Hi Everyone! Happy Holidays to all of you! Thank you for all your support of my channel this year. I'm truly grateful. Hope you enjoy the video, and find it helpful, and let me know some of the brands you're loyal to - Vanessa ❤
My first ever all inclusive experience was for my honeymoon and it was at Excellence El Carmen. The staff treated my husband and I like royalty. It was truly a great experience. I love that this brand is number 1 for you !
We’ve been to Excellence Playa Mujeres, Excellence Oyster Bay, and Secrets Cap Cana. I definitely agree that Excellence and Secrets are two of the best brands out there! We do probably 40+ hours of research before each trip to pick the best resort for us, from watching videos like these to room tours to joining Facebook groups. You won’t go wrong with those brands!
Do you book through a travel agent, directly with the resort, air separately or with a package? We haven't been to an all inclusive yet and I am curious about the best way to book.
@@sherylpolster5309 with excellence, I book directly through the website. It’s better than any price I could find out there. Also, they do have the option to couple with air. Personally, I usually use miles, so I book my own outside of the resort.
@@dianeschroeder3980 definitely agree! Excellence has a section on their website on the perks you get for booking direct, plus most TA’s don’t get much of a discount. You could always book your airfare with an agent to have them take care of any problems!
Excellence Oyster Bay is my favorite resort so far. It was the clearest water I’ve ever seen. Is the beach/water rocky in Excellence Playa Mujeres? We found that the 2 other times we went to Rivera Maya the water was too rocky to enjoy. Thanks for any information.
Just completed our first ever all inclusive, on the recommendation of a family member (mid December 2022). We stayed at the Excellence Riviera Cancun, and were thoroughly impressed. However, I had no idea how it ranked as far as all inclusives go, so I was thrilled to hear you say Excellence is the best !
I love your page and use it extensively to research all of our trips! We've been to Cancun, Cabo, and Jamaica based on your recommendations (and Trip Advisor reviews). We're planning a honeymoon in October. Would love to see a video on the best resorts to visit during hurricane season.
Surprised Palace Resorts did not make your Top 10. Hard Rock and Palace resorts are amazing and used to be one brand/company. Great job as always - love your reviews!
We love Hard Eock brand if we are planning on being at the resort all of the time. We did this when our child was younger. Now we like a Riu. We mostly are just there for breakfast and to sleep and are out adventuring during the day. We like the ones in Playacar because there are things to do within a short walk.
Hope you and yours had a wonderful Christmas and that you and yours have a terrific New Year. We are going to the Excellence Punta Cana and Excellence Playa Mujeres in 2023. We have been to Excellence El Carmen and Excellence Riviera Cancun and enjoyed both of them. It's really nice not being bothered by timeshares people.
We just stayed at the new adults only Riu Kukulkan in the Cancun hotel zone and we were beyond impressed! An amazing value for what we payed, we couldn't have had a better honeymoon
That was a great list-do you think you could list them in your pinned comment? I like to save your videos to refer back to and sometimes I have to skip around looking for the place you mentioned that I wanted to book but if you put the list somewhere I could just refer to that instead. Just a suggestion.
My husband stayed in a RIU hotel in Manhattan 2 blocks away from Times Square and although it was just to sleep I loved the hotel as they had great food and hospitality and the hotel was very clean. I would def try it overseas
first you hit it dead on, I’ve been to Royalton, Rui, Sandals,Secrets, Marival and Excellence i got Excellence 1 Secrets 2 Sandals 3, and i agree Maroma Beach the best Secrets resort and Playa Mujeres too me is the best resort I’ve been too. what a great video and i hope Excellence expand to more of the caribbean please
Iberostar Tucan ! Amazing property close to Playa Del Carmen not high end but great for a inexpensive vacation and the food I’d good along with a amazing beach and pool
We stayed at Excellence Oyster Bay two years ago and loved it. It was our first all inclusive, so I guess the bar has been set high for us! I think I want to try Excellence Playa Mujeres next.
If you want bang for your buck, try the Beloved. It’s also by the excellence brand it’s for couples only and I guarantee you that you will love it and it’s a lot less expensive than excellence playa Mujeres.
My daughter and I are just back from the Viva Wyndham V Samana in the DR. I have done many all-inclusives and although my favourite brand is Club Med, we were quite impressed with this small property. Lovely endless beach, nice pool and very good service. Very ordinary rooms and ok food, but considering the price we were quite impressed. So much we are going back there in February. I would love it it you could review this brand, which I had never heard of until the travel agent suggested it. For a budget resort, it was really good. Also please review the Club Med’s. No other brand in my view comes close as far as dining, even though it is mostly buffet. The food at Club Med is a cut above. Great activities too. We have done Iberostar, Barcelo, Valentin and Paradisus and not come even close to Club Med. I hope you review Viva Wyndham and Club Med soon. Thanks for great videos.
Hi PP - how about a video on the best resorts for the best, most gorgeous beaches?! So many resorts advertise clear blue water and white sand but the reality is usually less exciting. Sea grass being the biggest fib!
Great review as always, really appreciate these reviews as it makes my holiday selections easier. Visited Excellence El Carmen recently and we just loved it.
Hi Vanessa! I’ve been following your channel for quite a while, and the content has always been great! Thank you for another wonderful video. I was rather surprised to see that Hyatt Ziva / Zillara didn’t make the cut. I personally rank them well above Royalton for service and consistency. I’d love to hear your thoughts on where they rank for you.
