The Excellence Riviera Cancun is an adults-only, all-inclusive resort in Cancun, Mexico. The resort is approximately twenty minutes south of the Cancun Airport in Riviera Maya. This hotel review includes my experiences at Excellence Riviera Cancun, my opinions, and some information that will be useful if you are planning a trip here.
The Excellence Riviera Cancun Resort in Mexico is adults-only, meaning 18 and up. However, they do have other resorts in their collection that are specifically for couples or families.
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My Visits to Excellence Riviera Cancun
I have been to the Excellence Riviera Cancun twice for a total of nine nights, and I would highly recommend it to anyone who wants to relax without a care in the world. While I typically do not take trips like these, I did during the pandemic because it was safe and not relatively expensive after not traveling for months. I have detailed my stays below, including rooms, costs, and more. If you want more information about my stay or have any questions, please leave a comment at the end of the article!| Month | Nights | Total Cost Per Person | Cost Per Night Per Person | Type of Room | Notes |
| October 2020 | 4 Nights (Wednesday – Sunday) | $705 USD | $176.25 USD | Swim-up suite (Building 6) | Mid-pandemic pricing |
| May 2021 | 5 Nights (Thursday – Tuesday) | $1050 USD | $210 USD | Swim-up suite (Building 1) | USA Holiday Weekend – Memorial Day |
Restaurants & Food
There are eleven restaurants at Excellence Riviera Cancun, and they all serve a different type of cuisine. They are open at various times of the day for different meals, between 7 A.M. for breakfast and until close to midnight for late-night bar food. One or two restaurants are closed each night, but you will not even notice since there are so many. If there is a particular restaurant that you want to try, plan, so you do not go on the night that they close. There is rarely, if ever, a wait for breakfast or lunch seating which is great to get in, eat, and enjoy your day. At night, dinner seating is first-come, first-serve, so you will need to arrive within the first hour or so of opening if you do not want to wait. Otherwise, there will be a wait, generally somewhere between twenty minutes to an hour. One night the wait was more than an hour, and by the time we got our food, we were starving after barely eating lunch, so plan ahead. Here is the list of restaurants and the type of food that they serve:Excellence Riviera Cancun Restaurant List
| Restaurant Name | Type of Food | Meals Served |
| The Kitchen Table | Buffet | Breakfast |
| The Grill | Pizza, Steak, Burgers | Lunch & Dinner |
| The Lobster House | Seafood | Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner |
| Oregano | Italian | Dinner |
| Spice | Asian | Dinner |
| Chez Isabelle | French | Dinner |
| Sports Bar | American | Dinner |
| Flavor Market | Spanish | Dinner |
| Agave | Mexican | Dinner |
| Basmati | Indian | Dinner |
| Las Olas | Snacks & Sandwiches | Lunch |
Bars at the Resort
There are multiple bars at the resort that operate all day long. The bars near the pools specialize in frozen, fruity drinks. Inside the main lobby is a martini bar that is open from morning to night. Another nighttime bar is right by the theater and the plaza where all of the entertainment occurs. Also, there is a coffee bar inside the lobby with handmade espresso drinks, frozen drinks, and pastries. If you are sitting at the beach or any of the pools, some waiters will come around and take your drink order so you do not have to walk to a bar yourself, although it may be faster if you do. There is also staff near the theater and plaza at night to take drink orders while you enjoy the nightly entertainment. Whether you need a coffee, a Pina Colada, or something stronger, you can always find an open bar at the resort.Do you wish you were floating in the pool with a drink in your hand? Book Now!
The Beach
The beach is the worst part of the whole place, but only because of the seaweed. As mentioned above, I have visited the resort in mid-October and late May. In October, we arrived one week after a hurricane hit the area. The seaweed on the beach was noticeable, but workers were clearing it out, and once you walked into the water, it was not bad at all. We spent over a day and a half on the beach with no problems. In May, the seaweed was… horrible!!! There were piles of it lining the entire beach, and the smell was noticeable as soon as you were on the sand. Understandably, no one was in the water, and barely anyone was even on the beach. We spent a morning on the beach watching the sunrise, and that was it. If you are a beach person, I would highly recommend choosing somewhere else, as the beach here is terrible. It may depend on when you visit, but if you do not want to risk not being able to swim or comfortably be on the beach, look elsewhere.
Left: The beach in October 2020.
Right: The beach in May 2021. A lot more seaweed!
