There’s something to be said for choosing a resort located close to the airport and starting your vacation quicker instead of spending an hour in a taxi or shuttle bus. As soon as my driver left the terminal, we could see the massive AVA Resort Cancun in the distance; after a mere 15-minute drive, we arrived in front of the resort’s curvy white, wave-like buildings. The all-inclusive property opened last June with 1,622 rooms in 13 categories.

Let’s start with the upsides, like all oceanfront rooms. Furnishings are spanking new, with stark white and neutral tones and warm wood accents, including a mirrored porthole in the bathroom opening to a glimpse of the sea. There are duo sinks, a 65-inch Smart TV, rain shower, minibar and Nespresso machines, and either a jetted tub or Jacuzzi on the balcony. At the time of my visit, not all rooms were ready for prime time, as we heard construction noise from adjacent rooms; our sliding wooden bathroom door was broken on arrival; and the water from our tub dribbled out of the faucet.

© Courtesy of AVA Resort Cancun

The 17 food and beverage options do feel more elevated than a typical all-inclusive. Copal is a standout, with modern Mexican cuisine served from a wood-fired open kitchen. Green chile ceviche is freshly caught and served with tostadas; jicama, pineapple and cucumber are tossed with lime, chili powder and pepitas; and shredded beef birria comes with a savory cup of broth. Visit the adjacent all-day street taco stand to take lunch to the pool or have a late-evening nosh.

Pan-Asian restaurant Bao is also worth a visit. A fellow spa guest recommended we go all in on sushi, and it was good advice: The nigiri and spicy tuna and tempura shrimp maki were all fresh and artfully arranged. The namesake bao bun is stuffed with tender pork belly and hoisin, and there are crowd-pleasing entrées like pad Thai, dan dan noodles and Cantonese-style fish.

Though it was touted as a must-try (and, along with Chez Moi, one of two concepts that cater to adults only), Black Iron was a disappointment. Our medium-rare ribeye arrived well-done and gristly; the re-do arrived closer to medium, albeit unmemorable. The accoutrements — grilled romaine with anchovies, and parmesan-dusted truffle fries —fared better. But grainy mango-passionfruit panna cotta tasted only of gelatin.

Two buffet restaurants offer a decent selection for breakfast and lunch. The international-focused Food District is smaller but often less crowded than Plaza MX, mostly Mexican. For something lighter, baristas at Aroma serve up coffee drinks and grab-and-go pastries, sandwiches and salads. We preferred The Pods for lunch, from which we enjoyed well-prepared ceviche, chicken nachos, Black Angus sliders and vegetable empanadas — all from our lounge chairs.

© Kelly Magyarics

Bars are stocked with top-shelf alcohol options, and we found The Cocktail Bar definitely mixed up the craftiest drinks, including a shaken Colada with two kinds of rum, coconut water and a cinnamon-vanilla syrup, and a gin libation topped with grapefruit sorbet and sparkling wine. They also serve zero-proof sips made with non-aocholic mezcal and other “spirits.”

Tropical resorts are often either “beach resorts” or “pool resorts,” and AVA Resort Cancun squarely falls into the latter camp. The narrow shoreline and water are unfortunately overtaken with the sargassum that plagues many resorts in the area; during an early morning beach walk, I witnessed seaweed washing up on shore as quickly as the crew was removing it.

To compensate, the resort has six pools. The largest is The Bay, a 2.8-acre saltwater lagoon divided into one area for swimming and another with an inflatable obstacle course and space to paddle around in a kayak or SUP (all included). We spent most time at the livelier adjacent pool, which has a swim-up bar and daily activities like aqua dance and aerobics, volleyball and a DJ.

© Kelly Magyarics

There are no pesky towel cards required and, with a seemingly endless supply of seating, no need to reserve lounge chairs. (A variety of daybeds and cabanas come with a hefty rental fee that’s not really worth the spend.) However, we heard many guests bemoaning the chilly, obviously unheated pool temps, and we had to psyche ourselves up to jump in.

Speaking of weather, this resort shines brightest under blue skies. Rainy indoor activities for a fee include bowling, laser tag, auto racing simulators and shopping. (Later this year there will be a theater for live entertainment.) The resort is large, so you’ll always get in your steps, but getting anywhere is a hike. And since it’s not in the Hotel Zone but on an isolated stretch, you’ll need to take a taxi to get to town.

There’s a large fitness center with modern equipment and lots of daily included classes, from yoga to spinning to Pilates, as well as a huge spa complex with 55 treatment rooms and guided hydrotherapy circuit. We appreciated cool cucumber slices and cold compresses applied by our attendant during our time in the sauna and the D.I.Y. mud mask in the steam room. The multiple targeted jets in the warm pool were our favorite part. My signature facial included a mask and facial manipulation; an upgrade to a deluxe adds steam and extraction.

During our three-night stay, we got the feeling most resort guests were part of a larger event. A white noise app was helpful to drown late-night music from gatherings just off our balcony.

Should you vacation here if you’re not part of a group? If you’re okay with being isolated from town, staying poolside rather than on the beach and appreciate a variety of (mostly) great food and beverage options, AVA Resort Cancun makes for an accessible East Coast long-weekend getaway.

AVA Resort Cancun

Boulevard Kukulkan KM 26
Zona Hotelera, 77500 Cancún, Q.R., Mexico
tel 52 800 681 5370