AVA Resort Cancun

The short version

Scale is the story at AVA Resort Cancun, which opened in November 2024 just south of the Hotel Zone, about 10 minutes from the airport. All 1,622 rooms, suites and villas face the ocean, and the resort has its own 2.8-acre saltwater lagoon, AVA Bay. Six pools, a kids' water park, a teen lounge, a nightclub, a speakeasy and five pickleball courts give a mixed-age group plenty to choose from.

Best for Big-resort variety Families with young kids Families with teens Nightlife

Good to know

• All 1,622 rooms, suites and villas face the ocean.
• AVA Bay is a 2.8-acre saltwater lagoon built with Crystal Lagoons technology.
• There are six pools, including a kids' pool with a water park and the adults-only Sereno pool, plus the AVA Kids club and a teen lounge for ages 13 to 17.
• Also on site: the DEZ nightclub, a speakeasy, a theater and five pickleball courts.
• The homepage advertises 17 restaurants and bars, and Cancun International Airport is about 10 minutes away.

Before you book

• Spa treatments are not part of the all-inclusive, and bowling and the escape room each carry an extra fee.
• With 1,622 rooms, suites and villas, this is a very large resort. If you'd rather have somewhere small, ask me for alternatives.