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 think this perspective has one thing to do with “being a pleasure to have in school” all all through college; I obtained good grades, by no means obtained in hassle, and all the pieces 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 once I was invited to remain at Ava Resort Cancún in Mexico for his or her grand opening, I knew I would be offended with myself if I did not reap the benefits of some new-to-me actions they needed to supply. Certain, sitting by the pool all day is gorgeous—and not possible to fail at—however I needed to place my remedy abilities to the check. My purpose: Strive issues I’ve by no means carried out earlier than, and really be okay with not being excellent on the primary go.

However first, a bit about Ava Resort Cancún 

Ava Resort Cancún is an all-inclusive, five-star resort that just lately opened in October 2024. It’s positioned 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 once I landed, however any visitor can organize transportation providers by means of the resort.

The property has 1,700 rooms, all of which have oceanfront views (sure, actually). When reserving, you may 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 rest room, 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 bathtub, and a non-public terrace.
• Ava Penthouse Suite ($2,500/evening): Incorporates a master suite with a walk-in closet and personal terrace, a second bed room with a non-public terrace, two bogs, a front room and kitchen, and a primary 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 count on for $600 an evening—higher than any Hilton or Marriott I’ve stayed in. The non-public terrace overlooking the Caribbean Sea actually sealed the deal for me. Even in case you have been to spend the entire day lounging in mattress (which I actually didn’t), you continue to really feel such as you’re in Mexico, because of the huge sliding glass door to the terrace the place you may nonetheless see the seaside.

First up, a breathwork class

If you happen to’re not acquainted, breathwork exercises contain a mix of deep and shallow respiratory, normally at quick paces, with breath holds in between. As a result of one of these breathwork prompts your parasympathetic nervous system—which is chargeable for enjoyable your physique, per the Cleveland Clinic—it’s supposed to assist calm you down. (LOL at me being anxious about making an attempt 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 help scale back stress, melancholy, anxiousness, and ache). Not going to lie, I used to be instantly uncomfortable. And although Smith saved repeating that it did not matter how foolish we appeared or felt, I could not assist however really feel like I would be judged for the subsequent 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 observe together with. It was exhausting to maintain up with, and because the breaths obtained sooner, I assumed I used to be going to hyperventilate. I knew I needed to cease pondering a lot.

However then I remembered I used to be outdoors on a terrace dealing with 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 couple of minutes of sophistication in corpse pose (Savasana) letting our respiratory get again to regular. In my very own darkish little world, I felt the calmest I had in a very long time. (Severely, 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—certain, most of it was from how vibrant 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)

If you happen to’re like me, you most likely keep in mind watching Julianne Hough on Dancing With the Stars within the mid-2000s. Now, she has her personal exercise methodology 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 offered 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 house as knowledgeable genuinely made me wish to again out on the final second, but it surely 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 a number of key strikes that may be repeated all through and had us observe alongside. Regardless of her going by means of them slowly, I wasn’t choosing them up as quick as I needed to, which I knew can be a difficulty once we did the strikes for actual. As I appeared round, most individuals appeared like they have been naturals. Nice, they’re most likely taking a look at me like I don’t belong, I assumed. Cue the anxiousness.

When the music turned on and we formally obtained began, the primary few sequences have been tough for me. It felt as if my limbs and mind weren’t related as I went from one transfer to the subsequent, at all times off by a beat or two. However surprisingly (or perhaps unsurprisingly), the identical factor occurred right here because it did within the breathwork class: Someplace between a grapevine step and a hip thrust, I finished 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 all the pieces we have been grateful for in our lives. The music “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 company and people specifically invited to Ava’s opening) in actually 60 minutes—one thing I did not suppose can be doable, and it would not have been if I would sat the category out like I initially needed 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 company, no matter which room you select. There are informal buffets, ice cream outlets, taco stations (really 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 have been educated by high cooks from around the globe—and it exhibits.

Exploring the resort’s actions

Regardless that I traveled on my own, I genuinely suppose that Ava Resort Cancún can be nice for households and solo vacationers alike. There are six swimming pools—one which’s adults-only—with three swim-up bars, non-public 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 fitness center and some actions you may need to pay further 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 may e book non-public or group excursions outdoors 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 carried out all the above if I had the time.

Just a few notes

Whereas my keep at Ava Resort Cancún was really beautiful, I do have a number of notes that is perhaps useful to think about earlier than visiting. The primary is the resort’s location. Whereas it has simple 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 the 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 case 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 stated 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 may stroll alongside the seaside, however that is just about it.

I additionally discovered there wasn’t a lot to do within the resort itself, except you’ve gotten excursions booked or wish to pay further for the spa, golf, bowling, laser tag, or arcade video games. However when it comes to leisure, exhibits, or reside 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 may be very a lot a resort for individuals who want a break from life and wish to largely simply lounge round.

Last ideas

Whereas I’m not inherently an all-inclusive resort girlie—I’d slightly sightsee alone in a much less extravagant approach and never be confined to 1 house—I nonetheless had a good time and suggest it to anybody on the lookout for an expensive getaway who desires to calm down by the pool with a taco and margarita in hand.

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