All About The Excellence Collection’s Newest Luxury Adults-Only All-Inclusive Resort: Excellence Oyster Bay, Jamaica

If you’re looking for the best adults-only all-inclusive resorts in the Caribbean, chances are you’ve heard of (or stayed at) one of The Excellence Collection’s beautiful hotels. The Excellence Group is a group of three high end hotel brands: the adults-only Excellence Resorts with all inclusive properties in Cancun, the Riviera Maya, Punta Cana, and Montego Bay, Jamaica; Beloved Hotels for boutique adults-only all inclusive escapes; and Finest Resorts offering modern all inclusive luxury for all ages.

Excellence’s newest resort in Oyster Bay, Jamaica opened just last year and last week I got the opportunity (after visiting their Mexico properties and Punta Cana resorts in 2018) to explore the beautiful, brand-new Excellence Oyster Bay

Excellence Oyster Bay is a pretty perfect Caribbean getaway if you ask me. All-inclusive food and drinks, gorgeous coastal views, and (in my opinion the best part) beautiful, spacious, expertly designed rooms with private balconies, ocean-views, and swim-up pools.

It’s also located on a private peninsula in one of the most beautiful areas of the Caribbean – full of aqua-blue water and beach palapas that will make you think you’re waking up in a postcard.

But, aside from its picture-perfect location and gorgeous modern colonial architecture, one of the very first things I couldn’t help but notice about the resort was just how happy everyone was. Not only the staff, (who of course beamed happiness and a dont-worry-be-happy attitude in true Excellence – and Jamaica – fashion), but the vacationers!!! Everyone at the resort was just radiating vacation. They were all smiles, drinks in hand, ready to take part in the upbeat poolside activities (like pool olympics, aqua aerobics, or a dance-off), and mingling with other happy vacationers. People were a little sunburnt, a little tipsy, and a LOT of happy.

Excellence Oyster Bay was just such a HAPPY place. You could tell everyone was having the best time there… which immediately makes you want to have the best time! Everyone else’s joy sets the tone for your vacation, and I loved the atmosphere it created.

The spa at Excellence Oyster Bay

I was super impressed with the Spa at Excellence Oyster Bay. My fiance Kenny and I got a couples massage and it was definitely one of the best hotel massages I’ve had! We did the “Miilé couples massage” which incorporated hot stones and was just HEAVENLY. The masseuse worked wonders on my back – I have so many knots in my back from carrying around all my luggage, purses, and camera bags all of the time (even though let’s be honest, Kenny carries most of it for me).

As a bonus, each couples massage also comes with a complimentary 50-minute Spanish hydrotherapy treatment – which was SO cool to experience. They’ll walk you through the 10-step treatment, which incorporates hot and cold therapy (think: saunas, steam rooms, jets and ice baths) to relax and rejuvenate your body. You also can get this treatment for free if you’re staying in the Excellence Club.

The different room & suite options at Excellence Oyster Bay

All of The Excellence Collection’s Resorts have many different room & suite options to choose from, and it can be overwhelming because they are ALL so beautiful. But don’t worry – that’s why I’m here!! We chose to stay in the Beach House suites – located on the ocean, with a private dipping pool and a balcony. The stunning, spacious room was easily one of my favorite parts of the resort (second only to their to-die-for infinity pool). Here are a few other suite options of where to stay when you come to Excellence Oyster Bay.

Beach Houses – all of these room types are just gorgeous. There is the Excellence Club Rooftop terrace suite with plunge pool category (which I recommend if you love the sun ) as well as Junior suite Oceanview or Junior suite Oceanfront categories.  We stayed at the Excellence Club Beach House suite with plunge pool and loved it.

The Imperial Suite – The imperial suite is ultra-spacious, with a gorgeous rooftop terrace, a plunge pool, and a made-for-two rainforest shower with spectacular views.

Beach Villas – The highest level of luxury at Excellence Oyster Bay. For the ultimate VIP experience, you can choose to stay in one of the beach villas with oceanfront views, a private pool, two main interior spaces, a full living room as well as the master bedroom and walk-in closet. You can spend your mornings lounging on the beachfront porch and your afternoons cooling off in your own private 226 square foot pool just steps from the sea. And, if you’re staying in one of the beach villas, you’ll get exclusive services like a personal butler, complimentary cigar kit, and in-villa Couple’s Ritual provided by Miilé Spa.

Excellence Club vs. Not-Excellence Club at Excellence Oyster Bay

At any of The Excellence Collection’s resorts, you have the opportunity to be a part of The Excellence Club – an exclusive “resort within a resort” offering even more luxury services and privileges than the rest of the hotel. Those staying in the Excellence Club enjoy exclusive suite categories, a private lounge with bar and snack buffets, 24 hour concierge service, and a VIP-beach area (with a better bar selection of higher-level alcohol!). Excellence Club benefits also include a private check-in / check-out, as well as dedicated concierge desks on every building and at the lounge.

I definitely recommend upgrading to Excellence Club during your stay! We loved having the private beach area and found the food to be a little better, and the bar is definitely a great luxe upgrade.

The food & drinks at Excellence Oyster Bay

I know what you’re thinking – All-inclusive means sacrificing food quality, right? Wrong – that’s not what The Excellence Collection is about.