Thank you for putting these lists together. My husband and I aren’t well traveled but are looking to schedule some kind of beach vacation every year. Heading to EPM in November 2023 for our first all inclusive experience and your recommendation helped us decide it was the one for us. Thank you!
Fantastic video, Vanessa. So thorough. I loved it. I concur, Excellence is so amazing because everything; food, shows, and especially the service are absolute excellence. You are pampered and made to feel welcome the minute you pull up to the magnificent lobby doors. The feeling is unforgettable and makes you want to return year after year. I have to say, my how the mighty have fallen; no Sandals or Palace Resorts on the list. I truly appreciate your honesty. This video is one to definitely consult before booking. Looking forward to the next video.
My family was planning to go to a Bahia Principe in a few months actually and I'm having a hard time determining which of their resorts in Mexico is best if you want to be close to the beach and over all food, service, and other amenities. We also love entertainment and fun things to do. Any ideas from experience or other? Thanks in advance!
I stayed at RIU Republica in DR recently. I recommend it. Price was excellent. The rooms need some upgrades but come on, are y’all staying in the rooms all day? There was food available almost 24/7. The drinks are not strong but drink a lot of them 😂
Happy Holidays!! I had high hopes for Excellence Playa Mujeres but Secrets service and food was so much better for us and we had club at EMP. EMP RTT was my favorite room.
We are looking at 2 different Club Meds. We aren't party people, but what do you think of Turkoise? The other is Finolhu Maldives. Also what about Margaritaville Playa Flamingo Costa Rica? We love our AI's. Is that one a good one?
My husband doesn’t drink either. The bartenders at every resort we’ve been to make excellent non alcoholic drinks from fresh fruits . They will gladly make any cocktail without alcohol.
Great video as always - I'm curious - Hard Rock made the list but not Palace? Aren't they owned operated by the same family (ownership group)? I've been going to Palace since their soft opening of Moon Palace Punta Cana before they rebranded to Hard Rock. I have found no better service than in Palace resorts (Mexican locations).
I worked as a destination rep at the Iberostars in the Riviera Maya and Puerto Plata, and back then, they were excellent. I've only been to those in Cuba, and unfortunately, they have dropped the ball big time there. Cuba is getting a LOT of new excellent hotels now, and it's unfortunate that Iberostar doesn't keep up. Hope you'll be able to go and visit Cuba at some point, I'd love to hear your comments! Happy Holidays!
I am always floored by your knowledge. Great video as usual. I hope one day to get away with my wife to one of these resorts. We'll have to struggle to decide!
Hi Vanessa! I totally agree with you about the Excellence brand. It is because of you that I fell in love with the Excellence brand and the Beloved hotel in Playa Mujeres. We have another trip planned there with the plunge pool in June. It truly is the best brand.❤️✈️
Love your videos I stayed at the Beloved, which is part of the excellent brand and it was wonderful last year. This year we’re going to Punta Cana excellence. Everything you said about them is true. The only thing I would like you to do is when you’re going through your videos and your name in top tens, etc. why not put the name of the resort in the top left corner so that we can know what you’re talking about if we come into it in the middle.
Hi Vanessa Merry Christmas and Happy New Years! I’m trying to think of brands with locationS I think Hyatt Zilara for adults and Ziva for families the Ziva in the DR is great for small kids but I think for the price this brand is consistent food can be hit/miss like most of the AI properties if these AI’s could keep their service and food/drinks consistent they’d stay busy people could overlook some things. Also Iberostar Grand also will bring you a full bottle of alcohol if requested. Thanks for all you do!
The only all inclusive I've ever done was The Club Barbados. It was an amazing experience. We're looking forward to going to Dreams Las Mareas in Costa Rica this spring for our friend's wedding. But your channel always makes me want to book another one to see what else we can experience!
Love the video, tons of great info. I’m surprised that the Hyatt Ziva resorts did not make the list. Also, I usually associate Royalton resorts with families, mainly because that’s where I’ve stayed with my family. Can’t wait to try the Excellence resorts soon.
Good videos and appreciate honesty. We are staying right next to Excellence Playa Mujeres (stayed at Excellence Play Del Carmen, so know it is a great brand) at Atelier. Have you been there and reviewed it? We actually joined their "club" because we thought it was on par with Excellence. To me probably 6 of one half dozen of another 😂
@@Passport_Pages As you said in the video, the concern is maintaining the high standards. This will be our third time. If we did Atelier first then Excellence and got the "tour/hard sell", we'd probably have joined Excellence. Been to Riu, Royalton, Paridisus on your list too (all Cancun area), along with Couples & Sandals in Jamaica/Bahamas. We go to just relax and do nothing (yes not fair to the culture) You do a good job on the videos.
Hi Vanessa. I just started watching your videos and love them!I’m looking for an AI adults only for a family reunion/vacation. Ages 21-85. I like luxury but not everyone cares, as long as it’s fun for the younger generation but not too big of a party atmosphere for the older. Definitely a nice resort with good food and options. I was looking at Excellence Riviera Cancun. Do you think that’s too relaxing and will be boring? Do you have other recommendations? Thank you!! Looking forward to your ideas.
