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Puerto Morelos, Mexico |
| Excellence
Riviera Cancun is an adults-only, all-inclusive resort just south of the Cancun
International Airport. This beautiful property, opened in 2004, while being
adults only, is NOT a nudist resort nor tolerant of clothing-optional
recreation. |
Travel Alert
from U.S. State Department about Mexico
The alerts
concern primarily the border areas between the U.S. and Mexico. Alerts do not
include Cancun, Cozumul, Cabo, Puerto Vallarta, Manzanillo or similar tourism
centers. The primary concerns are on the border of Mexico along the state lines
of Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and southern California.
See more from the U.S. State Department concerning
Mexico.
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U.S. Citizens: Passports are
required for international air travel to all destinations outside the
USA.
 This
Excellence Resort is highly recommended as a great upscale conventional (not
nude) resort without kids but with lots to do, great spas, fine cuisine in a
relaxed adults-only atmosphere, right on the beach facing the Mexican
Caribbean.
 This Excellence Rsort is
located at the upper end of the Riviera Maya in Puerto Morelos, the resort is
just minutes from the airport.
With over 400 rooms, this resort
actually offers a couple of choices in accommodation categories. All rooms are
suites. Most are located in several guest buildings while a separate, concierge
level category is called the Excellence Club, also located on the property but
with individualized services, amenities and check in facilities.
The spa and
fitness centers are first class and offer a full range of services not often
found in typical "all inclusive" resorts. You won't go hungry at this place
with seven restaurants, bars everywhere and place to hang your towel on the
beach.
Daily activities are planned and nightly entertainment mixed
with bars, restaurants and nightlife offer lots of diversions for adult singles
and couples. A nice feature is location: It's close to both Cancun and Playa
del Carmen for shopping and nightlife.
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U.S. Citizens: Passports are
required for international air travel to all destinations outside the
USA.
Fly or drive to Cancun, Mexico.
Cancun is a
world-class vacation area, served by numerous airlines from North America,
Latin America and Europe. Both scheduled air carriers as well as charters
service Cancun with frequent flights from most major cities worldwide.
Excellence Riviera Maya is located just off Mexico highway 307 southeast of the
Cancun International airport on the beach and just north of the fishing village
of Puerto Morelos.
Puerto Morelos, a non-touristy town of 2,500, is
the first village 20 miles south of Cancun city. Another popular tourist town,
Playa del Carmen is another 20 minutes further south of the resort - so you're
secluded but close to most things for nightlife and shopping, if you can't find
enough action at the resort.
Airport transfers are extra. Taxis are
plentiful and all major rental car companies are located at the Cancun airport.
A shuttle from the airport is the cheapest way to reach the resort. Private
cars and limousines are also available for hire by prior arrangement. Castaways
Travel will make these arrangements for you. You can arrange for shuttle
service in the arrivals hall near the airport exit. Airport transfers can range
from $20-$60/person, depending upon type of vehicle selected. Taxi rates are
typically fixed prices for transportation from the airport. Prices subject to
change without notice.
Water taxis to and from Cozumel are also
available from Playa del Carmen and from Cancun. If you have a rental car and
wish to visit Cozumel, there is an auto ferry dock in Puerto Morelos that
serves Cozumel several times a day. Per person cost for the water taxi ranges
from about $8-$12, rates subject to change without notice. Water taxi tickets
can be purchased right at the dock.
Frequent bus service to other
parts of Mexico is also available in Puerto Morelos at the terminal located
downtown on 5th Avenue and Juarez.
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Gee, where to start? Here goes...and this is only a
partial list so we don't completely bore you. 24 hour All-inclusive service
includes:
• Welcome cocktail & cool towel
•
Concierge on staff
• Full breakfast, lunch and dinner and snacks
daily
• Seven a la Carte & buffet restaurants
• Nine bar,
juice and coffee bars
• Unlimited alcoholic beverages
•
24-hour room service
• Bathrobes & slippers
• Twice daily
maid service
• Pool and beach waiter service
• Six free form
fresh water pools (1 heated in winter)
• Swim Up pool bar
•
Three outdoor Jacuzzi's
• Non-motorized water sports
• Planned
daily activities
• Tennis clinic
• Bicycle tours
•
Library
• Fully equipped fitness center with sauna, Jacuzzi and steam
bath
• Wedding gazebo
• Tour desk (optional tours off site
extra cost)
• All hotel taxes and tips
Additional Amenities,
Facilities and Services (where additional costs may apply) Full service, world
class (their words, not ours) Spa and signature Spa Garden, state of the art
meeting facilities, full service business center, weddings and honeymoon
packages, shopping galleria, Scuba, deep sea fishing, golf nearby, private
tennis lessons, laundry service, medical facilities, tour desk and rental cars.
