Ava Resort Cancún Review: My All-Inclusive Resort Experience

Let me begin off by saying: I hate being dangerous at issues. If I am not instantly good at one thing new, my intestine intuition is to by no means do it once more. All through my life, I’ve began and give up so many actions—ballet, gymnastics, diving, horseback driving—and informed myself it was as a result of I’m an individual who merely will get bored too simply. I believe this perspective has one thing to do with “being a pleasure to have at school” all all through college; I acquired good grades, by no means acquired in hassle, and every part got here fairly simply to me. Failure simply wasn’t one thing I used to be accustomed to.

Relaxation assured, I have been engaged on adjusting this inflexible mind-set (shout out to my therapist), and after I was invited to remain at Ava Resort Cancún in Mexico for his or her grand opening, I knew I would be indignant with myself if I did not benefit from some new-to-me actions they needed to provide. Certain, sitting by the pool all day is gorgeous—and unimaginable to fail at—however I wished to place my remedy abilities to the check. My objective: Attempt issues I’ve by no means accomplished earlier than, and actually be okay with not being good on the primary go.

However first, a bit about Ava Resort Cancún 

Ava Resort Cancún is an all-inclusive, five-star resort that lately opened in October 2024. It’s situated in Cancún, Quintana Roo, Mexico, proper on the Caribbean Sea and solely a 10-minute drive from Cancún International Airport. An Ava shuttle was ready for me on the airport after I landed, however any visitor can organize transportation companies via the resort.

The property has 1,700 rooms, all of which have oceanfront views (sure, actually). When reserving, you’ll be able to select from three choices, with costs beginning at $600 USD on the time of publishing:

• Oceanfront king or queen room ($600/evening):Incorporates a king mattress or two queen visitor rooms, a spa-inspired lavatory, and a non-public terrace with a small spa tub.
• Ava Gala Suite ($1,900/evening): Options two bedrooms, two double beds, a front room, a workspace, a grasp tub, and a non-public terrace.
• Ava Penthouse Suite ($2,500/evening): Incorporates a main bedroom with a walk-in closet and personal terrace, a second bed room with a non-public terrace, two loos, a front room and kitchen, and a foremost terrace with a 6-person spa tub.

I used to be in an oceanfront king room for 4 nights, which featured the above facilities. Whereas on the costly facet, it was actually precisely what I’d anticipate for $600 an evening—higher than any Hilton or Marriott I’ve stayed in. The personal terrace overlooking the Caribbean Sea actually sealed the deal for me. Even in the event you had been to spend the entire day lounging in mattress (which I definitely didn’t), you continue to really feel such as you’re in Mexico, due to the large sliding glass door to the terrace the place you’ll be able to nonetheless see the seaside.

First up, a breathwork class

Should you’re not acquainted, breathwork exercises contain a mix of deep and shallow respiration, often at quick paces, with breath holds in between. As a result of one of these breathwork prompts your parasympathetic nervous system—which is liable for enjoyable your physique, per the Cleveland Clinic—it’s supposed to assist calm you down. (LOL at me being anxious about attempting one thing meant to be soothing.)

Associated Tales

Our teacher, Ben Smith, a licensed breathwork and efficiency coach, had us lie face up on our yoga mats and placed on eye masks to create a little bit of sensory deprivation (research¹ has proven sensory deprivation may also help cut back stress, despair, nervousness, and ache). Not going to lie, I used to be instantly uncomfortable. And although Smith stored repeating that it did not matter how foolish we regarded or felt, I could not assist however really feel like I would be judged for the following hour, although nobody may even see me.

Subsequent, EDM music started blasting—I may really feel the bass pulsing in my physique. Quickly, Smith started taking quick, deep stomach breaths that we needed to comply with together with. It was exhausting to maintain up with, and because the breaths acquired quicker, I assumed I used to be going to hyperventilate. I knew I needed to cease considering a lot.

However then I remembered I used to be exterior on a terrace going through the ocean—and whereas I couldn’t see it at that second, smelling the salty water and feeling the cool breeze snapped me out of panic. It was a way more calming ambiance than, say, a exercise studio in a landlocked U.S. state. At a sure level, I actually did let go of any intrusive ideas and forgot about how awkward I felt.

We spent the previous few minutes of sophistication in corpse pose (Savasana) letting our respiration get again to regular. In my very own darkish little world, I felt the calmest I had in a very long time. (Significantly, I had a spa session the day earlier than and did not even really feel as relaxed afterward as I did after the breathwork class.) After we took our eye masks off, I had tears in my eyes—positive, most of it was from how shiny it was with out the masks, however there was a small a part of me that felt so moved and adjusted.

Then, taking a category with Julianne Hough (yep, that Julianne Hough)

Should you’re like me, you in all probability keep in mind watching Julianne Hough on Dancing With the Stars within the mid-2000s. Now, she has her personal exercise technique referred to as Kinrgy, a dance class that comes with components of strength training, yoga, and meditation.

Hough taught this class particularly for the resort’s grand opening, and it was on the identical terrace overlooking the ocean the place the breathwork class had been held. Sadly, this additionally meant I’d be sweating profusely, because it was 80 levels and humid (although the supplied chilly towels and cucumber water helped a tiny bit).

