TRAVEL
ribeye arriving over coal and wood, edges smoky, centres blush-pink. Truffle fries dusted in pecorino were instantly claimed by the table too, as was the macaroni with asadero cheese mousse.
At Copal, AVA’ s contemporary Mexican restaurant, the precision sharpened. The house guacamole, smoky with tatemado green chilli, arrived with wood-fired tostadas … and crickets! A daring crunch, a surprising nutty finish and a reminder that true cuisine is rooted in place. The minced bean empanada was crisp and fragrant; the mole toast topped with shredded chicken had richness and depth; the grilled skirt steak with charred tomato sauce, fried cassava and roasted onions was bold and satisfying; and the Swiss chicken enchiladas were soft and comforting beneath a flavourful sauce, while the beef birria quesadilla with slow-cooked beef, pork beans and pickled vegetables was utterly delicious refined messiness! Architecturally impressive, the aesthetic was transporting, channeling relaxed resort life into a high-end dining experience.
Kita, the teppanyaki restaurant, brought last-night theatre. Gyoza- chicken and shrimp with garlic and sweet-chilli sauce- were glossy and delicate, swiftly followed by spicy roasted edamame that kept disappearing between conversations. The miso shiru, fragrant with tofu, harusame noodles, wakame and shiitake, reset the palate before the grill ignited and our chef danced his way through teriyaki beef, shrimp and chicken, tossing and searing until the plates filled with yasai itame and yakimeshi fried rice. All delicious and all demolished with reverence.
While days moved from cabana to cocktails for us and pool splashing to pinata-making for the kids, with restaurants tempting the taste buds 24-7, there is yet another string to the AVA bow... Waiting to be discovered in a subterranean paradise sits the 66,000-sqft AVA Spa, complete with 55 treatment rooms, hydrotherapy circuit and a beauty salon. Descending into the adult-only cool, cave-like corridors, here, spa hosts guide you through a series of
wellness experiences: sauna with ice-cold cucumber compresses, steam room with agave face mask, ice showers, and a sequence of hydropools to alleviate any lingering knots of stress. We completed our experience with a 50-minute AVA Relaxing Experience massage for couples, which used long, sweeping movements and warm oils to soothe and detoxify, but guests in need of a more active fix can find it across 11,000-sqft of elite fitness space with individual and group fitness, yoga, Pilates and spin classes all included.
As contemporary resort hotel experiences go, AVA Resort Cancun is certainly one of the best. It isn’ t just family-friendly, it’ s family-empowering. Space, taste, design, services- everything just works, and we bid a fond farewell to a backdrop of excited kids’ voices retelling their favourite memories, while we felt genuinely restored and truly reluctant to leave.
avaresortcancun. com avaresorts AvaResortCancun
THE BEST WAY TO GET TO MEXICO
As the market leader in UK car parking, hotels, lounges and insurance, HolidayExtras. com offers the best price and biggest range on the market. Useful airport extras ensure that you can enjoy more holiday without the hassle. www. holidayextras. com or 0800 1313 777 www. insidekent. co. uk • 157