My husband and I made our second trip to ERC in May 08. Our first trip to ERC, July 07, for our honeymoon was fantastic. Our second trip to ERC was also great.
The only snag was when we arrived and were given a room number in building #9. The room was not ready yet, but we decided to walk by it to see where it was located. We paid for a junior suite swim out room and the room they gave us was at the very end of the resort and by construction. This would have been ok if the resort door faced the construction, but the swim out area is what faced the construction, and it was loud. We had no interest in spending a week looking at (and listening to) the construction next door. We went back to the lobby and nicely requested another room. The clerk advised they were booked full and there was nothing they could do. This was several hours before check in and I knew many people had not yet arrived to be given a room number. I advised them of this and that we were returning customers who intended to come back again. (If this hadn't been rectified we would have never returned and possibly would have gotten a taxi to a different resort for the week.) She reluctantly checked with a manager and advised we would be given a different room, but they could not advise where until later.

We worried that the same room or one close by, would be given. Much to our relief we were given a room in building #3 which faced the spa (beautiful). Last year we stayed in the excellence club swim out ocean view. This room was the same minus different toiletries and bottles of alcohol (which we never used anyways). I would still recommend a swim out room because you have your own chairs and can easily leave and reenter your room after taking a dip in the pool.

The resort was a lot busier than we are used to and people did reserve all of the chairs on the beach and near the pools early.
Staff should just institute a policy that if no one is there for a certain period of time then the items would be put in lost and found. Many people left their chairs for several hours before returning. As much as I disagree with saving chairs, there is nothing you can do but fight for a spot. We had to take turns getting up at 6-7am to reserve a spot on the beach under a cabana. We didn't do this the first day and had to wait till 4pm to go to the beach. It would be great if more cabanas were provided as most of the people there were pale. Some people did hog the pool floats, but others were nice enough to share.
The same reminder from the last review I wrote: please take your towel and put it into the provided basket when you are done with your chairs. There are people waiting on the seats and if you don't remove your towels, no one will know they are up for grabs.

The room was great and there were a few tiny ants that made a visit every now and then, but this is a tropical climate and there is nothing that can really be done about them. Plus, they aren't hurting anything. No musty smell noticed in our room.

Unlike previous reviews, we have never had anything stolen (on either trip) from our room. We kept all valuables in the safe and often left our sliding door unlocked for easy reentry. Nothing was ever disturbed and the maid did a great job. I really enjoyed the addition of snicker bars in the fridge this time -yum.

The food was very good and the service was excellent. The only restaurant we had an issue at was the French restaurant. We had a great experience here last time, but this time the service was poor. Our waiter must have thought he had to act French because he was kind of rude and he provided poor service. The waiter at Spice was fantastic. He did an amazing job and was always there when needed. The breakfast buffet is superb and you never go hungry no matter the time of day. I also discovered the ice cream cones at the bar outside near the theater this time. Great on a hot day!

The drinks were great (I only wish I had remembered how great the pina coladas were before the last day).

Another reminder from my first review: take water shoes. There are rocks when you go into the ocean, which prevent some people from going in. The water shoes greatly improve the beach experiance. Also the drink coozies we took (again) helped to keep our drinks from melting as quickly.

This was another fantastic trip to ERC. We definitely intend to come back again soon!

We stayed there the first week of June which was nice--didn't seem all that crowded. Some pros and cons:

Pros: Service. Nearly everyone who works at the resort is extremely friendly and attentive, especially the restaurant waiters and the front desk staff. Two examples...my wife and I are huge hockey fans and wanted to watch the cup final. The morning of game 6, the satellite went out for that one channel only and we called the front desk. When we got back from the beach that afternoon, a message was witing for us that it had been repaired. Not a huge deal but I really can't imagine other hotels doing that based on my personal experience. Another example: we made a wake up call one night for early the next morning. They suggested a room service breakfast (which is included--24 hours a day) and forwarded me on to place my order. Again, not a huge deal but I appreciated the effort, and with so many similar resorts it really is the little things like this that make a difference.

Entertainment was good, not spectacular but who cares. You're there to spend time with loved ones and friends. They put on shows, from a mariachi band to cirque de soleil to a dance routine to karaoke. They tried for constant entertainment, especially when it rained for a few days. Solid.

