Excellence Playa Mujeres Can Help You Identify Your Interests and Uncover Your Tastes
Take Advantage of This All-Inclusive Tropical Paradise With So Much To Offer!
The Arrival
It had been three years since we last stepped foot in Mexico. In 2021, we had the privilege of traveling to The Excellence Rivera Maya in Cancun. Last month, we spent eight nights at The Excellence Playa Mujeres in Cancun.
After a brief layover in Austin, Texas, we headed to Cancun. I realized I was a spoiled American when it took over an hour for us to get our luggage after our plane landed.
We had a transport shuttle ready to take us from the Airport to the resort. I had forgotten to take a motion sickness pill before the plane ride, but the flights didn't bother me much, even though we hit some pretty big turbulence just before arriving in Cancun. Once, the turbulence was so bad that I thought we were landing!
The ride in a pristine GMC SUV with all the bells and whistles messed up my equilibrium. I was seated behind the driver, so I put our armrest down on the first row and leaned in to keep my eyes on the road before us. The driver told us it would take 30 - 45 minutes, depending on traffic.
The traffic was hellacious and hindered by sporadic monsoon-like downpours! It may have taken an hour for us to reach the resort. The length of time it took didn't bother me. The speeding up, slowing down, abrupt lane changes, and quick stops and starts got me!
After arriving, checking in (with a glass of champagne), and taking our luggage to our room, we ate a late lunch at Oregano (the Italian restaurant). Some of the restaurants that serve lunch have a generic menu.
Then we went for a quick walk along the beach until it started sprinkling, which eventually turned into a downpour. We were already back inside by then. Later that evening, we ate at The Grill (Grilled American beef, chicken, and seafood). My dinner that night is in "The Meals" section.
The Days
Despite the overcast and sporadic rain showers during the first few days, we hunkered down in the huts (with reclining chairs) beside the lazy river, which flows (ever so slowly) around the middle of the property or the beach. I have the complexion of a vampire, so I was constantly applying SPF 50, whether in the sun or under the hut.
The huts were well constructed and blocked direct sunlight and rain. At the lazy river, we chose a perfect spot close to the restrooms, towel rack, and Revive Bar. It was common to grab a drink from the bar, find one of the resort's floats, and take a trip around the lazy river.
There were also bars and restrooms close to the beach. Grabbing a hut on the beach was more challenging. While there are no "reserving" huts/chairs at Excellence Playas Mujeres, by 6:30 AM each morning, all individuals "NOT" reserving one for themselves had placed their personal belongings in all the chairs under all the huts.
I understand this because we are all reasonably selfish human beings. We all paid hard-earned money to be at this resort and wanted a nice spot on the beach with our spouses.
The Activities
The resort offers various daily activities, some of which cost extra, such as private yacht excursions and deep-sea fishing. Many are considered "inclusive" at this "all-inclusive resort," such as Spanish lessons, dance lessons, cooking lessons, beach volleyball, archery, and air rifle shooting.
We didn't worry about taking advantage of any of those things. We enjoyed relaxing by the pool or beach, cooling off in the water, and continually repeating this process. We are even simpletons in vacationing! My wife finished two books while we were at the resort, and I got about halfway through one of mine! (I read much slower than her.)
The Entertainment
There are different live musical performances in the outdoor theater each night. The only entertainment we watched was the Women's Mariachi Band, which performed during the Thursday night Fiesta! They were great!
We passed by the outdoor theater one afternoon during a karaoke session. A better term for what we heard as we passed would have been "Drunk Karaoke." The patrons there may have been having fun, but you probably needed to be drunk to participate and enjoy it.
Our best evenings were spent around a table in the Sports Bar playing cards while watching the NCAA Men's College World Series or the early rounds of the 2024 Copa América.
The Meals
Here are the restaurants where we dined at the resort in order of my least favorite. I found something I LOVED at all of these restaurants except Basmati (the authentic Indian restaurant) simply because I was not feeling well that day and didn't eat with my wife and friends that night.
When sharing the names of my meals, I will put the exact quotes from the menu. Unless they are specified, all restaurants were dinner meals.
Los Olas (Lunch two days)
Los Olas is only open daily for lunch. This restaurant is on the beach closest to the ocean, and the view is spectacular while you dine. The wood-fired pizzas we got from there a couple of days were delicious, and we returned to our poolside spots to eat those.
One afternoon, my wife and I decided to eat there. We got the "Hot dog with deep-fried onion and French fries" meal. I enjoyed the fries but didn't care much for my hotdog, while my wife enjoyed her whole meal.
Agave
Agave features Cancun's favorite Mexican dishes. My appetizer was the "Corn and vegetable chowder served in a bread bowl with fried Creole epazote herb." I enjoyed this chowder because it reminded me of my mother's fried corn.
