DaniJude
You're My Home <3
Member since 11/06 14815 total posts
Name:
Danielle
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Review of Excellence Playa Mujeres:
We are back! What a fantastic vacation. Wow, and SO beyond worth the money. This place rivaled my HM - and I stayed at gorgeous resorts that were *not* AI. So, to find an AI that was this good - wow! I have to say thank you to all the ladies who told me about EPM and said "you *HAVE* to go!" because I listened and I am so glad that I did. 
The Travel Agent: We booked with Travel Tom who books via American Express. My sister has an Amex card and we felt more secure knowing that they provide all of our transfers / transportation. Tom was very informative about the hotel, what to do, what not to do, etc. He got us a great price and worked out all the details. I will definitely be using him again. He got us a swim-up room too which was great. It was me and my sister so Tom opted for a swim-up room vs. a roof-top terrace room which is extra $ but more ideal for a couple. So, when I got back with DH we will get that. Tom was great to suggest this for that reason.
Airline: Mexicana. Mistake. It wasn't awful but it was nowhere near what it should be. The first problem is that we took off just over an hour late. We sat on the runway - I don't know if this was more JFK or them but I do feel they knew about the problem with the runway ahead of time since it had been under construction for days so I don't think they should have boarded us and then made us sit for an hour. The traffic was backed up so that was why we waited - because the main runway was being worked on.
The other problem with this airline was that the planes were MAD old - the one coming back not as bad but still not good. The one going had no TV, no nothing and there was NOOOO leg room whatsoever. I'm not a big person so if I was uncomfortable it was bad. The flight was warm going, AC was not working well, and the entire cabin had several flies roaming about - GROSS.
I understand that Mexicana is a spanish airline - but it is owned and operated by One World which is American (they own both as well as other airlines). I felt that, with 99% of the plane being Americans from New York, they should have said the announcements in Spanish first and THEN English. The announcements were 99% only in Spanish and then randomly, a few, were translated after that. We were in the dark the entire flight... no idea when we were taking off after the delay, no idea where we were in the air, if things were OK, etc. Then, coming back - same thing. We were entering a bumpy area and they said something about it - in spanish. So, we were clueless until a bi-lingual passenger filled the rest of us in.
They made little to no announcements and then the ones they did were 99% spanish. The flight attendants weren't very helpful or friendly either. I really wish we had went with Jet Blue. The flight was only about 3 hours so it would have been fine had we paid an extra 40-50 bucks for Jet Blue. Next time, we'll definitely do this. We had the fly problem on the way home as well - disgusting.
Once we arrived at the Cancun airport we went through customs and came outside. We were warned ahead of time to not take local transportation -- so no private cabs or anything like that. Luckily, Amex had a van waiting for us. The nicest part was that it was private - just me and Jenn. We weren't on a shuttle with 20 people going to various resorts. The convenience and ease of that alone was so worth it!
The great part about Excellence Playa Mujeres is that it is secluded - only one other resort near it and the entire area was secluded and private. However, you don't have to drive for an hour to get there! Private and at the same time only a 20 minute ride from the airport. We were thrilled!
Once arriving at EPM I felt very secure. You hear sketchy things about Mexico so you really never know. However, this was a good distance from any city - very private. Then, there was a large gate with an armed guard to get into the Playa Mujeres area. Then, there was a second gate with another guard to get into Excellence. So, we felt very safe.
Excellence Playa Mujeres is the most fabulous, state-of-the-art, service oriented resort I have been at yet!! And I have been to some great places that I felt very happy with but this place is just above and beyond. It's funny because all the girls on here who referred us said these things and they were so right. When we arrived they were waiting and gave us two cool clothes for our faces and hands. They then gave us champagne.
The vaca had begun! What a nice way to arrive - very classy. Then, we went to check-in. The people there are SO friendly. They had a man take our bags for us and show us around the property, then to our room. The room was beautiful - a swim-up room. All the rooms are suites so every single room is big and nice. They have a rain shower which I LOVE. They have a really big closet, a jacuzzi in the room, and each room has a terrace or patio with an outdoor lounge bed. Great! The beds were super comfy. Everything was on a sensor - lights, AC, etc. which was great. They have 24/7 room service - so awesome, great menu.
Once we settled in we went to the pool and the beach. The beach was beautiful - on trip advisor a few people whined about the TINY amount of seaweed. They clean it SO religiously and it is barely anything so that was fine. Powder white sand, turquoise water that was like a bath the water was so warm. Stunning. The pools were great - and the resort, we were told, was 70% full and felt like it was 10% full. We never had to wait for dinner, wait for a lounge chair, fight for service/towels, etc. FAB!
