Scores at a Glance
Excellence Playa MujeresHotel Riu Palace Riviera Maya
Overall
9.2
8.8
Beach
8.6
8.8
Food
9.0
8.7
Service
9.3
8.8
Rooms
9.2
8.6
Luxury
9.1
—
Value
8.8
8.3
Romance
9.3
8.4
Scores out of 10 — higher is better
Quick Stats
9.2
Overall Score
8.8
5-star
Star Rating
5-star
4.9 (18,078)
Google Rating
4.6 (6,117)
From $251
Price / Night (pp)
Rates TBD
Yes
Adults Only
No
—
Kids' Club
Yes
Oceanfront
Beachfront
Near coast
Grand
Resort Size
Mid-size
25 min
Airport Transfer
55 min
All Scores
8.6
Beach
8.8
9.0
Food
8.7
9.3
Service
8.8
9.2
Rooms
8.6
9.3
Pools
8.4
9.1
Luxury
—
8.8
Value
8.3
—
Family
8.2
9.3
Romance
8.4
8.0
Nightlife
—
8.4
Quiet
—
7.8
Adventure
—
9.0
Wellness
—
8.4
Remote work
—
—
Accessibility
7.5
Vibes
Yes
Quiet
—
Yes
Romance
Yes
Activities
Yes
Spa
Yes
Yes
dining
—
Yes
Water sports
Yes
—
Kids
Yes
Excellence Playa Mujeres
- Private beach
- 7 gourmet restaurants
- Spa with hydrotherapy
- Rooftop terrace suites
Hotel Riu Palace Riviera Maya
- 6 pools
- 6 restaurants & bars
- Full-service spa
- 55 min from CUN
Pros — Excellence Playa Mujeres
- Adults-only beachfront setting with a strong couples focus.
- Seven pools and strong poolside infrastructure.
- Broad dining program with 11 restaurants.
- Large suite categories, including swim-up, rooftop terrace, and private-pool options.
- Strong recurring guest praise for service, cleanliness, food, and overall resort polish.
Pros — Hotel Riu Palace Riviera Maya
- True 24-hour all-inclusive
- Excellent Playacar beachfront
- No-reservation specialty restaurants
- 24-hour room service
- In-room minibar and liquor dispenser
Cons — Excellence Playa Mujeres
- Not family-friendly because the resort is adults-only.
- The beach is good but may not be the only reason to choose the resort over other Riviera Maya options.
- Premium room categories and Excellence Club can materially increase the price.
- Guests who prefer a small boutique atmosphere may find the resort large and polished rather than intimate.
Cons — Hotel Riu Palace Riviera Maya
- Seasonal seaweed risk
- Elite Club upsell may not appeal to all guests
- Exact main-entrance coordinates need manual verification