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. From the housekeeping, service at the bars to the concierge. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. Bike tours, Spanish lessons, beach volleyball, archery, pool games, water aerobics, poker tournaments, and bingo are scheduled regularly. It was pure heaven. This bar is also a great place to go after dinner. Excellence El Carmen is a large, and fairly new (2016) all-inclusive resort with a modern and tropical vibe. Its definitely on the premium side when you compare it against other resorts in the Punta Cana area, but for what you get it is definitely worth the additional cost. If beaches are a priority for you then Excellence El Carmen is the resort for you. 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. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. This is definitely the best restaurant location with stunning views of the ocean and a nice outdoor setting where you can feel the cool sea breeze. We love to tip, and I feel like everyone should tip, even a little bit! You can check it out on the resort map! This is why I love the Excellence app so much you can go on there and check out the menus ahead of time to decide on which places to eat at each night (you know, if youre into that sort of thing). There is also a beach area reserved for them, as well as several pools and whirlpools. Fooding and Drinking outside the resort (El Hoyo/Fruisa), Holidaying with a 10 month old from UK. There are a few tasty options here, like the Dominican patty (filled with beef, raisins and egg, and sooo good! Excellence El Carmen is a quick 25 minute car ride or 40 minute bus ride from Punta Cana International Airport or 70 minutes from La Romana International Airport. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". Excellence El Carmen: Great hotel ! For Excellence Club guests, dont miss Magna! There is a great bustling atmosphere and the bartender Jordy served up some of the best concoctions at the resort. A Lot of these are connected to the swim-up suites. I was confused because were in an EC building, and its the room we booked, but apparently not all of building 9 is EC. So, in our opinion, they are always worth that extra cost. The actual check-in process took less than 3 minutes. 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. Other options include an extensive buffet with live-cooking stations and small selection of Dominican specialties; the open-air eatery Oregano that specializes in pizza and pasta; and the Lobster House for seafood specialties overlooking the beach. This topic has been closed to new posts due to inactivity. We spent 8 days at Excellence El Carmen, in a Ocean View Club suite. ), but some of my favourites were the Circus Show, Michael Jackson, Queen, and the fire show (do not miss that!). These bottles do come at an additional cost, but youre on holiday, treat yourself. To cooking lessons where the chefs will teach you how to make local Dominican food and sushi. You have three bottles of alcohol in your room as a standard: Stolichnaya Vodka, rum, and whiskey. Youll find all kinds of entertainment throughout the day, from water activities and games (you may even be roped into it, but dont feel like you have to attend! The room service here at the Excellence El Carmen is really good. Re: Club vs non-Club at Excellence El Carmen, Get answers to your questions about Punta Cana, Check-list - Canadian travel to the DR-PC - UPDATED, Explanation Of The Bahia Resorts in Punta Cana -Revised, Luxury & Grand Bahia Principe Room & A La Carte Email Requests Updated, Resort (Brands) COVID Policies -Quarantine, Testing, Etc - As of March 1, 2022, How do I fill out the new DR E-Forms for Immigration and Customs? We accosted the minibar guy one day to give us kitkats, so just so you know, there is also chocolate! I ordered a rib-eye steak and to be honest there was way too much fat compared to the ribeyes I usually eat. 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. We went on the day they had tacos and it was SO good. 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. There is a massive king-sized bed which is super comfortable. Perks include upgraded rooms; upgraded room-service menus, minibars, and toiletries; and access to a private lounge with concierge services. Who has had experience with the Excellence Club at (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? There are lots of antipasto dishes at Oregano, along with risottos, custom pasta dishes, and pizzas to satisfy your carb craving. 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. Members of the WorthEPenny community love shopping at Excellence Resorts. Dreams resorts All your questions answered! Our top recommendations for dishes here are the patatas bravos and the Spanish meatballs. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". Each night in your turn down service the housekeeping staff leave an information sheet with the activities for the next day as well as the special offer for the spa for the next day. 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 also liked the Excellence Club lounge to have a pre-dinner drink. Note: They do not serve their drinks with straws, so bring your own if you wish! 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. Appreciate it! 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. 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. 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. The food was top quality and the atmosphere was great. 