Flavour Market is a great spot for tapas, sharing, and light bites. The X lounge was our other most frequented spot. Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. It really is a top option for an all-inclusive. Excellence Club guests get private access to a top-notch restaurant that opens for breakfast and dinner. We spent our mornings at the main pool with their (only) swim up bar, Blue. Hi David! You do not need to bring an adapter with you if you are travelling from North America. The Miil Spa is an attractive and quiet space offering massages, facials, body treatments, manicures, pedicures, waxing, and salon services. Its luxurious rooms and suites make for the ideal romantic getaway and this property caters to honeymooners and those celebrating their anniversary. You always have the option for room service if you want to just veg out at night, too! When booking if you want to be close to the action we would advise requesting a room in buildings 4 and 6. We only managed two meals a day most days because we were so full from breakfast, so having a smoothie to tide us over was perfect. From the housekeeping, service at the bars to the concierge. The only restaurant that requires a reservation is Spice, which has limited seating at its teppanyaki counters. we decided to splurge and upgrade to Excellence Club Junior Suite with Private Pool. The beach at the El Carmen resort is truly stunning. The setup outside is really beautiful and should be experienced if youre there even if you dont have a full meal just so you can see some of the entertainment! Tech features are solid and include iHome docks, wall-integrated USB plugs, and big smart TVs with satellite channels. From fitness-based classes such as Yoga, tennis, and water aerobics. Each restaurant has numerous options for lighter fare. . The room we stayed in when we visited was a junior swim-up suite. This adults-only resort is the perfect place to have a relaxing break in the beautiful surroundings of the Dominican Republic. Note that none of the bars are open 24/7. Its available 24/7 and the menu is very extensive. Fun vacation spot Lisa M on Feb 04, 2023 Few vendors prowl the floury-soft sand in this part of Punta Cana. It almost feels like you have been whisked to the streets of Barcelona with the standard of food here. I first thought it was broken since I couldnt turn the dial under it, but then I realized there was a button right at the staircase into the pool which doesnt quite look like a button that turns it on for about 5 minutes at a time. Throughout the resort there is a huge volume of staff, so no matter where you are there is always some close by that can offer you assistance. Answer 1 of 6: My husband and I are looking into going to EEC and we are wondering if the Excellence Club is worth it. It includes upgraded amenities, exclusive areas, and added perks. And there is no need to bring toiletries there is body wash, shampoo, conditioner, body lotion, and even toothpaste! The live music is so relaxing in the evening, and is a great way to pass the before and after dinner before the shows. While Excellence isn't the largest resort in Punta Cana, it certainly packs in a mega-resort's worth of features -- and its most exceptional are outdoors. Secrets resorts All your questions answered! There were tons of loungers and palapas available, with great poolside service. If you love Indian food, Basmati is a fun option to try. . Guests are mostly honeymooners and couples celebrating wedding anniversaries from the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. Is Excellence Club Worth it at Excellence El Carmen? There are tons of different hot (and cold!) It's like VIP at the airport. We arrived 30 minutes early for our painting session for which they had 8 easels. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. You will likely not even realize what you are "missing" being non club. and loved it. Required fields are marked *. If you do not like those, or want to swap them out for something else, you can do that too! The Blue Hole, a cenote with gorgeous turquoise water, is also around a 30-minute drive from the property. When it comes to the food at Excellence El Carmen, there is something for everyone. A Lot of these are connected to the swim-up suites. Theyre easy to pack and inexpensive and so worth having! At all of the Excellence resorts, the check-in process is really an experience. In addition to receiving a welcome letter, fruit, and a bottle of sparkling wine upon arrival, you will also receive a special turndown service, champagne breakfast in bed and a romantic dinner at one of the restaurants. ), classes by the beach, live music at lunch, live music behind the theatre in the evening, live music at the Martini Bar, plus the evening shows and more! If you ask very nicely and youre feeling lucky you can also get food delivered from the restaurants. There are many options: silicone straws, metal straws (which keep your drinks cold) or paper straws. Excellence Club upgrade provides a private pool, beach, lounge, and restaurant. I have seen others tip generously to get their preferred alcohol, or have had them all swapped out at onceIm not sure what the real case is here, but nonetheless youll have alcohol in your room. The service is amazing as it always is at Excellence Resorts. Every time we travel I always bring an extra couple hundred dollars in tips and its well worth it! Unfortunately, there are some guests