We stayed at the Excellence from Mar 29th-Apr5th. Our first time ever to Mexico and we are already planning a trip next year. We met great people there and are planning to correspond through e-mail. The entertainment crew are awesome and certainly make sure you are enjoying your stay. My husband loved playing Texas Hold'em at 12pm & 3:30pm at the Sol bar as he got to meet a lot of people and tried very hard to win a game of cards.

We loved everything about this resort-the food, bars, pools, beach, activities, room, spa, etc. It was very romantic and at the same time party central. Depending on where you spend your day or evening, you can make the experience whatever you want it to be.

We were advised not to call our family through the room phone due to cost and purchased a calling card near the lobby area for 100 pesos ($10 U.S.). You will also find a phone that you can use to call your family, no need to leave the resort. That was great.

We did the Chichen Itza tour and loved it!!!! Booked it from the resort-lobby area. Our tour guide, Marco, was amazing. His knowledge of this time period made you feel like you were living in that time. We learned a great deal about the Myians because of him. Recommend this tour.

Barbara and Tony,
We have just returned from our second trip to this hotel on the 4th April. What a great hotel just can’t wait to return again. What can we say that hasn’t already been said? We are well travelled always in five star hotels and I can honestly say this is the best. If you do not enjoy this hotel then I would like to know what could better it for the price. If there is a down side to this site it is the beach but there is very little more they can do that isn’t already being done but the weed is a problem. But when you have so many swimming pools to choose from why worry. The staff, restaurants, rooms, cleanliness of everything, service at the pools side and on the beach is just out of this world.
I can recommend this hotel to anyone.

The wife and I wanted a quick get away since the birth of first child. The travel agent we used recommended Excellence Riviera Cancun. We did some research and went with this place and we were not
diappointed.

We got a swim up room with ocean front - room number 8056. It was very nicely located. Away from the main buildings but with a bar and the Excellence Lounge near by. The swim up room = first floor with quick access to the pool. It's not a private pool. You also get an outside jacuzzi, a hammock, and your own lounge chairs.

We read thru lots of reviews here and here is our conclusion:

Getting there - easy BUF to JFK to Cancun. 20 minute ride from Cancun
airport. Go straight out of the airport and look for your transportation. Everyone in the airport tries to sell you time shares.

Food - ok. not great but not bad. don't have to wait long.

Service - excellent. It was nice to have a separate checkin. no one expected any extra tipping.

Room - good. I noticed the musky smell but my wife could not notice.
I think it's becuase of all the moisture. Adult programming included
:)

Guests - a mix of young and old. people drinking shots partying vs people hanging out reading and relaxing.

Spa - ok. my wife and I had a couple message. The facility is fine.

Beach - below average. Wife and I been to a lot of places. The beach is long and the sand soft but very sea weed.

Overall, we would recommend this place. I would get a room away from the main buildings because it could be noisy with the activities and nightly entertainment. This was our first all inclusive experience. It was fine. We didn't really do anything but lounge around and relaxing.

If you have some kind of transportation/shuttle service included. FYI, on the way back they stop at several places. Also American Airline at Cancun is kind of crazy. We flew JetBlue and did not have to wait at all to check in. AA line was super long.

Hope this helps

I read a lot of the reviews on here before our trip, as I was sceptical about going to an all inclusive. I had only been to one once, for a wedding, and really didn't like it. But, my husband and I were looking for one last lazy getaway BB (before baby) and were booking on points so it was really the most sensible option. I was worried I'd be bored and hate the food.

Well, I was NOT bored at all - in fact we cancelled the second day trip we booked because we didn't want to leave the resort for another day. I'll try to break this down to make it useful:

ROOM: LOVED our room - 6007 a "spa view - swim out". Having a swim out was AWESOME! Thought the location was totally perfect and would have chosen that exact room if had to pick when there. Had thought I wanted an ocean view, but was totally glad it turned out this way. Much more beautiful and peaceful to look at the spa and gardens (plus access to very own lazy river). Only "down side", which did not bother me at all because I think it would be the same anywhere, is that you could hear the room service/clearning carts rolling by early in the morning. Used both the indoor and outdoor jacuzzis.

FOOD: Much better than I expected. Totally agree with other reviews on this matter (Agave -Mexican restarant a disappointment, desserts nothing spectacular except for the ice cream), didn't go to chez Izabelle or Barcelona for dinner. Loved breakfast buffet - couldn't get enough of the fresh fruit. Toscana was my favourite and the tuna sandwich from the room service menu. Liked the Grill for lunch.

DRINKS: Can only comment on the non-alcohol :) - the smoothies at Revive were great and loved having a "Choco Banana" delivered to me pool side.

PEOPLE: Amazingly friendly and service great.

ACTIVITIES: Husband played beach volleyball. We went to the gym every day and I especially liked the outdoor hut with the yoga mats, stability balls, etc. Didn't partake in anything else (shows were super cheesy) - but were never bored.

DAY TRIPS: Did the "Explore Cozomel" tour mostly for the snorkeling, which was a HUGE disappointment. I totally do not think this trip was worth it. Nobody mentioned that the "best snorkeling in the Atlantic" had been completely destroyed by the hurricane. Heard many people shocked who had seen how amazing it was ten years ago.

OTHER TIPS: As I had read, I only pulled the shower nozel out half way, had no problems with temperature or pressure. Put in request for 11am room service, and was always done before this. Thought I had wanted "Excellence Club" but there was no vacancy - did not ever feel like I was missing out on anything (who needs a beach bag?) and never had a problem getting a place to lounge on the beach or poolside.

SUMMARY: We went wanting a quiet, relaxing, lazy, decadent, beautiful time off and that is exactly what we got. It could not have been any better.