My husband and I just returned from 5 days at Iberostar and had a great time. This resort and Cozumel in general were much better and much more beautiful than our last vacation in Mexico to the Melia in Puerto Vallarta. I don't think I've ever seen such gorgeous blue ocean water with the white sandy beaches, wow! We had a very pleasant time at Iberostar so here are some comments about our pros and cons of the hotel.

Pros: Gorgeous grounds, they are so well maintained and look amazing. I also loved the touch of the wildlife – flamingos, iguanas, parrots - all really added to the feel of the resort. The lobby is very nice and we lounged in the couches almost every night. There is also a great bar in the lobby with never-ending drinks. The pool is very nice and very very clean, always a worker cleaning it and scooping out any leaves or anything that fell in the water. The swim-up bar was also a lot of fun. The beach is gorgeous and so relaxing to sit in one of the chairs and just listen to the waves crashing. And – you guessed it – a nice beach bar to get some fun drinks at. The pier is neat too to walk out on. I really liked the layout of the resort and the fact that the rooms are set up in little bungalow type buildings with about 4 rooms to each. It takes away that yucky hotel feeling and added to the charm of the resort. Rooms were clean and A/C worked great. Get a massage! My husband and I both had one by the beach, very good!

Cons: I must say after reading reviews on here I set myself up for more than we actually got. Our service was not the same as others had experienced and I don’t know why not considering the hotel could not have been half full. First off, no welcome drinks when we checked in. We were given 2 double beds instead of a king. Again, being the resort was quite empty I’m not sure why we couldn’t get a king. COLD WATER in the shower every single day. While at the beach or pool we were NEVER offered a drink, I never even saw a waiter walking around getting people drinks, we always had to go get our own. Not a big deal but would have been nice. The maid service was nothing special. We never once got any towel art that everyone has been talking about…and we even left a tip every day! Our fridge was only restocked every other day. We had to ask for more bottled water on the days it wasn’t restocked. One last annoying thing, when we had to check out at noon on the last day, I called the bellboy at 11:45 to schedule our bags to be picked up. They told me to leave them on the deck and they’d be there in 10 min. Well, we checked out and had lunch then headed up to the lobby for our taxi at 12:45 and you guessed it…our bags weren’t there. They never picked them up AND to make me even more mad, it was now POURING so our bags were sitting on our deck getting drenched. Not a very good “last impression” of the Iberostar.

Like everyone else says…yes, the beds are hard and the pillows are crap but this is just what we expect in Mexico. Yes, the beach is rocky and you really can’t walk or swim in it. The food is pretty good, better than I’ve had at other all-inclusives but nothing to really scream about. We ate at the steak restaurant and it was average. At the Mexican restaurant I had delicious grouper but my husband’s beef was really bad. The buffet has a lot of options but any buffet eating after several days gets old. We did not get bit by any bugs like others had said.

We would definitely recommend a couple restaurants off the resort. One night we went to Casa Mission, it was about a 25 min. cab ride. It is an actual old mission turned into a restaurant, very beautiful. It was excellent, we had awesome civeche, lime soup and for entrees steak and fresh seafood. Watch out for the margaritas though, they are the most potent ones I’ve ever had, one is all you need. We also had lunch one day at Alberto’s which is a little seafood shack right down the beach from the hotel. They send out their own boats right from the restaurant and come back with lunch – so fresh! We had the red snapper tacos and mahi mahi which were both great. It was also fun to sit in the sand and watch the waves while having lunch.

All in all we had a great stay at the Iberostar. I know I sound like I’m griping on little things but that is just it, they were little things and by no means ruined our trip. I think it is a great place for both couples and families and you can definitely find your little hide-out and just be by with your significant other or you can meet new people and party it up the entire time. The whole trip was very relaxing, quiet and fun.

My wife and our 2 daughters (11 and 17) spent 12 days at this wonderful resort in late July/early august. We had been to the resort approx 5 years ago and liked it's cozy, peaceful beauty, charm, and proximity to incredible dive sites. Our experience was absolutely incredible! I have stayed at multiple AI resorts across the carribean and I found this resort to be at the top of the list. Many years past I did not have the necessary traveling experience to the area to refute those who complain or find fault. I have now stayed at multiple resorts across the Riviera Maya and enjoyed this as much or one more than any.

