AVA Resort Cancun Review (May 22–26)

In May, I organized a group trip to AVA Resort Cancun for 10 friends and family members. Since several people in our group had never experienced an all-inclusive resort before, I wanted to choose a property that would showcase the best of what an all-inclusive vacation could offer. Having visited Mexico three times previously and enjoyed excellent experiences, I was excited about AVA, especially since it was a newer resort. Unfortunately, the experience did not live up to expectations. Let's  [... read more]start with the positives. The resort is conveniently located only about 10–15 minutes from the airport, making arrival and departure very easy. The property itself is massive, with plenty to see and do. The ambiance is beautifully curated, and the grounds are well maintained. Public spaces, including the coffee shop, ice cream area, and common gathering spaces, were aesthetically pleasing and thoughtfully designed. The rooms were modern and visually appealing, and the resort offered a variety of amenities and activities. However, the downsides became apparent almost immediately. Upon arrival, the lobby was overwhelmed by a very strong perfume scent. After spending time at the resort, I understood why—it appeared to be masking the odor from the large amounts of sargassum seaweed washed up along the shoreline. One of the biggest disappointments was the beach itself. Due to the excessive sargassum, there was essentially no usable beach during our stay, which was unfortunate for a beachfront resort. The saltwater pool was enjoyable and became our preferred place to relax, but the dining experience left much to be desired. Throughout our stay, food was often served cold, both at the buffet and at the specialty restaurants where we had reservations. Because our group was large (10 people), reservation times were limited, often pushing us into very late dining slots. On multiple occasions, we waited an hour or more for our meals after being seated, sometimes not eating until after 10:00 p.m. Another disappointment was the condition of the resort itself. Although only a couple of years old, parts of the property already appeared worn and run down. While there were many amenities available, I was surprised by how many activities and services required additional payment. For a resort positioned as a luxury all-inclusive experience, I expected more to be included in the upfront price. Overall, I would rate AVA Resort a 3 out of 5. While the property is visually impressive and offers plenty of amenities, the food quality, long wait times, beach conditions, and additional charges significantly impacted our experience. For the price point, I do not believe the resort offers enough value, and unfortunately, it is not a place I would return to. If you're considering AVA Resort, it may be worth exploring other all-inclusive options in Cancun that provide a stronger overall experience for a similar price.

Not as good as expected

We took a family vacation here, early April 2026. I have to say overall it was a disappointment. We’ve been to several Mexican all inclusives and while this one shows nicely, the actual experience is lacking. The staff were the biggest disappointment. They seemed very disinterested and almost resentful to serve you. I wouldn’t go as far as saying rude, but at times close to it. In the hotel there are lots of activities, but take lots of money as they all come at an additional cost in US dollars. [... read more] Another thing we didn’t like was the constant approaches by the sales people to try and sell you their time share membership. They position themselves in the main walking areas and are always there. Then speaking of timeshare membership, there are certain areas, pool, patio loungers etc where you can only go if you’re a member. I personally found this frustrating considering the cost of the trip. I could go on and say that this resort is sub par in housekeeping, restaurant service and availability, pool service, pool lounger availability.. If you like the beach, don’t expect anything at this resort. I would not recommend going here.

Definition of Grand

This was the grandest resort I have patronized. The scale of things is absolutely enormous - the 1000m saltwater pool, the super-high ceilings, grand art throughout, all gave it a luxe, ostentatious presentation. The food presentation at the restaurants was impressive and the service was excellent throughout. I did find that the flavour of the food at the Asian restaurant Bao was a little lacking, as were some of the items at the French option Chez Moi, but the Short RIb at the Black Iron was  [... read more]amazing! The frozen yogurt and gelato stands were also excellent quality I loved that there was no rush - no need to reserve a poolside deck chair, there were lots available. Same with the beach chairs. The beach was simple but ample - lots of sand and coastline. There are no activities at the beach though - no food stalls, volleyball, cabanas or anything else - just sand. The entertainment was fun, I enjoyed the Mexican cultural night as well as the game show night. It is less polished and professional than a RC Cruise and nothing like Vegas or Broadway, but still fun. Lots of huge options for family and couples - kids club, arcade, bowling, laser tag, escape rooms, shopping and bars.

Amazing resort

Wonderful stay………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….…………………..I highly recommended this resort for everyone. We loved everything about this resort, food, pool, location, aesthetics…………………………….