The cons: the room wasn't all that clean. It wasn't unreasonably bad but the curtains smelled moldy and I would suggest wearing a shirt to bed. Upon my return I had a few swollen bites from bedbugs. Also the beds are very firm. Didn't bother me as I prefer that but my wife was uncomfortable.

The food we found excellenct with the exception of the Asian restaurant, Spice. They could improve on the quality of the sushi. Definitely don't leave without eating at the Mexican restaurant.

Overall, I would definitely reccommentd this place--unless you are looking for ultra sophistication and white glove service you won't be disappointed.

My wife and I literally just got back from the Excellence after an 8-day stay. We went for our honeymoon and for anyone who reads this, please know we are a couple in our early 30's and are extremely active and health conscious. Just wanted to share in case any of our comments are slanted towards a healthy lifestyle. Here is a breakdown of the different aspects of the resort:

Staff: They were extremely friendly. We lost count of how many times staff members would say hello and would actually go out of their way to do so. Like most any place, you always have a few bad apples who you can tell just detest their work, but overall, the staff was extremely friendly.

Resort Grounds/Rooms: The resort is laid out nicely with a ton of pools (fairly clean but what can you expect with tons of people lathering up with sun tan lotion and both eating and drinking poolside all day long) and lush landscaping. No matter where your room is, you can easily walk to the heart of the resort where a majority of the bars/restaurants are located. The beach itself is nice, but not outstanding. The sand is extremely soft and well groomed and you get about 10 yards of clear water and then there is a big drop-off where the water color turns dark blue. The rooms themselves are good but not great. You get a huge shower and an area for the bed plus a sitting room. The beds themselves are nothing to write home about. If you love stiff beds with a lot of bumps, then you are set, but if not, prepare for some back aches in the morning! The mini-fridge is always stocked which is great.

Food/Alcohol: Like most everyone has written in the reviews, the breakfast buffet at the Barcelona is great with tons and tons of choices. Even healthy eaters can find something and you can certainly splurge if you want to. Lunch is pretty good as well with the buffet at the Barcelona offering fresh cuts of meat (chicken, steak) as well as fresh seafood (shrimp, grouper with salmon/tuna here and there) prepared in front of you to your liking. Dinners were sort of hit and miss because admittedly, my wife and I like eating healthy. While you can find healthy options, they load their food up with salt like no other. After the first few days, our faces were so puffy from the salt that we started asking for food to be prepared without it. The looks on the staff members faces were priceless as they couldn't believe we didn't want salt. Breakfast is the best, followed by a tie between lunch and dinner. Alcohol was readily available but it's not exactly at the high end in terms of the quality of beverages. You'll find Absolut Vodka and some fairly high end rums. We found they tend to water the drinks down so definitely speak up if you want it made a different way. They are happy to do this, but they are probably instructed the prepare the drinks with more of the mixers/sugary-like blends and less alcohol.

Excursions: There is a convenient excursion desk right next to the main reception/check-in desk and they are available all of the day to help you figure out what you want to do. It's very easily and painless to schedule anything you want to do (i.e. swim with dolphins, ride horses, shopping in Playa del Carmen, snorkeling, etc.) You can book excursions that are only 10-15 minutes away all the way up to 2 hours away so there is plenty to choose from and it seemed like you only needed a day's notice to book something.

Resort Spa: Very cool! It looks like a Roman Coliseum. I'd recommend booking something as soon as you arrive as they seemed quite busy. With any massage you book, you get a free water therapy session 1 hour prior. They take you through 15-17 different stations where it's anything from the steam room, to the sauna, to having water pumped on to your neck/back to stepping into an ice bath (yes it's cold). It's something very different and unique so definitely take advantage of it. The massage itself was decent. Just be very specific with certain areas you want worked on as they staff will do whatever they can to make it a good experience. The spa itself is very nicely laid out and is very clean and then really cater to you.

Proximity to Airport: You're literally only 20 mintues away. The shuttle bus might take a while so consider getting a van that you can split with someone you might meet on the plane ride out that might also be staying at the same resort. You can save a heck of a lot of time. Just remember you can't check in until 3:00 pm so if you arrive early, you're able to hang out at one of the bars, gets some food or even relax by the pool so keep a bathing suit in your travel bag if you plan on arriving early.