Service: The resort staff are incredible. They will do virtually anything to make sure you enjoy your stay. From the moment you set foot in the lobby till you depart for the airport they will take care of you. If you have complaints or concerns the management at the resort are attentive, professional and will resolve them if it is within their capability to do do. The staff at the pool bar(Luis & Gaspar in particular) are entertaining, polite and really make the day fun. The The housekeeping staff are wonderful. They keep the rooms clean, the fridge stocked, and make very nice artwork using the linens. Please remember to TIP the support staff! While it is all-inclusive it lets them know you appreciate how hard they work for you.

Food: Very good and plentiful. We stayed there 2 weeks and never felt like there wasn’t something good to eat. The specialty restaurants are good and offer a bit of casual elegance for those of you who like this.

Drinks: Not sure how anyone could complain about the ETOH. They don’t carry Top-shelf liquors at the bars but I suspect they would be happy to get it for you if it means that much to you to have it. I ordered a bottle of Gran Marnier without any problems. The beer is Dos Equis and the rooms have Cerveza Sol or Dos Equis. The bar has all the hard ETOH you want and the bar staff will make it as strong as you like. They do a great job. Give them a few bucks during the day to show them you appreciate them.

Entertainment: The staff try to engage guest and involve them in the games and shows. If you prefer to just relax they are respectful of this. Ismael, Efren, Alex, Moises,Marina, and Yasmin were great. Efren can give you a tennis lesson if you like tennis.
The resort has the usual non-motorized water-sports available. They are fun and the water is nice.

Location: It is beautiful. The water is clear, near the best dive sites and fishing sites. Rent a car and it takes 15 min to get to Punta Sur and the other side of the island which is beautiful. The beach is very nice but is a good idea to have water shoes if you are a tenderfoot and rocks bother you. Snorkel under the pier. LOADS of fish, a small barracuda, a lobster…very nice. The resort still has lush foliage and beautiful wildlife.

Diving: Dressel Divers are onsite. It is a very safety conscious group who teach well and offer excellent diving excursions. Sandra and Miguel are great. Be sure and try the pool dive and strongly consider the resort course so you can see some of the beautiful reef life. You can also get certified in your time there and will be glad you did.

Management: The site is extremely well managed. Problems are dealt with reasonably and promptly. The property is kept in good repair and cleaned continuously. The employees are respectful to everyone. The check in/out process is coordinated and quick. Also, if you have children, the management makes sure that your children are well taken care of. They have staff, security and managers constantly patrolling the resort to make sure there are no problems….also, the kids club is very good with the children as well. The General Manager of the resort (I’ll hold his name out of respect for his privacy) does an excellent job with his staff and seems to always be at the resort interacting with the guest and staff. He handles guest issues promptly and fairly….be reasonable and courteous and he will make sure you are well taken care of if there is a concern.. I have been to resorts that are poorly managed and it can be a nightmare. No such concern here!

Overall, I think most people will be very happy with their experience at the resort. When you read the other reviews and some are bad please keep in mind that some people can take one bad experience they had during the course of a vacation and let it ruin their entire vacation. There are also those folks who would bi*** about the bag if you handed them a bagful of money. If you aren’t one of those 2 groups I think you will love it at the Iberostar Cozumel. Have a cerveza and enjoy!!!

Just thinking back to our trip, a mere week ago (Oct. 13-20) brings me back to a very calm, happy place. And really, it's the memories you carry that in the end make it all worthwhile. This vacation at Iberstar was wonderful, and memorable.

Check in was a breeze, we were on an electric cart with our baggage and a friendly Iberostar employee within minutes of arrival - the room was perfect for the two of us. I can see how the size of the room could be too small for more, but for us and our stuff, no problem. The room was very nice, great air conditioning, and spotless. We received a suprise every day and looked forward to our towel art from Yamelli, our housekeeper. She also took flowers from the resort and used them every day on her towel art, but also to adorn the bed and bathroom. Really special - you don't get that from someone who isn't caring - she clearly takes pride in her work. The shower was great - excellent pressure and hot water that stays hot, cold that is cold. Better than my house, in fact.

