Best All-inclusive Resort for Families in the Riviera Maya, Mexico: Azul Sensatori Hotel Review

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azulsviewA toy-lending library, kids’ personal video-players in on-site restaurants, Gerber baby food included in the room rate, suites designed for families of five, and guaranteed connecting rooms are only a handful of the incredible family-friendly amenities offered at Azul Sensatori by Karisma, an all-inclusive, oceanfront property near Puerto Morelos, Mexico. With the carpet rolled out for kids at Azul Sensatori, I confidently call it the best all-inclusive resort for kids in the Riviera Maya.

My family and I were hosted for two nights at Azul Sensatori this spring. It’s a mid-sized resort, as far as all-inclusives in Mexico go: 438 rooms.  The resort is divided into four sections: Adults-Only (with its own pool; which happened to be the most raucous), Family, Luxury and Premium. The Premium suites, where we stayed, have a private pool with access to pool butlers, who come around to lounge chairs with sunscreen, water, fruit and sandwiches through the day. But if you’re traveling with young children, I’d stay in the family section, right next to the phenomenal kids’ club (more on that later) and kids’ pool area with slide and splashing water features.

azulplaygroundThe resort is brand new — it just opened in November 2008. We found the grounds incredibly clean, beautifully decorated and easy to navigate. Azul Sensatori is is part of the “Gourmet Inclusive,” brand, a term that applies not only to the top-notch service and amenities you’ll enjoy here, but also, naturally, to the food. Is it five-star dining? Maybe not. But the food is among the best I’ve eaten at Mexican all-inclusives, and I’ve stayed at 10 different properties.

Each restaurant at Azul Sensatori offers a la carte dining (the word “buffet” is not used on property; they are called “interactive dining stations.”). The self-serve stations are great for families who need food quickly for hungry kids; but if you choose, you could spend an entire week here and only order off of menus — a far cry from many large resorts where buffets are the norm, not the exception.

Queen beds in Premium suite.Here are just a few reasons why the Azul Sensatori is a top resort for family travel to Mexico:

Large Suites: The rooms are gorgeous, with flat-screen TVs, half-canopy beds and in-suite Jacuzzi tubs. Family suites include a private queen-size bed area, plus a double sofa bed and a single sofa bed for that third child. Want to accommodate Grandma, too? Book guaranteed connecting rooms.

Fisher-Price Partnership: The Azul Sensatori teamed up with Fisher-Price to provide a toy-lending library. Borrow items like the Laugh & Learn Musical Table or even Kid-Tough Digital Cameras for 24 hours; then return them and check out something new! Fisher-Price highchairs and other baby gear are also available for complimentary use in your room; you’ll also find Fisher-Price highchairs and personal DVD players (with loaded animated movies) at the restaurants.

My Gym equipment in kids' club.

My Gym equipment in kids' club.

Kids’ Club: This is the best resort kids’ club facility I’ve ever seen. It’s huge and circular shaped, with My Gym equipment in the center area; scheduled, teacher-led My Gym classes cost extra, but the kids have opportunities play on the slide, trampoline, etc. when they are enrolled in the complimentary Kids’ Club. Off of the main space are smaller themed rooms for imaginative play, napping, table games and arts and crafts. Activities are scheduled throughout the day; drop your kids for an hour or from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and then again from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. (perfect opportunity for an adults-only meal).

Teen Space: Tweens and teens have their own dance club with non-alcoholic drinks, board games and comfy seating. An arcade with fee-based games is adjacent.

Still more kid amenities: A playground on the beach; kids’ menu at each on-site restaurant offering items like quesadillas, cheeseburgers, grilled chicken or chicken nuggets, as well as kid-sized desserts; a kids’ wading pool with water slide, nets for “water polo” and a water-spray area; kid-sized tennis raquets to borrow; boogie boards, snorkeling gear, kayaks and sand toys for complimentary use; stepstools in the bathrooms; child-size robes; fruit smoothies at check-in.