Great video Vanessa one question about the excellence playa mujueres would you say it’s fun or quiet my wife and I prefer a fun resort in other words not going to bed at 11 pm
Thank you! It's definitely more of a relaxing and quiet resort, so if you're looking for more of a fun, and lively option, it might not be the best for you guys
I agree with everything except for Excellence Oyster Bay. The food there was sub par at best. The room on the beach was top shelf, but the food let us down. I've gone to 3 star resorts and had much better food! We heard that the Excellence Mujeres was much better than Oyster bay and we should've gone there instead. Great channel. Keep the videos coming.
I noticed that you forgot to include Secrets in Mallorca Spain - it is all inclusive as well and is located in a castle, so it is a very unique property. Pool is small but lots of activities to do on the island.
Hi, could you please recommend a few truely all inclusive inexpensive (tax included, good food, drinks) resorts. My husband and I are planning a last minute getaway. We are interested in Belize, Bahamas, Dominican Republic, Cayman Islands..
Have you ever tried the palace resort all inclusive brand? We always go to Moon Palace even though our children are all grown up and no longer come with us. It is the family resort, even though they have several adults only locations, Moon Palace is out of the hustle and bustle of the hotel zone and is on the lagoon side of the upper camp and insula. This means it does not have the turquoise water at the hotel zone has, but has the “green“ waters and green waters other waters that have 80% of all see life, so snorkelling is amazing! They offer 24 hour room service, and a beautiful sandy beach that also has à la cart foods and drinks. Being an all-inclusive it is surprising, but true, that’s all top shelf liquor is also included. I’ve tried other all-inclusive‘s but Palace Resorts, by far, show the meaning of luxury an all star service. All of the restaurants are five star restaurants and they have a 24 hour section that offers sandwiches, ice cream, candy, and all the things you crave when you’ve been out partying. It’s 24 hour room service and you will never see any of their employees without a smile. As they walk around they constantly are smiling, and willing to help. Just wondering if you’ve ever been to any of their resorts. They just opened one in Jamaica and a new one at Moon Palace, but we still prefer the sunrise. Even their inexpensive “garden view“ rooms include beautiful sunset over the ocean views. You can also take a step up and get there “oceanview rooms, or golf club/golf course level rooms. They all have the same access to all of the same restaurants. And what’s good about these resorts is that if you were staying at one resort you have the right to go to any of the other resorts. So if you’re staying in Cancun but the side take a take a trip down to Cozumel you’re more than welcome to eat at their restaurants snorkel from their docs, etc. or if you’re saying at Moon Palace as I do, and Lagoonside, you’re more than welcome to go downtown to the hotel zone and splash around in the beautiful crystal clear turquoise waters for the day, enjoying all of their restaurants and drink service. Just wondering what you felt about this brand if you stay there.
Mujeres is a smaller beach, white powdery sand and beautiful blue ocean good for swimming. The Cancun location is a bigger longer beach side if you want to take a long walk down the beach front with also powdery white sand and beautiful water and good swimming from what I've heard I haven't been to either this is what reviewers on tripadvisor have said as I'm researching the resorts myself right now. Hope that helps!
12/26/22 20:19 Vanessa, I have never been to a resort or on a cruise. I watch all of your videos but just don’t know where to go. I just turned 60, single for 12 years but not looking for the romantic “Secrets” type or the young, hyped, loud, drunken party resort. I would love to sleep in a hammock on the beach, have drinks by the pool and read a few books. Not looking for “pickups at the bar.” It would be nice to meet new friends but not top priority. Any recommendations for an okay single guy?
We have loved Secrets resorts (Aukumal, Maroma Beach, Playa Mujeres). Looking forward to Excellence El Carmen next month. My brother in law just got back and didnt like it. Hoping hes wrong!
I agree all Excellence properties are great but I think Oyster Bay is their best property (Book well in advance though because its sold out way in advance which speaks volumes about how good it is). Excellence PC is also amazing but the beach isn't fabulous by Punta Cana Standards. I wish they had a property on Bavaro beach. Secrets Royal Beach is a good alternative in PC and pretty good bang for your $
Please help! Me and my husband are going to Cancun/playa del Carmen. We’re at the age where we’re not to old so we would like to dance and have fun but we’re also not young so definitely not twerking! Also good quality food and pool is very important to us. It’s our 21st anniversary please any suggestions. 😊
@@Passport_Pages I think that would be interesting, just to see how it compares and if something else would be even better (though we've never had any complaints and always enjoyed our stays).
Why didn't Hyatt make the list. Especially with the one in Punta Cana? They are my favorite when it comes to service. I would put them higher than the Royalton Brand.
Excellence for the win. We tried Beloved and also Finest Punta Cana this year. We want to do EOB next but why is it so much more than all other excellence resorts ? Is it worth the premium?
We went to Secrets last year (2023) and kept getting bothered to join the vacation club it was a hard sale they were calling our room leaving messages. I just got there all I wanted to do was enjoy my vacation that I was already on and paid for. Also the dress code is to strict, the had NO casual dinner option for men and it was so hot that he was sweating through all his nice clothing, just not very relaxing to have to get dressed up ever night, we ended up having ok room service a couple times.
