So, in our opinion, they are always worth that extra cost. So, to avoid disappointment, arrive early, and maybe grab a drink and enjoy the views while youre waiting! If you want to swim, I would recommend bringing water shoes to protect your feet! 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! The main pool is close to Las Olas for a bite to eat or you could head over to Oregano or Lobster House for lunch! Do not miss the Grill for lunch! If you are not in Excellence Club, you can swap out one bottle of alcohol per day. We hit up this spot every single day. There are a few tasty options here, like the Dominican patty (filled with beef, raisins and egg, and sooo good! Weirdly enough we found that the food here in the Dominican was way better than the Excellence offerings in their Mexican location. I did notice, though, while we were walking the beach, there were quite a few pieces of coral along the shore and in the water. If youre in a private pool or swim-up suite. There is also Las Olas a beautiful setting on the beach to grab a drink and enjoy the ocean breeze and views. Excellence El Carmen review: the Property. I understand that spa services and tipping are not, but are all the restaurants, drinks and room service included? 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. I understand and appreciate that tipping is subjective. The balcony was covered in cigarette butts when we checked in. The food here was top-notch. Our two favorite spots were the Martini bar which is the main lobby bar and the X Lounge. The main eatery of the resort, this buffet is really impressive. After dinner, there was always something going on. If youre in Excellence Club, try Magna for breakfast at least once! Check-in is a breeze and you are whisked to your room where your holiday can really begin. If you fancy getting a treatment at the spa, we recommend that you check on the day as the Spa does daily specials on various treatments. 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). 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. 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 is a must-visit if youre a fan of Indian food. We went on the day they had tacos and it was SO good. Dont have time to read this review of Excellence El Carmen right now? From the Gym, tennis courts, beach volleyball, and water sports they have it all on offer. Guests staying at Excellence El Carmen can book excursions to nearby attractions through the concierge. 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. We are going to EEC to celebrate our anniversary in mid September. The bartender Emilio was great fun and served up the best Margaritas at the resort. Excellence Club WORTH IT: Excellence El Carmen - See 7,750 traveller reviews, 10,047 photos, and cheap deals for Excellence El Carmen at Tripadvisor. The 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. I called twice and went to the Excellence Club lounge (as they requested), and by the second day in the afternoon they sent someone. The steamer in the walk-in closet works great, but its advisable to use bottled water for it. I piggybacked on another guests recommendation of the Power Smoothie + strawberries and it tasted like a peanut butter and jelly sandwich! The beach at the El Carmen resort is truly stunning. Members who are knowledgeable about this destination and volunteer their time to answer travelers' questions. There is a massive king-sized bed which is super comfortable. There is also a Teppanyaki experience that is in Spice. . This resort is a wonderful place for adults to relax and de-stress, and the Excellence Club in my opinion is absolutely worth it. 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! The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". They do have nets as of the beginning of this month! Average. It looked like they had drinks and a canopy thing going on there. All are part of the hotel's all-inclusive rates, as is 24-hour room service. 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. If youre like me, I love knowing what dinner options are available before I go to a resort. If you buy something through our links, Oyster may earn an affiliate commission. We actually skipped lunch this day just so we could fill up. It doesnt have to be much, and the tips are also very appreciated. We stayed at the Excellence El Carmen in mid-2019 and our review is based on that experience. This spot does Tapas really well. If you are willing to change it you might get a bargain. For Excellence Club guests, you have the option to dine at Magna. Excellence El Carmen, Uvero Alto: 9,457 Hotel Reviews, 12,158 traveller photos, and great deals for Excellence El Carmen, ranked #3 of 7 hotels in Uvero Alto and rated 4.5 of 5 at Tripadvisor. Yes, parking is available for guests and it is complimentary. They serve food here too, but we never ate there. When it comes to the food at Excellence El Carmen, there is something for everyone. Note: we had someone come by our room every morning around 8:00-8:30 am to clean the pool from the outside. . Are you a vegetarian? 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. 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. 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. 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. We have celebrated our past 5 anniversaries at Excellence Group resorts (Excellence Riviera Cancun and The Finest). 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. Getting to beautiful Saona Island takes an hour and 15 minutes and requires a drive followed by a boat ride. Their feature menu changes daily and its a great place to visit if you want a quick, self-service bite to eat. The beach is the real gem in this resort and we will delve into that in a bit. Bike tours, Spanish lessons, beach volleyball, archery, pool games, water aerobics, poker tournaments, and bingo are scheduled regularly. 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. There is also a beachfront massage option if you wish to listen to the crashing waves against the shore. There is also the Silent Disco. The food was beyond excellent, the staff were the most pleasant human beings i have ever came across on a vacation and the resort itself was absolutely amazing!!! 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! I heard a few people talking about that and then we forgot when we went to steam our dresses. Few vendors prowl the floury-soft sand in this part of Punta Cana. There are also a number of liquor bottles that are in the room too. Excellence Club guests get private access to a top-notch restaurant that opens for breakfast and dinner. This would be great for later in the evening, or even an early snack prior to a later dinner (if youre wanting to try it all!). This is probably the most important part about the vendors: there are some men who walk around with parrots, monkeys, and iguanas. 