AVA RESORT It’s one of my favourite holiday moments – when I first pull back the curtains or drapes, slide the glass doors open and admire the view from the balcony. On this occasion, the vista from the eighth floor of AVA Resort Cancun was unlike anything I’ve seen before. The pool was colossal, and while bathers were attempting to stay cool in its baby blue waters; on its shores, flamingo pink-shirted servers weaved in between the sun beds and cabanas carrying trays of frozen drinks and hot snacks. To stay on top in the hotel business, you have to stand out from the crowd, and this new Mexican resort is undoubtedly an eye-catcher. Despite only opening in September 2024, the hotel, a short drive from Cancun airport, has already gained a reputation for being among the best in the area, and that satisfying new smell hits you as soon as you enter the cavernous lobby. The 1,622 chic accommodations at AVA range from ocean front kings to five-bedroom panoramic villas, and each has an unobstructed balcony sea view, meaning you can delight in the mesmerising sunsets and sunrises. The resort’s layout is based around a huge concourse running from north to south, where you’ll find cafés, bars, shops and à la carte restaurants. DINNER TIME The kitchen staff at the 17 eateries have been trained by top chefs from around the world, and it shows. During the week, I sampled fish quesadillas and beef fillet at modern Mexican eatery Copal, French nouvelle cuisine at Chez Moi and dry-aged ribeye at Black Iron Woodfire Grill. However, my favourite meal of the week was at Bao, where I enjoyed Vietnamese spring rolls, Japanese sushi and Korean-style fried chicken and pork. During the day, if you’re not tempted to lounge around and order the in-room dining, there are two Food District areas, where you’ll find tacos and wraps on another level to the stuff in those yellow boxes at home. The Pods is AVA’s snacks and small bites menu, perfect for those lounging by the pool days. FACILITIES If you’re a gym bunny looking to stay fit while you’re away, head to AVA’a state-of-the-art fitness centre Fiit, next to the 90,000-square-foot spa where I checked in for a detoxifying 50-minute massage. For families, or honeymooning adults craving some fun, there is a bowling alley, an escape room and an F1 driving simulator. But the hotel’s pièce de résistance is AVA Bay, the sprawling 2.8-acre sustainable lagoon, powered by state-of-the-art technology, surrounded by cabanas, and plentiful sun and day beds. Providing you slip on a lifejacket, you can also have a go at SUP, kayaking and paddle boarding, while the floating obstacle course is great fun for adults and kids who have outgrown the smaller water park. Just down the road is Riviera Cancun Golf & Resorts, with its allinclusive course expertly carved into the local terrain’s natural contours by Jack Nicklaus. I played 18 holes on the challenging mangrove-lined course which can devour your spare balls, if you have a tendency to skew your tee shots. After the round, Hole 19 restaurant serves delicious lunches, while Jorge at the club shop is your man for any golfing goodies. While there is a chilled vibe through the day at AVA, there is plenty of fun for night owls later on. WHEN THE SUN GOES DOWN I pulled up a chair at the Digit Bar and The Cocktail Bar for drinks, and made a beeline for Zen nightclub, depending on my energy levels. On my final night in Mexico, I had a ticket for the world-famous Coco Bongo nightclub in Cancun. It was a bonkers evening of singing, dancing and theatre, inspired by movie characters like Beetlejuice and Captain Jack Sparrow, and rock stars Freddie Mercury and Axl Rose. The following day, with a sore head and a heavy heart, it was time for one of my least favourite moments of the holiday – that bittersweet final glance down at AVA’s staggering pool from my balcony. Cancun and Riviera Maya have changed a lot over the past half a century, with a Mexican wave of all-inclusive resorts popping up, ready to host funseeking holidaymakers, in particular, those celebrating their wedding or honeymoon. But I doubt many compare to the revamped ‘Mex-level’ Hard Rock Riviera Maya and the gleaming AVA Resort Cancun. And once you see the pools, you can’t help but AVA moment, as I did. AVA moment in Mexico Richard Jones tells us all about his time at two all-inclusive heavens on the Yucatán Peninsula 84
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