Excellence Riviera Cancun: Another outstanding visit.

Our 5th visit to Excellence Riviera Cancun, November 22 – December 6th, was excellent. We were delighted to find the road from the highway to the resort has been paved; what a difference. We received a warm welcome from Gustavo, our favourite former waiter in Barcelona who is now with the bellboy team. The front desk staff went above and beyond to ensure we had a room we were happy with; 6307. All the in-pool loungers and side tables have been replaced, the gardens immaculate and an overall br [... read more]ight, clean feel to the resort. The food was the best ever. We enjoyed breakfast and lunch each day at The Barcelona and there was something to please every taste. A friendly greeting from Gabriela, Armando to ensure everything was running smoothly and Isac, Jose and Martin to look after us made for a pleasant experience each day. The addition of the Mexican specialties at lunch was a treat for the taste buds; poblano chili turkey breast, chicken in guajillo pepper sauce, chicken chimichanga, chicken tinga, chicken wings with pasilla pepper sauce, marinated beef, beef meatballs in guajillo chilli sauce and beef tacos were some of our favourites. The ice cream, as always, was outstanding and I loved the breads and pineapple filled berlines at breakfast and the Paris Brest at lunch. We ate at Chez Isabelle six times, Spice and Toscana three nights each and twice at The Grill. With the exception of one dinner in Chez Isabelle, all meals were excellent. There is a daily menu at Chez Isabelle that runs on a 30 day cycle which is the reason we ate there so often. Juan oversees the restaurant and the excellent staff and the renovations last year has resulted in a larger but still intimate setting. It was wonderful to see Ramon moving up from his former position in The Barcelona. The Grill and Lobster House menu has been combined and offerings reduced while the restaurant is being renovated. Santiago is a great Manager and always provides a warm welcome. The tenderloin I had was exceptional, my husband’s lobster a bit chewy. We look forward to a return of the regular menu next year and the newly renovated restaurant. Ramon oversees Toscana and was always willing to provide special requests. We were delighted to have Guillermo serve us again this year. Dio, our favourite waiter from Chez Isabelle, is now providing excellent service at Spice. Isabel at Revive prepared excellent smoothies each day and our mini bar was restocked daily. The renovations underway had no effect on us but, that being said, we stayed at one of the quiet pools. If you prefer to be where the noise/action is, I would suggest the end of February as an ideal time to visit to ensure the renovations are completed. The ONLY negatives were the shower temperature/water pressure fluctuation, and the bolsters and pillows on the huge, comfy pool beds getting soaked by the rain or blown into the water. I realize it would create more work but, for 5 stars, I would expect these items to be collected and stored indoors overnight as they were in the past. We are looking forward to our return next year already!!!

Excellence Playa Mujeres: The Best Again

WE have stayed at this resort twice now. I wanted something special for our 25th wedding anniversary. The staff went above and WAY beyond to make this the most enjoyable week imaginable. As usual the food, drinks, and grounds were 10 out of 10.

Excellence Riviera Cancun: A wonderful relaxing holiday resort

Beautiful resort---grounds well kept and attractive. Food in every restaurant is excellent. Enjoyed having lunch at the Oregano outdoor restaurant and Luis, a very pleasant waiter. Bar waiters are amazing how they can prepare any drink so quickly and with a smile. All staff always had a Hola which makes one want to keep coming back.

Excellence Playa Mujeres: Service was better than a Sandals Resort!

