Ava Resort Cancun

“Happy”

Great time! Beautiful hotel, amazing staff and very good food

“Thank you Ava for amazing vacation”

When you walked in to Ava, they say "Welcome home familia" and that's how we felt during our entire stay. Our amazing butler Abraham had all reservations for dinners ready for us and was in touch with us every day making sure we having a great stay. The resort is huge and have a lot of activities f… more

When you walked in to Ava, they say "Welcome home familia" and that's how we felt during our entire stay. Our amazing butler Abraham had all reservations for dinners ready for us and was in touch with us every day making sure we having a great stay. The resort is huge and have a lot of activities for kids and teenagers, I traveled alone with 2 teenagers and they always had something to do: daily art classes, beach soccer, pool volleyball, F1 simulator, shows every night kept kids busy. Food is amazing! Many different options , very fresh and the decor in every restaurant is beautiful. Special shout out to Alfredo from Livo, Valentine from Copal and Guillermo from Butcher, amazing service very attentive and great knowledge. We also enjoyed soft serve ice cream in the North Plaza with Martha the server, her welcoming smile just make all the guest feel welcome. The only down side was contraction at the pool, so water levels were not very high, but hopefully it will be done by our next stray. Great experience will sure be back!

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“Beautiful resort, impeccable service!”

Booking through Expedia includes a personal assistant for your stay. Ours was Paola, and she was amazing, always just a text away. The resort is beautiful with plenty of dining options. Several poolside snack bars were never open during our stay, but the wood-fired pizza by the pool was incredible.… more

Booking through Expedia includes a personal assistant for your stay. Ours was Paola, and she was amazing, always just a text away. The resort is beautiful with plenty of dining options. Several poolside snack bars were never open during our stay, but the wood-fired pizza by the pool was incredible. The beach has soft white sand, but the water was brown from sargassum, and beach access closes at 7 p.m. The pools were a little disappointing. Parts of the lagoon pool were closed for repairs, so we spent most of our time at the adults-only pool. It was relaxing but lacked organized activities, and it felt like the only thing to do was drink. The nightly shows were also underwhelming. We stayed in the Oceanfront Central Suite, which was phenomenal—spacious, with three full bathrooms and a six-person hot tub on the balcony. One note: the listed sofa bed is actually a couch, so you’ll need to request a rollaway bed. The service was exceptional. Every staff member made us feel like VIPs. Our favorite restaurant was Veranda, not only was the food amazing, but our server, Enrique, made it unforgettable. Black Iron was a close second with a cozy atmosphere and delicious food. Overall, we had a wonderful stay thanks to the beautiful resort, outstanding service, and excellent food. We’d likely choose a different resort next time though because we prefer more entertainment and activities.

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“Potential but Fell Short”

AVA Resort Cancun Review: Beautiful Resort with Growing Pains We recently stayed at AVA Resort as a family group of eight (my husband, two kids, my cousin, her husband, and their two kids). Overall, we had a great vacation, but the resort still feels like it’s in a soft launch—even more than two y… more

AVA Resort Cancun Review: Beautiful Resort with Growing Pains We recently stayed at AVA Resort as a family group of eight (my husband, two kids, my cousin, her husband, and their two kids). Overall, we had a great vacation, but the resort still feels like it’s in a soft launch—even more than two years after opening. What AVA does well: * Family & Friends Sun Deck Suite: Outstanding. Spacious, well-designed, and gave everyone room to spread out without feeling crowded. * Pools: Plenty of pool space for a resort this size, so it never felt overly packed. * Restaurants: Good overall. Copal and Chez Moi were the clear standouts. * Staff: Most employees were warm and helpful. Special thanks to Ezekiel (bowling alley/lobby welcome) and Jose at the buffet. Both consistently went above and beyond and made our stay better. * Sargassum: Yes, the smell is noticeable throughout much of the resort, as others have mentioned. However, the staff worked hard every day to clean the beaches, and that effort deserves recognition. Where AVA can improve: Check-in needs a complete overhaul. We received almost no orientation to the resort. Our room number wasn’t even shared with us—it was only given to the bellhop. We were handed off to another employee without understanding his role, and the only thing discussed was a membership presentation. After we initially declined, we never heard from him again. When I later expressed interest, he was too busy to discuss it. Resort credits lack transparency. At booking, check-in, and while scheduling activities, no one clearly explained how the credits actually work. We were simply told we’d pay 35% of activity costs. No one explained that different types of credits apply only to certain activities or time slots. Guests shouldn’t have to figure this out on their own. Water should be easier to access. Copal’s tacos were excellent, but one employee implied the water station was only for taco customers. If that’s the policy, post a sign. Better yet, add complimentary water refill stations throughout the lobby level. In Cancun’s heat, water should never be difficult to find. Hiding cups at an all-inclusive resort was unnecessary. Dining reservations were frustrating. I tried for a week before arrival—email, Instagram, and phone calls—with no success. Each time I was redirected elsewhere. Thankfully, the family we traveled with arrived before us and secured reservations. Adding to the problem, not all advertised restaurants were open during our stay, making reservations even harder to get. Indoor gathering space is limited. Beyond the main lobby and Aroma Coffee, there aren’t many comfortable indoor areas for guests to relax or socialize. Teen programming is missing. The resort has great options for younger children and adults, but there isn’t much organized for ages 11–15 or dedicated hangout spaces for older teens (16–17). Pool safety needs attention. My biggest concern was the lack of visible lifeguards. I slipped on a slick painted area around the pool (completely sober) and, fortunately, wasn’t injured. Other guests checked on me because no employees were nearby. It wasn’t until nearly an hour later that I saw a lifeguard walking through the area. At a resort with so many families and children, pool supervision should be far more visible and consistent. Bottom line: AVA has the foundation to become an outstanding resort. The accommodations, many of the restaurants, and some of the staff are excellent. However, better communication, improved guest orientation, clearer policies, more teen activities, and stronger safety practices would significantly elevate the guest experience. We’d consider returning but there are so many other options in Cancun and in greater Mexico.

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