Hello my lovely travel enthusiasts! It’s been a while since my last blog post, but I’m excited to be writing again. Since starting a full-time job, I’ve struggled to find a good balance between work and my other ventures. However, I’ve decided to prioritize JenisJournies and continue pursuing my passion for travel and lifestyle. In today’s post, I’ll be sharing a review of the luxurious Excellence Riviera Maya Cancun hotel, based on our recent trip. If you’re looking for an honest and comprehensive overview of this hotel, keep reading!
Finding the perfect hotel
As first-time visitors to Mexico, selecting a hotel was a bit of a gamble. With less than a week to plan our trip, I was at a disadvantage when it came to securing a deal. My criteria for the hotel included: an all-inclusive resort, preferably five stars (but no less than four), with excellent dining options and beachfront access. It was important for me to find a hotel suitable for a young couple, offering fun activities and some nightlife, without being an overly wild party resort. We sought a relaxing vacation rather than a party scene, so options like the Hardrock were out of the question for us (although I’d love to experience that in the future!).
With a budget of around $500 per night, I felt overwhelmed by all of the options, with Cancun being one of the most sought-after vacation destinations in the world. One of my top travel tips is to read reviews from multiple platforms like Google, TripAdvisor, and Hotels.com. At some point during my hours of research, I came across the Hotel Excellence Riviera Cancun, which fit within our budget and consistently received great reviews, particularly for a five-star hotel in that price range. I pulled the trigger and booked a nonrefundable reservation, and from that point, there was no turning back.
Effortless airport transportation
One of the hotel’s perks is complimentary roundtrip airport transportation, which saved us a lot of hassle. Given the recent issues with taxis and Ubers in Cancun, we were so grateful to not have to worry about that. Upon arrival at the airport and clearing customs, we found our bus waiting for us, clearly marked with the hotel’s name. We had the bus to ourselves, which felt luxurious, and the journey to the hotel took only about 20-30 minutes.
The only downside was that they insisted on picking us up from the hotel four hours early on our departure day. We got through security in about 15 minutes which left us with hours to spare in the Cancun airport. The Cancun airport is unpleasant– it’s extremely crowded, there is nowhere comfortable to sit or escape the noise, there is no wifi, and everything is overpriced. Although it wasn’t a major issue, we would have preferred spending those extra hours by the beach.
Overall, I would rate the airport transportation 6.5/10.
The warm welcome
When we pulled up to the gates of the hotel, we both had a jaw-dropping “wow” reaction. You instantly feel like you’re transported into another world of luxury and relaxation. I remember literally thinking to myself as we drove up to it that there was no way this could actually be our hotel, because in America a hotel like this would be a place that only the elite could afford. But Mexico is a different story! I still pinch myself and feel eternally grateful to have the opportunity to visit places like this.
We were greeted with champagne and the bellhop took our bags for us. We arrived around 10 AM and were told our room wouldn’t be ready until 2 PM. This was a bit of a bummer and a tad unexpected but we didn’t mind, we were hungry anyways so off we went to one of the restaurants and then spent a few hours lounging by the pool while we waited for our room to be ready.
I would give our check-in experience an 8/10.
The room
We stayed in a junior suite with a pool view, and I loved our room. It was sizable, with an airy indoor-outdoor quality, and we had a fantastic balcony with a table, chairs, and a mini couch. We enjoyed sipping our coffee out there in the mornings watching the sun come up and having our cocktails in the evening before heading out for dinner.
The bed was huge and quite comfortable, the shower was large enough for two (if you know what I mean ;)) and it had a full-sized bathtub as well. It had a mini bar with both alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks and some snacks and this was restocked by housekeeping everyday. As this hotel was all-inclusive, everything from the minibar was included! This was a welcomed change from hotels in America where you’re charged $50 if you so much as touch a bottle of coke! They even had four full bottles of alcohol in the room for guests to make their own cocktails.
We appreciated the attention to detail in the room, from the luxurious bathrobes and slippers to the nightly turndown service.
Overall, I would give the room a 9/10.
The Pools and Beach at Excellence Riviera Maya Cancun Hotel
Now let’s get to the real reason you want to vacation in Cancun- the water! When it comes to swimming options, this resort has you covered! This hotel has five swimming pools, but two of them are for Excellence Club members only. But not to worry, the three that are available for everyone are all quite grand and lavish. The main one is the “party pool”, this is where you will find activities, live music, swim-up bars, and guests that have had a bit too much to drink. However, if you prefer a more serene and relaxing atmosphere, the other pools offer a tranquil escape. Among them is a pool with a lazy river where you can lay atop a float without a care in the world.
