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. 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! Its a really nice option if you dont feel like getting into your evening clothes and instead just chilling out in the room. 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. If you do not like those, or want to swap them out for something else, you can do that too! . When it comes to adults-only luxury, Excellence El Carmen in the Dominican Republic has it down to a science. 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. Some rooms add semi-private swim-up pools or completely private rooftop pools. Paper straws are biodegradable and inexpensive. 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. Note: They do not serve their drinks with straws, so bring your own if you wish! Nothing beats having a warm ocean breeze while dining and there are loads of choices to satisfy everyones taste buds, from pizza and pasta to healthier options like salads. Eating low carb? As well as the staple options such as an omelet station for breakfast and a burger station for lunch and dinner. Drink service is on offer at the pools and beach. Our food was delivered hot, and was set up right in our room. We visited these during our other Excellence trips and loved them. Your best option is a 35-minute drive from the resort. Everyone greeted us with an Hola and a smile and you felt welcomed. Although theres no money involved it was a great way to mingle with the other guests. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. Excellence Club WORTH IT - Review of Excellence El Carmen Excellence El Carmen: Great hotel ! Casual wear (no wet swimsuits) is acceptable elsewhere for breakfast and lunch. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. In the video we tell you how we planned o. The food at Spice is the real star here, so if you have done Teppanyaki before we advise you to give it a miss. Excellence El Carmen: 5 star? . We found the signal to be very good throughout the resort. 7 de junio de 2022; where to buy used bicycles near me To use our mobile site, please enable JavaScript. We spent our mornings by the pool, where you have access to their swim up bar, Blue. Will we miss out on a lot if we do not book the Club Level? Its normally located on the X-Lounge terrace outside, but ours was held at the Kitchen Table. There are also a number of liquor bottles that are in the room too. If you want a little pick-me-up, there are fruit cups, snacks, and gelato here, too! We ate in our bathrobes and drank mimosas and it was glorious. 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. I also realize there is a lot of confusion with tipping at all-inclusive resorts, since technically, your package includes gratuities. Pricier Excellence Club upgrades add pillow menus, Bulgari toiletries, loaner beach bags, and minibars with top-shelf liquor. Excellence El Carmen | Excellence Club Buildings & Room Numbers Dont have time to read this review of Excellence El Carmen right now? The vibrant colors of the Caribbean are the inspiration behind the dcor at both resorts. Check out their website to see what is actually included. We stayed at the Excellence El Carmen in mid-2019 and our review is based on that experience. It was the best thing we ate all week! Punta Cana International Airport is about a 45-minute drive from the resort. This bar is also a great place to go after dinner. This adults-only resort is the perfect place to have a relaxing break in the beautiful surroundings of the Dominican Republic. Excellence El Carmen is very competitively priced for the standard of the resort, food, and service that you get. Whether youre an early riser or someone who likes to lounge in the morning and head for a later breakfast, there are loads of choices for you. . We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. 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. We highly recommend the Irish coffee they serve for a great morning wakeup and hey, your own holidays, what better way to start the day than with alcohol and caffeine. 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. (Feb 1, 2022). I ordered a rib-eye steak and to be honest there was way too much fat compared to the ribeyes I usually eat. The weather was a little windy at times however that's just one of the challenges of trav. This topic has been closed to new posts due to inactivity. hirako83 7 mo. You will likely not even realize what you are "missing" being non club. 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! Find it on the Apple Store or Google Play! There are tons of delicious vegetarian dishes (along with non-veg options) you can order you wont miss the meat! Im sure if we couldnt get an EC room we would still have a great time though. - See 9,459 traveler reviews, 11,732 candid photos, and great deals for Excellence El Carmen at Tripadvisor. If youve never experienced it before, its a must-do! You also have an ice bucket, and the ice machines are located on every floor of every room block for easy filling. These cookies do not store any personal information. White linen table cloths and a wonderful aesthetic give Chez Isabelle a sense of class as you dine. Excellence El Carmen | WestJet official site Dreams resorts All your questions answered! Theres always some type of entertainment going on. They're big and breezy, with marble floors, walls paneled in hardwood and neutral fabrics, and glass-enclosed whirlpools for two that overlook private balconies (most with some sort of ocean view). As these pools are not heated, they were very cold during the day. We went on the day they had tacos and it was SO good. Feeling hungry late at night? 