When you travel as a family, there are those rare moments when everything just falls into place: the kids are having fun without arguing, the teens disappear for a few hours without ever getting bored, and you actually manage to finish your coffee while it’s still hot. At AVA Resort Cancun, a true five-star resort, the experience is designed to make those magical moments happen a little more often.
We’ve already covered the resort’s luxurious side and ocean-view rooms. That hasn’t changed! This time, we’re diving deep into what could make all the difference on your next family stay: its lineup of activities for kids, from babies to teens, complete with the hours, the details and the small touches you only really notice once you’re there.
Three age-specific clubs, a lagoon big enough to get lost in, a water park, 50 arcade games, laser tag… and even a nanny service for the nights you want a little time to yourselves. Where do we start?
One kids’ club, three age groups, never a dull moment
The first thing that stands out? AVA Resort Cancun doesn’t have just one kids’ club. It has three distinct spaces, each designed with a specific age group in mind.
- Art Kids Studio (ages 0 to 3): open 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., this sensory space is designed for little ones, under parental supervision. Registration happens on-site, at the entrance. A great option for families travelling with a baby or a young child who still needs you close by.
- AVA Kids (ages 4 to 10): same hours, 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., with a jam-packed schedule. Craft workshops, team sports, nature walks, marine life discovery, trampolines, outdoor story time, picnics, digital games… not to mention the classics: piñata making, clay modelling, science experiments, movie nights, sandcastle workshops, astronomy classes, pirate shows, ice cream tastings, magic shows, treasure hunts and superhero parties. Lost count? So did we.
Kids also get direct access to Sunny’s Water Park and AVA Bay. Depending on the week, the regular schedule is also spiced up with special one-off shows or mini family festivals. - The Lounge (ages 11 to 17): open 9:30 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., a hangout built for teens — and only teens. Basketball hoops, ping-pong tables, a video game centre and a snack bar await in a space where no little siblings, and definitely no parents, have any reason to linger.
And for families who’d rather spend time together instead of splitting up by age group, there’s Family Time: a shared space where kids and parents can craft together and walk away with a handmade keepsake. Time slots vary week to week — ask on-site for the schedule.
AVA Bay and Sunny’s Water Park, the duo that steals the show
Picture a vast stretch of crystal-clear turquoise water, big enough to kayak across, try paddleboarding or simply enjoy a leisurely swim with the family. Now picture it right in the heart of your resort. Welcome to AVA Bay, a 2.7-acre saltwater lagoon — roughly the size of three football fields — powered by Crystal Lagoons® technology.
Right next door, Sunny’s Water Park is waiting for the kids (and any parent not afraid to get wet) with its slides.
The resort also has six pools with different atmospheres, including a family pool with a shallow section and a swim-up bar — perfect for keeping an eye on the little ones while keeping your hands free for a cocktail.
A morning kayak ride? Why not. A slide before dinner? Go for it. Back in the water after nap time? You’re on vacation, after all.
Activities that go way beyond the pool
Even the biggest water lovers eventually come up for air. And when they do, AVA Resort Cancun has plenty more in store.
Feel like knocking down some pins? Head to The Alley: four professional lanes and four mini lanes, shoe rental included, open 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. (kids under 12 must be accompanied). To test the whole family’s wits, the escape rooms are open to all ages, with private games available for up to 8 players. Add laser tag battles, a round of pickleball, a professional-quality racing simulator and more than 50 arcade games at the Game Hub — from Space Invaders to Need for Speed, Halo: Fireteam Raven and Jurassic Park — and kids, teens especially, could easily spend several afternoons here. Some activities are available at an additional cost, but there are plenty of ways to switch things up throughout your stay.
And if you feel like seeing what lies beyond the resort, excursions organized directly through the hotel make family logistics a whole lot easier: book your excursion, hop aboard and head out to discover Cancun and its surroundings, without comparing ten options the night before.
Rooms built to actually fit the whole family
Hard to talk about kids’ activities without talking about where everyone sleeps afterward.
For bigger families, the Friends & Family Sundeck Suite offers a master bedroom and a separate TV room with a daybed that sleeps two children, plus a living area with a sofa — 635 sq ft inside, 592 sq ft of private sundeck with a six-person hot tub, all overlooking AVA Bay. A more compact option: the Oceanfront Friends and Family Suite, at 614 sq ft, with its own six-person hot tub and room for 4 guests. And since every room in the resort faces the ocean, no matter which category you book, nobody ends up staring at a parking lot.
Here, room service offers a menu designed specifically for kids, any time of day. Need a moment as a couple in the evening? A nanny service is available on request — turning a quiet dinner into an actual date night, guilt-free.
One small detail that changes everything with young kids: the room key comes as a wristband. One less thing to hunt for after a long day at the pool.
And for families still weighing their next destination: kids and teens stay free year-round at AVA Resort Cancun. That might just tip the scale.
A vacation where everyone actually feels like they’re on vacation
And that may ultimately be AVA Resort Cancun’s greatest strength: no one really has to compromise. The littlest ones have their own safe world. Kids can go from a treasure hunt to a waterslide. Teens have their own hangout, their own hours and their own snack bar. And you, meanwhile? You know exactly where everyone is — and how much time you have to yourselves.
Spend the morning together at AVA Bay, split up for a few activities in the afternoon, then meet back up over a great meal in the evening. And do it all differently the next day.
Whether you’re travelling with a baby, energetic kids or teens who value their independence, AVA Resort Cancun manages to create something pretty rare: a family vacation where everyone actually feels like they’re on vacation.
And there’s one last detail that will make any parent who’s heard “Are we there yet?” fifteen times in an hour smile: just 8 km separate Cancun International Airport from the resort.
You land. You grab your bags. And the vacation can begin.
The perks of an Air Transat all-inclusive vacation package
- Round-trip transfers between the airport and the all-inclusive resort.
- Round-trip flight in Economy Class.
- Hotel service fees and taxes.
- Accommodation for the chosen period.
- And if you add Option Plus, you get even more exclusive perks!