Am I the only one who didn’t care for Excellence Punta Cana.. staff was stand-off ish. Pools were super warm .. never had drink service.. food was hit or miss.. was ok but Secrets had much better. Maybe I should try the Playa Mujeres? I am leaving for the Live Aqua in Cancun soon and will see how that resort is. Heard many great things. Thanks for another great video. Best food ever was Zoetry. ❤
Really, we are planning to do excellence el carmen punta cana next year, so it wasn't good? What are the other options. Secrets royal or secrets punta cana ?? Would love to hear your thoughts. Thanks 😊
I love Secrets and tried Excellence Playa Mujeres in October after tons of research was disappointed. Room was very nice but service and food not comparable to Secrets IMO
@@sope2030 i replied to you below. As fir Secrets… Cap Cana beats Royal beach in a landslide. I did not care for Royal beach .. Cap Cana way nicer in every way.
My wife and I stayed at Excellence El Carmen for our honeymoon and loved it. It was an amazing resort. Only complaint is that they completely disregarded/forgot about our honeymoon. Nothing was pre set in our rooms and they never brought the bottle of champagne my brother paid for ahead of time. Seems like an isolated incident but was definitely a disappointment.
We always choose Excellence properties. Any others that I try with friends I'm disappointed. This brand definitely set the bar as high as I think it goes. If you haven't tried it, you really need to.
Hi Everyone! Happy Holidays to all of you! Thank you for all your support of my channel this year. I'm truly grateful. Hope you enjoy the video, and find it helpful, and let me know some of the brands you're loyal to - Vanessa ❤
My first ever all inclusive experience was for my honeymoon and it was at Excellence El Carmen. The staff treated my husband and I like royalty. It was truly a great experience. I love that this brand is number 1 for you !
We’ve been to Excellence Playa Mujeres, Excellence Oyster Bay, and Secrets Cap Cana. I definitely agree that Excellence and Secrets are two of the best brands out there! We do probably 40+ hours of research before each trip to pick the best resort for us, from watching videos like these to room tours to joining Facebook groups. You won’t go wrong with those brands!
Do you book through a travel agent, directly with the resort, air separately or with a package? We haven't been to an all inclusive yet and I am curious about the best way to book.
@@sherylpolster5309 with excellence, I book directly through the website. It’s better than any price I could find out there. Also, they do have the option to couple with air. Personally, I usually use miles, so I book my own outside of the resort.
@@dianeschroeder3980 definitely agree! Excellence has a section on their website on the perks you get for booking direct, plus most TA’s don’t get much of a discount. You could always book your airfare with an agent to have them take care of any problems!
Excellence Oyster Bay is my favorite resort so far. It was the clearest water I’ve ever seen. Is the beach/water rocky in Excellence Playa Mujeres? We found that the 2 other times we went to Rivera Maya the water was too rocky to enjoy. Thanks for any information.
Where do you go for "room tours"? I'd like to check out a few resorts this way and wondering which room tour sites you like the best.
That's so true about RIU. It's a great value.
Always love your reviews but can you do one on the best all inclusive hotels in Mauritius and Seychelles?
Thanks 😊
Just completed our first ever all inclusive, on the recommendation of a family member (mid December 2022). We stayed at the Excellence Riviera Cancun, and were thoroughly impressed. However, I had no idea how it ranked as far as all inclusives go, so I was thrilled to hear you say Excellence is the best !
Great Video...The Excellence In Mexico at Playa Mujeres Is Amazing!!!
Thanks!
I love your page and use it extensively to research all of our trips! We've been to Cancun, Cabo, and Jamaica based on your recommendations (and Trip Advisor reviews). We're planning a honeymoon in October. Would love to see a video on the best resorts to visit during hurricane season.
Thanks, great suggestion!
Hi Vanessa!! I love your videos!! Thank you sooooooo much for your good work!
Hi Jume! 👋 Thank you so much for watching and always being supportive ☺️
Surprised Palace Resorts did not make your Top 10. Hard Rock and Palace resorts are amazing and used to be one brand/company. Great job as always - love your reviews!
We love Hard Eock brand if we are planning on being at the resort all of the time. We did this when our child was younger. Now we like a Riu. We mostly are just there for breakfast and to sleep and are out adventuring during the day. We like the ones in Playacar because there are things to do within a short walk.
Hope you and yours had a wonderful Christmas and that you and yours have a terrific New Year.
We are going to the Excellence Punta Cana and Excellence Playa Mujeres in 2023. We have been to Excellence El Carmen and Excellence Riviera Cancun and enjoyed both of them. It's really nice not being bothered by timeshares people.
Thank you Maridith! Same to you and your family ☺️
Super appreciate these videos! Could you put a list in the comments or description
We just stayed at the new adults only Riu Kukulkan in the Cancun hotel zone and we were beyond impressed! An amazing value for what we payed, we couldn't have had a better honeymoon
That’s wonderful! I’m so glad 😊 Congrats!
That was a great list-do you think you could list them in your pinned comment? I like to save your videos to refer back to and sometimes I have to skip around looking for the place you mentioned that I wanted to book but if you put the list somewhere I could just refer to that instead. Just a suggestion.
Thank you Alisa! We’re working on a website to provide all the lists. Hope this helps you guys in the future 😊
@@Passport_Pages That would be great! Thank you!
I already knew Excellence would be at your #1 spot. I love EPM but going back to EOB this summer for a 2nd time! Great video to end the year !!