Perhaps one drawback of the Azul Sensatori is its beach area. The sandy area is great for building sandcastles (with the plethora of sand toys, shovesl and buckets available for families to borrow), but the ocean is rocky and not ideal for swimming. But if you want to enjoy the water with your kids, you can walk down the beach to a more sandy area and gentle waves.

azulpoolI’m a huge fan of the Azul Sensatori — for families with toddlers, preschoolers, school-age kids and teens. Its sister property, Azul Beach, just down the beach, is also amazing for families. Azul Beach doesn’t have quite as many bells and whistles, since it is a smaller property — just 97 rooms — but equal in top-notch service, family-friendly perks and excellent food. If anyone has questions for me or wants to learn more about my firsthand experiences at Azul Sensatori or Azul Beach, feel free to email me at mountainmama@travelingmamas.com. I’d love to share my experiences at either of these properties that I consider tops among all other family-friendly resorts on the Riviera Maya.

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May 20, 2009 | Filed Under Family Travel 

Comments

10 Responses to “Best All-inclusive Resort for Families in the Riviera Maya, Mexico: Azul Sensatori Hotel Review”

  1. Shannon @ Custom Travel Company says:
    May 20, 2009 at

    Looks like a very nice place to bring the family. The pictures are great and the amenities seems to cover every possible need a family would have. It’s great that the place has a sort of a day-care center so moms and dads can have time off on their own. I’m wondering about the price range?

  2. MountainMama says:
    May 20, 2009 at

    Great question – one I should have addressed in the post.

    Azul Sensatori is definitely a deluxe to luxury property (i.e. not cheap). Rates vary depending on time of year and type of accommodations booked, but children are half price in a room w/ adults and kids under 2 are free.

    Remember that overall all-inclusives are typically a great deal since food and drink is included.

  3. MountainMama says:
    May 20, 2009 at

    PS. On Orbitz.com, for a week’s stay in June (2 adults in one room) I found prices about $500/night. Did this via a quick rate check on TripAdvisor.com

  4. Riviera Maya Resorts says:
    May 20, 2009 at

    I stayed at Azul Blue and loved it for a romantic weekend, and I was thinking of taking the kids to Sensatori for the weekend – after reading this I definitley will!

    Just one question, were there many other kids there at the time?? (age 6ish)

  5. MountainMama says:
    May 21, 2009 at

    At Sensatori we were there the week before Easter week and there were a good amount of kids – all age ranges. Dozens of children (age 2 to 13) would be a fair assessment.

    They expected the number of kids there to increase over Easter.

  6. Jennifer Margulis says:
    May 21, 2009 at

    I think you miss so much real life when you stay at a resort. But I guess that’s the point — not to be in Mexico but to enjoy being on vacation and having everything right there. Though I’ve never been a resort-oriented traveler, this sounds like a good one.

  7. family holiday parks says:
    May 24, 2009 at

    It’s great to see that they have both indoor and outdoor play equipment for children, this comes in handy for the unexpected rainy days – or way too hot days. Pool and waterslide looks fun too. Thumbs up!

  8. Vera Marie Badertscher says:
    May 25, 2009 at

    I agree with Jennifer about choosing a resort vacation, but if I had a family of small kids and could afford it, this is the most genuinely family friendly resort I’ve ever seen.

  9. Sarah says:
    May 26, 2009 at

    Hi – We are open to options on All Inclusives with large rooms/nice accom.at competive prices. We travel to Mexico 3 times a year. Please send pictures of rooms and all that is included. We are flying into Cancun June 1st – 9th. We will be making a choice very soon. My husband, my to sons (8 and 1) and I. – Thank you so much for your time, Sarah

  10. MEXICO BEACHES says:
    July 10, 2009 at

    Yes, is an excellent idea to let the kids in the resort, while you enjoy the beautiful beaches of Mexico. I have find Mexico a very peaceful and safe country to go with the kids in all my trips

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