll be honest, it wasn’t great. We had reservations at the Hibachi restaurant [I thought the rice/meat was good for the hibachi, but the sushi was BAD], the Italian Restaurant [I actually thought this food was decent, albeit very salty], and the Mexican Restaurant [this was just ok but it was a set menu, so Dillon ate a quesadilla, Mike at the ceviche, while I had the tacos, which were meh]. The buffet was hit or miss. I will say they had a TON of variety and it changed each day, which I appreciated, but some of it was definitely better than others. Dillon loved everything there, though. The food truck and burger shack by the pool were the best meals. We didn’t go expecting 5 star food, as that’s not that important to us on this type of vaca, but if you are wanting incredible food, this may not be the place for you. Mike said while he was reviewing resorts, that was the primary [and only really] complaint he found for Iberostar, and I’d tend to agree.
I know that sounds like a lot of Cons, but I’d say majority of them were minor inconveniences, and ones we could plan around, at that. The fact that we got the good room with the good pool and a Kids Club made for a great trip, despite the things that maybe weren’t ideal. There were a few things we didn’t get to do, like go to the live music concerts in the lobby [these were always after Dillon’s bedtime] or go to any of the shows, so I would check those if/when we go back. They also had workout classes like Aqua Fit, Morning Yoga, and Zumba, that sounded fun.
Now, if you’re here for the outfits, let’s get into those, as I really loved what I packed while still not over-doing it. I kept the hair and makeup at an absolute minimum this trip, too.
Swim
All swimsuit details can be found in this post
Day/Night Looks
Majority of these pieces are old — multi-color linen mini still available
Overall, we had a fabulous time with just a few minor hiccups along the way. Dillon said he loved Mexico and wanted to stay forever, so I’d call that a win! I would recommend Iberostar, especially if your top priority is an awesome pool/beach. I would just keep some of the cons I listed above in mind so that you could plan for the least inconvenience possible.
Let me know if you have any more questions and thanks for stopping by!