The most exceptional thing about this resort is the staff and their level of service. I have travelled to many 5 star resorts over the last 20 years, including Sandals, and the service here was unparalled. Every single staff is friendly, helpful, attentive, and makes you feel like a VIP. They are really focused on ensuring you enjoy your well-deserved vacation. Rooms were quite nice and well appointed. They were roomy and we had no issues whatsoever. Excellence Club is really worth it: Private  [... read more]heated pools, bars and beach area; Concierge service at each pool; upgraded room service. When we asked them to stock our fridge with only a particular brand of beer, it was done that day. Several requests were executed well and they even followed up with a call to ensure everything was to our satisfaction. Food was also excellent (comparable to a Sandals really). Lots of options and love the "no reservations" policy (except for the Hibachi dinners in Spice). We only had to wait once for 10 minutes... all other times, we were seated immediately. Favourite restaurant was Basmati (best indian cuisine I've ever had!) and Chez Elisabeth (French restaurant). Lunch place on the beach (Lobster House and Steak House) were also really wonderful with lots of a la carte choices (I mean lots) and never a bad meal! Grounds are very clean, well manicured. The only negative was the state of the beach... which wasn't the resorts fault. There is a lot of algae in this area due to proximity to Isla Mujeres. You could not go swimming without being wrapped with weeds. Very few people were swimming in the ocean. In 20 years, I have never returned to the same place twice. This is my first exception. I would actually go back here again and strongly recommend it to all my family and friends. Hope you enjoy your stay as much as we did!

Excellence Punta Cana: All inclusive at it's best

This is an amazing all-inclusive resort. The expansive well manicured lawns encompass beautiful swaying palm trees right at the beautiful sandy beach and blue turquoise water. The staff is unbelievably friendly. The food is excellent and it can be only compared to Excellence Punta Cana

Excellence Playa Mujeres: An excellent adult only resort.

A wonderful R&R vacation spot for couples and adults seeking refined service. Unhurried helpful staff, excellent dinning and accommodations....an oasis of peaceful pampering awaits us upon arrival until we say "until next year".

Excellence Playa Mujeres: Wonderful!

Great resort with lots of dining options. Friendly staff and well kept facilities. The room service is prompt and the staff will go to great lengths to keep guests happy. We will stay here again! Overall, a great spot in Mexico

Excellence Playa Mujeres: What amazing rooms!!!

We knew for sure we had made the right choice the moment we entered the room. Great adult resort that I would recommend to anyone wanting to visit Cancun and be away from the core but also the shortest taxi ride away. Truly EXCELLENT! Thank you!

Excellence Playa Mujeres: Excellence continues to be Excellent

Our 4th stay at EPM and it has been better each time. Stayed 2 weeks end of March first week of April. Took the family this year for the 2nd week (3 extra adults) as we wanted them to experience this fantastic resort. We were not disappointed. Although the grounds, accomodations & food were outstanding, it is the staff and their attention to detail which make this resort exceptional. Planning a 5th two week stay for 2015.

Excellence Riviera Cancun: Could have been a great vacation!