Spa Services are centered on the Garden Spa and the Indoor Spa.
Services include warm shallow whirlpools, sauna, thalasoterapia, steam bath,
salt water pools, Vichy & Swiss showers, hydro massage, body massage,
pedicures, manicures, facials, full service beauty salon, fitness center with a
full range of exercise equipment including treadmills, lifecycles and step
machines plus a scenic route on the property for walkers and runners.
If you just have
to think business, the resort includes state of the art meeting facilities and
a full service Business center. A shopping galleria rounds out the service
package.
For daytime and evening activities, see AMBIANCE section
below for lots more information.
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Seven, count 'em, 7 restaurants service hotel guests: Six
are a la carte and one is a full service buffet.
Dining at Excellence,
where no reservations are required, provide a terrific buffet restaurant
coupled with theme bistros that feature Mexican, Japanese, Steak & Seafood,
Gourmet & Continental cuisine. Dress is casual throughout the resort for
dining. 
The resort offers
nine bars including the Lobby bar, Swim-up pool bar, Dock Bar & Coffee Bar,
Piano Cigar bar, and three palapa bars pool sides. The American Sports Bar and
Showtime Bar also provide great entertainment.
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Room rates range from about $150 to $200/person/night,
all-inclusive. Excellence Club is about 20-50% more than standard suites. NOTE:
Rates are expressed as a range and are not guaranteed, subject to change
without notice. Rates also subject to seasonal sales and will vary based on
month or travel season. Maximum room capacity in certain suites: 3 adults.
Minimum stay is 4 nights (subject to change).
Resort has 442 suites on
site.
Accommodations include categories for: Junior Suites, Deluxe
Suites and Honeymoon suites, a number of which offer both indoor and outdoor
Jacuzzis, Swim out suites with private access to the pool and Presidential
suites.
 Standard Suites All suites
offer superior amenities including private and furnished terrace or balcony,
four poster king canopy bed, full marble bathrooms with a jetted whirlpool
bathtub and separate shower, double vanities, satellite television,
air-conditioning with in-room climate control, a direct dial telephone with
internet data port, electronic in-room safe, coffee/tea maker and mini bar
stocked with beer, soft drinks and bottled water.
Excellence Club The
Excellence Club offers VIP service with superior amenities in Junior Suites,
Honeymoon Suites and Deluxe Honeymoon Suites, all of which ensure an oceanfront
location and superior services including private concierge service, private
check-in/check-out, late check out and early check-in (subject to
availability), private lounge area, DVD and CD player, internet access free of
charge, pillow menu, beach towels and two pairs of slippers in the suite,
superior VIP amenities, superior room service menu, superior stocked mini-bar,
Continental breakfast, afternoon and evening hors d'oeuvres in a private lounge
area, daily newspapers. Specific bedding and/or special requests are fulfilled
based on availability and cannot be guaranteed.
Specialty vacation
packages are also available for: Spa, Honeymoon, Anniversary and Wedding
occasions.
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Adults Only singles and couples ranging in age generally
from late 20s to 50/60s.
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This is a big resort, spread out over many acres of land.
At times, you may feel like your losing your way around the property but all
locations, restaurants, bars and function rooms are within easy reach from most
places on the property.
While the hotel is large physically with
almost 1,000 guests on site at any time, you don't see them all at once. The
resort is truly a destination unto itself where you will want for nothing.
Daily activities are organized around the pools and beach. Six
swimming pools stretching over 8,000 sq meters, three ocean view Jacuzzis and a
swim up pool bar offers refreshments and snacks. A wide variety of beach, land
and water activities are available including: yoga, sea kayaks, snorkeling and
water sports shop, sailing, paddle boats, windsurfing, fitness classes, bicycle
tours, water aerobics, running, walking, beach volleyball, tennis &
billiards. Additional cost apply for: Deep-sea fishing, golf off site, scuba
diving.
Evening activities include: Manager's cocktail party, piano
lounge and cigar bar, dance club, evening shows and themes.
