They have a lovely Gazebo overlooking the water which looks like the perfect spot to exchange vows. Hi David! All restaurants, with the exception of Oregano and the Lobster House were located off the main lobby, making everything centrally located in one spot. This bar is also a great place to go after dinner. This is topped off with the most decadent 10 minute head, neck and shoulder massage, all while laying cozied up on a heated stone lounge. It's like VIP at the airport. Out of these cookies, 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. We ordered room service twice, once for dinner in the evening and once for breakfast. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. We have booked to stay at EEC for 2 weeks from opening day! Bike tours, Spanish lessons, beach volleyball, archery, pool games, water aerobics, poker tournaments, and bingo are scheduled regularly. . Services cost extra, but guests can book a free session in the gorgeous hydrotherapy circuit, which features a sauna, steam room, plunge pool, and jetted beds. Tip: bring your own floaties with you! It was awkward drinking Coco Locos without them! I was under the impression that EC guests had an upgraded minibar, but there was a bit of confusion with our room, since they said only Excellence Club can swap out bottles (this is not true, by the way), and we said we were Excellence Club. Yes, a shuttle service from the airport can be requested. Will we be sorry not booking the club? Excellence El Carmen, Uvero Alto: "How much is the excellence club upgrade" | Check out 5 answers, plus 8,667 reviews and 12,158 candid photos Ranked #3 of 9 hotels in Uvero Alto and rated 4.5 of 5 at Tripadvisor. In Search of Sarah is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. ), but some of my favourites were the Circus Show, Michael Jackson, Queen, and the fire show (do not miss that!). It doesnt have to be much, and the tips are also very appreciated. This is one of the more popular restaurants on the resort. Are you kidding me!? Excellence El Carmen is a luxury adults-only all-inclusive resort that sits along an idyllic beach in Punta Cana's laid-back Uvero Alto. Its listed on their website that they have 23 pools and 9 outdoor hot tubs on offer and while this is the case. The food here was the best we had in the resort and the minimalist Japanese decor really added to the experience. Nightly entertainment like live music, Michael Jackson impersonators, dance performances, and the weekly Dominican beach party (held indoors during inclement weather) get mostly positive reviews. Drink service is on offer at the pools and beach. The hydrotherapy circuit takes about an hour to complete and is well worth doing. Its open at 7:00 am and you have the choice to eat inside or out. I gave up asking in the end! This is an adults-only resort, if youre looking for a quality resort that is on the same level as the Excellence El Carmen, but you can bring the kids then we suggest checking out the Finest Playa Mujeres which is a sister hotel to the Excellence. This obviously doesnt matter, but its just an observation. You will never have an issue getting a spot at the beach. This Asian eatery serves up the most famous dishes from Japan, Thailand, China, and Vietnam. The balcony was covered in cigarette butts when we checked in. A private lounge, pool, beach, and restaurant are available exclusively for Excellence Club guests, while luxe, in-suite offerings such as private check-in, daily in-suite fresh fruits and petit fours, in-suite sparkling wine and fresh flowers, and complimentary shoe shine . There are bars dotted all throughout the resort. For a more serene atmosphere, dont miss the pools by buildings 11-16. I have to avoid raw onions, but I didnt have to sacrifice taste! From fitness-based classes such as Yoga, tennis, and water aerobics. You will also use the Excellence app for ordering at the restaurants they have shifted away from the hard-copy menus to digital (although Im sure you could request one if you preferred it). The Excellence El Carmen is about a 45-minute drive from the airport. We sat outside on the terrace and the resort was so pretty lit up at night. Access to twelve private pools and seven jacuzzis (hot water) in the pool area. 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. Its a really nice option if you dont feel like getting into your evening clothes and instead just chilling out in the room. We brought these ones which were the perfect size, and were easy to inflate, and easy to pack up to bring home! It opened its doors in 2016 and has been a firm favorite for all-inclusive resorts in the Dominican Republic and the Caribbean. I called twice and went to the Excellence Club lounge (as they requested), and by the second day in the afternoon they sent someone. I heard a few people talking about that and then we forgot when we went to steam our dresses. If youre celebrating your anniversary or honeymoon, be sure to take advantage of that at Excellence El Carmen! Ecological park with flamingos and macaws on-site. I understand its how they make money, but they can be quite pushy, so be prepared. The all-inclusive package is very good here. