At the Excellence Club, every detail of your stay has been upgraded with seamless perks and over-the-top offerings. The nightclub stays open late and has a DJ who takes request. You can do that here no problem. It makes a great all-inclusive resort option for those wanting luxury and comfort. My mom and I had big ambitions to participate in some of the physical activities, like aerial yoga on the beach (how fun right?!) Youre greeted at the front desk, then taken by elevator upstairs, where youre shown your locker room and given a pair of flip flops. If youre in a private pool or swim-up suite. 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. For Excellence Club guests, you have the option to dine at Magna. There is also a plug inside your safe should you choose to charge your devices while theyre kept away (which I thought was neat!). You can bring this right back to your palapa by the pool or beach to enjoy or eat on the terrace. 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. I am SO happy we decided to book this room, and quite honestly I dont think I can book any other room type now. There is music by the pool bar, too! 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 23 freshwater pools are scattered throughout the resort and include a main pool with ocean views and two accessible ramps. Dont get us wrong, the steaks were well prepared and the burger we tried too was pretty good. - Read 9,463 reviews, view 11,732 photos, and find great deals for Excellence El Carmen at Tripadvisor 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 you don't have it that's not going to ruin your vacation, but if you can swing it it will enhance the experience. Its architecture is in the Contemporary Caribbean style, and twenty pools wind through our . The spa is always one place I love to check out at Excellence Resorts. The expansive property seems large but its very walkable and manageable (as well as accessible). 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. 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. In my opinion, Excellence Club is not worth it at Excellence El Carmen. To be honest I found the whole club thing a bit snooty and always felt a bit uncomfortable when dealing with club concierge, we paid a lot of money to stay club as we were there for 2 weeks and didn't really feel like we were treated any different than non club, which I suppose is a good thing, but I would have hoped that being a returning guest on honeymoon, the club concierge should have spoilt us and put more of an effort in than they did. Tip: bring your own floaties with you! For an authentic Dominican town, the hamlet of Higuey is home to a famous cathedral, local market, and shops, and takes around 50 minutes to reach by car. The spa at Excellence El Carmen was a bit different (for me) since it was located off the main lobby and not in a separate building, like at Excellence Playa Mujeres or Riviera Maya. Just dont go with a wet bathing suit! The staff work so hard, and provide excellent service with a smile. We went for 7 days and flew out of Toronto. We were not excellence club. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Bar-wise, Excellence El Carmens 16 options include swim-up pool bars, a sports bar, a martini lounge, a beach bar, and a made-to-order juice bar with fresh fruits and veggies. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. In the past 30 days, there are 52 WorthEPenny members who reportedly saved an average of $16.22 on their purchase with Excellence Resorts coupon codes. If youre an Excellence club guest you will have a complimentary Hydrotherapy session during your stay. Thanks in advance. My mom had a good point if you need to rinse your straws out, it can become inconvenient with having to run to a sink to rinse out, or could possibly make you sick if youre not using bottled water. The Masala beef was the best we have ever had. This was super convenient, as we could plan out our day for when our room was being cleaned. 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 spent our mornings at the main pool with their (only) swim up bar, Blue. Getting married here seems to be a very popular choice. Excellence El Carmen is a large, and fairly new (2016) all-inclusive resort with a modern and tropical vibe. 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. (Feb 1, 2022). If you stay in an Excellence Club room those bottles are upgraded. 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! You can get a bottle of the house wine included in your package. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Weirdly enough we found that the food here in the Dominican was way better than the Excellence offerings in their Mexican location. And since its the second-largest country. 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. We did not try Oregano, Spice, Flavour Market, or Basmati during this trip because we ran out of time. The best part? 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. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. The gym at this resort is very well stocked. We really cant fault the Excellence EL Carmen for its cleanliness. When it comes to food, the resorts 11 restaurants offer numerous options from casual spots to fine-dining. It never took longer than 5-10 minutes to walk to anywhere we wanted to go. 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. There are too many food stations to even mention. So all in all, is it worth it, no not for us! 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! You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. For beachside dining, head to Las Olas. After youre finished eating, you can place your dishes in the X-Box located right at your door. It opened its doors in 2016 and has been a firm favorite for all-inclusive resorts in the Dominican Republic and the Caribbean. 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. After one or two many drinks the night before we liked nothing more than getting up and getting some fresh fruit into our bodies. We actually skipped lunch this day just so we could fill up. Anytime we had finished a drink or a meal the staff were on hand to refill or clean away our empty glasses or plates. Our first room was filthy. 