The fact sheet on the new Ava Resort in Cancun states it is 0.68 miles long, but it seems to span for miles and miles along the shimmering coast of the Yucatan Peninsula. In fact, it’s hard to miss if you’ve got a window seat on your flight into Cancun International Airport!
Once you land, you don’t have to wait long to start exploring the impressive new structure. Only a 10-15 minute ride from the airport, Ava is so much more than just a convenient addition to Cancun’s all-inclusive landscape.
I recently had the opportunity to enjoy three nights at this luxury family-friendly property. Although parts of it were still under construction when we were there in mid-September, the 90,000 square foot resort was all-systems-go for the arrival of 300 travel agents and their plus-ones for the recent AIC Hotel Group Showstopper Awards Event that I attended.
From its 1700 guest rooms all boasting ocean-front views to its robust offerings of 17 restaurants, cafes, and bars, Ava definitely delights.
Its eco-friendly practices are impressive as well. With such a large footprint on the vibrant and ancient Yucatan Peninsula, it’s surely notable that Ava takes efforts to have a positive environmental impact.
Thousands of solar panels allow it to be independent of the city’s power grid. The interior flooring is made from recycled materials. Its air-conditioning system uses eco-friendly refrigerants. And its expansive 2.7 acre saltwater pool is powered by Crystal Lagoons Technology which uses biodegradable chemicals.
Sustainability and simplicity seem to have been at the forefront of the design team’s plans.
In the main lobby, you’re met with a simple yet spectacular natural art piece consisting of just three colors: the blue skies, white clouds, and lush greenery of the Cancun coastline. Floor to ceiling windows are the artist’s canvas.
The long, linear structure of the 90,000 square foot resort makes for a simple (yet sometimes very long) stroll along a cruise-ship-like promenade. The smooth, uncomplicated arrangement of eateries, entertainment, bars, and shops offers something for everyone.
We frequented a shop called Konos where we picked up a sherbet or gelato with different toppings every night!
Across the hall was the bakery and cafe, Aroma, where the baristas got creative with special artwork for our cappuccinos every morning.
This location had one of the most breathtaking views, if you ask me, which made for the perfect spot to leisurely consume our caffeine for the day.
On our last night at Ava, we broke away from the Showstopper Award events and were able to experience one of Ava’s Japanese restaurants. The hibachi show was top-notch and so was the food. With the soup, sushi, and main course, we definitely didn’t walk away hungry!
On our quest for an espresso martini, we went with a recommendation from another patron who had sat with us at the hibachi grill. He suggested we try a Mexican Carajillo. It’s a well-known after dinner drink in Mexico, apparently. And when we ordered two of them at The Cocktail Bar, they knew exactly what we wanted.
When we weren’t tempted by the fabulous fare indoors, you’d usually find us hanging by the pool(s).
Truthfully, if you are a lounge-around-at-the-pool-all-day type of a person, you really can’t beat the pool paradise that awaits you at Ava. An aerial view of the resort proves the prominence of their 6 expansive pools. When you peer from your balcony, the pools at Ava Resort look seemingly endless!
The saltwater bay was our preferred location. It was ideal because you can hear the festivities going on just north at the swim-up bars, so you can still groove along to the music, or you can simply choose to float serenely along in the shallowness of the saltwater pools. Yes, please!
The health benefits of the salt water were a big draw for us as well!
We were never waiting on drinks in this area and the poolside food was some of the best at the resort. I’d highly recommend the ceviche and the guacamole…with a spicy margarita in hand, of course!
Occasionally, someone would kayak or paddleboard past as we watched from our lounge chairs. While I was never tempted to exert the energy that would be required to actually operate one of these, I appreciated the idea of them!
Energetic teens might love the sporty option. And the younger kids had their own pool and waterpark. It doesn’t mirror the early renderings of what the play area was supposedly going to look like, but, for children two to maybe nine or ten, this area is definitely nice entertainment for families with small children.
As with any destination in Mexico, make sure to bring the sunscreen. The Ava pool experience is addicting, and you might be tempted to bask in the sun all day, but be aware that there is very little shade at any of the pools, besides the sun umbrellas accompanying most lounge chairs.
Something else that there was very little of was beach access. Almost everywhere you go at Ava, the panoramic views of the ocean are truly stunning. That does not disappoint. The ability to walk a short distance to the white sand beach, however, or even find an open gate was seemingly nonexistent. We didn’t inquire much about it; the pools were keeping us happy. But if your vacation is not complete without your toes in the sand, Ava might disappoint in that regard, just a bit.
Hopefully, as construction continues to wind down and everything gets more fine-tuned, the beach will become more easily and readily accessible.
Ava had plenty for the kids to do beyond just some fun in the water! We were lucky enough to get a private guided tour by one of the energetic employees at their Kids’ Club. It was filled with everything a little one might dream up for fun!
From their Little Picasso painting area, to their arts and crafts section, beauty salon, and video games lounge, Ava clearly has the child vacationer in mind.
If the upbeat Kidz Bop-type music doesn’t pull them right in, then the underwater marine-themed play area will definitely snag their attention!
And a little quiet time for mom and dad can be found at The Spa, while the kids are having a ball at Kids Club.
I had the opportunity to try out the salon side of their services. When we checked in for the Showstopper Award event, I was assisted by one of the concierges in making an appointment to have my hair done the night of the awards show. I’m so glad I did! It was such a treat to be pampered.
I envied those who made time for a massage. Any one of the many options offered on their menu would be divine!
Abundance abounds, as well, in the area of wedding venues. If you are a newly engaged couple looking for that modern simplistic feel and a breathtaking destination wedding backdrop, Ava is your answer.
Outdoor terraces, some large enough to entertain 400 guests, provide a beautiful beachy vibe with blue skies, sunsets, or a celestial stage as the stunning backdrop.
Terraces are the trendy new destination wedding backdrop. I wrote about it and Five All-natural destination wedding backdrops in a previous blog post. Ava Resort’s terraces fit perfectly into this new and magical movement away from toes in the sand destination wedding ceremonies. They have at least a dozen terraces available, ranging from small and intimate for 40, or as large as a group of 400.
As mentioned earlier, though, they do have a white sand beach and that is available for your dream destination wedding, as well!
Back inside the resort, your guests can spill into a large ballroom, or chat over drinks and appetizers in the expansive congregating areas just off the outdoor terrace. Floor to ceiling windows mean your wedding guests will never miss the stunning views that are the cornerstone of this luxury resort.
Currently, as of September when we visited, the far eatern section of Ava was being developed especially for their weddings headquarters.
As a destination weddings advisor, I act as my couple’s single point of contact to work with the on-site wedding coordinators, so I was hoping to meet some of them and take a peek at where they get the job done.
Their website does currently have a weddings page, but their packages don’t seem to be updated. While at one of the Showstopper conferences I attended during the week, the wedding packages were released to us, and they offer quite a bit of variety. Reach out to me, to find out about their options!
Given a little more time to finish construction and a few more months of operation under their belt, I believe Ava Resort Cancun will meet their vision of creating “a luxury vacation that is better than an a la carte resort.”
If you’d like to be among some of the first couples to say your I do’s at Ava, or you’re a family who is looking for the next great Cancun all-inclusive and family-friendly adventure, then let’s chat!
I’m a certified destination wedding and travel advisor and – a big plus – I’ve seen for myself all that Ava has to offer. Let me put my WOW status to work for you with special perks that I get from working with Ava and many other AIC Group hotels! Find me at www.travelwithclassllc.com.