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. Excellence Club Amenities A Tailored Experience at the Best Adults Only Resorts in Punta Cana Private check-in & check-out / Late check-out & early check-in (subject to availability) Access to private Excellence Club lounge (7:00 am to 11:00 pm) with concierge service, smart buffets, and bar service Excellence El Carmen is very similar in terms of amenities to its sister property Excellence Punta Cana, which is just a five-minute drive away. When it comes to food, the resorts 11 restaurants offer numerous options from casual spots to fine-dining. My wife and I had a very similar experience at Excellence El Carman in November 2019. Youll have a great view of the pool and ocean and a nice breeze to enjoy your dinner with. For starters, its absolutely stunning. Check-in is a breeze and you are whisked to your room where your holiday can really begin. Quite frankly, aside from the private, frosted-glass door for the toilet, its all open air. As these pools are not heated, they were very cold during the day. There is also one daybed in the shade and another one closer to the steps of the private pool, tucked away in its little alcove. Guests staying at Excellence El Carmen can book excursions to nearby attractions through the concierge. Excellence El Carmen, Uvero Alto: "Between the excellence punta Cana and the." | Check out answers, plus 8,668 reviews and 12,158 candid photos Ranked #3 of 9 hotels in Uvero Alto and rated 4.5 of 5 at Tripadvisor. (Feb 1, 2022). We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. We ordered all the seafood here crab cakes, lobster bisque, lobster risotto (we shared this, and its AMAZING get it! Wood-Fired pizzas, rich and creamy pasta dishes, and some really nice seafood options too. We used tap water and some of the water shot out and left some white rings on our clothes, which, If your bathing suit is white, or lightly coloured, it. We went for 7 days and flew out of Toronto. My advice is, if it's not a financial hardship, the club area is the "cherry on top" of a great vacation. Each restaurant has numerous options for lighter fare. Does Excellence El Carmen have a club? The two beachfront beauties are almost neighbors you can get from one gated entrance to the next in a five-minute drive. Everyone greeted us with an Hola and a smile and you felt welcomed. 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! You will find options everywhere you go and the nice thing is, if you choose to eat a certain way, you are in total control! There are a range of precautions that the Excellence chain of resorts has put in place and if you would like to review these they can be found here. Excellence El Carmen: Excellence Club WORTH IT - See 7,882 traveller reviews, 10,176 candid photos, and great deals for Uvero Alto, Dominican Republic, at Tripadvisor. As well as the staple options such as an omelet station for breakfast and a burger station for lunch and dinner. What is VIP Service? It is so relaxing. . Its 492 modern suites have elegant interiors plus high-end features like free bottles of liquor and double jetted tubs overlooking private balconies. You have a set of headphones with a few choices of music to dance to, and then youre off in your own little world. Your email address will not be published. What is the entertainment/music like during the day at the pool?! Unfortunately, there are some guests who havent been to all-inclusives before that dont know that isnt the norm, and pay it. When booking if you want to be close to the action we would advise requesting a room in buildings 4 and 6. They are so much fun to do. A French offering that is set in a beautifully designed spot. Junior Suites can sleep up to three people, but the rest of the room types are for a maximum of two guests. The gym was never too busy, but we found that around 10 am was its peak hours, but even then you would have no issues getting a treadmill or a solid workout in. . Relaxing mid winter break Dave-Jerseyboy (Wells, United Kingdom) on Feb 04, 2023 This was our 5th visit to DR and the Excellence was a very modern and stylish hotel to spend 9nights all inclusive. You can break large bills at the front desk for ones if youre running low. I recommend a one-piece for this, ladies! The menu has your typical bar food favorites such as nachos, burgers, and Pizzas. Valet parking is free at the resort and theres free Wi-Fi throughout the property. Paper straws are biodegradable and inexpensive. There are blinds to draw down for privacy if you wish. With 16 different bars in the resort, you are never too far away from a drink. Your email address will not be published. At our other Excellence Resorts trips, Ive emailed ahead of time to request a certain bottle in our rooms, which you can certainly do, but I left it until we got here this time. The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. Youll never be bored. Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. The X lounge was our other most frequented spot. - See 9,459 traveler reviews, 11,732 candid photos, and great deals for Excellence El Carmen at Tripadvisor. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. They do have nets as of the beginning of this month! You can either wade over to it and grab a seat there (we did this, but wear sunscreen because chances are youll start talking to someone and be there for a while! . Appreciate it! You also have an ice bucket, and the ice machines are located on every floor of every room block for easy filling. The shows start later 9:30 pm (most nights at home Im in bed by then!!! Since my mom and I were on a girls trip (which we hardly ever get to do!) If you want to be in a secluded spot and close to the beach then building 9 is your best bet. There is also a really nice Coffee shop where you can grab a pick me up and a sweet treat. Plus, the addition of the Excellence Club lounge and bar makes it a great hangout spot before or after dinner. Free daily classes like yoga and stretching are available, and personal training sessions are included in nightly rates as well. I dont know what it was about that cheese but I fell in love with it and cant stop eating it. There are lots of antipasto dishes at Oregano, along with risottos, custom pasta dishes, and pizzas to satisfy your carb craving. 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!). The food here was top-notch. ), burgers, fish and chips, quesadillas, fries and more! We also only book an Excellence Club Honeymoon Beachfront Swim-Out Suite. You can check it out on the resort map! They have it all from the top-shelf liquor options to local beers and spirits. I would still go. Theres always some type of entertainment going on. Or jump to your topic. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. Im not kidding people were shocked when they saw the photos. The only room type that has a private garden with a pool bigger than a plunge pool is the Imperial Suite. We LOVED the look of the Martini Bar. All Adults - At Excellence El Carmen you are secluded but not isolated. You have three bottles of alcohol in your room as a standard: Stolichnaya Vodka, rum, and whiskey. Other activities include ping-pong, pool tables, and a life-size chess board. The service is excellent and the food is diverse. but then drinks happened and we ended up just lazing by the pool. The beach is the real gem in this resort and we will delve into that in a bit. Tons of free activities like pool games, Mamajuana making, and evening shows. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Excellence El Carmen is very competitively priced for the standard of the resort, food, and service that you get. Another Mexican offering this spot serves up some really top-quality eats. I understand that spa services and tipping are not, but are all the restaurants, drinks and room service included? A terrace lay just outside the sliding doors with your own entrance to a pool that runs alongside the back of the building. If youve never experienced it before, its a must-do! So, in our opinion, they are always worth that extra cost. They do have a dress code for the Grill but we saw many people in cover ups and flip flops. By clicking Accept, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. You can read more about my impressions of Excellence Club at this resort on my other blog post, which I felt deserved one of its own, if youre really into details! This made it great for evenings if you wanted to grab a drink at the bar first, then walk to a restaurant closeby, then back to the theatre for a show. Our Best All-Inclusive Resorts In Puerto Vallarta for Food, Our Best All-Inclusive Resorts in Los Cabos for Food. Its open at 8:00 am and the view of the azul-blue pools and swaying palm trees along the beach cant be beat. White linen table cloths and a wonderful aesthetic give Chez Isabelle a sense of class as you dine. By clicking Accept All, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. Best Adult Only All Inclusive in Punta Cana? You can view your cuts of meat if youre unsure of what you want to order. Those spots, along with the Kitchen Table for the buffet, and room-service, are your breakfast options. As a previous Excellence Resorts guest, I couldn't imagine how the service could get any better! Bvlgari toiletries. 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. We went to Sanoa Island and Hoyo Azul. 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. 