Overall, it's a very nice resort. A next-day itinerary of events/shows is slipped under your door each night so if you want to play things like pool volleyball (watch out for those mexican rules) or enter a ping pong tournament or see a show after dinner (shows are average) you can plan out your day to your liking. Aside from the salty food which you can navigate around if you speak up and the rooms needing some updating (beds specifically), it really is a great place. My wife and I just so happened to sit next to two travel agents one night at dinner who specialize in coordinating weddings at all inclusive resorts in Mexico and they said the Excellence Riviera was in the top 5 out of all mexican resorts. Knowing this, it gave my wife and I some perspective in that at the end of the day, it's Mexico. Don't expect the 4 Seasons or the Fairmont. It's nice, but not a 5 star resort. It's on a good stretch of beach and not a breathtaking stretch of beach. It's pretty good food and not amazing food. But, for the price, it's hugely worth it. The only thing you'll find comparable to the price is a cruise and this is a much different experience. So in closing, it was a fantastic time and the minor things we would have changed would certainly not prevent us from returning. I hope this helps!

First and foremost, let me mention that I pain painstakingly researched and planned this trip for over two years. Comparably to the cost of other Caribbean locations, Mexico's Excellence Riviera Cancun offers luxury at a reasonable price. Upgrading to an Excellence Club room guarantees you an ocean front view, in addition to other perks. The ocean front view alone is worth the extra expense, to me. If you're going to vacation along the coastline, why not be able to see it from your room everyday when you wake? It was such a calming experience, crawling out of bed as the sun is just rising, and opening that sliding glass door to the song of the sea birds, waves lapping at the shore, and the salt air caressing your senses... beautiful! Many mornings, I left my husband to comfortably snooze in bed while sneaked away to enjoy this treat. Other mornings, my body finally adjusted to "vacation time" and I actually took the opportunity to sleep in!

THE GREETING & EC LOUNGE:
Yes, we did receive the cool towel and champagne. We sat a short while in the lobby (which is stunning in person and quite palatial), while we waited for our personal bellman to escort us to the Excellence lounge for our private check in. After a few minutes, we were taken to the Excellence lounge where we had an effortless check in and told a little bit more about the resort, its facilities and building lay out.

The EC lounge offers 3 Internet terminals and printer for EC guest use, bar service with top shelf liquor, snacks, cappuccino/coffee maker and private concierge service. Books and DVD movies are available for check out at no additional cost. The selection of movies are not too current, but some good titles for choosing, none-the-less.

We arrived on my husband's birthday and the concierge was good to remember to wish him a happy birthday. After which, the bellman brought us to our room. Most staff members we encountered throughout our stay were very friendly.

THE EC ROOM:
We were in room 7363, which is a corner suite on the highest floor in one of the three EC buildings 7. It overlooks the EC pool, bar and beach. We had booked the anniversary package and I also had prearranged through email correspondence for them to acknowledge my husband's birthday on the day we arrived. The staff, as promised, had decorated our room with multi-colored streamers and balloons strewn across the canopied bed, in addition to the towel art and rose petals decor for our anniversary. We also had the anniversary banner on our door and the bucket of champagne. A birthday cake, complete with a "happy birthday" message and candle was promptly brought to our room, following our arrival as well.

FYI: If you do book an EC room, you CAN substitute the mini bar liquor with other choices. For instance, I switched out the whiskey and gin for rum and another bottle of tequila. I also switched out the wine. The EC concierge can provide you with a list of what alcohols are available for substitution (anything on the list is available at no extra cost). If you do not like your bed pillows, call the EC concierge, they can provide you with feather/down pillows and therapeutic pillows at no additional charge as well.


ROOM SERVICE:
Top notch! The menu is very vast and if you stay in an EC room, your menu is extended and offers even more choices. The first day we arrived, we were too tired to get all dressed up to go down for dinner, so we ordered numerous items from the room service menu and had a FEAST in our room. I fell in love with the nachos, as I am a cheesy kind of girl and probably ate them an additional 3 times in our week stay (I gained about 5-7 lbs. to prove it. You know us Americans and our affinity for cheese :P ~ fellow T.A. Forum readers will understand this jab).