Thanks Nikki! 👋☺️
What made you decide to return to EOB over EPM? 😊
My husband stayed in a RIU hotel in Manhattan 2 blocks away from Times Square and although it was just to sleep I loved the hotel as they had great food and hospitality and the hotel was very clean. I would def try it overseas
first you hit it dead on, I’ve been to Royalton, Rui, Sandals,Secrets, Marival and Excellence i got Excellence 1 Secrets 2 Sandals 3, and i agree Maroma Beach the best Secrets resort and Playa Mujeres too me is the best resort I’ve been too. what a great video and i hope Excellence expand to more of the caribbean please
Thank you Dave! Nice to hear from you 👋
We love Secrets Cap Cana it’s everything you said about them! We are venturing out to Excellence this year. Thanks for the great videos!
Thank you so much! I hope you have a great time 😊
Iberostar Tucan ! Amazing property close to Playa Del Carmen not high end but great for a inexpensive vacation and the food I’d good along with a amazing beach and pool
Would love top all inclusive with best beach snorkeling, like you mentioned. Love your channel!
Thank you Katie! Great suggestion.
I'd love a video about hotels that are all about adventures and exploring the area
Couldnt agree more regarding Excellence.
We love the Riu we've been to one in Cancun, Spain and their Dubai location. Ideally we would love to hit all the Riu Resorts.
We stayed at Excellence Oyster Bay two years ago and loved it. It was our first all inclusive, so I guess the bar has been set high for us! I think I want to try Excellence Playa Mujeres next.
go there it’s the best resort I’ve been too and I’ve been to Oyster Bay and Excellence Riviera Cancun
If you want bang for your buck, try the Beloved. It’s also by the excellence brand it’s for couples only and I guarantee you that you will love it and it’s a lot less expensive than excellence playa Mujeres.
We went to EPM for our honeymoon and EOB this year! We loved them both, but we stayed in the Beach House at EOB and it stole our hearts.
Going to Zoetry Punta Cana in February! So happy to see it on this list, it is our first time going to this brand :)
Hope you enjoy it!
How was Zoetry Agua Punta Cana? Food, vibe, beach, rooms? Thanks!
I’d love to hear your thoughts on palace resorts
My daughter and I are just back from the Viva Wyndham V Samana in the DR. I have done many all-inclusives and although my favourite brand is Club Med, we were quite impressed with this small property. Lovely endless beach, nice pool and very good service. Very ordinary rooms and ok food, but considering the price we were quite impressed. So much we are going back there in February. I would love it it you could review this brand, which I had never heard of until the travel agent suggested it. For a budget resort, it was really good. Also please review the Club Med’s. No other brand in my view comes close as far as dining, even though it is mostly buffet. The food at Club Med is a cut above. Great activities too. We have done Iberostar, Barcelo, Valentin and Paradisus and not come even close to Club Med. I hope you review Viva Wyndham and Club Med soon. Thanks for great videos.
I love Samana! It's magical
Great video as usual, can't wait to go on vacation since, l didn't go last year.❤❤
Hi! Let me know where you decide! ☺️
Can you do a video on all inclusive resorts in Turks and Caicos
Hi PP - how about a video on the best resorts for the best, most gorgeous beaches?! So many resorts advertise clear blue water and white sand but the reality is usually less exciting. Sea grass being the biggest fib!
Lovee EEC in the DR!!! I'm wondering what your thoughts are on the Majestic brand??? 😊😊😊
Great review as always, really appreciate these reviews as it makes my holiday selections easier. Visited Excellence El Carmen recently and we just loved it.
Thank you! That's so great to hear 😊
When you called excellence playa mujeres your favorite, I smiled so much--we will be going there for our honeymoon and I am ecstatic
Congratulations! Hope you have a wonderful time 😊
@@Passport_Pages we had an amazing time!
Hi Vanessa! I’ve been following your channel for quite a while, and the content has always been great! Thank you for another wonderful video. I was rather surprised to see that Hyatt Ziva / Zillara didn’t make the cut. I personally rank them well above Royalton for service and consistency. I’d love to hear your thoughts on where they rank for you.
Hi enjoyed your video could you list the resort brands you mentioned
Thank you for putting these lists together. My husband and I aren’t well traveled but are looking to schedule some kind of beach vacation every year. Heading to EPM in November 2023 for our first all inclusive experience and your recommendation helped us decide it was the one for us. Thank you!
I’m so glad 😊 I hope you both have the best time!
Hi Vanessa, thank you so much . What do you think of the Karisma brand?
Hi Roberta! I like them, especially the style 😊
Fantastic video, Vanessa. So thorough. I loved it. I concur, Excellence is so amazing because everything; food, shows, and especially the service are absolute excellence. You are pampered and made to feel welcome the minute you pull up to the magnificent lobby doors. The feeling is unforgettable and makes you want to return year after year. I have to say, my how the mighty have fallen; no Sandals or Palace Resorts on the list. I truly appreciate your honesty. This video is one to definitely consult before booking. Looking forward to the next video.
Hi Debbie-Ann! Thank you as always. 😊 Hope you’re having a wonderful holiday season
@@Passport_Pages I am. I hope you are as well, with many many pleasant surprises. You deserve it
especially given how much you give us.