1 year ago Save We have been three times now & always EC. Free water sports include kayaks and Hobie Cat catamarans. If youre sharing with a friend or a family member (like my mom and I did), we just called out to each other that we were indecent and to avert your eyes. The room is spacious and modern with a HUGE hidden walk-in closet with plenty of hangers, shelving, robes, a steamer, and a safe. Pricier Excellence Club upgrades add pillow menus, Bulgari toiletries, loaner beach bags, and minibars with top-shelf liquor. Its available 24/7 and the menu is very extensive. Related: What to Pack in a DIY Travel Medical Kit. The steamer in the walk-in closet works great, but its advisable to use bottled water for it. We spent our mornings by the pool, where you have access to their swim up bar, Blue. ), and then charge you a ridiculous amount for it. Fun vacation spot Lisa M on Feb 04, 2023 Although a lot of travel websites and places that you book will say that tips are included in your all-inclusive price, we highly recommend that you bring cash with you to tip the staff in person. The Hoyo Azul is also known as the blue hole and is their most famous one. Perks include upgraded rooms; upgraded room-service menus, minibars, and toiletries; and access to a private lounge with concierge services. Excellence El Carmen: Excellence Club WORTH IT - Read 9,048 reviews, view 11,301 traveller photos, and find great deals for Excellence El Carmen at Tripadvisor. Excellence Club WORTH IT: Excellence El Carmen - See 7,750 traveller reviews, 10,047 photos, and cheap deals for Excellence El Carmen at Tripadvisor. The staff really do put their best foot forward in making it an entertaining getaway for the guests. If you want to swim, I would recommend bringing water shoes to protect your feet! We had an additional bottle of vodka (Absolut), tequila (Agavita) and gin (Tanquerey). We were handed a Coco Loco when we walked in and had a great view of the live music. All of these rooms come with the option of having an ocean view. For a more classic Caribbean beachfront all-inclusive with similar amenities, rates are comparable at the nearby sister resort,Excellence Punta Cana. Members of the WorthEPenny community love shopping at Excellence Resorts. 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. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". Some rooms add semi-private swim-up pools or completely private rooftop pools. You will be treated the same, eat the same, and have largely the same drinks. The food here was good, but nothing to write home about. . Club level had upgraded spirits in the room, were not big drinkers, not indoors anyway, so both times we have been, the spirits were left untouched. This resort is a wonderful place for adults to relax and de-stress, and the Excellence Club in my opinion is absolutely worth it. We have celebrated our past 5 anniversaries at Excellence Group resorts (Excellence Riviera Cancun and The Finest). Resort kids clubs - do they enforce/check ages? There are many options: We never had an issue with the water, from bottled, ice, restaurant water, or brushing our teeth. Theyre very quiet and also have their own bars. The bartender Emilio was great fun and served up the best Margaritas at the resort. We also enjoy breakfast & some dinners at Magna the EC restaurant. The menu for the room service was very extensive. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. We like the Beachfront Honeymoon rooms & these are all EC. You will see it the second that you arrive. Stop by the Food Shark food truck, right at the theatre for tacos, burgers, hot dogs, fries and more! Room service is another great option for lunch, just keep in mind it takes about 45 minutes to arrive. I gravitate towards dishes with flank steak (we ordered the Puebla and Tamaulipas) its easily one of the best beef options and the most flavourful! But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. You can do that here no problem. Just as an FYI if youre walking around indecently with the blinds open. When we stayed in early 2020 we went through the travel agent Sunwing that is based out of Canada. Excellence Club Suites come with access to the private Magna Club restaurant and bar, plus the private lobby puts out special treats and desserts throughout the day. We had a fabulous time the first time we went to ERC, which was non club, so much so we went back for our honeymoon. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. The wide and varied selection continues in your room with a packed mini-bar and a number of premium liquor bottles available. Overall the food here was a pretty good standard for an all-inclusive. The EC toiletries are Bvlgari & lovely but not really important to us. The Cocotal Golf and Country Club. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. You can also pop into the Sports Bar for some infamous cheese sticks and a place to grab a tasty bite during the day or late in the evening. What let the side down here was the quality of the meat. We knew we'd go back so I thought I would do . There is also a Teppanyaki experience that is in Spice. The people (and pets) are so fun. It is brand new so it was not crowded at all. If youre in Excellence Club, try Magna for breakfast at least once! 