Complete Guide to Excellence Resorts: Which is the Best Excellence Resort?
If you are considering booking an all-inclusive vacation at Excellence Resorts and are wondering which resort is the best, then look no further.
In this guide, I break down each of Excellence’s six resorts, plus sister resorts Beloved and Finest. From inclusions to costs to pros & cons, and more!
Keep reading for the complete guide to the Excellence Collection of resorts and find out which Excellence Resort is the best!
Disclosure: My blog can earn small commissions at no cost to you when you click through affiliate links.
What is the Excellence Collection?
The Excellence Collection is a brand of all-inclusive, adults only luxury resorts located in Mexico, the Dominican Republic, and Jamaica.
Excellence consists of five resorts: Excellence Playa Mujeres, Excellence Riviera Maya, Excellence Punta Cana, Excellence El Carmen, and Excellence Oyster Bay. Excellence’s sixth resort, Excellence Coral Playa Mujeres, is scheduled to open in February 2025.
In addition, the Excellence Collection has three sister resorts: The family-friendly Finest Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic and Finest Playa Mujeres in Mexico, as well as the couples-only boutique Beloved Hotel in Mexico.
Excellence resorts are highly rated and consistently make spots on top all-inclusive resort lists.
I personally find them to be comparable to Secrets or Sandals, though more affordable and an overall better value.
What do Excellence Resorts offer?
Excellence Resorts offer an all-inclusive experience for adults only. That means the rate you are paying covers not only the room itself, but everything you could possibly eat or drink during your stay.
Some of the perks of your all-inclusive stay at Excellence are:
- All meals, snacks, and beverages (including restaurants, bars, and room service)
- All alcoholic beverages (including room service, bar and restaurant service, and in-room mini-bar)
- Mini-bar stocked with beers, sodas, and full-size bottles of liquor refreshed daily
- Entertainment, activities, and non-motorized water sports
- With select stays, free roundtrip transportation from the airport
What is the Excellence Club?
The Excellence Club is the Excellence’s Collection upgraded room tier. If you stay in an Excellence Club class room, you will have additional perks available to you, including:
- Private check-in and out experience, as well as late check-out and early-check in subject to availability
- Access to private Excellence Club lounge
- Excellence Club only restaurant and bar
- Excellence Club only pools, jacuzzis, and beach area
- Bvlgari toiletries
- Upgraded mini bar, in room liquor, and room service menu
- Beach bag available for use
- One Aqua hydrotherapy treatment per person
- Daily fruit and petit fours in suite
What is the vibe at Excellence Resorts?
Excellence resorts are five star resorts with a focus on romance and relaxation. The resorts are generally fairly quiet and typically attract couples and small groups of couples.
Excellence is a great choice for a romantic getaway, relaxing vacation, or to celebrate a special occasion like a honeymoon or babymoon. These resorts are the perfect choice if you are looking for a relaxing, high end vacation at a great price.
However, if you like to stay at resorts focused on nightlife, singles, or action, Excellence may not be the brand for you.
What is the cost of staying at Excellence Resorts?
One of the main perks of the Excellence resorts is you are paying one flat all-inclusive rate. There is no need to pay extra for any food or drink, and there are no surprise costs.
The cost of your stay will largely depend on which resort your visit, which class of room you decide to stay in, and the time of year.
On average, rooms at Excellence start around $400 a night for the entry level junior suites at the older, more affordable Excellence Properties. You can easily spend over $1000 – $2500+ a night for the most premium suites offered.
Should you tip at Excellence? Tipping is the norm at Excellence Resorts. We pack $100 – $200 in cash for tips depending on the length of our stay to tip drivers, valets, housekeepers, room service, bartenders, and servers.
Excellence Resorts Mexico
There are currently two Excellence Resorts in the Cancun area of Mexico, with a third currently under construction.
Excellence Playa Mujeres
Located north of Cancun’s hotel zone, Excellence Playa Mujeres is Excellence’s flagship resort with a dedicated following. It consistently tops “best of” lists across the internet and and is considered by many to be the best Excellence resort, with visitors returning year after year.
