AVA Resort Cancun vs SLS Playa Mujeres
Families with kids who want a water park but something more upscale than a standard all-inclusive land on these two, both opened in 2024. AVA (expect a timeshare pitch) is a 1,622-room giant in the hotel zone built around a saltwater lagoon; SLS is the design-led resort up in Playa Mujeres with a golf course and a cleaner beach.
At a Glance
| AVA Resort Cancun | SLS Playa Mujeres | |
|---|---|---|
| Google Rating | 4.6 ★ | 4.3 ★ |
| Google Reviews | 4,749 | 1,099 |
| Price Range | $$$ | $$$$ |
| Resort Type | Family | Family |
| Location | Cancun, Mexico | Punta Sam, Mexico |
| Rooms | 1622 | 498 |
| Brand | Legendary Vacation Club | |
| Vibe | Luxury, Romantic | Business, Romantic |
| Room Upgrades | Family Suite | 2 Bedroom Suites, Swim-Up Rooms |
What Real Travelers Say
Distilled from real traveler discussions and reviews for each resort.
AVA Resort Cancun
What travelers love
- +AVA Bay powered by Crystal Lagoons technology is a 2.7-acre saltwater lagoon - effectively the largest swimmable pool in the Cancun hotel zone, with clear blue water and real sand beaches on its edges
- +More than 17 restaurants and bars led by award-winning chefs, including Black Iron steakhouse with premium cuts, 8 fine-dining a la carte venues, and a range of cuisines that rivals urban restaurant districts
- +The half-mile indoor air-conditioned promenade connects all resort zones, solving the 'melting walk between buildings' problem that plagues other mega-resorts
- +1,622 oceanfront rooms means you're almost never waiting for elevators or walking through crowds in corridors - the scale is matched by the infrastructure
- +Sunny's Water Park is included in the all-inclusive rate and gives families a dedicated water play area separate from the adults-only pool zones
Common complaints
- −The beach is small and the ocean water lacks the vivid blue color found further north in the hotel zone - sargassum can be a significant issue near the water's edge
- −Restaurant reservations are a documented pain point - guests report standing in line for over an hour just to book a table, even with a stated reservation system in place
- −Legendary Vacation Club timeshare pitch is aggressive, often starting at check-in and persisting through the stay - multiple guests describe it as 'nonstop harassment'
- −The bowling alley, arcade, escape room, and shops all require additional charges on top of the all-inclusive rate, which catches guests off guard given the premium pricing
- −At half a mile end to end, the resort requires significant walking - guests with mobility concerns or those who just want to be lazy will find the layout tiring
SLS Playa Mujeres
What travelers love
- +Greg Norman-designed 18-hole golf course on the property delivers a world-class round with Caribbean Sea views between shots
- +Adults-only pool area provides a genuinely tranquil escape from the family waterpark, with cabanas and a swim-up bar
- +Dining is a full tier above typical all-inclusive quality - nightly a la carte restaurants earn consistent praise from even seasoned travelers
- +Kids Club and teens club with structured daily activities frees up parents to actually relax by the pool
- +Beach sits in the Playa Mujeres zone, which regularly has cleaner sand and less sargassum seaweed than Cancun Hotel Zone beaches
Common complaints
- −Even after 16+ months of operation, some systems and processes are still being worked out - expect occasional service inconsistencies
- −There is no lunch or dinner buffet - the only buffet is breakfast at The Market - and the main lunch options are outdoors, which is rough in peak summer heat and genuinely tough for families with kids
- −Restaurant reservations are extremely hard to get - a July 2026 guest reported every a la carte restaurant fully booked for their entire stay and being pushed to room service instead
- −Premium wines and spirits carry surcharges, and guests report noticeable upsell pressure from bartenders - a sour note at a resort commanding $699/night rates
- −The family side lags the adult side - the family pool is widely described as 'an afterthought' next to the adults-only Privilege pool, and the kids' water park has zero shade plus a beach dumpster adjacent to the slides that produces odor
Amenity Differences
Only at AVA Resort Cancun
- Nightclub
- Restaurants Don't Require Reservations
- Teen Lounge
- Walk-In Dining Available
- Waterpark
Only at SLS Playa Mujeres
- Bicycle Rentals
- Heated Swimming Pool
- Lazy River
- Pets Allowed
- Teen Club
- Water Sports Rentals
- Yoga Classes
The Verdict
AVA's shoreline is small and sargassum-prone, so its 2.7-acre saltwater lagoon does the swimming, with an included water park and long walks between zones. SLS is a third the size on cleaner Playa Mujeres sand, but guests call its family pool an afterthought next to the polished adults-only side, and the kids club starts at four. Both eat well above the norm, yet tables are scarce at either and SLS has no lunch or dinner buffet. A travel advisor who's done both with small kids picks SLS hands down. Families who want dining variety, a lagoon and a ten-minute airport run go AVA; those after a real beach, golf and a sleeker adult scene go SLS.
Choose AVA Resort Cancun if…
Eleven restaurants, a 2.7-acre swimmable lagoon, a family suite with a separate kids' sleeping area and a ten-minute airport ride.
See Full Details & ReviewsChoose SLS Playa Mujeres if…
A cleaner beach with the kids' water park right on it, Greg Norman golf and a marina on site, and the dog can come along.
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