With eight à la carte restaurants, as well as a breakfast buffet, you can choose from everything from Asian teppanyakki grill, Spanish tapas, French cuisine, seafood, steak,  or Italian. You also have 24-hour room service at Excellence Oyster Bay, so you can sneak some midnight snacks or a romantic dinner for two in the privacy of your own suite.

My food highlights were Spice restaurant (you have to go day-of to make a reservation at the teppanyakki table – it’s so good!), and the coffee bar (I went every morning during vacay for my unsweetened almond milk latte, and brought my own Bulletproof vanilla collagen to mix-in – you guys know I’m addicted!)

What’s included in “all-inclusive” at Excellence Oyster Bay?

Excellence’s 24-hour, All-Inclusive Luxury service includes:

Special welcome cocktail and cool towel
Daily breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks: 8 à la carte options for dinner, 2 à la carte lunch options, 1 buffet, takeaway wood oven pizza
10 bars & lounges
Unlimited natural fruit juices and soft drinks
Unlimited international premium and domestic alcoholic beverages
24 hour room service
Pool and beach waiter service
3 swimming pools & 4 outdoor hot water jacuzzis (as well as private ones in certain room categories)
Non-motorized water sports (sailing, sea kayaking, paddle board, snorkeling gear, introductory scuba lesson)
Daily activities / Nightly shows
Fully equipped, state-of-the- art fitness center
Free wireless internet
All taxes and gratuities

Getting to Montego, Bay Jamaica: Is it easy to get to Excellence Oyster Bay?

American Airlines, United, Southwest, Air Canada, Delta and many more airlines have direct routes to Montego Bay, Jamaica. We even met some brits at Excellence who had a direct flight from London! Jamaica is just a few hours from the states (less than 2 hours from Miami!), making it an easy getaway for much of the US and Canada.

What should I pack for a trip to Excellence Oyster Bay?

Swimsuits & cover ups are really most of what you’ll need here, but here are a few of the other things to pack:

Men will need a pair of pants for most of the nicer dining options (like Spice).

A reusable straw – I always pack a few reusable straws to use while on vacation – because with all of those all-inclusive drinks I like to avoid using plastic straws! These are my absolute favorite ones to buy.

And a reusable tumbler to keep your frozen drinks cool in the pool! I saw so many all-inclusive-experts with their reusable coffee mugs full of frozen drinks and I was so jealous. How could I be such a rookie? This is a GENIUS move. The best ones are these ones by Yeti because they’ll keep things frozen for HOURS. 

Water shoes if you’re planning on doing the moonlit luminescent bay excursion, you’ll want to pack a pair of water shoes (my favorite are these from Amazon – they’re only $13!)

Is it safe to travel to Jamaica or any other Excellence Collection Resort in Mexico or Dominican republic?

While parts of Jamaica are not considered safe to visit right now, the resort areas of Jamaica are completely fine to visit as a tourist.  Excellence Oyster Bay is completely gated and guarded and feels like an oasis away from the world. Jamaica (unfortunately) these days isn’t somewhere you’d rent a car and explore on your own, but if you stick to the resort and resort-planned excursions with a driver, you will not feel unsafe in the least.

I felt the same superior level of security and safety at all of the other Excellence properties as well (you can read about my experience at Excellence’s Playa Mujeres properties, or Excellence’s Punta Cana properties here). As I say with anywhere that the media tends to call “unsafe”, don’t let your fears stop you from seeing the world!

I had so much fun exploring Excellence Oyster Bay, Jamaica and soaking up the Caribbean sunshine and I know you all will, too! When your days start with sunrises on the beach, are filled with fun in the sun,  and end with feasts at the hotel and a luxurious bubble bath in your suite, it’s hard not to have the time of your life.

Have a piña colada (or 5) for me! XX

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WRITTEN BY:

Christina is a leading luxury lifestyle and travel blogger with over 2 million readers. Follow her on instagram @jetsetchristina.

  • David Griffith
    REPLY

    thanks for this article I’m going to Oyster Bay tomorrow lol

    September 16, 2019
    • E Bacchus
      REPLY

      were you an Excellence club member? if not how did you find the experience without it?

      May 27, 2021
  • Drew Phillips
    REPLY

    I see that you have been to the other Excellence Resorts in the past– how does Oyster Bay compare to those? We have been to El Carmen and debating whether to go back or venture to Oyster Bay instead. What did you like better/not as much about Oyster Bay compared to other Excellence Resorts?

    July 22, 2020
    • E Bacchus
      REPLY

      did you end up going to Oyster Bay? Any preference between the 2 for a non-excellence club visitor?

      May 27, 2021
  • Did you have a favorite between the three Excellence resorts you’ve been to? We’re looking to book an anniversary trip, but I can’t decide which to go to. Would love to hear the pros/cons of each if you ever get a sec to reply. Thanks so much!

    April 8, 2022
  • Mel
    REPLY

    I LOOOOOVED my time here!!! Definitely would go back – it was the perfect all inclusive getaway. The nighttime performances were INCREDIBLE and the food, drinks, and staff were top notch. The rooms are also some of the best I’ve ever stayed in. We didn’t upgrade to the excellence membership and don’t regret that because we made friends and found there to be plenty of options without that.

    May 19, 2022

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