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 handed a Coco Loco when we walked in and had a great view of the live music. The wide and varied selection continues in your room with a packed mini-bar and a number of premium liquor bottles available. Theyre easy to pack and inexpensive and so worth having! Its a lovely experience. Note that none of the bars are open 24/7. When we stayed there was a bottle of Smirnoff Vodka, Anejo Rum, Jose Cuervo Tequila, and a bottle of red wine. The entertainment crew really does make a solid effort in keeping everyone entertained with a wide range of activities going on throughout the day. dwayne johnson rock foundation contact. While interiors are sharp, it's the hotel's lush grounds that give this property its away-from-it-all atmosphere. The food here was top-notch. They will come up to you and place them on you without even asking. The resort does a wonderful job of keeping the EC things hidden. Between the excellence punta Cana and the 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. We got to give a shout-out to Adriano who served us every day at the beach. We had some insightful conversations with some of the employees there and they really love their jobs and are grateful for them. By the end of day one, he had our drinks orders ready before we even had to ask. Located right above one of the pools and overlooking the beach, this is the perfect spot for some pre-dinner drinks while you listen to the lapping waves. Is Excellence Club worth it? : r/PuntaCana - reddit 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. This obviously doesnt matter, but its just an observation. Some people have said they have asked upwards of $80 USD for these photos. All-inclusive rates cover meals at 11 restaurants (including several a la carte eateries) and top-shelf drinks, plus 24-hour room service and activities like snorkeling, Spanish lessons, and beach volleyball. If it would be a financial hardship, just pass on it because you will still have a great time. Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. So I am just checking to see if there was any extra fees that arent included! 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. The people (and pets) are so fun. The question of club vs. non-club is asked all the time on the forums. Q. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. If youre in a private pool or swim-up suite. 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. The service is amazing as it always is at Excellence Resorts. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. You are greeted with a glass of bubbly and a cold towel. The spa is always one place I love to check out at Excellence Resorts. While both resorts offer access to beautiful beaches, the stretch of sand at Excellence Punta Cana is perhaps just a little bit nicer. If youve been to Excellence Playa Mujeres or Riviera Cancun, there is an additional Wine Cellar you can dine in privately. 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! There is lots of choice at the Excellence El Carmen and if you have stayed in the Excellence chain of resorts before you will be familiar with their room offering. 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. But, if youre sitting on the bed, the bathroom is behind you so you cant see anything. 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. For Excellence Club guests, you have the option to dine at Magna. Those spots, along with the Kitchen Table for the buffet, and room-service, are your breakfast options. Junior Suites can sleep up to three people, but the rest of the room types are for a maximum of two guests. The Dominican Republics minimum wage is the equivalent to $154 USD a month! They serve food here too, but we never ate there. We have to give a shout-out to Felix the bartender here. That is important to us, as we are "beach people" who spend the day from 8am until 6 pm on the beach. Quite frankly, aside from the private, frosted-glass door for the toilet, its all open air. I worry about hidden fees- is EVERYTHING Included in all inclusive? We highly recommend the scallops and the Tuna steak. The pool is HUGE. We arrived in the morning and our room wasnt ready yet, so we went and grabbed a cocktail at the main bar. There are tons of bars throughout the resort. Or jump to your topic. He just appeared. The Hoyo Azul is also known as the blue hole and is their most famous one. However, big waves and strong undertow make it unsuitable for swimming. Subscribe and get my Travel Safety Checklist! 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. To cooking lessons where the chefs will teach you how to make local Dominican food and sushi. Excellence El Carmen Review: What To REALLY Expect If You Stay - Oyster.com 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. We frequented this little shop to get specialty coffee drinks, browse the different pastries and macaroons that were constantly available, and grab an ice cream cone. 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. . Massages and salon services are available at the full-service spa, as is a free hydrotherapy circuit, and the excellent gym offers daily yoga and aerobics classes free of charge. Im not kidding people were shocked when they saw the photos. Excellence El Carmen is very competitively priced. It felt like a newer resort. We hit up this spot every single day. Dont forget Aroma! 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. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". If you love seafood, be sure to hit up the Lobster House! We knew we'd go back so I thought I would do . From the housekeeping, service at the bars to the concierge. It was perfectly located to grab a bite in between tanning yourself. It was pure heaven. There is also the Silent Disco. ), and then charge you a ridiculous amount for it. You can break large bills at the front desk for ones if youre running low. 