Getting to beautiful Saona Island takes an hour and 15 minutes and requires a drive followed by a boat ride. This post contains affiliate linkswhich means I earn compensation when you click on the links at absolutely no extra cost to you! It boasts white- and golden-sand beaches, swaying palm trees protected by the government, turquoise waters, and pleasant year-round temperatures. Bavaro Express Bus Information? drinks to try everything from Americanos to flavoured coffees with everything you could imagine maybe a little something extra in it if thats how you like to start your day. , Just an FYI the room service coffee was a bit strong and potent. Honestly, though the room service menu is so large that you probably wont need to do this. Its totally free, so why not take advantage of it? What to Pack for an All-Inclusive Vacation (Plus Free Printable! The Excellence chain of resorts is known to put out a very decent standard of food and the Excellence El Carmen is no different. I thought the additional cost was worth it overall but would have probably had a good time without it also if I had never experienced EC level. This was very close to being our favorite as the food here was very authentic and delicious. Access to a private beach area. This bar is also a great place to go after dinner. Quite frankly, aside from the private, frosted-glass door for the toilet, its all open air. 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 Martini bar is a great place to grab a cocktail and watch the world go by. The X lounge was our other most frequented spot. A. We like the Beachfront Honeymoon rooms & these are all EC. There is also room service! we decided to splurge and upgrade to Excellence Club Junior Suite with Private Pool. The bartender Emilio was great fun and served up the best Margaritas at the resort. - See 9 464 traveller reviews, 11,732 candid photos, and great deals for Excellence El Carmen at Tripadvisor. . We ordered all the seafood here crab cakes, lobster bisque, lobster risotto (we shared this, and its AMAZING get it! We did this one night and got food from Chez Isabella. The evening cleaning was more of a turndown service. 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. Paper straws are biodegradable and inexpensive. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. I piggybacked on another guests recommendation of the Power Smoothie + strawberries and it tasted like a peanut butter and jelly sandwich! You want for nothing and youre pampered as soon as youre handed a glass of champagne and walk through those big wooden doors that open to the main lobby, where the spa-like zen instantly soothes you. ), Cuban sandwich (also really good! 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. We ended up trying the cheese sticks, croque monsieur, and Asian chicken salad to share and it was all tasty. Since my mom and I were on a girls trip (which we hardly ever get to do!) Do not miss the huge savings! However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent. Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. By proceeding, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. 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! If you are travelling from North America, you do not need to bring an adapter with you. It was awkward drinking Coco Locos without them! You can also get this type of room without Excellence Club. If you are not in Excellence Club, you can swap out one bottle of alcohol per day. Ecological park with flamingos and macaws on-site. Just as an FYI if youre walking around indecently with the blinds open. They do have nets as of the beginning of this month! The Lobster House is what I imagine to be the best spot for a breakfast choice. To use our mobile site, please enable JavaScript. The people (and pets) are so fun. Another Mexican offering this spot serves up some really top-quality eats. If you love seafood, be sure to hit up the Lobster House! Smooth as can be. This was pretty much the only time that we had any issues with the service throughout our stay. Yes literally everything here is included! All restaurants, with the exception of Oregano and the Lobster House were located off the main lobby, making everything centrally located in one spot. 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. ), or you can be served over by your palapa. Junior Suites can sleep up to three people, but the rest of the room types are for a maximum of two guests. An Italian offering that serves up all of the staple dishes you would expect from your local Italian. Although theres no money involved it was a great way to mingle with the other guests. We are going to EEC to celebrate our anniversary in mid September. You could jump from activity to activity all day long and you still wouldnt be able to participate in all of them. The menu has your typical bar food favorites such as nachos, burgers, and Pizzas. Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features. The gym at this resort is very well stocked. As for swimming pools, Excellence Punta Canas main pool is bigger, but Excellence El Carmen has more rooms with swim-up access or private pools. The service is amazing as it always is at Excellence Resorts. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. Those on our bus who had Excellence Club rooms were taken to those rooms while everyone else was taken to a normal check-in area . Excellence Club at Excellence El Carmen Built as an exclusive haven within a world-class resort, the Excellence Club unlocks a host of upgraded amenities, added perks, intuitive service, and exclusive areas. Dont have time to read this review of Excellence El Carmen right now? It seats up to 8 and there is a set menu. Avoiding grains? After youre finished eating, you can place your dishes in the X-Box located right at your door. You will likely not even realize what you are "missing" being non club. Note that none of the bars are open 24/7. After dinner, there was always something going on. 73 reviews of Atelier Playa Mujeres "A M A Z I N G !!!!! 