Need a relaxing holiday in a gorgeous setting? Flirting with staying at Excellence Oyster Bay in Jamaica? Looking for an in-depth and ultimate review of Excellence Oyster Bay in Jamaica? You have come to the right place. This ultimate review of Excellence Oyster Bay will show how much I loved this resort! So keep scrolling for the ultimate review of Excellence Oyster Bay.
First, ignore the haters. There are a few negative reviews of this resort but I didn’t encounter any of their issues. I had an amazing holiday from start to finish. I would recommend this resort to anyone looking for a relaxing beach holiday with good food and an absolute stunner of a beach. Excellence Resort Oyster Bay in Jamaica is gorgeous with a breathtaking beach and amazing service. The following is an in-depth Excellence Oyster Bay review. This is just an honest-to-goodness love story with this resort. Man, just writing this makes me want to go back.
At Pragmatic Travelers, we only recommend what we have actually experienced. As a TripAdvisor affiliate, I may earn a small commission on some of the links below, at no additional cost to you. As always, I only recommend what I have actually experienced so you know these recommendations are based on honesty rather than a round-up of internet research.
The Resort: Excellence Resort at Oyster Bay Check out some TripAdvisor reviews and alternative pricing.
Pickup from Airport
When we booked our trip, Excellence Oyster Bay was running a deal where a private airport pickup was included. Let me tell you, this was lovely. It was just the two of us in a high-end vehicle. It was easy to find our driver. We had some help with this. We booked Club Mobay as a way to get through customs. (Check out my review of Club Mobay.) They brought us right to our driver. Then we were on our way!
Check-In
We were greeted at the door with champagne and our bags were taken for storage since we had gotten there early. Check-in was an absolute breeze (with more alcohol yay). It was my birthday and they had a card and balloons for me. This barely took 10 minutes.
Lobby
The lobby and main cocktail bar are one of the first things you will see after your check-in. It is minimalist, airy, bright, and stunning. A welcoming place to enjoy a beverage throughout the day and before dinner.
Room-Jr. Suite Garden View
We booked a Jr. Suite Garden View room. This was perfect for us as it was the most affordable and we don’t spend a ton of time in the room. It had a nice view of a woodsy area behind the resort. The bed was comfortable, the furnishings sleek and welcoming. The room was very clean and large. It had a separate seating area and balcony. Attached to the balcony was an enclosed hot tub. This had glass all around it so I could enjoy my surroundings. The bathroom was spotless with a rainfall shower. It was a nice bathroom. The closets were huge and had plenty of room to store our gear. My only critiques are the AC shuts off when you leave the room which is great for the environment but the room does get a bit humid. So some linens felt a bit damp. Also, the door to the toilet has openings at the bottom and top so could be a bit awkward depending on who you are traveling with. Even with these critiques, I would happily stay in this room again.
Property/Grounds
Let me tell you, this property is freaking gorgeous. The grounds are breathtaking and a joy to walk around. The vegetation is perfectly maintained and varied with flowers and palm trees. Which looks even more striking by the white buildings surrounding the resort. Also beautifully designed. All of this perfectly compliments the beauty of the sea. One of my favorite things to do on this trip was to walk around the resort with a cup of coffee. Just stunning and peaceful.
Beach at Excellence Oyster Bay
This is my dream beach. The turquoise blue waters with white sands and swaying palm trees, chef’s kiss! Just perfect. Some people critique the narrowness of the beach which is insane. A narrow beach means you are close to the water. The narrowness of the beach means you don’t have people sitting in front of you and behind you. So there is less noise, fewer distractions and less time with other humans. PERFECT. It felt secluded and quiet. It is also a long beach which allows for plenty of beach walks. Since it is a peninsula the general public and vendors can’t get to the beach. So, again, very secluded. The best swimming area was in front of the beach villas. It was beautifully warm and calm with very limited people. Ignore the complaints you will find on the seaweed. Ground crews are constantly cleaning up any seaweed that floats ashore. Such a silly thing to complain about, it’s a part of nature. Plenty of areas to swim and walk seaweed-free.
Main Pool
The main pool is split into two different sections. They are separated by two restaurants. The larger pool is where there is music playing and most of the activities take place there. The smaller pool is quiet so no music is playing. Though some guests did bring their portable speakers everywhere even walking to and from places which fills me with rage. The pools were clean, well taken care of, and inviting. I don’t love sitting by pools when the ocean is nearby so I didn’t spend a ton of time there.
Beach and Pool Lounge Chairs
There are so many pool and beach lounge chairs. They are all over the place. You are spoilt for choice! Lots of shade and umbrellas. Honestly can’t complain! People were also respectful if you left your towels out for lunch no one came and took your spot.
Restaurants/Food
The food at Excellence Oyster Bay surprised me. This was my first all-inclusive resort and had pretty low expectations. The food blew me away. The restaurants were all beautifully decorated and service was excellent. Portions were small so it was perfect for trying multiple dishes and cutting down on food waste. (The amount of people who complain about this always amazes me. It’s all-inclusive so just order more food.) Here is a breakdown of each restaurant.