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. There is also a really nice Coffee shop where you can grab a pick me up and a sweet treat. I love the different dishes and flavour combinations. We always find its good to get out of the resort a few times during your trip and try to see a bit of the country youre visiting. The course is well designed and challenging and the upkeep of the course was very good. Excellence Club WORTH IT - Review of Excellence El Carmen, Uvero Alto I piggybacked on another guests recommendation of the Power Smoothie + strawberries and it tasted like a peanut butter and jelly sandwich! Thats what I love about the food here. Few vendors prowl the floury-soft sand in this part of Punta Cana. 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. When it comes to the food at Excellence El Carmen, there is something for everyone. Regardless! 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. It's worth noting that most dinner restaurants have a casual elegance dress code, which means that t-shirts, tank tops, shorts, and beach sandals are not allowed. This is a must-visit if youre a fan of Indian food. Excellence El Carmen - UPDATED 2023 Prices, Reviews & Photos (Uvero A. They will want to take a photo of you with them (or you phone, too! Truly Excellent! - Review of Excellence El Carmen - Read 9,463 reviews, view 11,732 photos, and find great deals for Excellence El Carmen at Tripadvisor Lobster doesn't cost extra either. It showed which restaurants were open the following day, which activities were scheduled throughout the day, and what the evening entertainment was. Its open from 6:00 pm 11:30 pm, giving you the fuel you need to keep on going! My husband and I did Excellence Playa Mujeres last year. It is brand new so it was not crowded at all. Horseback riding, biking, tennis, and quality excursions (some fees) Free Wi-Fi throughout. If you don't have it that's not going to ruin your vacation, but if you can swing it it will enhance the experience. It makes a great all-inclusive resort option for those wanting luxury and comfort. : Excellence El Carmen - See 9,462 traveller reviews, 11,732 photos, and cheap deals for Excellence El Carmen at Tripadvisor. It doesnt have to be much, and the tips are also very appreciated. You will be greeted at the main door with a glass of prosecco and a smile. When we stayed in early 2020 we went through the travel agent Sunwing that is based out of Canada. We have been to EPC 8 times, and we always do the EC, mainly because we prefer the upgraded, less crowded beach area. The beach at Excellence El Carmen is long its a beautiful, soft, and golden stretch of beach when there is no seaweed. In Excellence El Carmen, a Popular Brand Accomplishes the - Islands The staff work so hard, and provide excellent service with a smile. Spice also has a fun option for groups and for a live cooking show: the Hibachi! The park also boasts a range of other activities including ziplines, animal parks, and the impressive surrounding forest. Today's best Excellence Resorts coupon is up to 62% off. We did take a Spanish class which was a lot of fun, and we also painted one afternoon and you get to take your painting home! Excellence Punta Cana - A Comprehensive Review (2021) Excellence Club guests get private access to a top-notch restaurant that opens for breakfast and dinner. Since my mom and I were on a girls trip (which we hardly ever get to do!) 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 . They do not serve their drinks with straws, so bring your own if you wish! 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. This spot does Tapas really well. Our all-adult, all-suite world is situated on a beautiful Caribbean beach in a palm grove on the east coast of the Dominican Republic. The Excellence El Carmen is about a 45-minute drive from the airport. The staff really do put their best foot forward in making it an entertaining getaway for the guests. 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. (Feb 28, 2021), Which Airlines Are in Terminal A & B? You do not need to bring an adapter with you if you are travelling from North America. The Excellence Punta Cana is a luxury offering at a competitive price. Rooms are elegant in both resorts, but Excellence El Carmens are slightly bigger and more swish. Our two favorite spots were the Martini bar which is the main lobby bar and the X Lounge. If you are willing to change it you might get a bargain. Rooms have one king bed or two queen beds that are framed by boxy nightstands and telescoping chrome reading lights. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. If youre part of the Excellence club you will have the likes of Absolut Vodka, Johnny Walker Black Label, and Anejo Rum. Its architecture is in the Contemporary Caribbean style, and twenty pools wind through our . Its open at 8:00 am and the view of the azul-blue pools and swaying palm trees along the beach cant be beat. ), 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! Like other Excellence properties, guests can splurge on upgraded Excellence Club packages. You can view your cuts of meat if youre unsure of what you want to order. This is also the place you can get fresh coconuts. Youll also get a 15% discount on photo and spa packages! Lunch at the Lobster House and Oregano have the most amazing views. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. 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. The nightclub stays open late and has a DJ who takes request. Although we stayed pre-COVID, as we mentioned the resort was exceptionally clean. Excellence El Carmen- A Comprehensive Review (2021)