who havent been to all-inclusives before that dont know that isnt the norm, and pay it. The service wasnt particularly good the day we went as it took over an hour for us to get our main courses. You certainly will never go thirsty here! We only experienced the massage included in the hydrotherapy this time, so I cant speak to the couples massage or any other treatments, but I have heard amazing things about the services offered and if the full body massage is anything like the 10 minute one we got, I would be in heaven! With all Excellence offerings, they are typically priced on the premium side when you compare it to the average price of other resorts, but for that somewhat premium price you are definitely getting a premium experience. In the video we tell you how we planned o. If you have stayed in an Excellence resort before you know that the amenities on offer are always top class. Not sure if it was Excellence El Carmen in particular or if this is true at all Excellence properties, but I felt it to be less crowded (even though the hotel was near full occupancy) and quieter than the 2 Secrets resorts I went to. We nearly missed it and it was our favourite lunch! Couple that with some onion bhajis and you cant go wrong. Are you kidding me!? I LOVE Excellence properties, and Excellence El Carmen is nothing short of an amazing resort in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. Find it on the Apple Store or Google Play! . And, if youre even more like me, food is very important to you! If you fancy getting a treatment at the spa, we recommend that you check on the day as the Spa does daily specials on various treatments. If youre celebrating your anniversary or honeymoon, be sure to take advantage of that at Excellence El Carmen! The staff work so hard, and provide excellent service with a smile. Save it for later! We found the signal to be very good throughout the resort. Excellence El Carmen: Excellence Club WORTH IT - See 9,018 traveler reviews, 11,291 candid photos, and great deals for Excellence El Carmen at Tripadvisor. You will also have some snacks: crackers, oreos, and peanuts. They do not serve their drinks with straws, so bring your own if you wish! After dinner, there was always something going on. Every staff member that we dealt with was great. Feel free to custom make your own! It seats up to 8 and there is a set menu. Dont get us wrong, the steaks were well prepared and the burger we tried too was pretty good. I love the outdoor seating and the decor here. Disclaimer: This content was accurate at the time the hotel was reviewed. Yes, parking is available for guests and it is complimentary. Punta Cana International Airport is about a 45-minute drive from the resort. Huge walk-in closets are fully shelved and big enough to unpack a steamer trunk with room to spare. . The two beachfront beauties are almost neighbors you can get from one gated entrance to the next in a five-minute drive. This and the Cielo bar are the only areas that you can get the Top tier liquor on offer to the Excellence club members other than your room. Luxury runs through every one of Excellence Punta Cana's 461 suites and Excellence El Carmen's 492. Excellence El Carmen: 5 star? Bvlgari toiletries. The 23 freshwater pools are scattered throughout the resort and include a main pool with ocean views and two accessible ramps. Excellence is known for their corporate responsibility and they look after their staff, and it shows through the service you receive. Yes, even though you didnt consent to it. Just a note on classes: if you have your heart set on doing one, get there early! My advice is, if it's not a financial hardship, the club area is the "cherry on top" of a great vacation. Its a lovely experience. The EC toiletries are Bvlgari & lovely but not really important to us. The Dominican Republics minimum wage is the equivalent to $154 USD a month! We ordered room service twice, once for dinner in the evening and once for breakfast. I also visited DR this year and I can only say it is a wonderful country. We love the Club benefits but have gone without it and had a great time. When my lovely friends invited me to their destination wedding at Excellence El Carmen, how could I say no? If youve never tried Indian cuisine, I recommend branching out and trying some new dishes! Now the bathroom is one of which many people question. more. Regardless! Many of you have asked: there is no waiter service at these rooms but you have an entire minibar in your room and a minifridge which you can request to have stocked with what you like, or you can order room service for some sparkling wine if thats your thing, or even toddle over one of the many bars for some cocktails to bring back. What is VIP Service? Tip: bring your own floaties with you! Theres a small shopping strip within a five-minute drive, while Bavaro -- the most famous spot in the area -- takes 25 to 30 minutes to reach by car. We LOVED the look of the Martini Bar. Rooms have one king bed or two queen beds that are framed by boxy nightstands and telescoping chrome reading lights. There is a drinks service on the beach which makes spending a day sunning yourself so much more enjoyable. - See 9,457 traveller reviews, 11,732 candid photos, and great deals for Excellence El Carmen at Tripadvisor. An Italian offering that serves up all of the staple dishes you would expect from your local Italian. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. I would recommend the hydrotherapy, plus you may even be given an additional spa discount for another service after. dwayne johnson rock foundation contact. We have celebrated our past 5 anniversaries at Excellence Group resorts (Excellence Riviera Cancun and The Finest). Discover a world of rewards with The Excellence Collection Rewards benefits program. Its basically like a little bit of all of the restaurants on the resort in one. Is Excellence Club at Excellence El Carmen worth it? We did not try Oregano, Spice, Flavour Market, or Basmati during this trip because we ran out of time. Travelers wanting a beautiful island setting with a grown-up vibe should book a stay at one of the numerous adults-only resorts in the Caribbean. After youre finished eating, you can place your dishes in the X-Box located right at your door. Our Vacation was Exellent! Dreams resorts All your questions answered! ), or you can be served over by your palapa. The building that we were in had faced the sun in the late afternoon, so the swim-up suite wasnt too much use. The resort is set on large grounds so some of the room locations are a bit of a walk from the beach and the main areas. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. Thats part of the reason why we love all-inclusive resorts so much! Excellence El Carmen, Uvero Alto: 9,457 Hotel Reviews, 12,158 traveller photos, and great deals for Excellence El Carmen, ranked #3 of 7 hotels in Uvero Alto and rated 4.5 of 5 at Tripadvisor. The EC beach is similar to the non EC but you get the loungers made up for you & concierges to look after you. how do floodplains jeopardize the livelihoods of agricultural workers. To be honest I can't say I thought it was really worth the extra. If you are not in Excellence Club, you can swap out one bottle of alcohol per day. The perfect spot to sink a few beers and watch some sports. Lobster doesn't cost extra either. During our first night, we visited Agave, which is always my go-to! The club package includes a private beachfront dinner, some spa treatments, etc. There is no option for that here, but you can purchase wine off a separate menu if you wish to splurge! Right behind the main pool is a smaller lap pool which they use for the water activities and games which is always fun to participate in (or watch!). We passed so many doors with celebratory banners on them, and its not hard to understand why: Excellence El Carmen offers a great price point and value for money, and is known to provide a top-tier stay in a tropical paradise. We had the grilled lobster and the lobster ravioli and the lobster for both dishes was a little bit chewy. When we visited we brought US Dollars and tipped a dollar for each drink we ordered and then $10 dollars for waiters for any of the meals that we had. Excellence El Carmen review: the Property. We had just as much fun watching everyone as those who participated in it. But have you ever checked into an all-inclusive resort and noticed that some guests have access to otherwise restricted restaurants, premium alcohol, luxe pools, more comfortable beach chairs, and, Aerial View of Excellence Punta Cana/Oyster If youve been researching the best adults-only luxury hotels in Punta Cana, youve likely come across the sister properties Excellence Punta Cana and Excellence El Carmen. By this point we were both needing a break from the steak, so we ordered the salmon and the scallops, which were tasty and surprisingly filling. They are so much fun to do. It can be difficult at times to get a booking for treatments, so if you have your heart set on getting a massage we advise you to book before you travel. Its always a favourite spot to gather before and after dinner to enjoy a cocktail. If you like sushi, maki, and noodle dishes, head to Spice! Our Best All-Inclusive Resorts In Puerto Vallarta for Food, Our Best All-Inclusive Resorts in Los Cabos for Food. depends on how you view 5 star - See 9,463 traveler reviews, 11,732 candid photos, and great deals for Excellence El Carmen at Tripadvisor. They have a large menu with all of the smoothies combinations under the sun. Youll also get a 15% discount on photo and spa packages! Im glad there were other couples there laughing, because some of you cant help but laugh! We ate in our bathrobes and drank mimosas and it was glorious. ), and then charge you a ridiculous amount for it. Before dinner every night we perched ourselves at the Martini bar for a few pre-dinner drinks. The waters were pretty calm, so if youre into ocean swimming this is the spot for you. It didnt bother me, but if youre expecting a pristine, white sandy beach, you wont find it here. I piggybacked on another guests recommendation of the Power Smoothie + strawberries and it tasted like a peanut butter and jelly sandwich! When we stayed in early 2020 we went through the travel agent Sunwing that is based out of Canada. They do have a dress code for the Grill but we saw many people in cover ups and flip flops. The EC beach areas, room locations, access to Magna and location of the EC bars (even for non-alcoholic drinks) made it worthwhile to us. It's definitely not a party resort with guests pounding shots -- the vibe is more towards sipping martinis. Tons of free activities like pool games, Mamajuana making, and evening shows. The steamer in the walk-in closet works great, but its advisable to use bottled water for it. Eating low carb? So all in all, is it worth it, no not for us! For starters, its absolutely stunning. The sauce was rich yet balanced and the beef literally melted in the mouth. Best things to do in Punta Cana.your top 3. Room service is another great option for lunch, just keep in mind it takes about 45 minutes to arrive. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. Insight/Feedback on Monkeyland and Other Animal Attractions? Rounds here range from $100 $150 depending on the time of day you play and the season. We often started our days with a couple glasses of mimosas and you will never be far from your next drink. The buffet, Kitchen Table, has options for everyone Id be shocked to learn if someone couldnt find something they liked. You also get access to a private lounge, which we only used to check in/out or to book our free dinner on the beach. Breathless Punta Cana Resort & Spa: Need some improvement - See 18,088 traveler reviews, 21,873 candid photos, and great deals for Breathless Punta Cana Resort & Spa at Tripadvisor. Quite frankly, aside from the private, frosted-glass door for the toilet, its all open air. This would be great for later in the evening, or even an early snack prior to a later dinner (if youre wanting to try it all!). The sand is powdery soft and the oceanfront is lined with palm trees, lounge chairs, and thatched umbrellas. Excellence El Carmen Punta Cana is located along a gorgeous sandy beach in Uvero Alto, a quiet beach area that's a far cry from the more touristy beach zones. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. The staff was also super friendly which made us feel very welcome. If you love seafood, be sure to hit up the Lobster House! There are items on the menu at Magna that feel more premium than the other menus (but believe me, all of the food is scrummy). If you stay in an Excellence Club room those bottles are upgraded. Im not kidding people were shocked when they saw the photos. Good to know: In our previous trips to Excellence Playa Mujeres and Excellence Riviera Cancun, we looked forward to the copy of Excellence Times on our bed at turndown. The menu for the room service was very extensive. The honeymoon package also was meant to include a rose petal filled bath in the room after dinner on the beach, which never happened, despite telling concierge 3 times, on each night we went back to the room in the hope for the bath to be filled, but nope, never happened. Will we miss out on a lot if we do not book the Club Level? The biggest question when youre considering an all-inclusive resort is the quality of the food. The location of the resort is also pretty secluded, so its not the best if you want to get out and about to explore local towns and things to do. All products are independently selected by our writers and editors. It makes a great all-inclusive resort option for those wanting luxury and comfort. However,, Aerial View of Excellence Punta Cana/Oyster The Dominican Republic is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the Caribbean and for good reason. Like other Excellence properties, guests can splurge on upgraded Excellence Club packages. You will likely not even realize what you are "missing" being non club. The resort does a wonderful job of keeping the EC things hidden. Im not a huge pizza or pasta fan when theres tons of other things to try that I cant get at home (or want to make at home, more like!). Excellence El Carmen has a solid all-inclusive package that covers not only the usual buffet meals, drinks, and entertainment but also premium liquor brands, all a la carte meals (reservations not required), 24-hour room service, natural fruit juices, and beach and pool waiter service. (Feb 1, 2022). I love the beach, but Im not much of a beach swimmer since I was young. Even an extra dollar or two goes a long way in improving their quality of life. (Feb 28, 2021), Which Airlines Are in Terminal A & B? There is a huge pastry/bread section, a selection of cold cuts and cheeses, gorgeous fruit and colourful juices, an omelette station, and some traditional Dominican foods, too! It is unbelievably private we were in 9001 and because we were on the end of the building block, we only had neighbours on one side. This post contains affiliate linkswhich means I earn compensation when you click on the links at absolutely no extra cost to you! Like all of these offerings, it can be hit and miss and there definitely was some inconsistency in terms of the dishes we were served. ordered the flank steak and charcoal grilled chicken. The all-inclusive package is very good here. It felt like a newer resort. If those are things that you would have done anyway and spent money on, I would consider doing the club level for those freebies plus all the other added daily perks of being club. If youre on a tight schedule or just want to get on with your day, the buffet is your friend. You can ask for more of certain drinks or snacks if you wish (plus a nice tip wouldnt hurt with that request!). If youre like me, I love knowing what dinner options are available before I go to a resort. As you walk through the doors there is an impressive view down to the main bar area and you really get the feeling of luxury and grandeur. If you find there are any other questions you have that I dont cover, feel free to get in touch with me! Members who are knowledgeable about this destination and volunteer their time to answer travelers' questions. To cooking lessons where the chefs will teach you how to make local Dominican food and sushi.