- Spice: My favorite restaurant at the resort. Freaking amazing sushi and sashimi. Like really good. We ate there multiple times.
- The Lobster House: Omg I ate so much lobster. I mean so much. Both lunch and dinner were to die for. Another favorite restaurant. Amazing view of the property and ocean.
- The Kitchen Table: Really amazing and large buffet. Everything was fresh and delicious. Gorgeous view on the outdoor patio.
- Oregano: This Italian restaurant was good with decent pizza. Not my favorite place to eat but it was nice to try something else during my time at Oyster Bay. Should clarify that the food was good but liked other restaurants more. Gorgeous views of the ocean and pool area.
- Chez Isabelle: Decent French food. A bit of a let down. Food was bland. Only dined there once.
- Caribbean Grove: Two words: crab cakes. These are some of the best crab cakes I have ever eaten. The food here was very good and the rum cocktails excellent. This was one of our favorite spots for lunch.
- The Grill: I loved how this restaurant is decorated. The food was good in particular the sausage. I am not a huge steakhouse kinda gal so it wasn’t my favorite place to eat.
- Jerk Hut: This is next to the pool and served great freshly made jerk chicken. I loved it! Informal and quick. Also they had patties! Yum!
- Sports Bar: Just eh on the food front. Took forever to get an order of crappy mozzarella sticks. I wouldn’t dine here.
Drinks
So part of the all-inclusive was all you can drink. There was plenty of beer and wine to enjoy. I had my fair share of bubbles by the beach. Some of the cocktails were very good like the watermelon mint cocktails and others were a bit meh. The biggest issue was they weren’t using fresh fruit to make their cocktails. Mostly juice or premade mix so the cocktails were just ok. It was a mixed bag depending on what you ordered and who your bartender was. Not a deal breaker by any means. I drank a lot of Aperol Spritz and was perfectly happy. My favorite bars were Martini, Sol, and X-Lounge. X-Lounge in particular had some great cocktails and wonderful views of the ocean.
Coffee
Aroma is the main coffee bar. The coffee was pretty good. I particularly enjoyed the iced coffee/iced Americanos. As with any resort or cruise, play around with your order to find something that works for you. We went here each morning to grab a coffee to walk around the property with. The baristas were always super friendly. Eventually, they knew our order and had our drinks waiting for us.
Entertainment
Like any resort, the day is filled with poolside activities and events. The app gives you the daily schedule. We didn’t participate much when it came to activities by the pool as we were reading and resting. We did, however, go on a catamaran ride and used kayaks. Both of which are included in the overall price. I enjoyed both. There are additional water sports, day trips, and spa activities for an added cost. We didn’t do anything that required an additional payment. The entertainment on the patio was very good. Usually an acoustic guitarist/singer. I am not a huge fan of big shows so I only did one. The Bob Marley experience was really enjoyable and I loved it!
Service
The service was excellent. Everyone was very friendly and accommodating. We met some incredibly friendly people at the resort. I was very impressed. Didn’t have any issue getting drinks out on the beach. Also, don’t be a jerk, and remember to tip. Just a few bucks here and there. I watched how hard one bartender worked to make drinks for a large group. Not a single tip. Just awful.
Price
Excellence Oyster Bay is not cheap but it is not insane. If you have spent any time looking at Caribbean resorts, you know the cost can be shocking. Oyster, while expensive at $550 a night, is much more affordable compared to others. Particularly, when you look at how beautiful the property is and how everything is included. Again, if you are looking for a budget resort this isn’t it.
Warning: Watch out for the upgrades. The $550 a night was the cheapest room they had. The rooms get more and more expensive. If you add on the Excellence Club feature it gets really expensive. We didn’t pay for Excellence Club and we didn’t miss it.
Pros/Cons
- Pros
- Amazing and beautiful beach. Secluded and so relaxing.
- Excellent food and service
- Modern/attractive rooms and property
- Affordable for what you are getting
- Cons
- Cocktails can be hit or miss
- Room was a bit damp when you came back in the evening
- Some of the restaurants were just ok
- This is not a budget resort
Excellence Oyster Bay Tips
- Make sure to tip a few dollars. They are working hard for you.
- Don’t bring a portable speaker to the beach or public areas. Or walk around with it on like a jerk. Not everyone wants to hear your music.
- If your are in a big group, don’t be impatient or entitled. Saw a few large groups act like children when they didn’t get the table they wanted at breakfast.
- Check out Club Mobay for arrival into Montego Bay Airport. Also Montego Bay is the closest airport.
- Bring bug spray. We didn’t have a huge issue with mosquitos but there a few bites here and there.
- Check out the TripAdvisor reviews on Excellence Oyster Bay
Your Thoughts…
I hope this ultimate review of Excellence Oyster Bay in Jamaica. Have you stayed at Excellence Oyster Bay? If not, what are excited to experience while there? Leave a comment below.