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. 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. 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. Your email address will not be published. This is a must-visit if youre a fan of Indian food. To cooking lessons where the chefs will teach you how to make local Dominican food and sushi. By clicking Accept All, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. Excellence resorts are just that: Excellent! The atmosphere is always buzzing. We had just as much fun watching everyone as those who participated in it. My favourite spots included Aroma, the Revive Bar, Magna (for Excellence Club), and the Lobster House. . Excellence calls it casual elegance.. It takes roughly 45 minutes for it to show up at your room but I loved the freedom it gave us with getting ready and not having to get froofrooed up, as my mom says. 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. If youve never tried Indian cuisine, I recommend branching out and trying some new dishes! Make sure to make use of the room service, not only do they serve an extensive range of food, but if you fancy a midday cocktail they will also bring that to your room too. Excellence El Carmen suites are some of the most attractive that we've seen in the Punta Cana region. They will want to take a photo of you with them (or you phone, too! The staff really do put their best foot forward in making it an entertaining getaway for the guests. Their feature menu changes daily and its a great place to visit if you want a quick, self-service bite to eat. It was packed when we arrived and we actually walked away the first time because we thought we wouldnt get in. Our Best All-Inclusive Resorts In Puerto Vallarta for Food, Our Best All-Inclusive Resorts in Los Cabos for Food. 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. Available only to guests that are staying in Excellence club rooms, this bar and restaurant snack area is another place to relax and grab a drink or some food. : Excellence El Carmen - See 9,462 traveller reviews, 11,732 photos, and cheap deals for Excellence El Carmen at Tripadvisor. This is $699 USD, or complimentary with 6 nights or more in any Excellence Club room category! The room is spacious and modern with a HUGE hidden walk-in closet with plenty of hangers, shelving, robes, a steamer, and a safe. If you want to be in a secluded spot and close to the beach then building 9 is your best bet. We arrived in the morning and our room wasnt ready yet, so we went and grabbed a cocktail at the main bar. Those wanting their own private pool can book a range of other suite types, including the Excellence El Carmen Terrace Suite with Plunge Pool, Junior Suite with Plunge Pool, and any of the Two-Story Rooftop Terrace Suites available. The EC toiletries are Bvlgari & lovely but not really important to us. If youve been to Excellence Playa Mujeres or Riviera Cancun, there is an additional Wine Cellar you can dine in privately. Keep in mind that you are in the Dominican Republic but the food here is far better than other resorts Ive been to while travelling here. 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. 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. 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. Those spots, along with the Kitchen Table for the buffet, and room-service, are your breakfast options. Some of the jets really move your swimsuit around and I remember one year I had to hang on to my top and bottoms during some of the water treatments! And since its the second-largest country. I LOVE Excellence properties, and Excellence El Carmen is nothing short of an amazing resort in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. Excellence Club provides additional benefits, but is it really worth it? Its important to remember the Excellence dress code! Premium alcohol and specialty beers are included. Over the 7 days that we visited the Excellence, there were two weddings that we saw going on. Book Excellence El Carmen, Uvero Alto on Tripadvisor: See 9,464 traveler reviews, 12,158 candid photos, and great deals for Excellence El Carmen, ranked #3 of 9 hotels in Uvero Alto and rated 4.5 of 5 at Tripadvisor. This was definitely the spot we frequented most for lunch. We nearly missed it and it was our favourite lunch! With 8 treadmills, 6 ellipticals, a number of stationary exercise bikes, free weights, and a wide variety of machine weights its the perfect spot to work off the indulgence from the night before. When we ate there we went for the classics with a Burrito and a quesadilla and they were very tasty. Other activities include ping-pong, pool tables, and a life-size chess board. For beachside dining, head to Las Olas. Magna has the best coffee at the resort French press and we loved that our server wheeled out a bread card and cut it for us. Its available 24/7 and the menu is very extensive. As they fill up quickly. They have a lovely Gazebo overlooking the water which looks like the perfect spot to exchange vows. You will be treated the same, eat the same, and have largely the same drinks. There are plenty of plugs throughout the room, including two USB ports for charging on either side of your bed. Each restaurant has numerous options for lighter fare. 