Azul Ixtapa Beach Resort & Convention Center

The large, 400-room Azul Ixtapa Beach Resort offers all the amenities of a typical all-inclusive resort in a lively, family-friendly atmosphere. The hotel’s architecture is typical of similar resorts built in the late 1990s, with a decor that hints at luxury with contemporary, if cookie cutter, furniture, fabrics, and finishes. There's a faux rock water fountain near the entrance and the enormous white marble lobby showcases interior balconies. The two large pools and multiple restaurant bars combine in a single, sprawling social space that’s boisterous but never rises to the level of raucous. With a children's water park, dedicated kiddie pool, and many rooms designed to accommodate families, the atmosphere is kid-friendly without feeling kid-centric. Travelers are just as likely to find honeymooning couples as vacationing families.

Azul Ixtapa is located along Boulevard Playa Linda in an area packed with plenty of other large resorts. While the road is well-trafficked, the hotel’s location just off the main strip helps to minimize road noise and provides a mostly quiet atmosphere. There's not much within an easy walk of the hotel and the main area of town will take 10 minutes to reach by car. A bit closer at hand, Playa Quieta and a handful of restaurants and bars are a five-minute drive from the hotel, or 20 minutes on foot. Zihuatanejo, another popular seaside resort town, is a 20-minute drive from the hotel.

The area’s primary airport, Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo International, is 30 minutes away by car. Like most area resorts, Azul Ixtapa does not offer dedicated airport shuttle service for hotel guests. Private shuttle transportation is easily available from the airport, however, and is often the most affordable option for larger groups as rates are priced on a per-vehicle basis. For smaller groups, official taxi service is likely the best option as rates are zone-based and inexpensive. Parking at the hotel is free and secure in a staffed lot. 

Rooms at Azul Ixtapa are divided into four categories: Luxe, Luxury Superior, Junior Suites, and Presidential Suites. Decor in all rooms is crisp and sophisticated with beige marble tile floors, dark brown furniture with clean lines and marble tops, and subtle pops of tropical color in upholstery and textiles. Tangerine accent walls add welcome pop of color that's picked up in the soft furnishings, and all rooms are spacious, with even entry-level Luxe Rooms offering 390 square feet of space (36 Square meters). The main criticism in the rooms is that beds are uncomfortable.

The list of standard amenities in all rooms includes a mini-fridge, air-conditioning, flat-screen TV, and private ocean view balcony furnished with white plastic chairs and a table. Surprisingly, free Wi-Fi is only provided in the lobby and the per-day rate charged for each connected device in the room gets expensive quickly. 

Luxe and Luxury Superior Room categories are virtually identical. With only a two double bed configuration available, Luxe Rooms are ideal for families while Luxury Superior Rooms offer a slightly larger floor plan with the added option of a single king bed and extras like in-room hot tubs in some rooms. At 860 square feet, Junior Suites provide all of the above, plus double the floor space of entry-level rooms. The primary sleeping space offers a single king bed, while a separate living area provides a sofa sleeper that accommodates two additional guests. The 1,300-square-foot Presidential Suite includes all of the above, plus a kitchenette, a hot tub, and a steam bath. All Suite category rooms are also available with an optional connecting room for an even larger total floor plan to accommodate families or large groups.

Bathrooms are spacious and include modern, upscale fixtures and materials. Generous use of tile and marble on the floors, walls, and countertops lends a crisp, polished feel that’s a step above the decor in many of the Ixtapa area’s hotel bathrooms. Basic hairdryers and generic soaps and shower products are also provided. Some rooms have separate showers and tubs, while others have shower/tub combos.

As a large, all-inclusive resort, Azul Ixtapa offers almost every conceivable amenity that vacationers might expect. Two large pools, a children's water park, and multiple restaurants top the list, but a tiny beach and the lack of a spa are notable exceptions compared to other area hotels. Wi-Fi is free in the lobby and staff provides evening entertainment that's appropriate for families. 