Although Sargassum has become a significant challenge for Mexico’s coastline in recent years, Excellence Playa Mujeres does have a locational advantage.
While no area is guaranteed to be immune from Sargassum, this location north of Cancun tends to be more sheltered from its effects. Although there is a greater possibility of a better beach experience than areas like Riviera Maya, note the beach area is not very large.
Additionally, it is a 30-40 minute drive to the resort from the airport.
One downside of Excellence Playa Mujeres is the age of the resort. Built in 2007, it is starting to show its age and quite a bit of wear and tear. Renovations and enhancements are currently under way, with a projected completed by the end of 2024. While the construction will bring needed updates, noise can be disturbing to guests looking to relax.
Excellence Playa Mujeres offers 450 rooms, ten restaurants, eleven bars, seven pools, and even a lazy river.
Rates: From $479/night
Best For: Experiencing the original, most loved Excellence resort.
Don’t Book If: You hate construction noise
Check Rates: Direct | Expedia | Orbitz | TripAdvisor | HotelsCombined
Excellence Playa Mujeres is a fan favorite, drawing repeat visitors. Although the resort has started to show its age, renovations are under way.
Excellence Riviera Cancun
Excellence Riviera Cancun is located in Puerto Morelos along the Riviera Maya coast, about 20 minutes south of the Cancun airport. While very comparable to Excellence Playa Mujeres, Excellence Riviera Cancun overall is a larger resort with a larger beach area.
Although Excellence Riviera Cancun doesn’t receive as much attention as its sister resort to the north, the larger beach area and shorter drive from the airport are major draws. And because it’s less well known, rates are usually less expensive than at Excellence Playa Mujeres.
Unfortunately, this part of Riviera Maya has gotten ambushed with Sargassum during the past few years. If you plan on visiting during Sargassum season – specially peak months of April through June, there is a high likelihood you may not be able to enjoy Excellence’s beautiful beach.
Excellence Riviera Cancun offers 440 rooms, eleven restaurants, eleven bars, six pools, and five hot tubs. Two of the pools are heated during the winter.
Rates: From $370/night
Best For: Savings some money on an Excellence Resort in Mexico
Don’t Book If: You are a beach fan traveling during Sargassum season
Check Rates: Direct | Expedia | Orbitz | TripAdvisor | HotelsCombined
Excellence Riviera Cancun is a less well-known resort with a large beach and typically lower rates. However, Sargassum seaweed is a major problem in this part of Mexico’s coast.
Excellence Coral Playa Mujeres
Excellence Coral Playa Mujeres is currently under construction and expected to open on February 12, 2025.
While details about the resort are just being released, based on the prices and renderings, it’s possible this will be one of Excellence’s most luxurious resorts yet.
The resort is set on a beautiful stretch of Playa Mujeres about an hour north of Cancun. It is just moments from Excellence Playa Mujeres.
The newly released resort map shows 14 restaurants and 14 bars to enjoy.
Rates: From $
Best For: A brand new resort and luxury experience
Don’t Book If: You prefer to waiting for the new construction kinks to be ironed out
Check Rates: Direct | Expedia | Orbitz | TripAdvisor | HotelsCombined
Excellence Resorts Dominican Republic
If you are interested in a Dominican Republic all-inclusive vacation, there are two Excellence Resorts in the Punta Cana area.
Excellence El Carmen
Images provided by The Excellence Collection
Newly opened in 2016, Excellence El Carmen is the newer of the two Dominican Republic resorts. Excellence El Carmen is about a 45 minute drive north of the Punta Cana International Airport. The resort boasts 12 restaurants, 16 bars, and 23 pools. When we visited El Carmen in June 2021, we stayed in the Excellence Club Two Story Rooftop Suite with Plunge Pool Ocean View. Make sure you check out our full review & guide to Excellence El Carmen, as well.
Advertising 23 pools is a bit misleading, as there are only three main pools. The rest of the pools are long, skinny pools adjacent to swim-up suites. Sargassum can also be an issue here.