Pools
The resort has multiple pools, and all of them are a bit different. The main pool is where the swim-up bar Blue is. This is the most popular pool, especially in the afternoon. If you want chairs next to the pool, you will need to arrive early to save a seat (like, before 8 A.M. early if you want a shaded seat)
Ready to visit Excellence Riviera Cancun, Mexico? Book Now!
If you want to have a pool right outside of your room, read more about the highly recommended swim-up suites next!
Rooms: Swim-Up Suites & More
The rooms are very spacious, and there are multiple options for rooms, including honeymoon suites, rooftop suites, and swim-up suites. I stayed in the swim-up suites both times I visited, and I would highly recommend spending a little more to get one of these rooms. The junior suites all have a balcony, and the swim-up suites have a deck/patio with a pool off the deck. All the suites have walls or bushes up for privacy from your neighbors. The first time I stayed, I was in Building 6, and the pool was secluded and quiet. On the second visit, I was in Building 1 next to the popular lazy river. Both had pros and cons, but you can go to any pool in the resort at any time if you need a change from your nearest pool. If you want the convenience of a pool outside your room and know you would prefer something busier or quieter, make sure to request it when you book. Also, the swim-up suites have a deck outside, and some have more shade or more sun than others, so make sure to request this too if you have a preference. Check out all the room options here: Excellence Riviera Cancun – All Inclusive Here are some pictures of the room I stayed in:
The Resort Staff
The staff at Excellence Riviera Cancun Resort in Mexico are the best. Seriously, THE BEST!!! They make the resort such an enjoyable place, and they work their butts off 24/7 to make sure everyone has a perfect experience. From the moment you arrive at the resort to your unfortunate departure, the staff will make sure you are cared for with everything you need and more. All of the staff speak English, the language spoken by nearly all guests, but they will gladly speak Spanish with you, which I love as I am trying to learn.Cleanliness and Safety at the Resort
I honestly think this resort is the cleanest hotel I have ever stayed in. My two stays were during the pandemic, so I’m not sure if high cleanliness is the norm or if it has intensified since mid-2020, but they are constantly cleaning and sanitizing everything. There is hand sanitizer everywhere, rooms are cleaned at least once a day, and all public surfaces and seats are sanitized at least once a day if not much more (when not in use). If cleanliness is an essential factor in choosing a hotel for you, you do not need to think twice about staying here. I did not question if anything was clean, and you will constantly see staff sanitizing and cleaning all over the resort.Book your next, safe vacation: Excellence Riviera Cancun – Adults Only – All Inclusive
Entertainment & Activities
There is entertainment all day and night at Excellence Riviera Cancun. The day usually starts at 8:30 A.M. with yoga and ends between 10 P.M. and midnight with a band or a dance party.Daytime Activities
The activities during the day include water dancing, beach and pool volleyball, poolside bingo, and more. All of the activities and shows are included in your stay, and most of them happen near the poolside bar or beach, so they are easy to find. The daily activities are very similar each day, so they get redundant after a few days here. You can also participate in water activities like kayaking, paddle boarding, scuba diving, or swimming with dolphins, although some of these activities cost an extra fee.
Nightime Entertainment
At night, there is a huge variety of shows and bands throughout the week. Each night usually includes a band or two and a show. The shows cover everything from dancing, aerobatics, and even a fire show. There are also a few nights with karaoke and Silent Parties – dance parties where everyone has headphones on, and you can choose your music. I live for the silent parties!! The seats for the nighttime entertainment do fill up, especially for the fire show and the Silent Party (there is a limited number of headphones), so if you know you want to see something, plan to get there early. The nighttime activities rotate each week, so unless you are there for more than seven nights, you will not see any repeats except for the Silent Party, which typically occurs twice during the week. I like nighttime entertainment for a day or two, then I get bored and wish more of it was more interactive or upbeat. The bands and shows are good, but watching other people perform for over three hours each night gets old. But, if you enjoy chill, lowkey nights, the entertainment will be perfect for you.Do you need a relaxing vacation? Book your trip to Excellence Riviera Cancun now!
Spa
I love the spa here so much. I never get massages or facials at home, so it is a fun addition to my vacation. You can get a decent discount if you book your treatment before you arrive at the resort. All of the spa staff are so kind and calm, making sure you have a great, comfortable experience. The spa also offers hydrotherapy that is included with most spa treatments or can be purchased independently. With hydrotherapy, you go to different pools, saunas, and steam rooms on a twenty-minute circuit to loosen your muscles before your treatment.