Iberostar is a beachfront hotel located in Playa Mita, Mexico. This resort includes a golf course, tennis court, fitness room, luxury spa, diving center, several pools, and even a disco! Last year my family and I traveled here for spring break with three other families. 

Our room was clean and spacious and with a balcony that overlooked the ocean. The efficient housekeeping staff checked our room a couple times daily. In fact, the entire Iberostar staff was friendly and welcoming. I was impressed with their ability to remember my name throughout my stay, especially an employee named Fabian who managed the entertainment. We would always hang out with Fabian, or he would somehow find us around the resort and hangout with my family. His sense of humor made our stay even more enjoyable. 

The center of my activity was the pool, which was surrounded by umbrellas and chaise lounges. Here I could participate in an activity such as water aerobics or simply relax, which I did most of the time. The water temperature felt chilly, but I’m thinking it’s because I’ve been laying in the sun most of the time and I’m not used to it . For those seeking adventure, the beach is just a few steps away and many vendors sell their goods there. Since access to this beachfront is via a steep walkway, we stayed poolside instead.   

The resort features six restaurants ranging from a formal steakhouse to a casual pool bar. They even have an Asian hibachi restaurant. When it comes to food, I am not a picky eater. So, all the food tasted great to me.  Most teenagers will find something they enjoy on the menu and the buffet was a big hit for me and my friends. The steakhouse was one of my favorites because of their truffle fries.  They were thin, crispy, and well seasoned.  

Aztec culture surrounds the resort and I encourage guests to take a shuttle to Sayulita—a cute town situated about 15 minutes north of the hotel. There tourists can visit many small shops and enjoy local restaurants. Travelers—especially female teenagers—should be mindful of their safety when off the resort’s property. As a young female, I’d say I felt safe with being in a group of people. Because some locals were cat calling my friend and I. And I wouldn’t want anything bad happening to us. 

For families with small children there were several amenities such as a splash pool, video arcade, and the “Monkey Club” where kids can do arts and crafts or just hang out. The kids club would always have themed nights, so Monday would’ve been like Disney movie night. 

For those concerned about the environment, this hotel uses 100% locally sourced materials and focuses on sustainable tourism through its responsible fishing and coastal health programs. It even eliminated all single-use plastic products back in 2020.  

My only negative feedback about Iberostar is that it didn’t offer any events for teenagers to enjoy during the evening hours, which is exactly when teenagers are most looking for something fun to do. Our days were spent poolside, but our nights were spent walking around the resort looking for something to do. One improvement the resort could make is ensuring that the evening can be as fun-filled as the days for teenage guests. I would think a lot of teenagers would like to night swim, but the pools close at 8:00pm.  My recommendation is to have the pools open until midnight. I think teens would be entertained and not bored, it would give them something to do. 

Overall, Iberostar in Playa Mita, Mexico was a lovely resort, but it did not completely exceed my expectations as a teenage guest. With such an enhancement, this resort would be a perfect tropical paradise—especially for Wisconsinites visiting during Spring Break!