Excellence vs Secrets
These two fight over the same traveler: adults-only, Mexico-or-Caribbean, upper-mid budget, food-motivated. Excellence is the focused family-owned operator whose handful of suite-only resorts are remarkably consistent; Secrets is Hyatt's sprawling adults-only fleet, where the range runs from spectacular to merely fine — with points as the sweetener.
Excellence ranking · Secrets ranking · How we score · Last reviewed July 2026
By the numbers
Chain averages across the resorts in our catalog — individual properties vary, so tap into each ranking before you book.
Round by round
Excellence — a short, tightly-run portfolio where the floor is high. Secrets' spread is wider in both directions; its best beat Excellence's best, its weakest don't come close.
Excellence — all-suite properties with swim-outs as a standard category. Secrets matches it only in Preferred Club at newer builds.
Slight edge Excellence on depth-for-price; Secrets counters with reservation-free flexibility and 24-hour room service. Food-obsessed travelers do well at either.
Secrets — far more resorts and coastlines, including Pacific Mexico and Europe. Excellence is five-ish properties across three destinations.
Secrets — World of Hyatt earning and burning. Excellence has no equivalent currency.
The verdict
Booking blind, pick Excellence — the odds of a great week are simply higher across its portfolio. Booking carefully, a top-scoring Secrets property with points behind it is the better financial play. Since you're on a site built for booking carefully: compare the specific properties' scores, and let the points math break ties.
The properties to shortlist
Want it property-level? Put Excellence Playa Mujeres and Secrets Cap Cana Resort & Spa head-to-head — or open any two resorts in our resort comparator.
Frequently asked questions
Is Excellence part of Hyatt like Secrets?
No — Excellence is an independent, family-owned Spanish group (The Excellence Collection). Secrets belongs to Hyatt's Inclusive Collection, which is why it earns World of Hyatt points and Excellence doesn't.