The two main pools are clean and large, even for a 400-room property. Ample seating is provided around both pools, although the chairs' cramped placement leaves little room to maneuver. Guests seeking shaded lounge space will find plenty of umbrellas as well. Two bars and an additional swim-up bar service the entire pool deck, each with a full liquor menu of beer, wine, and tropical cocktails. Poolside drink service is also available, however, we found the staff all but impossible to flag down.

Adjacent to the main pool deck is an ample, dedicated kiddie pool area. The bright, tropical themed space is colorful, playful, and feels like a tiny Disney-esque water park. Multiple slides, rain trees, and a water chute provide a kid-centric pool area that’s open to parents as well -- though tweens will be bored. 

The resort is serviced by a total of seven restaurants -- two a la carte and five buffet-style -- which are included in the hotel’s standard all-inclusive package. The food overall is widely reviewed as high quality, with a diverse selection. A bar in each restaurant also offers a decent drink menu of beer, wine, and liquor.

Dinner service is available in the two adult-only a la carte restaurants -- Costa Azul and Oyster Bar. The former is bedecked in a beige and gold color scheme, generic Italian-inspired paintings, and linen tablecloths that all combine to provide a vaguely Mediterranean feel. It's a clean and upscale look, though not luxurious. The menu is a mix of steak and local seafoods. Oyster Bar is situated at the far end of a long pier that juts into the Pacific, providing panoramic ocean views. Dining is either alfresco or under a small, open-air thatched building. As the smallest restaurant on the property, reservations fill up very fast. As expected, the menu is entirely seafood-centric with a focus on local delicacies, such as ceviche, mussels, and, of course, oysters. Unfortunately, reservations are required for both restaurants and if guests don’t confirm their dinner plans before breakfast each day, they may be out of luck (particularly on weekends).

Azul Ixtapa’s three main restaurants offer slight variations on themed buffets for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. A virtually identical international breakfast buffet is available at La Terraza, Plaza Mexicana, and Colores daily. Selections include typical American favorites like pancakes, fresh fruit, bacon, coffee/tea service, and an omelet station, along with Mexican delicacies like chilaquiles, fish, and refried beans. Each of the three restaurants also serves a lunch and dinner buffet that features Italian, Mexican, or international items. The fourth restaurant, Las Velas, offers a great location near the beach with excellent ocean views. Lunch and dinner menus typically include a selection of barbecue meats, fish, and chicken, however, the space is sometimes closed depending on the season and hotel’s occupancy.

A small food shack called La Pizzeria serves a lunch buffet of hamburgers, sandwiches, and other basic options for guests in a hurry. 

The hotel’s small sand beach provides lovely views of the Pacific Ocean and several small islands off the coast. Unfortunately, the shallow depth of the beach only allows for 75 feet of usable sand at low tide, and it becomes almost unusable once the tide comes in. Likewise, the beach is rather short, with half of its distance occupied by the hotel’s water-sports facilities. The several dozen lounge chairs and umbrellas are hardly sufficient for a 400-room hotel and are clustered so closely that they’re nearly touching one another.

The condition of the water depends largely on the time of year. However, during our visit, we found it to be murky and full of bark and other debris. The resort provides free equipment for a number of non-motorized activities including snorkeling, kayaking, windsurfing, and catamaran rides.

Mexican beaches have a notorious reputation for pestering hawkers and, unfortunately, Azul Ixtapa is no different. During our visit, we found it difficult to relax surrounded by a relentless throng of jewelry and tchotchke peddlers. For an alternative, the hotel staff and many locals recommend nearby Playa Quieta, (a five-minute drive) which offers great swimming and more room to spread out. 

The hotel’s ECOGYM offers an expansive, open-air fitness center that’s unlike any other in Ixtapa, or even Mexico. The tropical-themed space is decorated with bamboo fencing, brightly colored walls, and dark hardwood floors, all of which seem more typical of a Caribbean spa than a gym. An extensive selection of free weights and cardio and strength training equipment is available, as well as a climbing wall, spinning bikes, boxing equipment, and a dedicated yoga studio. The hotel also provides a number of free classes including pilates, Zumba, Tae Bo, and belly dancing.