My entre was the "Noreno barbecue, flank steak, chicken breast, Mexican sausage, pork chop, baby onions, and roasted chilis accompanied with charro beans stew and extra hot habanero tamulada sauce." I gave away my beans and sausage and enjoyed the rest of that meal.
Fiesta Mexicana at Plaza Prelude
On Thursday night, this fiesta featured buffet lines around the Prelude Bar Plaza. I knew I would overeat after the first bread and nacho station. My second round included grilled steak, chicken, pork, and vegetables (much like my meal at Agave).
My last trip was to the dessert tables. My favorite item from these choices was coconut balls. The choices were in three different colors. I had a couple of green ones, which immediately turned the inside of my mouth green. The Texans we shared a table with that night enjoyed my discovery.
YES, I showed my green tongue to a bunch of strangers! We were all buds by the end of the meal.
Chez Isabelle
The last Excellence Resort we visited, Chez Isabelle (upscale, classic French cuisine), was my favorite restaurant, so I looked forward to this meal. I must have tried fewer things than I did on this trip. I felt adventurous, so my first appetizer was the "Blini with smoked salmon, dill cream cheese, and lime caviar."
Honestly, I thought it was pretty nasty!
The salmon was different from what I expected, and I was not prepared for the saltiness of the caviar. After about half of that small portion, I couldn't stomach any more. I never would have thought I would like sturgeon fish eggs under some undercooked salmon.
After trying them, I'm so happy I was 100% correct about my previous assessment! My second appetizer was better. It was: "Aumoniere style crepes, stuffed with mushroom ragout and cream veloute."
I ate this appetizer. I'm a fan of crepes, so it didn't rock my world like the first dish did. However, my third course was a "Lobster bisque with Cognac, emulsified with potato and leek." I didn't enjoy it, probably because it was too emulsified for me. It was so emulsified that I couldn't finish it!
The main course was what I'd had during our previous trip: "Grilled beef tenderloin with allspice mignonette, bearnaise sauce, and Pont-Neuf potatoes." The beef was tender, and the potatoes didn't disappoint.
I had the "Cheesecake, sauteed strawberries with fresh mint and strawberry sorbet" for dessert. Attempting to get a taste of everything on the plate in each bite was a challenge, but I still enjoyed this dessert.
The Grill
The Grill features American beef, chicken, and pork cuts. My appetizer was "'Provoleta' cheese with roasted peppers, garlic, and oregano," a tasty cheese dish. How could I not enjoy it? My next course was "Creamy corn soup with spicy croutons," which I devoured.
My main course was a "Picanha" (it tastes like Sirloin, only better), and my sides were "Rustic mashed potatoes with garlic" and "Lemon corn and coriander." The portions were smaller than I had remembered from our previous trip. Sure, I'm a spoiled American and am used to eating more than I should.
Yet the "Lemon corn and coriander" was only about 1/5 of an actual ear of corn (around four kernels wide). The side portions were so small I decided to go with two deserts. I got a "side-eye" from the waiter when I ordered two, but I shared them with my wife and friends.
My wife got the "Cheesecake with banana and caramel sauce." Her portion was about the size of my ring finger. I wish I'd taken a picture of it. I had the "Double chocolate brownie." I asked the waiter if I could get some ice cream with that. He said, "Yes" (over his side-eye). I also ordered the savory "Peanut butter ice cream cake."
Spice
Spice's menu includes Pan-Asain, Thai, and Japanese items. I started with the (Sushi): "California Rolls (4 Pieces) Vegetable | Salmon | Tuna Fish | Fruit." Somehow, the chef had some extra, so I got two extra rolls. I loved them all! The second appetizer was four small spring rolls, which were also delicious!
We were only afforded the option of using chopsticks with our meal. They were a challenge on my main course. I breezed through all the rolls, but the entree was "Mongolian Beef | Stirred flank steak slices, marinated and lightly coated with cornstarch, flavored with ginger, dried chili peppers, and soy sauce."
Steamed rice accompanied the beef. The rice was not as sticky as it needed to be for a chopsticks rookie, yet I survived. We did get spoons with our desserts. I had the Fried Ice Cream: "Vanilla ice cream wrapped in sponge cake with raspberry sauce."
At Spice, I made one decision I would regret the next day. Our waiter asked if anyone wanted Saké. I had never tried it before, so I said, "Sure, I'll take some." He asked me if I'd like it hot or cold. I had no idea which was better, so I said, "Cold." He brought me out a small flask and a tiny shot-like cup.
I tried it and didn't particularly care for the taste. I thought it tasted like "shookiedookielukey!" [not very good] I let my wife try it, and she didn't like it either. Since I'd ordered it, I wanted to conquer the Sake! I drank the whole (small) flask and couldn't wait until it was gone so I could chase it with my Diet Coke.
After dinner, we went to the sports bar to play cards. I had a couple of different cocktails there. The following day, I woke up feeling just a little nauseous. I thought some breakfast might help, so I went to breakfast and was ignorant enough to have a mimosa! This hair of the dog had the reverse effect on me!