I used to be intimidated as hell to take this class. The considered dancing in the identical area as knowledgeable genuinely made me need to again out on the final second, however it was too cool of a possibility to cross up. So in I went, taking a spot towards the center of the pack.

Hough started the category by demonstrating just a few key strikes that may be repeated all through and had us comply with alongside. Regardless of her going via them slowly, I wasn’t selecting them up as quick as I wished to, which I knew could be a problem once we did the strikes for actual. As I regarded round, most individuals regarded like they had been naturals. Nice, they’re in all probability me like I don’t belong, I assumed. Cue the nervousness.

When the music turned on and we formally acquired began, the primary few sequences had been tough for me. It felt as if my limbs and mind weren’t linked as I went from one transfer to the following, at all times off by a beat or two. However surprisingly (or possibly unsurprisingly), the identical factor occurred right here because it did within the breathwork class: Someplace between a grapevine step and a hip thrust, I ended caring how I used to be being perceived. I used to be letting myself have enjoyable, and I felt like a child once more.

Towards the tip of the session, we stopped dancing and Hough had us shut our eyes and take into consideration every part we had been grateful for in our lives. The track “Rise Up” by Andra Day was enjoying within the background (if you recognize, you recognize), and once we all opened our eyes, there wasn’t a dry eye within the class. I went from feeling awkward and embarrassed to feeling such a connection to a bunch of strangers (a mixture of resort visitors and people specifically invited to Ava’s opening) in actually 60 minutes—one thing I did not assume could be potential, and it would not have been if I would sat the category out like I initially wished to.

Having fun with the super-expansive meals choice

One factor I had no reservations about on this journey? Consuming. The resort’s all-inclusive nature means limitless meals and drinks all through the entire resort for all visitors, no matter which room you select. There are informal buffets, ice cream outlets, taco stations (actually one of the best tacos I’ve ever had), poolside meals and beverage service, and 17 effective eating eating places (solely open for dinner) that provide cuisines like Mexican, Italian, Mediterranean, Japanese, French, and extra. Enjoyable reality: All of the cooks had been educated by high cooks from all over the world—and it exhibits.

Exploring the resort’s actions

Though I traveled on my own, I genuinely assume that Ava Resort Cancún could be nice for households and solo vacationers alike. There are six swimming pools—one which’s adults-only—with three swim-up bars, personal cabanas, deck chairs, sunbeds, and lounge chairs. There’s additionally the Ava Bay, a 2.8-acre artifical physique of water on property the place you are able to do water actions like crusing, paddle boarding, and kayaking.

If you wish to break up your poolside lounging, there’s a free gymnasium and some actions you may need to pay additional for:

• A full-service spa
• A golf couse
• Laser tag
• Bowling
• Arcade video games

There are additionally free youngsters and teenagers golf equipment on website the place they will make associates and you’ll have some alone time. To not point out, you’ll be able to guide personal or group excursions exterior the resort (for an added price) to see the ruins of Chichén Itzá, go scuba diving, swim with dolphins, do a jungle tour, and extra. Sadly, I didn’t get to do any of this because of the quick time period I used to be there and an already-packed schedule of occasions *in* the resort, however I completely would have accomplished all the above if I had the time.

A couple of notes

Whereas my keep at Ava Resort Cancún was actually pretty, I do have just a few notes that is perhaps useful to contemplate earlier than visiting. The primary is the resort’s location. Whereas it has straightforward airport entry, it’s greater than a 30-minute drive from Cancún’s central “lodge zone” and downtown space. This implies it’s robust to discover the eating places, bars, and golf equipment town has to supply, as you’d need to pay for a cab or Uber to get there, so it has the potential to really feel isolating in the event you’re there for an extended time period.

This leads me to the truth that due to the resort’s location, the seaside isn’t nearly as good of high quality because the others within the lodge zone. My shuttle driver from the airport mentioned to keep away from going within the ocean as a result of it’s extra “swampy” than the opposite seashores in Cancún. (Therefore the artifical bay I discussed earlier.) So you’ll be able to stroll alongside the seaside, however that is just about it.

I additionally discovered there wasn’t a lot to do within the resort itself, until you have got excursions booked or need to pay additional for the spa, golf, bowling, laser tag, or arcade video games. However when it comes to leisure, exhibits, or stay music, you’d want to go away the resort to search out it. So though there’s undoubtedly stuff to maintain you occupied, I’d say that Ava could be very a lot a resort for individuals who want a break from life and need to largely simply lounge round.

Ultimate ideas

Whereas I’m not inherently an all-inclusive resort girlie—I’d fairly sightsee by myself in a much less extravagant method and never be confined to 1 area—I nonetheless had a good time and advocate it to anybody on the lookout for an opulent getaway who needs to calm down by the pool with a taco and margarita in hand.

The resort is unquestionably on the costly facet, however in the event you can afford it and revel in all-inclusive holidays like this, I’d say my expertise was value it. The actions I did throughout my keep acquired me out of my consolation zone, and I’m pleased with myself for attempting one thing new.