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. Spice also has a fun option for groups and for a live cooking show: the Hibachi! we decided to splurge and upgrade to Excellence Club Junior Suite with Private Pool. You can easily miss it if you arent located at that side of the resort, but there is a gorgeous pond with all kinds of waterfowl and flamingos! There is also a really nice Coffee shop where you can grab a pick me up and a sweet treat. The food here was top-notch. Ive talked to quite a few people during our time here about that experience. You certainly will never go thirsty here! 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. My wife and I had a very similar experience at Excellence El Carman in November 2019. We have been to ERC twice, once non club, then went club for our honeymoon. THE ROOMS. While both resorts offer access to beautiful beaches, the stretch of sand at Excellence Punta Cana is perhaps just a little bit nicer. It is brand new so it was not crowded at all. Excellence El Carmen Dominican Republic has shops selling sundries and beach attire, a medical clinic (fee to use), and an ATM. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. If you do not like those, or want to swap them out for something else, you can do that too! We ate in our bathrobes and drank mimosas and it was glorious. Its totally free, so why not take advantage of it? 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. The Revive Bar is a delicious choice for those who love liquid breakfasts. Our top recommendations for dishes here are the patatas bravos and the Spanish meatballs. I piggybacked on another guests recommendation of the Power Smoothie + strawberries and it tasted like a peanut butter and jelly sandwich! The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". Sorry such a technical question and really appreciate your in depth review of the place. The Cocotal Golf and Country Club. Their guacamole was delicious! Sanctuary Cap Cana, a Luxury Collection All-Inclusive Resort. One comment I will make that really deterred me from being on the beach, is the vendors. 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. Access to twelve private pools and seven jacuzzis (hot water) in the pool area. Excellence El Carmen, The Most Stunning Beach Towns in the Dominican Republic, Le Sivory Punta Cana By PortBlue Boutique, On a beautiful, palm tree-lined beach with few vendors, All-inclusive rates include premium alcohol and a la carte meals, Elegant suites have free minibars, balconies, and double jetted tubs, Many suites have swim-up access or private pools, 23 pools and nine hot tubs means there are few crowds at the main pool, 11 restaurants include Asian, French, Indian, and Mexican options, A fast-food truck, juice bar, and 24-hour room service, Large, modern gym with free daily yoga and aerobics classes, Attractive spa includes salon services and a free hydrotherapy circuit, Daily entertainment program, plus live music and evening shows, Excellence Club upgrades offer private pool, restaurant, and beach area, Multiple lively bars, plus a nightclub for dancing, Indoor and outdoor event space, plus full business center, Fast and free Wi-Fi throughout the resort, Some reports of minor wear and tear in rooms, Restaurants get mixed reviews and dress code is required at some, No 24-hour bars (but 24-hour room service available). Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. We went to Sanoa Island and Hoyo Azul. It is the perfect spot for a refreshing dip in a really cool location. , Just an FYI the room service coffee was a bit strong and potent. 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 Blue Hole, a cenote with gorgeous turquoise water, is also around a 30-minute drive from the property. French, Indian, Spanish, and Mexican restaurants are also open. 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. 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. Dont have time to read this review of Excellence El Carmen right now? I heard a few people talking about that and then we forgot when we went to steam our dresses. 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. Dreams resorts All your questions answered! Disclaimer: This content was accurate at the time the hotel was reviewed. I also realize there is a lot of confusion with tipping at all-inclusive resorts, since technically, your package includes gratuities. The views at Oregano are lovely (as its located on the other side of the Lobster House) and it makes a great setting with the ocean breeze at night. El Carmen has one huge advantage in regards to our dining experience: The coffee shop. This is the only restaurant at Excellence El Carmen where you need a reservation. The staff work so hard to give us a relaxing and memorable holiday the least we can do is show our appreciation! Yes, even though you didnt consent to it. Are you kidding me!? There are bars dotted all throughout the resort. We have booked to stay at EEC for 2 weeks from opening day! 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!). Reviews/Suggestions. So, to avoid disappointment, arrive early, and maybe grab a drink and enjoy the views while youre waiting! Every time we travel I always bring an extra couple hundred dollars in tips and its well worth it! 