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 blanket was dirty, showerhead was rusty, the air vent in the bathroom was clogged with dust and hair. If you are not in Excellence Club, you can swap out one bottle of alcohol per day. Note: Bring your swimsuit with you for hydrotherapy! Excellence El Carmen is a large, and fairly new (2016) all-inclusive resort with a modern and tropical vibe. If you buy something through our links, Oyster may earn an affiliate commission. My husband doesn't drink and I may have one drink a day at most so the liquor is not of value to us, however, we are interested in the spa treatments included in the excellence club as well as the room location being closer to the beach/better view. This is the only restaurant at Excellence El Carmen where you need a reservation. On both occasions, the food came within 20 minutes and arrived hot, which is always the worry with room service. From the moment you get out of bed and slip into the private pool outside your Junior Suite your day is going to be electric and jam-packed with fun, romance, action and entertainment. Before dinner every night we perched ourselves at the Martini bar for a few pre-dinner drinks. There is a bar by every pool and by both Excellence Club beaches on either end of the resort, which made it quite handy wherever we were walking. We have been to EPC 8 times, and we always do the EC, mainly because we prefer the upgraded, less crowded beach area. If you are willing to change it you might get a bargain. If you love Indian food, Basmati is a fun option to try. The 23 freshwater pools are scattered throughout the resort and include a main pool with ocean views and two accessible ramps. A. If you have stayed in an Excellence resort before you know that the amenities on offer are always top class. I would recommend the hydrotherapy, plus you may even be given an additional spa discount for another service after. All food, snacks, room service, fully stocked mini-bar drinks, and a variety of classes and amenities are included in the package. Excellence El Carmen is a large, and fairly new (2016) all-inclusive resort with a modern and tropical vibe. Some people have said they have asked upwards of $80 USD for these photos. I definitely would like to stay at this resort. There are too many food stations to even mention. 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. Huge walk-in closets are fully shelved and big enough to unpack a steamer trunk with room to spare. To cooking lessons where the chefs will teach you how to make local Dominican food and sushi. After youre finished eating, you can place your dishes in the X-Box located right at your door. If you are booking a room with a swim-up suite make sure to request a room that is directly in the sun during the day or in the morning. There are plenty of plugs throughout the room, including two USB ports for charging on either side of your bed. Does the Excellence El Carmen offer a shuttle service from the Airport. I love the different dishes and flavour combinations. What to Pack for an All-Inclusive Vacation (Plus Free Printable! Men are to wear long pants and closed-toed shoes for dinner and collared shirts, and women in dresses/capris/skirts with elegant shoes (no flip flops permitted). El Carmen has one huge advantage in regards to our dining experience: The coffee shop. We were not excellence club. Our rooms were cleaned twice a day and the housekeeping staff was great at staying consistent in regards to the timings they would clean our room. The beach does accumulate seaweed on the shoreline, but the staff works tirelessly to keep it off. The Excellence El Carmen adults-only all-inclusive resort opened in late 2016 and has one of Punta Canas most modern and hip vibes. Their guacamole was delicious! We went on the day they had tacos and it was SO good. Its always a favourite spot to gather before and after dinner to enjoy a cocktail. As soon as you enter the resort you really are put at ease. Resort recs for relaxing, great beach, hot tub? Your bags will be taken by the staff and be delivered to your room. The beach is public which means vendors can have full access to guests, wherever theyre sitting on the beach, to ask them to buy what theyre selling. To some it definitely seems like the EC is worth it, but by the sounds of it to me and the wife, I think we'll be just fine with our first room choice even though the EC is not an option. by Adrian updated July 31, 2021, 2:41 pm. If youve never tried Indian cuisine, I recommend branching out and trying some new dishes! Dont get us wrong, the steaks were well prepared and the burger we tried too was pretty good. We heard from a few of our fellow guests that if you ask very nicely that you can potentially order some of the dishes from the restaurants to be delivered to your room. This is what I normally tip but remember, this is completely discretionary! Open-plan bathrooms are spacious and include tan granite or black marble vanities plus double sinks. All are part of the hotel's all-inclusive rates, as is 24-hour room service. The park also boasts a range of other activities including ziplines, animal parks, and the impressive surrounding forest. 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. There were tons of loungers and palapas available, with great poolside service.
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