Excellence always nails it with their Martini Bars and how its the focal point from when you first arrive and look down the stairs. I know they have tennis and their activities list pickle ballbut do they actually use pickle ball nets? Excellence El Carmen Review: What To REALLY Expect If You Stay - Oyster.com Sanctuary Cap Cana, a Luxury Collection All-Inclusive Resort. , Just an FYI the room service coffee was a bit strong and potent. This post contains affiliate linkswhich means I earn compensation when you click on the links at absolutely no extra cost to you! . There is also Las Olas a beautiful setting on the beach to grab a drink and enjoy the ocean breeze and views. If you want a lighter bite, head over to the La Placita food truck at the X-Lounge terrace! Its fun to watch the cook prepare your food right in front of you! 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. An Excellence resort AND a wedding? I heard a few people talking about that and then we forgot when we went to steam our dresses. The entertainment crew really does make a solid effort in keeping everyone entertained with a wide range of activities going on throughout the day. I would still go. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. Subscribe and get my Travel Safety Checklist! 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). Sorry such a technical question and really appreciate your in depth review of the place. This spot does Tapas really well. Excellence Punta Cana Review: What To REALLY Expect If You Stay 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. 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. If youve been to Excellence Playa Mujeres or Riviera Cancun, there is an additional Wine Cellar you can dine in privately. ordered the flank steak and charcoal grilled chicken. That is important to us, as we are "beach people" who spend the day from 8am until 6 pm on the beach. A. Your bags will be taken by the staff and be delivered to your room. Why you should upgrade to Excellence Club 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. Punta Cana International Airport is about a 45-minute drive from the resort. - See 9,459 traveler reviews, 11,732 candid photos, and great deals for Excellence El Carmen at Tripadvisor. Over the 7 days that we visited the Excellence, there were two weddings that we saw going on. The gym at this resort is very well stocked. Are you a vegetarian? Ive talked to quite a few people during our time here about that experience. There are lots of antipasto dishes at Oregano, along with risottos, custom pasta dishes, and pizzas to satisfy your carb craving. We also liked the Excellence Club lounge to have a pre-dinner drink. There are entirely separate menus for that. Excellence resorts are just that: Excellent! Lets start off by saying all of the rooms at this resort are massive, so space will never be an issue. We went in ours so we just had to take our coverups off. We ordered room service twice, once for dinner in the evening and once for breakfast. I have to avoid raw onions, but I didnt have to sacrifice taste! This Asian eatery serves up the most famous dishes from Japan, Thailand, China, and Vietnam. 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. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. There is no option for that here, but you can purchase wine off a separate menu if you wish to splurge! And, if youre even more like me, food is very important to you! We often started our days with a couple glasses of mimosas and you will never be far from your next drink. As these pools are not heated, they were very cold during the day. Its easily 20 x 15 feet (my mom and I tried measuring with our bodies), warm, and gets the late morning and afternoon sun. Few vendors prowl the floury-soft sand in this part of Punta Cana. 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. Their guacamole was delicious! Of course there is the Excellence Club lounge bar; an intimate and quiet setting to relax at. What is VIP Service? After youre finished eating, you can place your dishes in the X-Box located right at your door. However, the dress code is one of the reasons why we love Excellence. Rooms are elegant in both resorts, but Excellence El Carmens are slightly bigger and more swish. It was the best thing we ate all week! The spa is always one place I love to check out at Excellence Resorts. Hairdryers, magnifying mirrors, scales, robes, and slippers come standard. Excellence El Carmen Review: Adults-Only Luxury in Dominican Republic I dont know what it was about that cheese but I fell in love with it and cant stop eating it. For anniversaries, you can receive this package up to 7 days before and 7 days after your anniversary, giving you lots of flexibility! Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. how do floodplains jeopardize the livelihoods of agricultural workers. The service is amazing as it always is at Excellence Resorts. If you are looking for the quality of an Excellence resort and are looking for a cheaper option compared to their Cancun and Jamaica offerings then the El Carmen is the resort for you. I would recommend the hydrotherapy, plus you may even be given an additional spa discount for another service after. It seats up to 8 and there is a set menu. Ecological park with flamingos and macaws on-site. Make your vacation a little more special with this upgrade and receive upgraded amenities and more! This was super convenient, as we could plan out our day for when our room was being cleaned. There are bars dotted all throughout the resort. 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. In Excellence El Carmen, a Popular Brand Accomplishes the - Islands As you walk down the hallways, it's common to see the doors of these couples' rooms decorated with banners celebrating their occasion. Today we are sharing a best food and worst food review of Excellence Club El Carmen, Punta Cana Dominican Republic. Or jump to your topic. 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. ), and lobster tails. Each restaurant has numerous options for lighter fare. Another Mexican offering this spot serves up some really top-quality eats. You also have an ice bucket, and the ice machines are located on every floor of every room block for easy filling. If you love Indian food, Basmati is a fun option to try. 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. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. 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 is also an extensive wine on offer if you dont fancy the house wine. When booking if you want to be close to the action we would advise requesting a room in buildings 4 and 6. 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 . Need some improvement - Review of Breathless Punta Cana Resort & Spa To cooking lessons where the chefs will teach you how to make local Dominican food and sushi. So, in our opinion, they are always worth that extra cost. Youll also get a 15% discount on photo and spa packages! Hi David! One of the best elements of the Excellence chain of resorts is their extensive drinks selection. All Adults - At Excellence El Carmen you are secluded but not isolated. The butter chicken was really good. I was confused because were in an EC building, and its the room we booked, but apparently not all of building 9 is EC. To tribute acts and musical entertainment. Its 492 modern suites have elegant interiors plus high-end features like free bottles of liquor and double jetted tubs overlooking private balconies. You will never have an issue getting a spot at the beach. The bartender Emilio was great fun and served up the best Margaritas at the resort. 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. For a more classic Caribbean beachfront all-inclusive with similar amenities, rates are comparable at the nearby sister resort,Excellence Punta Cana. In addition to receiving a welcome letter, fruit, and a bottle of sparkling wine upon arrival, you will also receive a special turndown service, champagne breakfast in bed and a romantic dinner at one of the restaurants. The buffet, Kitchen Table, has options for everyone Id be shocked to learn if someone couldnt find something they liked. 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. 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. . Went with two of my girlfriends and we were speechless!!! Just a note on classes: if you have your heart set on doing one, get there early! This and the Cielo bar are the only areas that you can get the Top tier liquor on offer to the Excellence club members other than your room. NEW riu palace bavaro ----opening when?????? The food at Spice is the real star here, so if you have done Teppanyaki before we advise you to give it a miss. I also visited DR this year and I can only say it is a wonderful country. Since my mom and I were on a girls trip (which we hardly ever get to do!) 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. We ordered all the seafood here crab cakes, lobster bisque, lobster risotto (we shared this, and its AMAZING get it! We spent our mornings by the pool, where you have access to their swim up bar, Blue. Excellence Club provides additional benefits, but is it really worth it? 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! This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Our Best All-Inclusive Resorts In Puerto Vallarta for Food, Our Best All-Inclusive Resorts in Los Cabos for Food. . Some people have said they have asked upwards of $80 USD for these photos. This is always a favourite for me but I had to sacrifice my desire for sushi to try some other restaurants! The beach does accumulate seaweed on the shoreline, but the staff works tirelessly to keep it off. Its always a favourite spot to gather before and after dinner to enjoy a cocktail. Its expansive with loads of loungers and areas to relax. The Excellence chain of resorts is known to put out a very decent standard of food and the Excellence El Carmen is no different. Excellence El Carmen is very competitively priced for the standard of the resort, food, and service that you get. I am SO happy we decided to book this room, and quite honestly I dont think I can book any other room type now.