When it comes to food, the resorts 11 restaurants offer numerous options from casual spots to fine-dining. Its architecture is in the Contemporary Caribbean style, and twenty pools wind through our . If you buy something through our links, Oyster may earn an affiliate commission. 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. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. When booking if you want to be close to the action we would advise requesting a room in buildings 4 and 6. 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. Yes, even though you didnt consent to it. Pricier Excellence Club upgrades add pillow menus, Bulgari toiletries, loaner beach bags, and minibars with top-shelf liquor. It was the best thing we ate all week! There are items on the menu at Magna that feel more premium than the other menus (but believe me, all of the food is scrummy). What is the entertainment/music like during the day at the pool?! Once the info sheet is delivered try and book the treatment for the next day to grab a bargain. Although we stayed pre-COVID, as we mentioned the resort was exceptionally clean. We went on the day they had tacos and it was SO good. There is a drinks service on the beach which makes spending a day sunning yourself so much more enjoyable. Excellence Club | Excellence Punta Cana This restaurant is a Mexican offering and we really enjoyed our night at Las Olas. 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. There are tons of bars throughout the resort. Honestly, though the room service menu is so large that you probably wont need to do this. Excellence El Carmen is very competitively priced for the standard of the resort, food, and service that you get. My husband and I are looking into going to EEC and we are wondering if the Excellence Club is worth it. There is no need to be rude to the vendors, but learn to say no, and then to avoid eye contact if they keep not taking no for an answer. or just the tennis net. This spot does Tapas really well. Drink service is on offer at the pools and beach. Excellence El Carmen- Excellence Club, worth it? - Punta Cana Forum This one of the Excellence chains has three offerings in the Dominican Republic. A. You can always go to the Revive Bar for a smoothie if you dont want to spoil your dinner. 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? They have it all from the top-shelf liquor options to local beers and spirits. And while there are many resorts that fit this bill, opting for a luxury property means youll also likely get a stunning, serene beachfront, chic pool with a swim-up bar, impressive, The best part of booking an all-inclusive vacation is that everything food, drinks, activities, and accommodations is supposed to be included in the rate. Sunny yellows, lush flora greens, and ocean blues set the scene for a transfixing mix of island charm and elegance. 20 people arrived and the rest had to be turned away. Spice also has a fun option for groups and for a live cooking show: the Hibachi! We always stay in the club area to take advantage of the club anniversary package. We have booked Excellence in Playa Mujeres and in El Carmen for 2016 both non club rooms. The honeymoon package also was meant to include a rose petal filled bath in the room after dinner on the beach, which never happened, despite telling concierge 3 times, on each night we went back to the room in the hope for the bath to be filled, but nope, never happened. The only room type that has a private garden with a pool bigger than a plunge pool is the Imperial Suite. I definitely would like to stay at this resort. . Access to a private beach area. Access to the business center is available for a fee, and there is also 4,800 square feet of event space. The pool is HUGE. Tech features are solid and include iHome docks, wall-integrated USB plugs, and big smart TVs with satellite channels. Excellence El Carmen is a large, and fairly new (2016) all-inclusive resort with a modern and tropical vibe. For a more classic Caribbean beachfront all-inclusive with similar amenities, rates are comparable at the nearby sister resort,Excellence Punta Cana. It opened its doors in 2016 and has been a firm favorite for all-inclusive resorts in the Dominican Republic and the Caribbean. The food, the staff, and the feel you get as you walk through the resort are 5-star. by Adrian updated July 31, 2021, 2:41 pm. The people (and pets) are so fun. It was pure heaven. Just dont go with a wet bathing suit! 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. The spa is always one place I love to check out at Excellence Resorts. Tip: bring your own floaties with you! The resort does a wonderful job of keeping the EC things hidden. We found this place the most difficult to get a booking for at peak times. There are tons of delicious vegetarian dishes (along with non-veg options) you can order you wont miss the meat! This is one of the more popular restaurants on the resort. The sushi was actually really good and the ramen broth was packed with flavor. By the end of day one, he had our drinks orders ready before we even had to ask. how do floodplains jeopardize the livelihoods of agricultural workers. The club package includes a private beachfront dinner, some spa treatments, etc. Your best option is a 35-minute drive from the resort. Our two favorite spots were the Martini bar which is the main lobby bar and the X Lounge. So I am just checking to see if there was any extra fees that arent included! There are bars dotted all throughout the resort. 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. 