My favorite all-inclusive resort brand is the Bahia Principe! I went to the Iberostar Rose Hall Beach but not the Suites one. I did see it though.
My family was planning to go to a Bahia Principe in a few months actually and I'm having a hard time determining which of their resorts in Mexico is best if you want to be close to the beach and over all food, service, and other amenities. We also love entertainment and fun things to do. Any ideas from experience or other? Thanks in advance!
I stayed at RIU Republica in DR recently. I recommend it. Price was excellent. The rooms need some upgrades but come on, are y’all staying in the rooms all day? There was food available almost 24/7. The drinks are not strong but drink a lot of them 😂
Happy Holidays!! I had high hopes for Excellence Playa Mujeres but Secrets service and food was so much better for us and we had club at EMP. EMP RTT was my favorite room.
I’m going to check out Excellence Playa Mujeres online right now! Also plan to visit my first Secrets property soon!
Have a great time! 😊
We are looking at 2 different Club Meds. We aren't party people, but what do you think of Turkoise?
The other is Finolhu Maldives.
Also what about Margaritaville Playa Flamingo Costa Rica? We love our AI's. Is that one a good one?
Hi Vanessa, are there any smart all inclusive resorts for non-drinkers?
My husband doesn’t drink either. The bartenders at every resort we’ve been to make excellent non alcoholic drinks from fresh fruits . They will gladly make any cocktail without alcohol.
Great video as always - I'm curious - Hard Rock made the list but not Palace? Aren't they owned operated by the same family (ownership group)? I've been going to Palace since their soft opening of Moon Palace Punta Cana before they rebranded to Hard Rock. I have found no better service than in Palace resorts (Mexican locations).
I worked as a destination rep at the Iberostars in the Riviera Maya and Puerto Plata, and back then, they were excellent. I've only been to those in Cuba, and unfortunately, they have dropped the ball big time there. Cuba is getting a LOT of new excellent hotels now, and it's unfortunate that Iberostar doesn't keep up. Hope you'll be able to go and visit Cuba at some point, I'd love to hear your comments! Happy Holidays!
Hi Jiji, Happy Holidays to you as well 😊Thank you for sharing your experience!
What is the best all inclusive in cuba?
I am always floored by your knowledge. Great video as usual. I hope one day to get away with my wife to one of these resorts. We'll have to struggle to decide!
Thank you so much! That means a lot. I'll keep my fingers crossed for you both 🤞 Everyone deserves a good getaway.
Thank for sharing this video. I really enjoyed it!!
Glad you enjoyed it!
Quiet resorts all I want is the ocean, food and sleep!!!!!!!!!!! Which ones would be good??????????????
Hi Vanessa! I totally agree with you about the Excellence brand. It is because of you that I fell in love with the Excellence brand and the Beloved hotel in Playa Mujeres. We have another trip planned there with the plunge pool in June. It truly is the best brand.❤️✈️
Hi Diane! Beloved is my fave all inclusive 🤫☺️
Love your videos I stayed at the Beloved, which is part of the excellent brand and it was wonderful last year. This year we’re going to Punta Cana excellence. Everything you said about them is true. The only thing I would like you to do is when you’re going through your videos and your name in top tens, etc. why not put the name of the resort in the top left corner so that we can know what you’re talking about if we come into it in the middle.
Hi Vanessa Merry Christmas and Happy New Years! I’m trying to think of brands with locationS I think Hyatt Zilara for adults and Ziva for families the Ziva in the DR is great for small kids but I think for the price this brand is consistent food can be hit/miss like most of the AI properties if these AI’s could keep their service and food/drinks consistent they’d stay busy people could overlook some things. Also Iberostar Grand also will bring you a full bottle of alcohol if requested. Thanks for all you do!
Hi Susie! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you as well! 😊 Hope you’re well
Thanks Vanessa, great video as always! Now I again want to go somewhere (back from St.Lucia just few weeks ago)😂
Love your videos!❤
Hi! That's great! Hope you had the best time 😊
The only all inclusive I've ever done was The Club Barbados. It was an amazing experience. We're looking forward to going to Dreams Las Mareas in Costa Rica this spring for our friend's wedding. But your channel always makes me want to book another one to see what else we can experience!
Love the video, tons of great info. I’m surprised that the Hyatt Ziva resorts did not make the list. Also, I usually associate Royalton resorts with families, mainly because that’s where I’ve stayed with my family. Can’t wait to try the Excellence resorts soon.
YES I LOVE YOUR REVIEWS!! U DO A FABULOUS JOB...I HOPE YOU AND YOUR FAMILY HAD A GREAT CHRISTMAS💚🎄❤
Hi Angela! Thank you so much, that's so kind of you ☺️ Same to you and your family!
Good videos and appreciate honesty. We are staying right next to Excellence Playa Mujeres (stayed at Excellence Play Del Carmen, so know it is a great brand) at Atelier. Have you been there and reviewed it? We actually joined their "club" because we thought it was on par with Excellence. To me probably 6 of one half dozen of another 😂
Thank you so much! I have! Atelier is wonderful. Highly recommend. I think you’ll have a great time 😊 Let me know what you think after you get back
@@Passport_Pages As you said in the video, the concern is maintaining the high standards. This will be our third time. If we did Atelier first then Excellence and got the "tour/hard sell", we'd probably have joined Excellence. Been to Riu, Royalton, Paridisus on your list too (all Cancun area), along with Couples & Sandals in Jamaica/Bahamas. We go to just relax and do nothing (yes not fair to the culture) You do a good job on the videos.