In general, this Hotel's standards were as we expected for the considerable price we paid. The only issues worth mentioning as a warning to future guests are as follows: After my wife was bitten several times, we found bugs in our room and had to have it fumigated; that rectified the problem. The hotel surroundings were well kept, and the restaurants (several choices) were very nice. Our opinion of some contracted businesses allowed to work on the hotel premise was mediocre at best and we ran in [... read more]to a significant issues with the scuba diving shop and it's operator. They did not nearly provide the services listed on the Excellence Riviera URL (internet site) and displayed a negative attitude when we showed them what the internet stated the hotel provided. It's our opinion that the Excellence Riviera should have more control on who they allow access to their grounds to provide services to the guests. We were so irate that I took time to write a letter to the hotel Entertainment Manager (Mr Antonio Galaz) but rather than taking action to correct our issue he opted to leave the matter for his Concierge staff to handle. They (the Concierges) did as best as could be expected considering their limited authority, but fell short of rectifying our issue the way it should have been. In our opinion, the Entertainment Manager should have communicated with the Scuba shop and arranged for him to provide us with the equipment the Hotel URL stated they would provide. This issue didn't ruin our vacation but it certainly left us very disappointed! Here is a copy of the letter written to Mr Antonio Galaz March 12, 2014 Mr Antonio Galaz Entertainment Manager Carretera Fed. Chetumal Puerto Juarez Km 324-342, Mza 7 L 1 S.M. 11 Puerto Morelos Q, Roo, Mexico C.P. 77580 Re: Excellence Riviera Resort Online Marketing and Onsite Facilities Dear Mr Galaz, Prior to our departure from Canada on 6 Mar 2014, my spouse Jane and I put a lot of time in planning our vacation in an effort to make our first holiday in beautiful Mexico a memorable one. We wanted to ensure that no detail would escape our attention and that nothing would be forgotten. With this in mind, we carefully read all the available information detailed on the Excellence Riviera online site. Among numerous other information we read, we noted clearly written under “All Inclusive Luxury” the following information: Enjoy unlimited access to any—or all—of the following amenities at Excellence Riviera Cancun: Use of Hobie Cats, and surf boards, sea kayaks, snorkel gear and paddle board. Since the information we obtained on the internet was clear about the use of snorkel gear for our enjoyment & free of charge, we opted to bring only our own snorkeling masks and breather tubes because our masks have prescription lenses and are a perfect fit. Another reason for not bringing our fins is that it would have forced us to bring another bag (because of size and bulkiness) which would have forced us to check it for the flight. This would have been an inconvenience to us since we always strive to use only carry-on luggage to simplify our traveling and speed-up airport transit. Having arrived at the Excellence Riviera Resort, and enjoyed a few relaxing days, we inquired on the 12 March about the availability of snorkeling gear (fins) as the weather was favorable and we felt like getting wet. After going to the beach where the kayaks are kept and asking about fins to snorkel, we were directed to the Excellence Riviera diving shop close to the pool. We spoke to Bob at the scuba shop and he informed us that the only people who could be fitted with fins are paying customers who purchase paid snorkeling tours or scuba diving tours. He also stated that only masks and breather tubes are available providing a $40.00 deposit (each) was paid. Considering we love snorkeling and our intention was to remain in front of the Excellence Riviera Resort within the roped off swimming area, we were very much disappointed and frustrated from how this simple wish turned into a kilometer of red tape. It left a bad taste in my mouth. Bob left me with the impression that unless we had money for him he was not interested in helping us. This chain of events left Jane and I no longer wishing or interested in snorkeling for the remainder of our stay. After speaking with Mr Bronsson Comacho (Chief Concierge) it was explained to us that the Scuba shop and staff are actually not Excellence Riviera staff, but are a separate firm contracted to work on the premise. Nevertheless, my opinion is and remains, that if customers are left frustrated by external contracted firms, those results unfortunately reflect on the Excellence Riviera even if it should not. This is part of the reason I am providing this issue in writing. Regardless of the turnout of these events, it would not be fair if we didn’t mention the care and attention provided us by Mr Comacho. He truly went out of his way beyond our expectations to facilitate and provide us extra perks to make up for this disappointment. He was very understanding and admitted to the lack of details on the URL (internet web site) which causes customers to believe that all snorkeling gear would be available at the Excellence Riviera, and doesn´t contain reasons for the unavailability of snorkeling fins from the diving shop. We hope pointing out this issue in writing will ameliorate communication on the Excellence Riviera Web URL, and between future customers and the Dive shop located on the premises. We would hate to see such a gorgeous resort as the Excellence Riviera, suffer negative results from an issue which could be so easily resolved. In passing, another detail which was not discussed with Mr Comacho, is that the Web site (URL) for the Excellence Riviera Cancun resort also offers a free Scuba Diving familiarization given in the pool on hotel site. Jane and I are qualified PADI divers and since we hadn´t dived for an extended period, we inquired at the scuba dive shop to see if we could participate in such a refresher session. We were immediately informed by Bob that there is a $45.00 ea cost to this famil session. Another Excellence Riviera internet Web Site discrepancy (or is it a dive shop issue?) Thank you very much for your time and attention to this matter. We appreciated any effort on your part to rectify these issues, and we welcome feedback from you at your convenience. We will reside at Excellence Riviera room 2101 until 20 March 2014. If you care to reach us after our departure, refer below. Best Regards,

