Resort chain

Excellence Resorts

Ranked best to worst

6 resorts ranked across 3 countries. Average guest rating 4.9 from 106,066 reviews.

Excellence is the adults-only brand within The Excellence Collection, alongside all-ages Finest Resorts and couples-only Beloved. Its resorts in Mexico, the Dominican Republic, and Jamaica offer an all-suite stay with a choice of layouts and locations. Swim-up, rooftop and private-pool suites are specific room categories, not features included with every suite.

Last reviewed October 13, 2026 How we score

Excellence Playa Mujeres pool area with blue water, palapa umbrellas, loungers, and beach with ocean beyond.

Two-story beachfront resort building with white columns and balconies, lounge chairs and umbrellas on sandy beach, palm trees, and pool visible.

Excellence Punta Cana pool and beach with turquoise water, palm trees, thatched umbrellas, and ocean beyond.

White multi-story resort building with pool, loungers, umbrellas, and palm trees on manicured lawn at Excellence El Carmen.

Photo: It's All Inclusive

Compare the individual resort, beach and suite category before deciding on value. Excellence Club is an optional room tier with dedicated areas and upgraded amenities; its specific pools, beach areas, lounges and dining access vary by property. Standard suites still include the resort's regular all-inclusive plan.

Quick facts

Guests: Adults-only
Where: Mexico, Dominican Republic, Jamaica
Price positioning: Upper-mid to luxury
Signature: Suite-only properties, swim-out rooms, deep dining lineups
Family option: Finest Resorts (same group, all ages)

Is it right for you?

Excellence in two minutes

The case for

Book Excellence if

Couples who care most about the room and the restaurants
Travelers choosing a specific swim-up, rooftop or private-pool suite category
Travelers who want luxury without a formal, buttoned-up atmosphere

The caveats

Know before you book

Properties are big; if you want boutique intimacy, look at Zoëtry or the group's Beloved hotels instead
Excellence Club costs more and adds property-specific access; compare the benefits before upgrading. Specialty dining experiences can require reservations regardless of the brand's general walk-in dining approach.

Where Excellence scores strongest

9.1/10

Romance

8.9/10

Pools

8.8/10

Service

8.8/10

Rooms

Chain averages across the Excellenceresorts we've scored.

Where Excellence operates

6 resorts mapped stars are five-star properties

Weighing where to go? The country guides cover weather, safety, entry rules, and how the areas differ.

Dominican Republic guide Jamaica guide Mexico guide

See where Excellence ranks

Excellence resorts featured in each ranking. Explore the full lists to compare across brands.

Loyalty program

The Excellence Collection Rewards

The Excellence Collection Rewards offers membership benefits and tiers across the collection. The official site currently offers online enrollment, enrollment when booking and enrollment through a stay.

Member offers
Member-only rates and early access to sales
Member status
Complimentary suite upgrades and spa perks at higher tiers
Member status
Tier progression and benefits depend on the current program rules

Booking eligibility and program details

Confirm the current tier, qualifying-stay rules and booking eligibility before relying on a discount, suite upgrade or spa benefit. Published benefits are subject to the program's terms; enrollment alone does not guarantee every perk.

Excellence, head-to-head

Compare the atmosphere, inclusions, and trade-offs before choosing a brand.

Excellence vs Sandals

Pick Excellence if

Couples who care most about the room and the restaurants

Pick Sandals if

Honeymoons and anniversaries where you want zero decisions after booking

What's included · Rooms for the money · DiningFull comparison

Excellence vs Secrets

Pick Excellence if

Couples who care most about the room and the restaurants

Pick Secrets if

Travelers who want maximum choice of destination within one trusted plan

Consistency · Rooms · DiningFull comparison

Excellence vs Breathless

Pick Excellence if

Couples who care most about the room and the restaurants

Pick Breathless if

Bachelor/bachelorette trips and friend groups

Rooms · Atmosphere · DiningFull comparison

Compare with any brand

Compare Excellence with another brand

RIU Iberostar Secrets Barceló Sandals Club Med Meliá Grand Palladium Ikos Anantara Elite Island Resorts Hilton

Frequently asked questions

Which Excellence resort is the best?

Start with Excellence Playa Mujeres for a couples or honeymoon shortlist, Excellence Oyster Bay for a secluded Jamaican peninsula setting, and Excellence El Carmen for a pool-and-suite-focused stay. Excellence Punta Cana offers tropical grounds and a relaxed atmosphere; Excellence Riviera Cancun is another Mexico option with meandering pools. Use the current rankings and each resort's strengths and drawbacks above to choose for your trip. Michelle's Picks appear first, so the list is not a pure score leaderboard.

Which Excellence resort has the best beach?

For a beach-focused Mexico trip, start by comparing Excellence Playa Mujeres and Excellence Coral Playa Mujeres. Oyster Bay offers a private-peninsula setting in Jamaica. Punta Cana and El Carmen are on the Uvero Alto coast, where surf and red-flag days can limit swimming. Riviera Cancun can be affected by seasonal sargassum. A beautiful beach is not a guarantee of calm water: compare the individual beach notes and conditions for your travel dates.

Excellence Punta Cana or Excellence El Carmen: which should I choose?

Choose Punta Cana if tropical grounds and a relaxed resort atmosphere matter most. Shortlist El Carmen if pools and a particular swim-up or rooftop suite are your priority. Both are on the Uvero Alto coast, so neither should be booked on a promise of calm ocean swimming. Compare the exact suite, pool location and current total price rather than the resort name alone.

Which Excellence resort is best for a honeymoon?

Playa Mujeres is a starting point for couples who want an established adults-only resort; Oyster Bay suits travelers drawn to a secluded peninsula and Beach House or private-pool suite categories. El Carmen is worth comparing for a rooftop or swim-up suite. These are different honeymoon styles, not guarantees of a better stay. Confirm the exact room category, privacy, included benefits and any honeymoon-package requirements before booking.

Is Excellence Club worth it?

It can be worth the extra cost if you will use the chosen resort's dedicated pool, beach area, lounge or dining access, or want a suite available in that tier. Standard suites still include the regular all-inclusive plan. Compare the actual Club benefits and price difference at your selected property; Club is a room tier, not the same thing as a loyalty membership, and its benefits vary by resort.

Where are Excellence resorts located?

The Excellence properties in this comparison are in Mexico, the Dominican Republic and Jamaica. Mexico options include Playa Mujeres, Coral Playa Mujeres and Riviera Cancun near Puerto Morelos. Punta Cana and El Carmen are in Uvero Alto in the Dominican Republic; Oyster Bay is near Falmouth in Jamaica. The map and resort profiles above show each location so you can compare the setting as well as the country.

Is Excellence adults-only?

Yes, Excellence-branded resorts are adults-only. Finest Resorts is the same collection's all-ages brand, so a Finest property shown in this comparison is a family alternative, not an adults-only Excellence resort. Beloved is the collection's couples-only boutique brand. For a trip with children, compare Finest's room capacity and children's facilities for their ages.

Excellence or Sandals: which is better?

Compare specific resorts and room categories: suite layouts, beaches, included activities, transfers and club access can change the value of your stay. Check the exact rate and inclusions rather than assuming either brand is always better. Our Sandals vs Excellence comparison helps you weigh those differences.

From Poolside Notes

Reading on Excellence