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. I would still go. The food here was very good. We LOVED the look of the Martini Bar. There are many options: silicone straws, metal straws (which keep your drinks cold) or paper straws. Nespresso coffeemakers and free minibars stocked daily with beer, water, soda, and snacks (plus full bottles of whisky, rum, and vodka) are also available in all rooms free of charge. 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. Excellence El Carmen suites are some of the most attractive that we've seen in the Punta Cana region. The menus denote which dishes are grain free. Woodie and I went to Excellence El Carmen, Dominican Republic in December 2021 and absolutely loved the resort! Fooding and Drinking outside the resort (El Hoyo/Fruisa), Holidaying with a 10 month old from UK. I thought the additional cost was worth it overall but would have probably had a good time without it also if I had never experienced EC level. A steakhouse in an all-inclusive is not normally a good pairing and sadly the Grill at the Excellence El Carmen was no different. It was awkward drinking Coco Locos without them! We brought these ones which were the perfect size, and were easy to inflate, and easy to pack up to bring home! Read a full Excellence Punta Cana vs Excellence El Carmen face-off, here. The course is well designed and challenging and the upkeep of the course was very good. Ive talked to quite a few people during our time here about that experience. 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. There is a bar by every pool and by both Excellence Club beaches on either end of the resort, which made it quite handy wherever we were walking. The Cocotal Golf and Country Club. When we stayed there was a bottle of Smirnoff Vodka, Anejo Rum, Jose Cuervo Tequila, and a bottle of red wine. By proceeding, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. We arrived in the morning and our room wasnt ready yet, so we went and grabbed a cocktail at the main bar. Their guacamole was delicious! . Member Benefits | The Excellence Collection Rewards - Loyalty The lounge is comfortable with the L-shaped couch, perfect for morning room-service breakfast, or cocktails before heading out for the evening. 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. Those spots, along with the Kitchen Table for the buffet, and room-service, are your breakfast options. After youre finished eating, you can place your dishes in the X-Box located right at your door. From small surprises that delight the senses to complimentary suite upgrades and premiere bottles of bubbly, a stay at one of our resorts comes complete with an experience cultivated especially for our loyal guests. Excellence is known for their corporate responsibility and they look after their staff, and it shows through the service you receive. 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. This was super convenient, as we could plan out our day for when our room was being cleaned. This obviously doesnt matter, but its just an observation. I dont know what it was about that cheese but I fell in love with it and cant stop eating it. The blanket was dirty, showerhead was rusty, the air vent in the bathroom was clogged with dust and hair. Its a lovely experience. 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. Related: 20 Best Cheap Travel Items Under $20 (that are actually useful!). Went with two of my girlfriends and we were speechless!!! The beach is the real gem in this resort and we will delve into that in a bit. Lobster doesn't cost extra either. There are a few tasty options here, like the Dominican patty (filled with beef, raisins and egg, and sooo good! If youre like me, I love knowing what dinner options are available before I go to a resort. The Excellence El Carmen adults-only all-inclusive resort opened in late 2016 and has one of Punta Canas most modern and hip vibes. 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. Secrets resorts All your questions answered! Theres a small shopping strip within a five-minute drive, while Bavaro -- the most famous spot in the area -- takes 25 to 30 minutes to reach by car. Club vs non-Club at Excellence El Carmen - Punta Cana Forum There are so many restaurants at Excellence El Carmen. Open-plan bathrooms are spacious and include tan granite or black marble vanities plus double sinks. We have booked to stay at EEC for 2 weeks from opening day! An Italian offering that serves up all of the staple dishes you would expect from your local Italian. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. 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. An Excellence resort AND a wedding? The main pool is located quite close to the beach and then two additional pools are located near buildings 12-16. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. At all of the Excellence resorts, the check-in process is really an experience. If you have been to the Excellence chain of resorts you will be aware of the restaurants as they are the same across the resorts. Excellent! - Review of Excellence El Carmen, Uvero Alto, Dominican The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". Excellence Club upgrade provides a private pool, beach, lounge, and restaurant. You can view your cuts of meat if youre unsure of what you want to order. They do have a dress code for the Grill but we saw many people in cover ups and flip flops. We even had a decent signal on the beach. Junior Swim-Up Suites, located on the ground floor, offer access to long pools with private nooks outfitted with a swan-neck jet. If you do not like those, or want to swap them out for something else, you can do that too! There is no option for that here, but you can purchase wine off a separate menu if you wish to splurge! Is Excellence Club Worth it at Excellence El Carmen? I would recommend the hydrotherapy, plus you may even be given an additional spa discount for another service after. I will second Thomasgran for all of the reasons he stated. What let the side down here was the quality of the meat. 