The guacamole and pico di gallo that they serve with them was so fresh and very flavorful. I've lived in Texas for 30 years and I have had my share of good guac and pico... this stuff was excellent. For the rest of our stay, anytime we ordered room service, it was prompt (it would arrive literally to the minute of when promised, or earlier), and it was always hot or cold, appropriate to the type of dish.

My husband and I laughed about the staff that would take your order because they were so accommodating and would continue to ask "Is that all? Anything else? And what more?" as you ordered that you didn't mind throwing in one more thing... you know, like "Oh, ok... make that two chocolate mousses instead please."...hehe. We ordered at all hours of the day and night and had no problems. They will leave the food for you in the "X-box" if you request it as well. That was nice when you thought you might be indisposed when they arrived.

The ONLY disappointment we experienced was on two different days, food was brought to our room when we didn't actually order. This really isn't that big of a deal, it just so happens that both times, we were otherwise "engaged" and one time actually had the "do not disturb" sign on the door, and we still got a knock. Keep all your locks and latches down, and you needn't worry. Wasn't really a big deal... once I told my husband as he scampered to the door to send them away, "Well, see what it is they have?!"...lol. Just kidding... wouldn't want to take any one else's nachos!!

GROUNDS:
As most reviewers have stated, the grounds are impeccable. The garden staff is constantly trimming, pruning and fussing over the landscaping. The fountains throughout the resort are artistry for the eye and also lend to the feel of relaxation (something about the trickle of water).

One afternoon and the following morning, quick rain showers moved through and as soon as the drops stopped falling, the staff was out literally sweeping up the excess water with brooms and large dust pans and laying out "slippery when wet" signs. They are very attentive in this way. Still do take your time walking in some areas when wet, as they can be slippery (just common sense).

POOLS:
There are pools meandering throughout the resort. Some are more "party" zones with music, drinking and that general party atmosphere. Others, further away from the swim up bar and central area of the resort, are more secluded and quiet. It was nice to have both environments available, should you desire one or the other, depending on your mood. The EC pool area is quiet and relaxing, as well as the beach area. Lounge chairs are ample, however shaded areas near the pools are nabbed early (I'd say by 8am for certain). We never had trouble finding a palapa to sit under on the EC beach though, even when only getting to the beach by noon.

The upkeep of the pools was pretty good. I felt the water at least appeared clean, for a public pool, but as other guests have noted, there are some areas where the grout and/or tiles are in need of some attention (not grossly neglected, but noticeable). The temperature of the pools, I felt was perfect. A bit cool initially, but after sitting in the blazing sun, they offered a welcomed refuge from the heat.

Floats are almost non-existent, I guess people do hoard them. I think during the 8 days I was there, on two occasions I found one for use. Bring your own float if this is important to you. One afternoon around 4pm, they ran out of towels and after inquiring to staff about this, we just got a nonchalant, "Yes, we ran out of towels.", with no real effort to amend the problem. It did just happen once, so we feel it was forgivable.

THE BEACH:
The water here is a beautiful blue color, but it is a bit foggy. There were times where it was somewhat more clear, but over all, it's cloudy. I'm not much into swimming in the ocean and just prefer to walk along the shoreline, so this really isn't an issue for me.

The sand was better than the sand at Waikiki beach, in my opinion, sugary white and so soft; really very nice. The hotel did their best to keep the sea grass at a minimum. It didn't bother me. I thought its color (black) actually added some contrast to the blue water and white sand and made for a pretty landscape. I saw plenty people swimming who didn't seem to mind. The couple times I walked knee deep in the water, I didn't notice any rocks.

TOPLESS WOMEN:
I have absolutely no problem with this, however some folks do, so I thought I'd mention it. I did see a few women laying out at the EC beach area topless. I'd say 5 individuals or so, one or two on any given day. These women were just laying out, sunning, reading... it's not like they were bounding around on the beach flaunting themselves. I really don't see what the big deal is, but never-the-less, they are there, if it's something you don't care for.

CLEANLNESS & HOUSEKEEPING:
The resort is very clean and public restrooms always well maintained. Seemed like, at times, the staff may have had a bit of trouble keeping up with the empty water bottles and discarded drink glasses from guests left at the beach area, but this could be helped by the guests actually taking the initiative to clean up after themselves a bit (just a pet peeve of mine).

