My 12 year old daughter and I recently returned from an excellent vacation at Azul Sensatori Resort in the Playa del Carmen area. This is a 4 ½ to 5 star luxury all-inclusive that’s family friendly. This was my first stay as a guest at this resort, and I must say – my expectations were definitely exceeded! The room was perfect (I want those pillows!). The service friendly and personable (even the maid was cheerful, imagine that!) And the food. Oh the food! It would have been very silly to try and diet last week.
We stayed in the upgraded Premium section, in a Premium Oceanview Jacuzzi Suite. The rooms were well appointed, and the upgrade to the Premium section includes enough added amenities to make the additional cost well worth it.
The food here is about as good as it gets in an all-inclusive that’s not adults-only. The Eggs Benedict for breakfast in Zavaz was especially good, and the gourmet burger menu (also at Zavaz) will get you coming back for another burger creation the next day. My favorite restaurant was Tapaz. Appetizer-sized tapas bites are served in a 6 course dinner. You get to try exceptional foods, and it’s an all-inclusive so you’re not worried about the bill at the end! House wines were palatable enough to enjoy with dinner, but there’s a fairly decent wine list (for purchase) if you prefer a better grape.
The spa is located on the top floor of the main building (over the lobby), and it is expansive and well equipped. I treated myself to a man-pedi-facial and while the services were very good, the prices were about twice what I pay for comparable services back home (in the Dallas area). This is no surprise though – the days of bargain priced spa treatments in Riviera Maya are long gone!
The two negatives about this resort – and they may be deal breakers for you – is the quality of the beach and the number of small children at the resort.
The beach is typical of many you find in the Puerto Morelos area in that there’s quite a bit of sea grass growing just off the shoreline. This is great for the fish, but it makes for grass bits washed up on the shore (which is raked with regular frequency), and the water here isn’t as “baby blue” as you might find in front of other resorts. The best cure for this little ailment is to prebook an activity at nearby Maroma Beach. The sand is powdery white, the water is crystalline, and there’s lots to do. One afternoon here and you can get your beach fix.
Azul Sensatori touts itself as family friendly, and families you’ll definitely find here. There is an adults only section of rooms and an adults only pool. Also, the premium rooms have their own premium pool area, which is a bit less rowdy with the kids. And there is an adults only restaurant. Still, there’s no way to avoid them eventually, there are little kids at this resort! If you have little ones, you’ll fit right in. If you break out in a rash whenever a 3 year old stares at you, might I recommend staying at El Dorado Royale instead.
All in all, though, Azul Sensatori gets a “thumbs up” from both me and my daughter. We will definitely return.