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. ), or you can be served over by your palapa. Hats off to Chef Masood and his team that churns out some really top-quality cuisine. Guests are mostly honeymooners and couples celebrating wedding anniversaries from the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. Hi David! Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. The vibrant colors of the Caribbean are the inspiration behind the dcor at both resorts. Honeymoon Review: Excellence El Carmen - Authentically Emmie ATELIER PLAYA MUJERES - 655 Photos & 73 Reviews - Supermanzana 3 You will likely not even realize what you are "missing" being non club. Note: Bring your swimsuit with you for hydrotherapy! Please check our partner sites when booking to verify that details are still correct. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. We did EC when we went a month ago for the first time. All food, snacks, room service, fully stocked mini-bar drinks, and a variety of classes and amenities are included in the package. ), but some of my favourites were the Circus Show, Michael Jackson, Queen, and the fire show (do not miss that!). It was one of my favourite spots to go to and they open at 8:00 am. Wood-Fired pizzas, rich and creamy pasta dishes, and some really nice seafood options too. 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. For honeymoons, you can get this package for free for up to 3 months following your wedding. The service here gets a 5-star rating from us, it was literally impeccable. There is also a Teppanyaki experience that is in Spice. I also realize there is a lot of confusion with tipping at all-inclusive resorts, since technically, your package includes gratuities. 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. A. 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. But, if youre sitting on the bed, the bathroom is behind you so you cant see anything. We also saw one of the wedding parties using the X-lounge for after the reception. We have been three times now & always EC. In reality, there are really three main pool areas. There is also a really nice Coffee shop where you can grab a pick me up and a sweet treat. The food at Spice is the real star here, so if you have done Teppanyaki before we advise you to give it a miss. My mom and I had big ambitions to participate in some of the physical activities, like aerial yoga on the beach (how fun right?!) Mexico Resorts Excellence Playa Mujeres Excellence Riviera Cancun Beloved Hotel Playa Mujeres Caribbean Resorts Excellence Punta Cana Excellence El Carmen: Excellence Club WORTH IT - Read 9,048 reviews, view 11,301 traveller photos, and find great deals for Excellence El Carmen at Tripadvisor. The buffet, Kitchen Table, has options for everyone Id be shocked to learn if someone couldnt find something they liked. Avoiding grains? The menu for the room service was very extensive. What to Pack for an All-Inclusive Vacation (Plus Free Printable! French, Indian, Spanish, and Mexican restaurants are also open. Excellence El Carmen: Truly Excellent! In my opinion, Excellence Club is not worth it at Excellence El Carmen. This resort is a wonderful place for adults to relax and de-stress, and the Excellence Club in my opinion is absolutely worth it. Access to twelve private pools and seven jacuzzis (hot water) in the pool area. A nice L-shaped couch that made the perfect midday lounging area. The poolside service was always quick, the entertainment staff were a blast, the waiters were so courteous and attentivethe list goes on. Excellence El Carmen Review: Adults-Only Luxury in Dominican Republic It boasts white- and golden-sand beaches, swaying palm trees protected by the government, turquoise waters, and pleasant year-round temperatures. Excellence Club guests get private access to a top-notch restaurant that opens for breakfast and dinner. Premium alcohol and specialty beers are included. 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. To cooking lessons where the chefs will teach you how to make local Dominican food and sushi. The EC beach is similar to the non EC but you get the loungers made up for you & concierges to look after you. The question of club vs. non-club is asked all the time on the forums. Subscribe and get my Travel Safety Checklist! This is also the place you can get fresh coconuts. Huge walk-in closets are fully shelved and big enough to unpack a steamer trunk with room to spare. If youre part of the Excellence club you will have the likes of Absolut Vodka, Johnny Walker Black Label, and Anejo Rum. Is Excellence Club at Excellence El Carmen worth it? We spent our mornings at the main pool with their (only) swim up bar, Blue. The rooms are choicely designed with a great aesthetic. 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! These cookies do not store any personal information. We have been to EPC 8 times, and we always do the EC, mainly because we prefer the upgraded, less crowded beach area. 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. They typically start serving these from around 11 am onwards and are so refreshing. 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. By far, our favourite dinner was at the Grill. There are many options: We never had an issue with the water, from bottled, ice, restaurant water, or brushing our teeth. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. Everyone greeted us with an Hola and a smile and you felt welcomed. We also enjoy breakfast & some dinners at Magna the EC restaurant. Dont have time to read this review of Excellence El Carmen right now? 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.

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