Rates: From $426/night. Best For: A romantic getaway with your partner and those who prefer new resorts.
Check Rates: Direct | Expedia | Orbitz | TripAdvisor | HotelsCombined
Excellence Punta Cana
Images provided by The Excellence Collection
Excellent Punta Cana was the first Excellence resort to be built in the Dominican Republic. It is located just five minutes down the road from El Carmen, about 40 minutes from the Punta Cana airport. While older, it did undergo a complete renovation in 2017. Wondering whether Excellence El Carmen or Excellence Punta Cana is the better option? While older, Excellence Punta Cana is the more affordable of the two. It’s also the best-priced resort in the entire collection.
The Excellence Club beach area is far superior to the standard beach area, and there is also an Excellence Club only pool. Sargassum can be an issue here as well.
Rates: From $291/night. Best For: The most price conscious option.
Check Rates: Direct | Expedia | Orbitz | TripAdvisor | HotelsCombined
Excellence Resorts Jamaica
If you like to vacation at Jamaica all-inclusive resorts, there is once newly built Excellence in Jamaica outside of Montego Bay.
Excellence Oyster Bay
Images provided by The Excellence Collection
Built in 2018, Excellence Oyster Bay is the newest resort in the collection and the first one built in Jamaica. Located 40 minutes outside of the Montego Bay airport, the resort is set on a private peninsula with over two miles of private beach. The resort features 8 restaurants and 9 bars, a rooftop pool, and private villa options, including a 1,510 sf Beach Villa!
Excellence Oyster Bay is the priciest option. Reviews also note the standard beach area is not as good as the Excellence Club beach.
Rates: From $610/night. Best For: Honeymoons and the most luxurious room options.
Check Rates: Direct | Expedia | Orbitz | TripAdvisor | HotelsCombined
Sister Resorts
While the Excellence branded resorts are all-inclusive experiences for adults only, there are two sister brands under its umbrella that offer a slightly different experience.
Finest Resorts are family friendly and open to guest of all ages, with features like a Kids Club and splash areas in addition to an Adults Only sections on the resort.
Beloved Hotels on the other hand offers a boutique, intimate experiences for couples only geared for romance.
Finest Playa Mujeres
Images provided by The Excellence Collection
Located just north of the Cancun Hotel Zone facing the island of Isla Mujeres is the family-friendly Finest Playa Mujeres. Finest boasts 10 pools, 13 hot tubs, 12 restaurants, and 16 bars – some of which are swim-up style. It has both amenities and activities for kids as well as adults only areas, adult suites, and access to a full golf course. Even though it is family friendly, you will still have the upscale feel of an Excellence resort.
The resort’s location from Playa Mujeres is far from Cancun and area attractions. Many of the pools are adjacent to swim-up rooms.
Rates: From $493/night. Best For: Families with golf enthusiasts.
Check Rates: Direct | Expedia | Orbitz | TripAdvisor | HotelsCombined
Finest Punta Cana
Images provided by The Excellence Collection
If you are traveling to the Dominican Republic with children, make sure you check out Finest Punta Cana. Finest Punta Cana offers the best of Excellence in a fun-for-all-ages environment.
Finest Punta Cana does not offer a golf course or as many activities as Finest Playa Mujeres.
Rates: From $418/night. Best For: Families watching their budget.
Find Rates & Prices: Direct | Expedia | Orbitz | TripAdvisor
Beloved Playa Mujeres
Images provided by The Excellence Collection
Geared for romance, this couples only all-inclusive resort is located in the Playa Mujeres area of Mexico, just north of Cancun. At just 109 suites and four restaurants, this resort truly has an intimate and romantic feel. The resort features a gorgeous strip of beach as well as an expansive 35,000 sqft spa. For the ultimate in luxury, opt for one of the more private Beachfront Casita rooms.
The resort’s location is a bit isolated, and Sargassum can be a problem.
Rates: From $549/night. Best For: An intimate couples getaway.
Check Rates: Direct | Expedia | Orbitz | TripAdvisor | HotelsCombined
Which Excellence resort would you stay at? We would love to hear from you in the comments!
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