I agree with Excellence, I just wish they were more travel agent friendly.
What’s the issue with or conflict with travel agents?
We are secrets consumers but an Excellence experience may be in the future! Thanks for another great video.
Thank you! Let me know what you think if you go ☺️
Hi Vanessa. I just started watching your videos and love them!I’m looking for an AI adults only for a family reunion/vacation. Ages 21-85. I like luxury but not everyone cares, as long as it’s fun for the younger generation but not too big of a party atmosphere for the older. Definitely a nice resort with good food and options. I was looking at Excellence Riviera Cancun. Do you think that’s too relaxing and will be boring? Do you have other recommendations? Thank you!! Looking forward to your ideas.
Always so helpful and professional Mrs Vanessa
Thank you so much! ☺️ Glad you think so
Great video Vanessa one question about the excellence playa mujueres would you say it’s fun or quiet my wife and I prefer a fun resort in other words not going to bed at 11 pm
Thank you! It's definitely more of a relaxing and quiet resort, so if you're looking for more of a fun, and lively option, it might not be the best for you guys
@@Passport_Pages thank you vanessa we did breathless cabo over the summer and that was exactly our style
Just a question what are your thoughts on the state of emergency that was declared in Jamaica due to the crime spike.
I agree with everything except for Excellence Oyster Bay. The food there was sub par at best. The room on the beach was top shelf, but the food let us down. I've gone to 3 star resorts and had much better food! We heard that the Excellence Mujeres was much better than Oyster bay and we should've gone there instead. Great channel. Keep the videos coming.
I noticed that you forgot to include Secrets in Mallorca Spain - it is all inclusive as well and is located in a castle, so it is a very unique property. Pool is small but lots of activities to do on the island.
What are your thoughts on the Barcelo hotels?
Location dependent, but I’ll be talking about them soon 😊
@@Passport_Pages Vanessa, this is why you are the best!!
Hi how are you? Could you show all inclusive for Singles adults...budget friendly..also show with diverse travelers. Thanks
I second that.. with this economy
She has done those before- just search her past videos.
Merry Christmas Vanessa, hope you had a good one❤
Thank you so much Sope! Same to you 🙏🤗
Hi, could you please recommend a few truely all inclusive inexpensive (tax included, good food, drinks) resorts. My husband and I are planning a last minute getaway. We are interested in Belize, Bahamas, Dominican Republic, Cayman Islands..
Vanessa,
Do you have any thoughts on Excellence Oyster Bay? Please your opinion would be so appreciated. Thank you.
Hi Debbie-Ann! Great resort but service can be spotty. The other Excellence properties are better, but still pretty good overall. Hope this helps
@PP: Passport Pages thank you so much. Service is everything to me so I don't know 😕 now. Might be back to Mexico
I love Secrets…Especially Secrets Moxche’ Playa Del Carmen! We had our wedding there 12/12/22
That’s awesome! Congrats!!
Have you ever tried the palace resort all inclusive brand? We always go to Moon Palace even though our children are all grown up and no longer come with us. It is the family resort, even though they have several adults only locations, Moon Palace is out of the hustle and bustle of the hotel zone and is on the lagoon side of the upper camp and insula. This means it does not have the turquoise water at the hotel zone has, but has the “green“ waters and green waters other waters that have 80% of all see life, so snorkelling is amazing! They offer 24 hour room service, and a beautiful sandy beach that also has à la cart foods and drinks. Being an all-inclusive it is surprising, but true, that’s all top shelf liquor is also included. I’ve tried other all-inclusive‘s but Palace Resorts, by far, show the meaning of luxury an all star service. All of the restaurants are five star restaurants and they have a 24 hour section that offers sandwiches, ice cream, candy, and all the things you crave when you’ve been out partying. It’s 24 hour room service and you will never see any of their employees without a smile. As they walk around they constantly are smiling, and willing to help. Just wondering if you’ve ever been to any of their resorts. They just opened one in Jamaica and a new one at Moon Palace, but we still prefer the sunrise. Even their inexpensive “garden view“ rooms include beautiful sunset over the ocean views. You can also take a step up and get there “oceanview rooms, or golf club/golf course level rooms. They all have the same access to all of the same restaurants. And what’s good about these resorts is that if you were staying at one resort you have the right to go to any of the other resorts. So if you’re staying in Cancun but the side take a take a trip down to Cozumel you’re more than welcome to eat at their restaurants snorkel from their docs, etc. or if you’re saying at Moon Palace as I do, and Lagoonside, you’re more than welcome to go downtown to the hotel zone and splash around in the beautiful crystal clear turquoise waters for the day, enjoying all of their restaurants and drink service. Just wondering what you felt about this brand if you stay there.
Vanessa, what are your thoughts about the Hilton brands in mexico? Specifically for all-inclusive.
They’re def expanding, with a lot of new ones coming in 2023 which I’ll be telling you guys about in the new year!
Which Excellence property has the best beach?
Mujeres is a smaller beach, white powdery sand and beautiful blue ocean good for swimming. The Cancun location is a bigger longer beach side if you want to take a long walk down the beach front with also powdery white sand and beautiful water and good swimming from what I've heard I haven't been to either this is what reviewers on tripadvisor have said as I'm researching the resorts myself right now. Hope that helps!