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. The marquee element of the park is the Hoyo Azul. . The bed is comfortable but if you choose to switch out your pillows, there is a pillow menu (on the Excellence app) if you want to try another one by calling the concierge. Alternatively, you may use, Sanctuary Cap Cana, a Luxury Collection All-Inclusive Resort. If youre part of the Excellence club you will have the likes of Absolut Vodka, Johnny Walker Black Label, and Anejo Rum. Sunny yellows, lush flora greens, and ocean blues set the scene for a transfixing mix of island charm and elegance. The rest of the pools are either for guests staying in Swim-Up units or exclusive for Excellence Club guests. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". This is obviously down to the staff who were so proactive in making sure the place looked tidy. The building that we were in had faced the sun in the late afternoon, so the swim-up suite wasnt too much use. Required fields are marked *. Excellence El Carmen, Uvero Alto: "Can anyone who upgraded to Excellence club upon." | Check out 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. There are tons of bars throughout the resort. The only restaurant that requires a reservation is Spice, which has limited seating at its teppanyaki counters. I was confused because were in an EC building, and its the room we booked, but apparently not all of building 9 is EC. If youre an Excellence club guest you will have a complimentary Hydrotherapy session during your stay. 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. Excellence El Carmen, Uvero Alto: "How much is the excellence club upgrade" | Check out 5 answers, plus 8 660 reviews and 12 158 candid photos Ranked #3 of 7 hotels in Uvero Alto and rated 4.5 of 5 at Tripadvisor. ), but some of my favourites were the Circus Show, Michael Jackson, Queen, and the fire show (do not miss that!). You always have the option for room service if you want to just veg out at night, too! I understand that spa services and tipping are not, but are all the restaurants, drinks and room service included? That does mean that there arent many things to do near Excellence El Carmen, and guests will have to rely on cabs or car rentals should they want to explore outside of the resort. Like other Excellence properties, guests can splurge on upgraded Excellence Club packages. Hats off to Chef Masood and his team that churns out some really top-quality cuisine. When it comes to food, the resorts 11 restaurants offer numerous options from casual spots to fine-dining. The food here was good, but nothing to write home about. Its luxurious rooms and suites make for the ideal romantic getaway and this property caters to honeymooners and those celebrating their anniversary. At all of the Excellence resorts, the check-in process is really an experience. There are blinds to draw down for privacy if you wish. The balcony was covered in cigarette butts when we checked in. 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. We were not excellence club. Uvero Alto, Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, Best All-Inclusive Resorts in the Caribbean, Best All-Inclusive Resorts in the Dominican Republic, Best All-Inclusive Resorts in Uvero Alto, Punta Cana, Best Luxury Hotels in Uvero Alto, Punta Cana, Best Adults-Only Resorts in the Caribbean, Best Beach Hotels in Uvero Alto, Punta Cana, 14 Luxury Caribbean Resorts for Adults Only, The Ultimate Cheat Sheet for Caribbean All-Inclusive Resort Club Upgrades, Hotel Face-Off: Excellence Punta Cana vs. Excellence El Carmen, Uvero Alto: See 9,457 traveller reviews, 12,158 photos, and cheap rates for Excellence El Carmen, ranked #3 of 7 hotels in Uvero Alto and rated 4.5 of 5 at Tripadvisor. Related: What to Pack in a DIY Travel Medical Kit. At the other Excellence guest-only eatery, we were pretty disappointed with the restaurant. If youre not already a member of Welcome to Excellence El Carmen on Facebook I highly recommend you join there are a ton of Q&As in there! Our first room was filthy. We love to tip, and I feel like everyone should tip, even a little bit! As well as a nice selection of ice creams for your midday treat. The club rooms do have a better coffee maker, little cakes delivered every night which were a nice touch, also fruit delivery every day, which we didn't eat and a daily US newspaper - not much use for us as we're British. Excellence Club upgrade provides a private pool, beach, lounge, and restaurant. All products are independently selected by our writers and editors. The vanity has a double sink and there are numerous towels, hand towels, and facecloths, along with a hairdryer. You definitely get better value for money in the Dominican Republic compared to the likes of Mexico. When it comes to adults-only luxury, Excellence El Carmen in the Dominican Republic has it down to a science. They take you off the resort to see some interesting things nearby. We always stay in the club area to take advantage of the club anniversary package. ), and then charge you a ridiculous amount for it. Book Excellence El Carmen, Uvero Alto on Tripadvisor: See 9,455 traveller reviews, 12,158 candid photos, and great deals for Excellence El Carmen, ranked #3 of 7 hotels in Uvero Alto and rated 4.5 of 5 at Tripadvisor. Of course there is the Excellence Club lounge bar; an intimate and quiet setting to relax at. We (once again!) The buffet, Kitchen Table, has options for everyone Id be shocked to learn if someone couldnt find something they liked. The park has a number of sinkholes and caves that can be explored. They will come up to you and place them on you without even asking. It looked like they had drinks and a canopy thing going on there. The biggest question when youre considering an all-inclusive resort is the quality of the food. Its open from 9:00 am 4:00 pm and has all kinds of fruit smoothies and juices to try. The Excellence Punta Cana is located a short 6-minute drive from the El Carmin offering, as well as the Finest Punta Cana which is their latest offering and is located a 5-minute drive from the El Carmen. We hit up this spot every single day. I understand and appreciate that tipping is subjective. The entire week we didnt have anyone above us either, which was awesome! Our food was delivered hot, and was set up right in our room. The steamer in the walk-in closet works great, but its advisable to use bottled water for it. Excellence El Carmen review: the Property. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. There is also the Silent Disco. 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. Plus, the addition of the Excellence Club lounge and bar makes it a great hangout spot before or after dinner. If youre in a private pool or swim-up suite. 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). Excellence El Carmen: Perfection!! This is one of the more popular restaurants on the resort. The 23 freshwater pools are scattered throughout the resort and include a main pool with ocean views and two accessible ramps. Guests are mostly honeymooners and couples celebrating wedding anniversaries from the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. There are many options: silicone straws, metal straws (which keep your drinks cold) or paper straws. Pricier Excellence Club upgrades add pillow menus, Bulgari toiletries, loaner beach bags, and minibars with top-shelf liquor. 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. Even an extra dollar or two goes a long way in improving their quality of life. Others have said all I have is $5 and they take it. I love the different dishes and flavour combinations. All food, snacks, room service, fully stocked mini-bar drinks, and a variety of classes and amenities are included in the package. It's definitely not a party resort with guests pounding shots -- the vibe is more towards sipping martinis. You will likely not even realize what you are "missing" being non club. 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. The two beachfront beauties are almost neighbors you can get from one gated entrance to the next in a five-minute drive. The beach is the real gem in this resort and we will delve into that in a bit. The Excellence El Carmen is about a 45-minute drive from the airport. Excellence Club upgrades come with private lounge and restaurant access, an exclusive area on the beach, and daily in-room treats. Eating low carb? - Read 9,463 reviews, view 11,732 photos, and find great deals for Excellence El Carmen at Tripadvisor You alternate between hot and cold pools, steam rooms and saunas, jet-oriented water experiences and more! Other than that, you will surely have a beautiful stay at a great resort. Excellence El Carmen, which reopened successfully on November 28, has that vibe, too, but this property is more like a night in the city. Few vendors prowl the floury-soft sand in this part of Punta Cana. Hmm. The food, the staff, and the feel you get as you walk through the resort are 5-star. Does Excellence El Carmen have a club? From what we have read from the reviews the Excellence has really stepped up its game in creating a clean and safe environment in these uncertain times. All are part of the hotel's all-inclusive rates, as is 24-hour room service. If you stayed for a week you wouldnt be able to visit them all, unless you visited more than one a night! Rooms are elegant in both resorts, but Excellence El Carmens are slightly bigger and more swish. Basmati is one restaurant Im sad to have missed on this trip! However, the dress code is one of the reasons why we love Excellence. We sat outside on the terrace and the resort was so pretty lit up at night. And, if youre even more like me, food is very important to you! The expansive property seems large but its very walkable and manageable (as well as accessible). Lobster doesn't cost extra either. Many rooms at the Excellence Resort El Carmen feature direct access to a pool, private or shared with other guests in the same room category. more. Free daily classes like yoga and stretching are available, and personal training sessions are included in nightly rates as well. Best Adult Only All Inclusive in Punta Cana? French, Indian, Spanish, and Mexican restaurants are also open. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. It does not store any personal data. There are 23 pools and 9 jacuzzis at Excellence El Carmen seriously! 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 Club is described as the best adults-only all-inclusive resort experience in the Dominican Republic, with upscale service and elevated offerings. A nice L-shaped couch that made the perfect midday lounging area. but then drinks happened and we ended up just lazing by the pool. Your minifridge will be stocked with four bottles of water, club soda, tonic water, fanta, orange juice, coke, and Presidente beer (regular and light). We have been to ERC twice, once non club, then went club for our honeymoon. 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. 7 de junio de 2022; where to buy used bicycles near me It was never rowdy, and is quite peaceful here and we enjoyed the central location to everything we wanted. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. I love the outdoor seating and the decor here. The deal I can get right now makes the Junior Suite Pool View really affordable but the Club is just out of our reach. 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. We highly recommend doing this as the pools they have for this are really nice. There are tons of different hot (and cold!)
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