We went to the Lobster House the first evening. The food was PHENOMENAL - we had lobster tails, grilled shrimp, etc. Wow. Fantastic. The service was great - they had a high-end wine list with Sauvignon Blanc from Chile. This is the first AI I have been to where they had things like this.
Each night they had live music, singers, bands, etc. They had a Michael Jackson show at the theatre. It was great fun.
The second day we did a full day of R&R. We did the beach, the pool, the beach, the pool LOL. We ordered food to our palapas on the beach. The servers came over right away with the food, drinks, etc. You tip them a few dollars here and there and they treat you like celebs. What great, friendly service. That evening we ate at the Italian restaurant Toscana (I think?). We had wine, pasta, clams, calamari, and then chicken sauteed with prosciutto and mozzarella. DELICIOUS. And we are from NY so if the Italian food holds up in our opinion - it's a big deal!
The day after that we had our dolphin discovery  A MUST DO!!!!!! This was awesome. It was pricey but for a once-in-a-lifetime experience I think it was worth it. We got to do the foot push where two dolphins push our feet. We got to do the fin pull - we were in a small group so it was just six of us total with two dolphins. We took pics, got a DVD, etc. It was around 180 dollars a person but you get an hour with the dolphins - free time, kisses, hugs, swimming, etc. Then you get a similar experience for 30 minutes each with a sea lion and a manatee. What beautiful animals!!! We loved it. The ferry ride from Cancun to the Dolphin place (on Isla Mujeres - located across the waterway from PLAYA Mujeres) was a bit bumpy lol take some anti sea sickness pills lol. We were fine but a little queezy.
Again, Amex comes through. We booked this through Amex travel which has it's own booth at EPM. They transferred us privately from EPM to Cancun, we took the ferry to Isla Mujeres where they were waiting for us. So, among lots of other people we were always made to feel special which was so nice! Then, on the way back - same thing. We got off the ferry and out of 100+ people on the ferry some Amex guy was like "you two!" and picked us out and we took a van back to EPM. It was awesome.
That night we ate at Agave - the Mexican restaurant. OMG! No one does Mexican food, which I love, like Mexicans do! The guac and salsa was TO DIE FOR. We had margaritas and wine and wine lol - we had a ball baby! Jenn had chicken fajitas and I had spanish grilled shrimp burrito. They have homemade tortilla chips mmmm. Great restaurant - beautiful decor and the waitress was FANTASTIC. What beautiful restaurants - each so unique and so pretty, decorated in it's own way.
We were there five days so we only went to four places for dinner: Lobster House, Toscana, Agave, and Chez Isabelle. They also have, which looked great, Spice (Asian fusion), Barcelona (Medit.), and Flavor Market (International paired with Wine). So, just too many places, not enough time!
The last day we ate at Chez Isabelle - the best restaurant there! They were all unbelievable but this was reeeeally amazing. We had escargot, quiche lorraine, duck l'orange, filet de boufe, etc. DELICIOUS - very high end. Great, great service.
There were 99% couples which is to be expected at a very nice resort. I wish there was a middle ground - not Club Med singles but not couples only really nice resorts. But there really isn't so you suuck it up - it's no problem. But we knew that going in. It is worth it for a nice place though. Because, really, who are you going to meet at a place like this? Someone from Montana? LOL So, it's not like my sister is looking for anyone there and I'm married.
The last day we were there we did a short tour where we rode speed boats (two seaters) so it was me driving and Jenn in the passenger seat out to a private snorkeling area and we went snorkeling with beautiful fish. That was super fun and again - the transfers were very private, efficient, great.
I need to update with pictures!!!! We have beautiful pictures.
The only ones I have online are from the dolphins.
Overall, this was fabulous and I feel that if I were to go to any other AI that it would not even hold a candle to this. I already told DH that this is a place I can see us going to again and again. And for me to say that takes a lot.
Thank you everyone!!!!!!!! BOOK YOUR TRIP NOW!!! This place is unfreakingbelievable and I feel that maybe it is a best kept secret that people in the general public aren't aware of yet!! LOL!!!
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, otherwise, I'd definitely be on this! LOL Thanks for a great review and I'll keep this place in mind for the future! I'm glad you girls had a great time!!!
OMG the manatee how cute!!!!