Excellence Playa Mujeres: Luxury and Affordability

MEXICO! Excellence Playa Mujeres was our first all-inclusive vacation destination. It's THE way to travel! This hotel location made us feel very safe. The Hotel was beautiful and intimate. Our room was very comfortable and very clean and the mini bar was always fully stocked. The many restaurants had their own international flair; exceptional dining with friendly, knowledgeable service staff. There was always someone who had a broad knowledge of the wine menu. Bar service was available while we  [... read more]lay on the clean white sandy beach. After a taxi ride to a local shopping mall and an easy ferry ride to The Isla Mujeres for an afternoon of strolling, shopping and eating, returning "home" to cool off in the Lazy River was so refreshing. We played ping pong and billiards during our "down time". Take a nap! Because every evening, top quality entertainment is enjoyed near the outdoor bar, in the theater and there are "special night" surprises! We intend to visit all of the Excellence Hotel locations in the future. The Hotel consists of Every night entertainment

Excellence Riviera Cancun: the Excellence in February

What a great resort..we were in the Club Excellence suite with the pool on the top floor. The rooms were excellent, food was great, entertainment was great..not a bad thing to say about this resort. The Excellence has the longest lazy river we have ever seen..they should have na couple more bars along the lazy river. The beach was great..you can take long walks in both directions, with a small local village about 10 minutes down the beach.. we will definately return!!

Excellence Punta Cana: Excellence Punta Cana

We have been to the resort 3yrs. in a row it is like going home we know alot of the staff starting at the front desk you have Marlon after meeting him you know your stay will be great than you have Roberto at guest services you could not find a better person for the job this guy is a huge asset his boss should be proud it would be hard to mention everybody from resturant staff to the activities people Luthz and Cassandra not sure on the the spelling sorry food is awesome rooms are the same want  [... read more]to go back this year but prior commitments will miss it.

Excellence Playa Mujeres: Beautiful resort with top notch service

The rooms, grounds, and beach are gorgeous! The staff are all very friendly and helpful. We were originally staying in a room that had an unfortunate view of some major construction, which was very loud at all times of the day. We were so happy with the concierge though, who quickly had us moved to another room on the other side of the resort. They even called the next day to make sure that we were happy with the new arrangements. My husband and I appreciated this very much.

Excellence Punta Cana: excellence punt cana

traveled first week of feb/14. we had a great time at this resort. there was plenty of staff and all were very attentive and willing to please. the resort was beautiful and well kept. our room was newer and very clean with a fully stocked bar. the weather was great although the water was very rough every day which would be our only complaint about this resort. we were there for super bowl and they put on the best super bowl party we have ever been to. we would definitely recommend and return to  [... read more]this resort

Excellence Riviera Cancun: awesome resort

I can find no fault with this resort. I have stayed at a dozen or more in Mexico and this is by far the best. Beautiful facilities, great food, very helpful and service oriented staff. Would return in a heartbeat !!

Excellence Punta Cana: Great Resort!!

We recently stayed at the Excellence in Punta Cana and had an amazing trip! The grounds are beautiful rooms are clean and spacious, the beach is stunning, and the staff were "EXCELLENTE"! When we first arrived the room we were given was not up to par, it was at the back and had this damp mildew smell. But after a quick talk to the manager we were given a beautiful swim up suite. Food was delicious, especially the all you can eat lobster :) Overall we had an amazing trip and would definetely retu [... read more]rn, although next time we want to try the Excellence in Mexico!

Excellence Riviera Cancun: Excellence Riviera Cancun is EXCELLENT!

Perfect vacation. Regular room was large & nice, many pools and chairs to chose from, food delish, room service delish, perfect size resort, beautiful beach, premium alcohol, staff so friendly and accomodating, 20 min from airport. Higher cost resort but well worth it. This resort will not disappoint.

Excellence Riviera Cancun: Great resort

Awesome beach, really enjoyed our stay there. Great food and drinks. Very friendly staff who always want to help. Excerllent beach and pool. the beach is clean and water is warm. Will definitely go back.

Excellence Punta Cana: Excellent

We had a room right by the pool with a deck. The rooms are clean and large. The ocean can be rough at times but you can walk down and its calm. Service at the beach is great. The food and entertainment were great.