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. Excellence El Carmen | Excellence Club Buildings & Room Numbers Feeling hungry late at night? , Just an FYI the room service coffee was a bit strong and potent. It was never rowdy, and is quite peaceful here and we enjoyed the central location to everything we wanted. There are water and cold towels available in the gym and personal trainers on-site if you need motivation. Room service is another great option for lunch, just keep in mind it takes about 45 minutes to arrive. We had just as much fun watching everyone as those who participated in it. For anniversaries, you can receive this package up to 7 days before and 7 days after your anniversary, giving you lots of flexibility! We nearly missed it and it was our favourite lunch! The building that we were in had faced the sun in the late afternoon, so the swim-up suite wasnt too much use. Just a note on classes: if you have your heart set on doing one, get there early! . We highly recommend the scallops and the Tuna steak. Hats off to Chef Masood and his team that churns out some really top-quality cuisine. You can, of course, enhance your stay by option to upgrade to their paid honeymoon and anniversary package which includes everything in the complimentary package, plus dinner on the beach, and a 40 minute spa package. The two beachfront beauties are almost neighbors you can get from one gated entrance to the next in a five-minute drive. We knew we'd go back so I thought I would do . Excellence El Carmen: Truly Excellent! Insider tip: Dont miss the hidden gem by building 10! For starters, its absolutely stunning. It was the best thing we ate all week! The Hoyo Azul is also known as the blue hole and is their most famous one. Excellence Club at Excellence El Carmen Punta Cana: Is It Worth It? in A nice L-shaped couch that made the perfect midday lounging area. I realize this may be a dumb questions-but I have never done all inclusive and after a lot of research, it seems that sometimes all inclusive isnt really all inclusive and actually has a lot of extra hidden fees. Save it for later! 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). We arrived 30 minutes early for our painting session for which they had 8 easels. Best Adult Only All Inclusive in Punta Cana? Today's best Excellence Resorts coupon is up to 62% off. There are only a few tables though, so you have to book the morning you want to eat to get a reservation. Im with the mindset that if we can afford to travel, we can afford to tip. I also realize there is a lot of confusion with tipping at all-inclusive resorts, since technically, your package includes gratuities. We stayed at the Excellence El Carmen in mid-2019 and our review is based on that experience. Seaweed blooms are seasonal and also change daily. You certainly will never go thirsty here! They are so much fun to do. The Excellence El Carmen is just a 40-minute drive from Punta Cana international airport. 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 El Carmen is very competitively priced. Excellence Punta Cana - A Comprehensive Review (2021) Lets start off by saying all of the rooms at this resort are massive, so space will never be an issue. We have been to ERC twice, once non club, then went club for our honeymoon. The weather was a little windy at times however that's just one of the challenges of trav. Excellence Playa Mujeres: Mexicos Best Adults-Only Resort! 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 plenty of lunch options for you to try during your stay, and you wont go hungry! When it comes to food, the resorts 11 restaurants offer numerous options from casual spots to fine-dining. These are two of my favourite things! The steamer in the walk-in closet works great, but its advisable to use bottled water for it. Honeymoon Review: Excellence El Carmen - Authentically Emmie There are blinds to draw down for privacy if you wish. 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. 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! We always stay in the club area to take advantage of the club anniversary package. The Excellence El Carmen is dotted with four-floored buildings (designed to maximize ocean views) that are surrounded by perfectly manicured lawns, towering palm trees, and blossoming flowers such as ixora, hibiscus, and bougainvillea. That, of course, is no fault of the hotel. There are bars dotted all throughout the resort. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. The Blue Hole, a cenote with gorgeous turquoise water, is also around a 30-minute drive from the property. They even put your flip flops in a warmer for your feet afterwards! We have been to EPC 8 times, and we always do the EC, mainly because we prefer the upgraded, less crowded beach area. The menu has your typical bar food favorites such as nachos, burgers, and Pizzas. Your email address will not be published. I am SO happy we decided to book this room, and quite honestly I dont think I can book any other room type now. The water is refreshingly warm and there are loungers in the water too! Opting to eat healthier during your stay? That is important to us, as we are "beach people" who spend the day from 8am until 6 pm on the beach. There is also an extensive wine on offer if you dont fancy the house wine. (Feb 2022), Are inclusive resorts vs day pass and independent excursions, Ocean El Faro VS Grand Bavaro Princess VS Royalton Bavaro, Thanks for the advice on Punta Cana Princess All Suites. How much is the excellence club upgrade - tripadvisor.co.za 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. This is also the place you can get fresh coconuts. It felt like a newer resort. Excellence El Carmen: 5 star? We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Went with two of my girlfriends and we were speechless!!! Keep in mind there may be a separate wine list at the restaurants where you can opt to purchase bottles of winebut we drank the house all week and we loved it! Once the info sheet is delivered try and book the treatment for the next day to grab a bargain. It really is a top option for an all-inclusive. I definitely would like to stay at this resort. Will we miss out on a lot if we do not book the Club Level? This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The bartender Emilio was great fun and served up the best Margaritas at the resort. The entire week we didnt have anyone above us either, which was awesome! Regardless! One comment I will make that really deterred me from being on the beach, is the vendors. We were not excellence club. Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. The nightclub stays open late and has a DJ who takes request. Secrets resorts All your questions answered! Tech features are solid and include iHome docks, wall-integrated USB plugs, and big smart TVs with satellite channels. 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. We dined outside on the patio with a beautiful view of the palm trees (not of the ocean, since Magna is located within the Excellence Club lounge right off the lobby).