Why We Recommend It:
Certainly one of the classiest all-inclusives in Cancun, and indeed in Mexico, Excellence Playa Mujeres is an adults-only, luxury resort in a secluded location just north of the city with its own private marina.
It has 450 rooms and suites, seven pools, ten restaurants, eleven bars, top-of-the-range spa facilities, sporting activities, daily and nightly entertainment, and even a theater.
It attracts an upmarket crowd, the majority of them couples, of all ages. It can be lively and fun but the relatively sophisticated crowd means it never gets too rowdy.
Rooms & Suites:
They have a total of 450 suites at Excellence Playa Mujeres, all of which, even the entry-level Junior Suites, are spacious and beautifully appointed, and all of which come with 24-hour room service.
All too have furnished outside space – balconies or terraces on the upper floors and patios at ground level. Swim Up Suites are also available.
Their top suites are the two-story, Rooftop Terrace Suites with Ocean View. They have private plunge pools and the best views in the resort.
Other identical Rooftop Terrace Suites are also available but with views over the gardens or the pools.
Overall every suite at Excellence has a veritable touch of class with standard features such as king-size beds, large satellite TVs, iPod docks, comfortable seating areas, a generous complimentary mini-bar with premium liquors, and coffee and tea stations.
The marble bathrooms come with double vanities, both rainfall showers and bathtubs, and luxury toiletries. Above the level of the Junior Suite, whirlpool baths are also present.
Some suites have the appendage ‘Excellence Club’. Guests who reserve these receive extra perks such as a private concierge desk, access to a private lounge with buffet and bar service, and two private heated pools and whirlpools.
In addition, they also receive extra-premium drinks in the mini-bar and luxury Bulgari toiletries in the bathroom.
Take a look at your room options now – with prices, reviews, and photos – at Expedia here.
Food, Facilities & Things to Do:
All restaurants are complimentary with the all-inclusive package, and the food, both buffet and a la carte is excellent.
You have a choice of buffet featuring a whole range of international and local food and a la carte for Mexican, Asian, French, general Mediterranean, Italian, Indian, and The Lobster House devoted to local seafood.
All seem to have a good line of vegetarian/vegan options. Wood-fired pizzas can also be ordered via room service or by takeaway from their pizza station.
Happily, there is no need to make reservations at the a la carte venues but there is a dress code in some–long trousers and a collared shirt must be worn by men for example.
Their wine list is very impressive and all wines, along with all premium drinks, are included in the all-inclusive package.
There are eleven bars to choose from at Excellence Playa Mujeres, with the centerpiece being the very sophisticated Martini Bar in the central lobby.
That’s a pretty formal venue but there are swim-up pool bars and beach bars with a much more relaxed, friendly vibe.
You also have a couple of good coffee and juice bars to choose from and there is daily and nightly entertainment to be enjoyed–the resort even has its own theater.
Complimentary water-sports activities include windsurfing, snorkeling, paddle boarding, water polo, kayaking, and a scuba diving lesson. A number of motorized water-sports are also available for an extra charge.
There are seven pools in total at the resort plus four whirlpools, two of which are reserved for Excellence Club guests, and a lazy river feature.
The large gym and fitness center is open 24 hours, is stacked with modern equipment, and complimentary fitness and yoga classes are available.
You can also enjoy a game of table tennis or pool, ride bikes around the resort, or try your hand at archery for example. The resort also has a number of meeting spaces and a business center.
The Miile Spa & Beauty Parlour is a highlight. It has a hydrotherapy pool with a bubble massage bench, a temperature contrast stone walk, and counter-current swimming lanes.
There are individual spa suites for couples along with double massage beds. Swedish saunas, cold plunge pools, ice treatment rooms, steam baths, mud baths, and more too.
Location:
Excellence Playa Mujeres is in a quiet stretch of coast about twenty minutes north of downtown Cancun and about 45 minutes from the International Airport.
It’s a relatively secluded location and most guests don’t leave the resort except on the various tours and excursions that can be organized there.
Some Guest Reviews:
“What an amazing stay. Came here with my boyfriend for the holidays and we were thoroughly amazed at the attentive staff and beautiful property. Our room was lovely and the place was very clean. Another important thing to note is the food and drink. Overall, we enjoyed the food very much which was something we are quite picky about coming from NYC. There were plenty options to choose from- we enjoyed Lobster House, Chez Isabelle and Magna the most. Most of the cocktails I have tried were just okay, but I am sure that depends on the bartender you get. However the Bloody Marys I had were SO good and I usually don’t like Bloody Marys. All in all, our experience was phenomenal and I would happily return!….”
“My husband and I have been to quite a few all inclusives, but never to an Excellence. We were very impressed with this stay overall!! We booked just a regular junior suite room (we usually would do excellence club and a better room but nothing was available) but it was still very nice. I always love having a jetted tub and this one was placed perfectly in the room. The food at most restaurants was very good, better than most. Basmati was our favorite. The biggest thing that stood out for us was how amazing the entertainment was every single night- the best of any resort we have ever been too! They also have live music at the main pool almost daily, we loved that!….”