Lobster House (breakfast and dinner)
The Lobster House offers breakfasts with a Mexican flair, typical Caribbean lunches, and Seafood dinners! I ate one breakfast there, and my wife ate twice.
Breakfasts: I had the "Seasonal fruit platter" for starters, followed by '"Scrambled eggs with onion, ham, bacon, cheese, bell peppers, and mushrooms," accompanied by a "Breadbasket: white baguette bread, cereal bread, toasts, butter, and jam."
Dinner: My appetizer was "Crab cakes with chipotle remoulade sauce accompanied with green apple and parsley salad." My entre was "Surf and Turf with lobster and grilled flank steak served with mashed potatoes, roasted garlic, and buttered corn." The crab cakes and surf and turf meals were delicious!
Room Service (One Lunch)
One afternoon, after hanging at the lazy river (or the beach) for a couple of hours, I was ready to head to the room, get cleaned up, and write. That is the afternoon I started on my last article: Excellence Resort Playa Mujeres | Our home for the past six nights with two to go.
Around 2:30 PM, I was getting hungry and decided to call room service. In-room dining is also included in this "All-Inclusive Resort!" They simply want you to be patient that your food may take 45 minutes or more, depending on their orders.
No problem, I was fine waiting. I ordered the "Fried wings splashed with buffalo sauce," two Diet Cokes, and an "Apple Pie Cooked with lime crumble with citric sauce." I was pleasantly surprised that my wings came with fries, and they were good and salty! The buffalo sauce on the wings was more of a sweet heat, which was fine.
I had no idea what those two micro-watermelon things on my plate were, so I threw them away and mixed the wee spot of whipped cream under them with the four applesauce dabs and my pie. It was a great mix!
The Kitchen Table (Breakfasts)
My second favorite meal(s) had to be the extensive international breakfast buffet at The Kitchen Table, which is only open for breakfast and lunch. I would pick out whatever bread I felt like that morning, run it through the toaster, and grab some jelly (mainly blackberry and strawberry).
I would get eggs (with vegetables), one or two kinds of fried potatoes, sausage (or turkey sausage) links, and bacon! OMGoodness!!!! I tried all their mimosas: regular, strawberry, peach, and pineapple. The pineapple was my favorite.
Oregano
My favorite meal from start to finish was at Oregano (Italian cuisine). My starter was a "Tortelli: Fried tortelli with Parmesan crust, marinara sauce, stuffed with spinach and mozzarella cheese." YUM! My next course was a "Ceasar Fondue: Padano cheese slices, focaccia, and olive oil." (Think delicious semi-fancy Ceasar Salad.)
My entree was Spaghetti with arrabbiata sauce. Arrabbiata is a spicy sauce from garlic, tomatoes, and dried red chili peppers cooked in olive oil. I LOVED IT! I skipped dessert that night.
The Alcohol
I mentioned the Sake (YUCK) and Mimosas (YUM). There are eight bars at the resort. We enjoyed margaritas, different cocktails, and lots of Diet Coke (Coke Light) from all over the resort. At the pools, we ordered from the Revive Bar. On the beach, we ordered from the Las Olas Bar and stopped by the Sol Bar.
We ordered from the Sports Bar and the Prelude Terrace Bar at night. My favorite bar at the resort had to be The Martini Bar, attached to the main facility. I'm a lightweight when it comes to alcohol consumption, so I was careful not to overdo it.
My favorite drink from The Martini Bar was a CoCo Martini: "Malibu, Coconut Water, Pineapple Juice, Diced Pineapple, Shaved Coconut." The Martini Bar was the only place that made this drink to its fullest potential! My wife tried two other places and said both were like drinking suntan lotion!
I don't know how much suntan lotion she's drank in the past, but apparently enough to call it! I believed her and didn't try those. My other favorite drinks around the resort were the "Mud Slide: Irish cream, Kahlua, vodka, cream, and chocolate syrup" and the "Strawberry Margarita," which wasn't on any bar's menu but a great classic!
Final Word
Overall, we enjoyed Excellence Playa Mujeres better than Excellence Rivera Maya. Our friends from Texas told us they liked the other Rivera Maya better than Playa Mujeres. "Different strokes for different folks." All the workers at the resort were very friendly. A friend told me that even the mowers smiled at you as you passed.
An all-inclusive resort is a beautiful destination for adventurous people who want to get out and actively pursue excursions. It's also an excellent place for people like my wife and me, who came to the same conclusion: We LOVE to just lay around the water, eat and drink, and not be bothered.
During those eight nights, I challenged my palate, tried many foods I would have never tried otherwise, and found several more beverages I didn't know I liked. My appreciation for the people, culture, and cuisine grows each time we are in Mexico.
Now THIS is a thorough review! How fun though - felt like I was there. :)