Our trip to Montego Bay, Jamaica was our first time visiting and we had a blast! It’s a quick 30-minute ride from the airport and it has plenty of direct flights from your major airports. Since we were traveling with my family, we connected in Atlanta to fly down together! The Excellence resort was truly paradise. I’ve had my fair share of experiences with all-inclusive resorts and it is definitely one of my new favorites. From the dining to the service to the gorgeous sandy beaches, Excellence Oyster Bay will have what you’re looking for.
My sister recently went to the Excellence property in the Dominican for a getaway and recommended we stay here with our family next. The prices are pretty comparable to other luxury resorts I’ve visited in the Caribbean, too. I’m always shocked at how much of a bargain it is to stay at an all-inclusive when traveling.
If you’re researching resorts in Jamaica, you’ve probably compared it to Sandals or Hotel Riu. The Excellence is newer than a lot of other options, offers plenty of water activities, and the size of the property makes you feel less cramped with other guests. It’s also a huge plus to have an adults-only resort when you’re looking for a quiet getaway. While it did have a mix of ages present, it never felt like the crowds got too rowdy. Which can be very annoying when you’re trying to sleep and a bachelorette party is still raging by the infinity pool.
As the 3rd most populous city in Jamaica, Montego Bay offers plenty of options to keep you occupied. While it has more beach and water activities for guests, the dolphin and ATV excursions are just a short drive away. Will and I broke away from the group and ventured to the Martha Brae River Rafting (30 minutes away). It’s a very popular tourist attraction in Jamaica but loved how convenient it was to the resort!
The customer service at the Excellence Oyster Bay was pretty standard. They definitely were accomodating and had no issues offering recommendations for dining or excursions. However, it was missing that extra personalized touch we usually feel when we stay in an all-inclusive. At Sugar Beach we had our own “butler” with 24/7 service. The Hyatt Zilara properties also offer something similar. It’s not necessarily a game-changer when it comes to booking, but it’s something to keep in mind if you want to feel that bougie perk.
We had an “oceanfront” room in building 4. It had plenty of space for just the two of us with an extra seating area. The walk-in closet literally made my jaw drop, too! Of course, the best part was the VIEW. I highly recommend requesting buildings 3-5 so you can stare out over the pool from your balcony. The only rooms that have direct beachfront are the villas and they’re a bit pricier. However, I’d definitely suggest the rooms vs. the villas because their private beach has bushes in the back that don’t really allow you to enjoy the ocean! A few of them come with their own plunge pools as well but I found it wasn’t needed with our bathtub. The villa suites also are a bit of a hike away from everything else, too!
Like most luxury resorts, The Excellence has a full-service spa with hair, makeup, massages, and facials. It was hands down the best experience I’ve had at a spa while on vacation out of the country. From the service to the additional amenities, the MIILÉ SPA felt like heaven! My sister, mother, and I each had our own custom massage packages with aromatherapy. And if you end up choosing a service, you can use the hydrotherapy area for free beforehand. There’s a steam room, sauna, and cold plunge pools to get the blood pumping. I highly recommend setting aside some time to visit!
The biggest perk of all-inclusive resorts like Excellence has to be the dining! When they say everything is included, they mean it. Unlimited alcohol (though the drinks are significantly weaker because of this) in your hotel minibars, restaurants, and by the pool. I recommend grabbing drinks from the poolside bars and carrying them to the beach. While they do have beachside service, there aren’t enough staff members to get things to you in a timely manner. The bars are just a 5-minute walk away so it’s not too inconvenient to just get it yourself!
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There are 8+ restaurants to choose from on the property. Oyster Bay offers French, Caribbean, American-style grill, seafood, Italian, French, Asian, and more. So there’s definitely something for everyone without worrying you’ll get tired of the options. During our stay, we enjoyed daily breakfast at “The Kitchen Table” and quick bites for lunch from the Jerk Hut! Our favorite dinner had to be “Spice”- the restaurant that features Asian food from Korea, India, China, Japan, Thailand, and more. We actually ate there twice so we could try more of the menu!
I can’t say enough good things about our stay. We can’t wait to go back! If you’ve been here before or another Excellence property, let me know which one we should check out next! If you have any questions about our stay or advice for your trip to Jamaica, I’d love to help! Drop a comment below or DM me (@goodtomicha).
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