Housekeeping was very good for us. We had requested our room to be cleaned at 12pm and it always was around that time. Toiletries were replenished without fail and we always had an ample supply of towels. No towel art following our first day there, but I don't know if it's a general practice for them to do that or not?

We requested our turn down service to occur at 7pm, and unlike the daily housekeeping, this was not done as consistently. Out of 7 nights, we received the service twice.

We did have the tiny ants in our room on occasion. We only found them in the sitting area of the room, never in or around the bed or bathroom. We did our best to keep any food that we weren't going to immediately consume in the mini fridge and our dirty dishes and empty soda cans in the "X-box" for pick up. This practice probably helped to keep the insects at bay. Had they ventured near the bed, I probably would've called for an exterminator or a room change, but they really were not that invasive. We noticed them here and there, but never were they out of control.

BED/LINENS:
The bed is very firm. If you do not like a firm mattress, you may not be too fond of the beds. My husband and I do fortunately prefer a firm mattress. I felt the pillows provided had seen better days and weren't that comfortable, but a call to the EC concierge for some feather and therapeutic pillows cleared that issue up! Those pillow were more than comfortable. The linens, however are not the best. I'm fairly easy going, but admittedly am a bit of a sheet snob. I like at least 300 thread count and I don't think their linens fit that bill. They were a bit on the scratchy side.

The room at night felt humid and the sheets a little damp, as a result. We realized that if you significantly lower the AC temp. in your room at night and just pile on the extra blanket, that this helps with the humidity. (The ocean is just feet from your room, what do you expect?) The AC can be very loud, but I like "white noise" when I sleep, so it really didn't bother me. It's not annoyingly loud, like a knocking/dripping sound, just runs very loud. Over all, we slept very well!

RESTAURANTS/BARS:
The food was very good in some restaurants and just 'ok' in others. The buffet breakfasts at Barcelona and Toscana were great, with lots to choose from, you were sure to not go hungry. My favorite for dinner was probably Spice. The Teppanyaki table was fun and the food very good. I'd say Toscana was actually our second favorite for dinner. The pasta dishes were very good. Chez Isabelle, 3rd favorite. We had the Chateaubriand. I've had better, but it was a good piece of meat. Over all, I was very pleased with the food and selection. I just wish we could've stayed longer so I could try more dishes!

I felt like the portions were more than enough. I know some people have mentioned that they're too small. The great thing about an AI resort is that you can order all you want! You've already paid for it! Double up if you're really hungry!

As far as the dress code, breakfast and lunch are more casual and the outdoor restaurants (The Lobster House & The Grill) will even tolerate DRY swim wear w/ women in cover ups and T-shirts for men, beach shoes 'ok'. Men, be prepared to dress it up a bit in the evenings though with slacks, golf shirt and close toed shoes or elegant sandals (no rubber flip flops, etc). Women can get away with sun dresses, capris w/ nicer tops.

The bars are plentiful and will make you just about anything you can think of... they don't have some top shelf liquors, i.e. Grey Goose vodka (however the EC lounge did), but they have some pretty good labels. Be sure to ask for your brand, or you'll get a lower end brand (just like at any other bar).

Try the X-lounge after dinner one night to see the stars over the ocean. The night we went was a bit windy, so we decided to leave earlier than planned, but I could see how this can be splendid on a clear, calmer night.

Ask for a Mayan coffee at Agave. They did their best to serve me one up the night we ate there, but the wind was gusty again and I only got an abbreviated show (the fire kept going out), but the waiter tried SO hard!

We normally ate early, like in between 6 and 7pm and had no wait at all. If you go between 7-8pm, you may encounter a wait. Go grab a drink and relax... your buzzer will go off in no time! If in between main meals, you eat room service, you won't be hungry! I ate around the clock..lol. You could get soft served ice cream at the Kafe Cafe bar and "ball park" nachos at the EC bar. All the restaurants are non-smoking and bars allow smoking.

