TRAVEL
ALL-SUITE CONTEMPORARY LUXURY THAT’ S PERFECT FOR FAMILIES TOO …
AVA RESORT CANCUN
BY SAMANTHA READY
There are certain hotels and resorts that quietly dismantle your expectations and those that instantly impress with wideeyed wonder. Inspired by the pristine white sand and translucent blues of the Mexican Caribbean Sea, the fivestar elevated all-inclusive AVA Resort Cancun belongs firmly in the latter and has redefined the premium all-inclusive experience. All suites and sea views, with extensive dining options and a stunningly designed spa, it’ s spread between two sweeping wings that rise from the shoreline like polished white sails, feeling more like a contemporary coastal city than a resort, with wide boulevards, curated spaces, multiple restaurants, six pools stitched between palms, private poolside cabana suites and the warm attentiveness of somewhere far more intimate. Our exceptional buffet restaurant host Orlando befriended the children within seconds and spent three days patiently encouraging me to practise my rusty Spanish over breakfast; for a family escape, the AVA Resort Cancun is a rare blend of both scale and sincerity.
Our welcome set the tone, met at check-in by our three assigned suite concierges who, while working on rotation are contactable 24 hours a day via
WhatsApp, facilitating anything from dining reservations to cabanas, room amenities and airport transfers( the latter made even more of a breeze as the resort is just 30 minutes away from Cancun’ s international terminal). Next, our suite- tranquil and boasting floor-to-ceiling glass framing the turquoise sweep of the Caribbean, the little Readys immediately owned their space- the sofa bed pulled out neatly each night, their own wardrobe space and a mini bar restocked daily with chocolate milk, juice and snacks, a TV and that uninterrupted view of sea and sky made even more beautiful by our sunsoaked balcony complete with whirlpool tub, which became a post-afternoon swim pre-dinner ritual for all of us.
Days at AVA slide easily between buffet breakfasts, dips in the cool pool, splashes in the water park, ice-cream parlours, crêpe stands, coffee shops to rival any artisan café, delicious street food, a theatre-size auditorium for nightly entertainment, aqua inflatables drifting across the pools, a fantastically run kids’ club( as well as a teen lounge complete with an indoor basketball court) and cocktail bars where mixologists champion their signature in-house AVA tequila in elegant drinks. There are also additional activities you can prebook too- escape rooms, bowling, F1 simulators to name a few- which, when combined with the indoor trampolining and soft play at kids club, and the video game lounge at teen club, meant we didn’ t hear the words“ I’ m bored” once. In fact, the little Readys were actually asking to go to kids’ club every day- a win-win for us all!
Dining is plentiful and varied with seven globally-infused fine dining concepts including Peruvian, French, Asian and Mediterranean cuisine, as well as ten casual dining experiences woven throughout the resort. Our stay included three stand out fine dining experiences. Black Iron, AVA’ s ode to the modern American steakhouse, is set to a backdrop of intimate booths, round tables and mood lighting. We opened with a trio of empanadas- beef, provolone and sautéed mushroom- each crisp-edged and deeply savoury, dipped in chimichurri, criolla or macha depending on your chosen mood. The grilled romaine was a taste surprise: charred leaves, still crisp, dressed in a tahini vinaigrette with cucumber, cantaloupe and chickpea purée. The Black Iron burger was unapologetically indulgent- prime beef, Cheddar, caramelised onions and bacon inside a brioche bun. But the stars, of course, were the steaks; our picks of tenderloin and
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