Review: Sensira Resort & Spa Riviera Maya

I don’t usually start an all-inclusive hotel review by talking about workspaces. But the remote working facility at Sensira Resort & Spa Riviera Maya is so outstanding — and such a good example of the property’s diverse amenities — that it’s worth a prominent mention.

Opened in 2021, Sensira is a family-friendly all-inclusive property in the Riviera Maya located near the town of Puerto Morelos. Operated by Arriva Hospitality Group, the newbuild property is a member of The Leading Hotels of the World and features a wide array of amenities — including a dedicated coworking space with private offices and spectacular views that is unlike anything I’ve seen at an all-inclusive resort. But more about that later.

Arriva has a long history in Mexico’s hospitality industry, with a portfolio of its own brands (including Crown Paradise All Inclusive Resorts and Vista Hoteles), as well as franchise operations (The Westin Cozumel and Ibis Hotels Tijuana). But Sensira is a new brand, representing a new direction for the company in the field of family-friendly, all-inclusive resorts.

I was especially impressed with Sensira’s vast array of offerings, which exceeds what I’ve seen in some larger resorts. For a 359-room hotel — which is relatively compact compared to some of the sprawling complexes that line Mexico’s Caribbean coast — Sensira packs a lot of attractive elements into a thoughtfully designed, easily walkable property.

Hotel Features for Everyone

Sensira is home to eight restaurants and five bars, assuring that guests can always find a new gustatory experience. I enjoyed memorable dinners at Galerie des Sens, an upscale, adults-only restaurant with beautifully presented haute cuisine; La Tentazione, an Italian eatery; and La Finca de Ana, a lovely Mexican restaurant with some of the tastiest traditional dishes I’ve had in quite a while. La Pergola’s vast buffet, meanwhile, provided countless options for breakfast and dinner.

There are lots of places to relax and have fun at Sensira, including three swimming pools (including an adults-only pool and a central family pool), tennis courts, a 24-hour fitness center and even a climbing wall and zipline that sends guests gliding over the pool area. Daily entertainment is varied and includes karaoke, casino nights and live dance and musical performances.

Both adults and children can find something to enjoy at the hotel’s Inspiration Spa, which offers an extensive menu of spa treatments and a hydrotherapy circuit for grown-ups, as well as massages for children ages 5 to 17.

In fact, Sensira excels at offering activities for children, with a range of features that many larger hotels don’t usually have. In addition to a sizable waterpark, Sensira has an Adventure Club for ages 4 to 12, a Baby Explorer Club for ages 18 months to 3 years, and an Emoji Teens Club, which is stocked with video games, virtual reality games, foosball and billiard tables. The entire family can also spend time together at the hotel’s cinema, which accommodates about 45 guests for daily, family-friendly movie screenings.

Hotel Features for Adults

Grown-ups looking for adults-only spaces will find plenty of options, too — including a swimming pool with cabanas and lounge chairs; the Knight’s Pub, an English-style bar furnished with pool tables and card-playing tables; the S-Club, a dance club with a live DJ; and the Amber Lounge, a fourth-floor VIP area for guests in higher room categories. The lounge features a bar that serves snacks and drinks, and its large balcony offers some of the hotel’s best views of the Caribbean.

I stayed in an Amber Room, which includes access to the Amber Lounge. The 463-square-foot Amber Rooms are nicely decorated with rich wood furnishings and oversize headboards. I especially loved the seafront balcony and the adjacent whirlpool tub, both of which provided gorgeous views.

For a truly top-of-the-line experience, travelers should consider reserving a two-bedroom, 2.5-bathroom, 2,708-square-foot Diamond Suite. It can sleep seven and has a living room, a dining room, a kitchen and even a pool table, as well as a large terrace with a pool and whirlpool tub overlooking the Caribbean Sea.

Remote Workspaces for Digital Nomads

And then there is the workspace. As a kid-free adult with work that follows me everywhere I go, I was especially impressed with Sensira’s Remo Workspace, a dedicated coworking space that is a step above the usual business center and accessible for an extra fee starting at about $40. Opened in 2022 and operated by Remo, a U.S.-based office space provider, the facility consists of three small rooftop buildings on the third floor, each of which is divided into two private workspaces that function as independent offices for guests.

Handsomely decorated and furnished with a desk, a monitor, an additional comfortable chair, bookshelves, coffee, snacks and water — as well as high-speed Wi-Fi and access to room service — each office provides all the space and privacy a traveler needs to stay productive. (This could be especially helpful for parents who can’t find the tranquility they need in their own guestrooms.)

The view alone was enough to inspire me to work harder.