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! The lounge is comfortable with the L-shaped couch, perfect for morning room-service breakfast, or cocktails before heading out for the evening. Just dont go with a wet bathing suit! We ate in our bathrobes and drank mimosas and it was glorious. 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. 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 is very competitively priced for the standard of the resort, food, and service that you get. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Our favorite thing was definitely the casino night. All products are independently selected by our writers and editors. Excellence El Carmen, which reopened successfully on November 28, has that vibe, too, but this property is more like a night in the city. If you are travelling from North America, you do not need to bring an adapter with you. We highly recommend doing this as the pools they have for this are really nice. 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!). There is also a plug inside your safe should you choose to charge your devices while theyre kept away (which I thought was neat!). We have booked to stay at EEC for 2 weeks from opening day! Room service is another great option for lunch, just keep in mind it takes about 45 minutes to arrive. The all-inclusive package is very good here. Was it worth it for you? My favourite spots included Aroma, the Revive Bar, Magna (for Excellence Club), and the Lobster House. dwayne johnson rock foundation contact. 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. 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. They have it all from the top-shelf liquor options to local beers and spirits. This was super convenient, as we could plan out our day for when our room was being cleaned. Hi David! The location of the resort is also pretty secluded, so its not the best if you want to get out and about to explore local towns and things to do. All of these rooms come with the option of having an ocean view. By proceeding, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. This was definitely the spot we frequented most for lunch. There are many options: We never had an issue with the water, from bottled, ice, restaurant water, or brushing our teeth. Access to a private beach area. The two beachfront beauties are almost neighbors you can get from one gated entrance to the next in a five-minute drive. Oddly enough, it was never too busy when we went there and we put it down to people not loving Tapas as the food here was top-notch. We arrived in the morning and our room wasnt ready yet, so we went and grabbed a cocktail at the main bar. 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 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. The menu for the room service was very extensive. 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. Yes literally everything here is included! The resort does a wonderful job of keeping the EC things hidden. Relaxing mid winter break Dave-Jerseyboy (Wells, United Kingdom) on Feb 04, 2023 This was our 5th visit to DR and the Excellence was a very modern and stylish hotel to spend 9nights all inclusive. Plan your next vacation using these tools! Book flights: SkyScanner Book hotels: Booking.com Book car rentals: RentalCars.comBook tours: GetYourGuide Local food experiences: EatWithFavourite travel item: Packing cubesFavourite travel bag: Osprey 40L Fairview ESims: Airalo DIY Travel Medical Kit 20 Cheap Travel Items Under $20. I have to avoid raw onions, but I didnt have to sacrifice taste! 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! I tried the braised beef wrap and it was delicious. . or just the tennis net. This restaurant is a Mexican offering and we really enjoyed our night at Las Olas. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Excellence El Carmen, Uvero Alto: "What's is the difference between the regular." | Check out 8 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. Feel free to custom make your own! This is always a favourite for me but I had to sacrifice my desire for sushi to try some other restaurants! We love to tip, and I feel like everyone should tip, even a little bit! We always stay in the club area to take advantage of the club anniversary package. The evening cleaning was more of a turndown service. Feeling hungry late at night? However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent. If youre celebrating your anniversary or honeymoon, be sure to take advantage of that at Excellence El Carmen! The people (and pets) are so fun. We knew we'd go back so I thought I would do . Lobster doesn't cost extra either. These are two of my favourite things! If youre on a tight schedule or just want to get on with your day, the buffet is your friend. Its fun to watch the cook prepare your food right in front of you! Your best option is a 35-minute drive from the resort. Discover a world of rewards with The Excellence Collection Rewards benefits program. We went in ours so we just had to take our coverups off. From themed nights such as Casino night and Dominican night. You could jump from activity to activity all day long and you still wouldnt be able to participate in all of them. more. Another Mexican offering this spot serves up some really top-quality eats. . The spa is always one place I love to check out at Excellence Resorts. Excellence Club upgrades come with private lounge and restaurant access, an exclusive area on the beach, and daily in-room treats. 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 atmosphere is always buzzing. The club package includes a private beachfront dinner, some spa treatments, etc. 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. There are a range of precautions that the Excellence chain of resorts has put in place and if you would like to review these they can be found here. The vibrant colors of the Caribbean are the inspiration behind the dcor at both resorts. This was pretty much the only time that we had any issues with the service throughout our stay. The staff work so hard, and provide excellent service with a smile. 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 . So I am just checking to see if there was any extra fees that arent included! That, of course, is no fault of the hotel. The 23 freshwater pools are scattered throughout the resort and include a main pool with ocean views and two accessible ramps. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. There are entirely separate menus for that. Im not kidding people were shocked when they saw the photos. how do floodplains jeopardize the livelihoods of agricultural workers. This is the only restaurant at Excellence El Carmen where you need a reservation. Youre greeted at the front desk, then taken by elevator upstairs, where youre shown your locker room and given a pair of flip flops. Help choosing a resort for my 80 year old aunt. HELP - Secrets Royal Beach or Secrets Cap Cana - price/room. We had an additional bottle of vodka (Absolut), tequila (Agavita) and gin (Tanquerey). But have you ever checked into an all-inclusive resort and noticed that some guests have access to otherwise restricted restaurants, premium alcohol, luxe pools, more comfortable beach chairs, and, Aerial View of Excellence Punta Cana/Oyster If youve been researching the best adults-only luxury hotels in Punta Cana, youve likely come across the sister properties Excellence Punta Cana and Excellence El Carmen. I also realize there is a lot of confusion with tipping at all-inclusive resorts, since technically, your package includes gratuities. Although we stayed pre-COVID, as we mentioned the resort was exceptionally clean. There are bars dotted all throughout the resort. All food, snacks, room service, fully stocked mini-bar drinks, and a variety of classes and amenities are included in the package. For those who wish to explore down the beach, Tropical Treasures also has great beach side massages and souvenirs. Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. French, Indian, Spanish, and Mexican restaurants are also open. A. Sanctuary Cap Cana, a Luxury Collection All-Inclusive Resort. The EC beach is similar to the non EC but you get the loungers made up for you & concierges to look after you. 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. Its open from 9:00 am 4:00 pm and has all kinds of fruit smoothies and juices to try. For starters, its absolutely stunning. All rooms also provide safes, umbrellas, irons, and ironing boards. We nearly missed it and it was our favourite lunch! However, the dress code is one of the reasons why we love Excellence. If you love seafood, be sure to hit up the Lobster House! However! Excellence Playa Mujeres: Mexicos Best Adults-Only Resort! You alternate between hot and cold pools, steam rooms and saunas, jet-oriented water experiences and more! As these pools are not heated, they were very cold during the day. 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 best part? We even had a decent signal on the beach. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. As soon as you enter the resort you really are put at ease. To be honest I can't say I thought it was really worth the extra. 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). Related: What to Pack for an All-Inclusive Vacation (Plus Free Printable!). The vanity has a double sink and there are numerous towels, hand towels, and facecloths, along with a hairdryer. 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. From the housekeeping, service at the bars to the concierge. Note that none of the bars are open 24/7. Youll also get a 15% discount on photo and spa packages! The wait isnt long, so stick around (or maybe have a drink first or head to the Flavour Market next door for some tapas!). Your email address will not be published. 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. As well as a nice selection of ice creams for your midday treat. Regardless! 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. What let the side down here was the quality of the meat. Its basically like a little bit of all of the restaurants on the resort in one. Horseback riding, biking, tennis, and quality excursions (some fees) Free Wi-Fi throughout. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. If youre an Excellence club guest you will have a complimentary Hydrotherapy session during your stay. There are plenty of plugs throughout the room, including two USB ports for charging on either side of your bed. I also visited DR this year and I can only say it is a wonderful country. Of course there is the Excellence Club lounge bar; an intimate and quiet setting to relax at. The rooms are choicely designed with a great aesthetic. Members of the WorthEPenny community love shopping at Excellence Resorts. A. It is brand new so it was not crowded at all. 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. There are blinds to draw down for privacy if you wish. There is also a really nice Coffee shop where you can grab a pick me up and a sweet treat. Our rooms were cleaned twice a day and the housekeeping staff was great at staying consistent in regards to the timings they would clean our room. The sushi was actually really good and the ramen broth was packed with flavor. Excellence El Carmen is a large, and fairly new (2016) all-inclusive resort with a modern and tropical vibe. Excellence El Carmen: Great hotel ! Good to know: In our previous trips to Excellence Playa Mujeres and Excellence Riviera Cancun, we looked forward to the copy of Excellence Times on our bed at turndown. The nightclub stays open late and has a DJ who takes request. 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. Avoiding grains? The gym was never too busy, but we found that around 10 am was its peak hours, but even then you would have no issues getting a treadmill or a solid workout in. This was very close to being our favorite as the food here was very authentic and delicious. The pool is HUGE. Eating low carb? It is unbelievably private we were in 9001 and because we were on the end of the building block, we only had neighbours on one side. Lunch at the Lobster House and Oregano have the most amazing views. Its easily 20 x 15 feet (my mom and I tried measuring with our bodies), warm, and gets the late morning and afternoon sun. Since you mentioned your anniversary, look at the anniversary packages that you would get for free if you travel over your anniversary and stay for 7 nights. Just another site is excellence club worth it el carmen It felt like a newer resort. Junior Suites can sleep up to three people, but the rest of the room types are for a maximum of two guests. Its important to remember the Excellence dress code! Theres always some type of entertainment going on. Are you kidding me!? We like the Beachfront Honeymoon rooms & these are all EC. Disclaimer: This content was accurate at the time the hotel was reviewed. THE ROOMS. It was one of my favourite spots to go to and they open at 8:00 am. Those spots, along with the Kitchen Table for the buffet, and room-service, are your breakfast options. It was awkward drinking Coco Locos without them! The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". 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! We also enjoy breakfast & some dinners at Magna the EC restaurant. Other than that, you will surely have a beautiful stay at a great resort. Once the info sheet is delivered try and book the treatment for the next day to grab a bargain.