12/26/22 20:19 Vanessa, I have never been to a resort or on a cruise. I watch all of your videos but just don’t know where to go. I just turned 60, single for 12 years but not looking for the romantic “Secrets” type or the young, hyped, loud, drunken party resort. I would love to sleep in a hammock on the beach, have drinks by the pool and read a few books. Not looking for “pickups at the bar.” It would be nice to meet new friends but not top priority. Any recommendations for an okay single guy?
Hi Thomas, Have you watched my videos on singles resorts? I think those might be helpful to you
Travel buddy 😊
How would you rate Finest Punta Cana which is also under the excellence brand?
Not quite as good as the other properties under the brand, but still a very high quality all inclusive experience
I like the RIU brand
We have loved Secrets resorts (Aukumal, Maroma Beach, Playa Mujeres). Looking forward to Excellence El Carmen next month. My brother in law just got back and didnt like it. Hoping hes wrong!
Can you do a video all about the Excellence Brand and locations, please?!
I have one comparing the 2 D.R. locations, but I can definitely do one on all the locations in the future 👍🏼
I agree all Excellence properties are great but I think Oyster Bay is their best property (Book well in advance though because its sold out way in advance which speaks volumes about how good it is). Excellence PC is also amazing but the beach isn't fabulous by Punta Cana Standards. I wish they had a property on Bavaro beach. Secrets Royal Beach is a good alternative in PC and pretty good bang for your $
Please help! Me and my husband are going to Cancun/playa del Carmen. We’re at the age where we’re not to old so we would like to dance and have fun but we’re also not young so definitely not twerking! Also good quality food and pool is very important to us. It’s our 21st anniversary please any suggestions. 😊
I love the RiU properties I've only had one bad experience with the brand. The resort was in Puerto Vallarta Won't go back there
Grand Velas brand is top top , it’s family one though but not sure why GV not listed top 3
Have you ever tried the Dreams/Now brand? It's the only one we've ever tried and I'd be curious on how it compares.
Yes, let me know if that's a brand review you'd like to see 👍🏼
@@Passport_Pages I think that would be interesting, just to see how it compares and if something else would be even better (though we've never had any complaints and always enjoyed our stays).
Yes please review Dreams/Secrets!!
Hi! Do you know of any All Inclusive resorts in Florida that’s affordable? Thanks in advance
Why didn't Hyatt make the list. Especially with the one in Punta Cana? They are my favorite when it comes to service. I would put them higher than the Royalton Brand.
I am a big fan of Riu hotels as they don't have upgrade clubs which are just money pits.
Ok - I love you reviews, But I have to say Secrets blows excellence out the water
Especially Secrets Akumal this is a MUST.
If you include Europe, Ikos would likely push Excellence into number two.
Excellence for the win. We tried Beloved and also Finest Punta Cana this year. We want to do EOB next but why is it so much more than all other excellence resorts ? Is it worth the premium?
Secrets Akumal is amazing
We went to Secrets last year (2023) and kept getting bothered to join the vacation club it was a hard sale they were calling our room leaving messages. I just got there all I wanted to do was enjoy my vacation that I was already on and paid for. Also the dress code is to strict, the had NO casual dinner option for men and it was so hot that he was sweating through all his nice clothing, just not very relaxing to have to get dressed up ever night, we ended up having ok room service a couple times.
Who owns Atelier? I went in November and was blown away by the food quality, I used to love Secrets but now I’m ready to branch out.
It’s an individual owner, not a brand ☺️ Agree that it’s beautiful though!
Am I the only one who didn’t care for Excellence Punta Cana.. staff was stand-off ish. Pools were super warm .. never had drink service.. food was hit or miss.. was ok but Secrets had much better. Maybe I should try the Playa Mujeres? I am leaving for the Live Aqua in Cancun soon and will see how that resort is. Heard many great things. Thanks for another great video. Best food ever was Zoetry. ❤
Really, we are planning to do excellence el carmen punta cana next year, so it wasn't good? What are the other options. Secrets royal or secrets punta cana ?? Would love to hear your thoughts. Thanks 😊
I love Secrets and tried Excellence Playa Mujeres in October after tons of research was disappointed. Room was very nice but service and food not comparable to Secrets IMO
@@sope2030 secrets Cap Cana is amazing
I believe Excellence El Carmen is a separate resort. I went to Excellence Punta Cana.
@@sope2030 i replied to you below. As fir Secrets… Cap Cana beats Royal beach in a landslide. I did not care for Royal beach .. Cap Cana way nicer in every way.
Noice!
Resort where we can do our own food? in Mexico please
My wife and I stayed at Excellence El Carmen for our honeymoon and loved it. It was an amazing resort. Only complaint is that they completely disregarded/forgot about our honeymoon. Nothing was pre set in our rooms and they never brought the bottle of champagne my brother paid for ahead of time. Seems like an isolated incident but was definitely a disappointment.
What do you think about Finest and Beloved resorts from Excellence?
Beloved is my fave all inclusive
We always choose Excellence properties. Any others that I try with friends I'm disappointed. This brand definitely set the bar as high as I think it goes. If you haven't tried it, you really need to.
Taffer doesn’t make the list?