WHAT TO DO?:
There are daily activities that happen all day long from water aerobics to archery. Your nightly newsletter tells you what is scheduled. They had nightly entertainment at the Stars theater. They ran movies, had X-box games like, Guitar Hero, a "Romance Night" that featured singers and dancers performing, what else... romantic songs (felt it was a bit on the cheesy side), and a magician who opened up for the Circus group who did Cirque du Soleil type performances on a lesser scale. That show was very entertaining, I thought. Over all, if you wanted to get out and about, instead of just sitting around in your room, there was always something going on for entertainment.

The Alegria bar offered your "disco" atmosphere, with the thumping dance music and disco lights. We went to karaoke night once and that was entertaining. The place was packed... definitely where you go if you want the party atmosphere.

They also offer a billiards area with shuffle board, a covered area with two pool tables and ping pong table (We had fun here. Try chasing around a small ball after a couple drinks...hehe).

They have two car rental companies on location and tour agencies as well, if you want to plan your excursions on site. My husband and I rented a car from a Puerto Morelos business (Executive) and they picked us up and dropped us off at the resort. You can valet park your rental car at the resort for no parking fee. We traveled to Chichen Itza one day and left by 6am to beat the crowds and heat. The 24 hr. room service was GREAT at 5am!

I highly recommend driving to Chichen yourself if you're interested in going. Taking the toll roads, you get there in just over 2 hours and you can be back at the resort by 3PM, vs. an ALL DAY trip dropping/picking up other guests on a tour bus. We had no trouble navigating the roads or with police. Just drive the speed limit and be aware when purchasing gas (be cautious and use common sense on your trip and you should be fine).

THE SPA:
I had an 80 minute Excellence massage, after which, I completely forgot I was a tired Mom of a 2 year old...haha. Very relaxing and worth the expense! The spa prices are a bit high, BUT it's to be expected, resorts generally are overpriced. If you book with an anniversary package, you do get 15% off, which is nice, but take note that those services have to be booked for before noon to get the discount (it says so on the welcome letter you receive, you won't find this information on their website). My husband also had a massage.

We both showed an hour early to take advantage of the free water circuit treatment. That was well, an "experience". Personally, it wasn't really relaxing for me, but at times, it was invigorating... a cold water dip, followed by a hot steam sauna, etc... They run you through different treatments and basically you get beat to a pulp by jetted water, showers, buckets of water, etc...lol. As I say, it is an "experience". My husband and I probably laughed harder during this treatment than we have in a long time. It was good for this, but I would probably not pay for it. Give it a try though, I think it's free with most spa treatments. Remember, it's just my opinion... you might love it!

THE GYM:
The gym is not huge, but big enough, I thought. It offered your basics to stay in shape while on vacation. There were stair stepper-like machines, treadmills, stationary bike, free weights, weight machines to work most major muscle groups, exercise ball, and covered outdoor yoga hut. The restrooms offered a shower and free keyed lockers for use. There were also your basic toiletries like deodorant, shampoos, soap, feminine products in the women's restroom. The water and towels were plentiful. We used the gym twice during our week and it was never crowded. We did visit in the afternoon, though. My guess it that it's more crowded in the late evenings and/or early mornings.

INSECTS:
No bed bugs. I checked. The mattress was spotless. I mentioned the ants already, but honestly wasn't that big of a deal. We encountered two bees while there. One took a nose dive in my husband's strawberry smoothie (the bee's loss, our gain, we got a fresh drink), the other buzzed around a bit and then took off. Both came around while eating at the outdoor restaurants. You're outside surrounded by flowers... could happen anywhere in that kind of environment! They weren't aggressive at all though! We never were bit by ANYTHING... no mosquitoes, no no-seeums, nothing. Take bug spray, just in case, but while were there... night and day, no problems.

TIPPING:
The place is all inclusive, don't tip if you don't want to. This is a personal choice. I did not see where the service differed as a result of tipping or not. We tipped, just because the staff does work so hard and we know they don't get paid too much otherwise. We took $150 in US one dollar bills and tipped $2 for breakfast, $3 for lunch and $5 for dinner. $1 for every other drink or so at the bars. $2 a day for housekeeping & $1 to mini bar staff every other day or so. Definitely tip your therapists at the spa, however, they are NOT part of the AI offer.

LITTLE THINGS THAT WOULD MAKE ERC BETTER (IMHO):
Would be nice if they had at least on