For a
really special treat for your honey, consider booking the "Eternity" package.
For the maximum in ambiance, here's what you will enjoy:
• Junior
suite Excellence Ocean honeymoon category for 7 nights or more
•
Chilled bottle of champagne
• Fresh flowers and an exotic fruit basket
upon arrival
• Champagne breakfast in bed morning after arrival
• A 50 minute Swedish massage in the Excellence Spa Garden
•
Choice of either a European facial or salt glow body scrub treatment
•
Beachfront dinner (silver menu) one evening upon return
• Romantic
rose petal bath set up with essential oils and candles
• Petit fours
each evening at turn down service
• One complimentary Lovers Live CD by
Sade
• Restrictions apply.
NOTE: This special ambiance package
may be purchased by anyone (not just honeymoon or anniversary couples). This is
for anyone looking for luxury treatment with upscale ambiance. Service may be
booked in other room categories; however, there is a charge for the package
inclusions. Offer is subject to change.
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With the hotel close to everything, choose from many
activities when you leave the resort. Cancun city is 20 minutes north and Playa
del Carmen, a great tourist area for shopping and nightlife, is 30 minutes
south of the resort. Here's just a partial list of things to do: Shopping in
Cancun, cruising the bars/discos/clubs in Playa del Carmen or Cancun,
snorkeling and swimming in the natural lagoons at Xcaret or Xel-ha to the
south, dining downtown in Cancun, visiting the Mayan ruins at
 Chichen Itza to the west or
Tulum to the south, enjoying a sunset cruise or pirates night cruise, fishing
or diving on the Mayan Reef, the second longest barrier reef in the world,
extending all the way to Belize. Optional escorted tours with driver and guide
can be arranged at the resort with transportation that will pick you up right
at the resort for your guided tour.
Swim with the Atlantic bottlenose
dolphin just off the beach or ride horseback in the nearby jungle. Visit Maroma
Beach for ATV rides, sailing, fishing, beaching or just hanging out. If you
want to see more of the area, go down to Playa del Carmen and catch a water
taxi to cross the channel to Cozumel for about $10-$12/person/round trip
(prices subject to change without notice). Trip takes about 30-45 minutes,
depending upon the weather….or if the waves are running high. Deep
sea/bill fishing and SCUBA diving can be arranged from the hotel, too, for an
extra charge.
For fun nightlife in Playa del Carmen, hit the
restaurants, bistros, clubs and bars on or near 5th Avenue from Juarez Avenue
north to Constitution Avenue. You can't get lost on 5th Avenue... the street
only runs 10-15 blocks and is arguably the "heart of Playa." Numerous other
places to hang your hat are in Playa including Carlos & Charlies, the Blue
Parrot plus lots of other hangouts. Excellent restaurants are on or near 5th
Avenue with some of the best located on the side streets that intersect 5th
Avenue. Don't forget to hit the beach without your shoes to bar hop from the
ferry dock up to the Grand Porto Real Hotel & Resort, about a mile of fun
beach action.
Cancun has its share of nightlife including the Krystal
and many other nightclubs. Just ask the concierge or tour desk for more ideas
while you're there. You won't be bored. Have fun!
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The resort is really big and spread out with lots of
walking required to reach most locations on the resort |
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One of the best spa set ups in the Cancun area is at
this resort |
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You will want for nothing at this place |
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Location, location, location….it's in a great
location: Close to the airport, Cancun and Playa del Carmen |
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With almost 1,000 guests on property when the resort
is full (which is often), you don't see that many at any one time |
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Cancun is a year round destination. Late summer - August
and September - can be more humid and prone to hurricanes in the Caribbean.
Also remember this is Mexico and while even in the summer months there is
usually a cooling breeze off the water, but once you go inland or into town...
temps can get hot. Remember: You're in the tropics so expect some rain anytime,
anywhere, unannounced.
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Wish the resort were a bit more compact to get around a
little more efficiently.
Wish the resort had areas that were clothing
optional
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Click on the Photo Album button to view personal photos of
Excellence Riviera Cancun. These were taken by us but you can also contribute
to this section - all you have to do is go to our
Contribute Trip Report /
Photographs page.
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We need your trip reports if you have recently visited
Excellence Riviera Cancun. You can contribute to this section - all you have to
do is go to our Contribute Trip
Report / Photographs page.
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