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 dwayne johnson rock foundation contact. This adults-only resort is the perfect place to have a relaxing break in the beautiful surroundings of the Dominican Republic. The bartender Emilio was great fun and served up the best Margaritas at the resort. If you stayed for a week you wouldnt be able to visit them all, unless you visited more than one a night! Im with the mindset that if we can afford to travel, we can afford to tip. At all of the Excellence resorts, the check-in process is really an experience. The Excellence El Carmen is another top-class offering from the Excellence chain of resorts. ago Excellence Club is a nice-to-have but no must-have. We are going to EEC to celebrate our anniversary in mid September. Guests are mostly honeymooners and couples celebrating wedding anniversaries from the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. Tech features are solid and include iHome docks, wall-integrated USB plugs, and big smart TVs with satellite channels. The deal I can get right now makes the Junior Suite Pool View really affordable but the Club is just out of our reach. . Drink service is on offer at the pools and beach. For Excellence Club guests, dont miss Magna! Re the alcohol in the room, on our last visit, we didn't touch it. For a more serene atmosphere, dont miss the pools by buildings 11-16. From themed nights such as Casino night and Dominican night. Once the info sheet is delivered try and book the treatment for the next day to grab a bargain. Alternatively, you may use, Sanctuary Cap Cana, a Luxury Collection All-Inclusive Resort. This is $699 USD, or complimentary with 6 nights or more in any Excellence Club room category! The beach does accumulate seaweed on the shoreline, but the staff works tirelessly to keep it off. 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. Flavour Market is a great spot for tapas, sharing, and light bites. Just as an FYI if youre walking around indecently with the blinds open. There are tons of different hot (and cold!) These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. We found this place the most difficult to get a booking for at peak times. It opened its doors in 2016 and has been a firm favorite for all-inclusive resorts in the Dominican Republic and the Caribbean. One of the best elements of the Excellence chain of resorts is their extensive drinks selection. I was confused because were in an EC building, and its the room we booked, but apparently not all of building 9 is EC. Note: we had someone come by our room every morning around 8:00-8:30 am to clean the pool from the outside. The pool is HUGE. It showed which restaurants were open the following day, which activities were scheduled throughout the day, and what the evening entertainment was. Although there is no golf course in the resort there are a few options within driving distance of the resort. We have booked Excellence in Playa Mujeres and in El Carmen for 2016 both non club rooms. You will likely not even realize what you are "missing" being non club. For quick eats, Food Shark Food Truck serves tacos and nachos from a vintage bus, while Aroma slings coffee and desserts -- plus a rotating ice cream wheel. The EC beach is similar to the non EC but you get the loungers made up for you & concierges to look after you. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. If you love seafood, be sure to hit up the Lobster House! All products are independently selected by our writers and editors. If you buy something through our links, Oyster may earn an affiliate commission. 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! 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. Does Excellence El Carmen have a club? Although theres no money involved it was a great way to mingle with the other guests. Quite frankly, aside from the private, frosted-glass door for the toilet, its all open air. 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. You will be greeted at the main door with a glass of prosecco and a smile. Excellence El Carmen is a large, and fairly new (2016) all-inclusive resort with a modern and tropical vibe. A Lot of these are connected to the swim-up suites. The resort has tennis courts and free lessons. There are a few tasty options here, like the Dominican patty (filled with beef, raisins and egg, and sooo good! 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. It didnt bother me, but if youre expecting a pristine, white sandy beach, you wont find it here. We have zero complaints and hence the shortest section on this review! Before dinner every night we perched ourselves at the Martini bar for a few pre-dinner drinks. You will see it the second that you arrive. Its luxurious rooms and suites make for the ideal romantic getaway and this property caters to honeymooners and those celebrating their anniversary. The park has a number of sinkholes and caves that can be explored. 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). Fooding and Drinking outside the resort (El Hoyo/Fruisa), Holidaying with a 10 month old from UK. For starters, its absolutely stunning. 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. ), burgers, fish and chips, quesadillas, fries and more! There is a massive king-sized bed which is super comfortable. I will second Thomasgran for all of the reasons he stated. 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. There is also a Teppanyaki experience that is in Spice. But, if youre sitting on the bed, the bathroom is behind you so you cant see anything. This adults-only resort is the perfect place to have a relaxing break in the beautiful surroundings of the Dominican Republic. NEW riu palace bavaro ----opening when?????? Excellence Playa Mujeres: Mexicos Best Adults-Only Resort! The Hoyo Azul is also known as the blue hole and is their most famous one. or just the tennis net. 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. 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! We brought these ones which were the perfect size, and were easy to inflate, and easy to pack up to bring home! There are a wide array of cuisines on offer in this resort with 12 restaurants and one additional restaurant that is available to Excellence club members only. 