The pools feature ample seating and cabanas, ensuring you’ll find a comfortable spot to relax. While the cabanas near the main party pool tend to fill up quickly, arriving early in the day can secure your desired spot. For those seeking a quieter experience, the other pools have you covered.
Now let’s move on to the beach! The Excellece Riviera Maya is situated right on the beach, so you’re never more than footsteps away from Cancun’s infamous white sand beaches. The hotel even provides complimentary shaded cabanas, towel service, and attentive servers delivering drinks and snacks from the pool bar (all free of charge! Another thing you would have to pay an arm and a leg for in America.)
While Cancun has faced some seaweed challenges in recent years, The Excellence does an excellent job of daily maintenance to ensure a pleasant swimming experience for guests. It’s worth noting that we visited in April, and the seaweed situation may be more challenging between May and October. Keep this in mind if you plan to visit during those months.
Now for the brutal honesty. While staying in a beachfront hotel is an awesome experience, the beach itself wasn’t the prettiest I’ve ever seen in my life. The soft, white sand is wonderful and the water is warm and calm so it’s perfect for swimming. But this beach just lacks that wow factor. The water is a dark blue rather than the turquoise that the Caribbean is known for. Additionally, there’s a barrier in place to mitigate seaweed, but the barrier itself is a bit of a buzzkill. The areas to the right and left of the resort are covered in seaweed and emit a smell of rotten eggs. So please keep all this in mind if you’re considering Riviera Maya. It’s still a great vacation destination, but if you’re craving a trip with beaches and beauty that will truly blow you away, then this may not be the right choice.
Overall, I give the beach a 7/10.
Delicious dining options
One of the reasons we chose Excellence Riviera Maya Cancun was its reputation for excellent dining options. This hotel boats ten unique restaurants, and the food was one of the best parts of our vacation! This surprised me because all-inclusives aren’t exactly known for their five-star dining. But the food, the drinks, and the servers were truly wonderful. This hotel offers a variety of food options, such as traditional Mexican, Italian, Indian, American, French, seafood, sushi, hibachi, and a buffet. The restaurants range from casual to upscale and they each offer a unique experience, from an intimate candlelit dinner, to a breezy lunch with fabulous ocean views. Unfortunately, we were only there for a four-night stay so we didn’t get to try all the restaurants. But our favorites were probably the Mexican and the French restaurants.
Overall, I give the restaurants a 9/10.
Luxurious amenities and activities
Excellence Riviera Maya Cancun offers an impressive range of amenities and activities to keep guests entertained throughout their stay. In addition to the multiple swimming pools, including a swim-up bar, where you can enjoy refreshing cocktails, there are many other activities to take part in, including water sports, tennis, yoga classes, and a well-equipped fitness center.
If you come to this hotel, you HAVE to splurge on the spa. I’m still fantasizing about this experience! The spa was such a highlight of our trip. We booked a couple’s massage and the whole experience was completely zen. You start with a hydrotherapy session and you get to go in a sauna, a steam room, and a bunch of different pools in a specific sequence they give you. The massage itself was wonderful, but it was the beforehand activities that really blew me away.
Another thing this hotel got right was the nightlife! They have a show every night around 9 pm and then some form of live music and dancing afterwards for those wanting to stay up a bit later. Our favorite was an incredible Michael Jackson show– this was probably the best show we’ve seen at an all inclusive resort and the performers were super talented and fun. Other acts included a circus, Latin night, a silent disco, and electric violin.
I give the entertainment and nightlife an 8.5/10.
The customer service
The customer service is what truly sets this hotel apart. There are countless beautiful hotels in the area that you can’t go wrong with, but the quality of customer service has the ability to make or break your vacation. The service was impeccable from the moment we stepped foot on the property to the sad minute we were dropped off at the airport to go home. The workers are incredibly kind and they pay attention to the little things. We were celebrating our anniversary, and they surprised us in our room on our last night with champagne and cake. The housekeepers would leave out new towels for us in a cute little arrangement everyday. They remembered our names and made us feel special and right at home. You won’t have an experience like that anywhere in America, where customer service truly seems to be lacking these days. Apparently Mexico is known as one of the most hospitable countries in the world, and we can definitely see why!
I give the customer service a 10/10 at The Excellence!
Conclusion
This hotel could not have been more wonderful, and we will absolutely be returning. Even though $500/night is a bit steep, it’s actually quite affordable compared to other five-star hotels in the area, and you get so much bang for your buck. I give this hotel a 9.5/10!
The Excellence is a chain throughout the Caribbean, and I’ve heard great things about all of their locations, so you should definitely check them out if you’re planning a trip there anytime soon. This review was not sponsored and I did not receive anything in exchange for my review. I’m just a girl who’s passionate about travel and wants to help others have great experiences. If you have any questions that I didn’t cover in this review, leave me a comment or shoot me a message!