Sometimes we go away to see and do as much as possible, sometimes we go to relax. This vacation fell mostly in the resting category. Iberostar would have been great for the alternative, but we took advantage of the relaxing aspects of the resort, and weren't disappointed. The beach area was quiet and there were always palapas available to sit under. Waiters were always passing by asking us if we wanted drinks, so basically we didn't have to move, unless we wanted to. We did also spend time at the pool. Lounge chairs were a bit harder to come by if you weren't there first thing in the morning, but when we did sit there, the water in the pool was warm and clean. People watching can't be beat. Lots of nationalities, lots of interactions between perfect strangers becoming friends over a pina colada at the swim up bar.

The grounds were really beautiful - we noticed that everything was planned out and well cared for, yet for all that it still had a wild feel to it. The maintenance crew used almost all non electric methods to groom - very quiet and respectful of the surroundings. Only one day did we hear any lawn mowing at all. Very unobstrusive. Within the grounds we saw wildlife every day, turtles and frogs crossing the pathways, and the well cared for flamingos, gila monsters and colorful parrots. I really think they concsciously chose the birds that live within the resort becuase of the songs they sing. It really makes the soundtrack for the resort - jungle-y and musical. Loved to listen to them sing.

The food was very good. We felt it was a notch better than the other all-inclusives we have been to before. I have many food allergies and tend to struggle to find food that I can eat when I'm away from home, but the selection at the two buffets was very varied and I didn't have a problem at all. In fact, the a la carte restaurants are set up in such a way that you received your main course from a waiter, but appetizers and extras were buffet style too - the selection was large and again, I had plenty to choose from. My husband, well, all bets were off - he really likes his food and just went for it at every meal. He said everything was great. We went to both the mexican and steak restaurants. It was a toss up which we enjoyed more - both were very, very good.

I also must mention that the coffee and espresso at the resort were delicious. I had sworn off coffee about six months ago, but one taste of the coffee and I was hooked again. Best I have ever had. I will miss it. Maxwell House form the home coffee maker is not the same species.

All of the Iberostar employees were great. We didn't encounter anything but smiliing, friendly people everywhere we went. I felt like Cozumel in general was full of kind, smiling people. Even when driving, it was kinder and gentler than almost every other Mexican or Caribbean driving experience we have had. Not as agressive, more agreeable. It really makes me want to go back.

We rented a car one day and did the whole island in a day. The east coast is deserted, the water is rough, but it is beautiful and worth the trip. We spent some time at the Mayan Ruins too. They were good, but honesly it was so hot we just couldn't get to it all. Like an oven walking in straight sun to ruin sites that weren't exactly next to each other. I'm glad we went, but it was a tough one. We also spent an afternoon in San Miguel for a walk and shop. Had a nice time, it is lively and colorful there. The shopkeepers want you to come into their shops, but don't harrass you to do so, they just make sure they get your attention before you walk by. We did get some good deals on silver jewelery.

This is getting incredibly long, I have more but will stop now. If you have any questions, I don't mind answering them, let me know. We loved our trip to Iberostar and would return tomorrow if we could. A great time.

we stayed at the iberostar cozumel from the 14th september to the 28th and we loved evry single minute of our hoilday there. one of our best holidays so far!! we were so sad to leave.
All of the staff are so friendly incl waiters, check in staff, maids, gardeners and the star friends! They really do go out of their way to help you.
The food and drink selection was just brilliant, so much choice and was all very fresh. (and i am very fussy). Our favourite was the steak house!
The surroundings are beautiful and well groomed and the wildlife is spectacular, from huge iguans to the huge fish when snorkelling off the beach!
The entertainment was also outstanding, the star friends work so hard ( especially joshua who works extra hard and is so friendly) to put on a good show in the evening and are also at the pool during the day getting people involved with activities from salsa dancing to spanish lessons - great fun.
Also the diving school at the hotel were also brilliant, very good value for money, very thorough and patient with me!
I would definately recommend this hotel to anyone, we truly had an amazing time here and would love to return