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! They will want to take a photo of you with them (or you phone, too! The service wasnt particularly good the day we went as it took over an hour for us to get our main courses. You could jump from activity to activity all day long and you still wouldnt be able to participate in all of them. The park also boasts a range of other activities including ziplines, animal parks, and the impressive surrounding forest. We ended up trying the cheese sticks, croque monsieur, and Asian chicken salad to share and it was all tasty. Yes, a shuttle service from the airport can be requested. Note: They do not serve their drinks with straws, so bring your own if you wish! The price including flights, airport transfers, and the all-inclusive came out to $3,000 USD for the complete stay. Now, that is what their website states, but we saw many people in flip flops and tank tops, so Im not sure how much the dress code is enforced. Please check our partner sites when booking to verify that details are still correct. . Yes literally everything here is included! For those who wish to explore down the beach, Tropical Treasures also has great beach side massages and souvenirs. That is important to us, as we are "beach people" who spend the day from 8am until 6 pm on the beach. 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! 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). 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. 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. When my lovely friends invited me to their destination wedding at Excellence El Carmen, how could I say no? Feel free to read mydisclosure policy. The property's secluded beach is one of Punta Canas best. The cleaning in the morning was the main clean of the day and lasted about 15 minutes. My mom had the pork ribs with sweet potato mash and the meat was so tender. The sauce was rich yet balanced and the beef literally melted in the mouth. Save it for later! 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. 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. Hi Taylor! The Excellence Punta Cana is a luxury offering at a competitive price. If youre on a tight schedule or just want to get on with your day, the buffet is your friend. It almost feels like you have been whisked to the streets of Barcelona with the standard of food here. It was awkward drinking Coco Locos without them! Lets start off by saying all of the rooms at this resort are massive, so space will never be an issue. The evening cleaning was more of a turndown service. It's like VIP at the airport. The butter chicken was really good. To cooking lessons where the chefs will teach you how to make local Dominican food and sushi. The main pool is located quite close to the beach and then two additional pools are located near buildings 12-16. The main eatery of the resort, this buffet is really impressive. If it would be a financial hardship, just pass on it because you will still have a great time. Adults-Only Luxury at Excellence Riviera Cancun, What to Pack for an All-Inclusive Resort Vacation, The Best Adults-Only Resorts in Mexico for a Romantic Getaway, What to Include in a DIY Travel Medical Kit, Why You Need to Stay at El Dorado Casitas Royale, Mexico, 20 Cheap Travel Items Under $20 (that are actually useful!). There is a daily room keeping as well as turndown service which is always nice to come back to: slippers by the bed, sheets drawn back, beside lights on, bottles of water on the nightstands, and flower petals or towels done up in some cute display. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Other than that, you will surely have a beautiful stay at a great resort. 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. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. The Dominican Republic has a really beautiful landscape and the Hoyo Azul at Scape Park is a spectacular sight. Woodie and I went to Excellence El Carmen, Dominican Republic in December 2021 and absolutely loved the resort! However, big waves and strong undertow make it unsuitable for swimming. You can break large bills at the front desk for ones if youre running low. That, of course, is no fault of the hotel. I know they have tennis and their activities list pickle ballbut do they actually use pickle ball nets? What to Pack for an All-Inclusive Vacation (Plus Free Printable! If youve been to Excellence Playa Mujeres or Riviera Cancun, there is an additional Wine Cellar you can dine in privately. We love the whole adults only thing and the dining options that the Excellence offer hence why we feel that nothing else compares and why we have booked to stay at EEC. Everyone greeted us with an Hola and a smile and you felt welcomed. Is the bathroom private? ), Cuban sandwich (also really good! If youre like me, I love knowing what dinner options are available before I go to a resort. We like the Beachfront Honeymoon rooms & these are all EC. There were tons of loungers and palapas available, with great poolside service. Hi David! So I am just checking to see if there was any extra fees that arent included! Excellence El Carmen is very competitively priced. Make your vacation a little more special with this upgrade and receive upgraded amenities and more! Over the 7 days that we visited the Excellence, there were two weddings that we saw going on. Its a really nice option if you dont feel like getting into your evening clothes and instead just chilling out in the room. Bike tours, Spanish lessons, beach volleyball, archery, pool games, water aerobics, poker tournaments, and bingo are scheduled regularly. I understand its how they make money, but they can be quite pushy, so be prepared. Hmm. 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 visited these during our other Excellence trips and loved them. The food here was good, but nothing to write home about. There is a gorgeous jacuzzi which is deep and big enough for two people which looks out to the patio (and pool if you have one). Resort recs for relaxing, great beach, hot tub? We often started our days with a couple glasses of mimosas and you will never be far from your next drink. Your bags will be taken by the staff and be delivered to your room. All Adults - At Excellence El Carmen you are secluded but not isolated. Like other Excellence properties, guests can splurge on upgraded Excellence Club packages. Its basically like a little bit of all of the restaurants on the resort in one.