is excellence club worth it el carmen
For beachside dining, head to Las Olas. I hope this Excellence El Carmen review is helpful and answers some of your questions with this now being my fourth stay at an Excellence property and after scouring reviews all over the internet Im excited to share my own with you. We really cant fault the Excellence EL Carmen for its cleanliness. We also enjoy breakfast & some dinners at Magna the EC restaurant. Its 492 modern suites have elegant interiors plus high-end features like free bottles of liquor and double jetted tubs overlooking private balconies. Flavour Market is a great spot for tapas, sharing, and light bites. Another Mexican offering this spot serves up some really top-quality eats. They do not serve their drinks with straws, so bring your own if you wish! These are two of my favourite things! A Lot of these are connected to the swim-up suites. We were handed a Coco Loco when we walked in and had a great view of the live music. Its a little cubby that can be accessed by room service staff from the outside to retrieve your dishes. A. 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. For those who wish to explore down the beach, Tropical Treasures also has great beach side massages and souvenirs. drinks to try everything from Americanos to flavoured coffees with everything you could imagine maybe a little something extra in it if thats how you like to start your day. Re the alcohol in the room, on our last visit, we didn't touch it. Save it for later! There are only a few tables though, so you have to book the morning you want to eat to get a reservation. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. If beaches are a priority for you then Excellence El Carmen is the resort for you. 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 use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. In Search of Sarah is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. 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! You always have the option for room service if you want to just veg out at night, too! 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. You do not need to bring an adapter with you if you are travelling from North America. The gym at this resort is very well stocked. 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. Our two favorite spots were the Martini bar which is the main lobby bar and the X Lounge. You certainly will never go thirsty here! This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. We went in ours so we just had to take our coverups off. It seats up to 8 and there is a set menu. The nightclub stays open late and has a DJ who takes request. We hit up this spot every single day. Yes literally everything here is included! Were not whiskey drinkers, but we do love tequila. Of course there is the Excellence Club lounge bar; an intimate and quiet setting to relax at. . You could jump from activity to activity all day long and you still wouldnt be able to participate in all of them. At all of the Excellence resorts, the check-in process is really an experience. Aroma is open until 10:00 and also offers sandwiches, fruit cups, pastries, macarons, cookies, and gelato. This is $699 USD, or complimentary with 6 nights or more in any Excellence Club room category! Stop by the Food Shark food truck, right at the theatre for tacos, burgers, hot dogs, fries and more! Just a note on classes: if you have your heart set on doing one, get there early! ago Excellence Club is a nice-to-have but no must-have. Access to twelve private pools and seven jacuzzis (hot water) in the pool area. 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. If you ask very nicely and youre feeling lucky you can also get food delivered from the restaurants. 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. If you want a lighter bite, head over to the La Placita food truck at the X-Lounge terrace! To use our mobile site, please enable JavaScript. 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. This is what I normally tip but remember, this is completely discretionary! 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! We ordered room service twice, once for dinner in the evening and once for breakfast. . Junior Suites can sleep up to three people, but the rest of the room types are for a maximum of two guests. I would still go. What to Pack for an All-Inclusive Vacation (Plus Free Printable! Lets start off by saying all of the rooms at this resort are massive, so space will never be an issue. The actual check-in process took less than 3 minutes. 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. In reality, there are really three main pool areas. We are considering booking this resort for our anniversary in October. The spa is always one place I love to check out at Excellence Resorts. The menu for the room service was very extensive. The bar service is also better on the EC part of the beach. 20 people arrived and the rest had to be turned away. 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 recommend a one-piece for this, ladies! The club pool at ERC had very few beds with umbrellas and being fair skinned i need shade, so found myself having to join in the early morning fight for a bed, it sounds like there will be plenty of club pools at EEC so I suppose that wouldn't be a problem. They do have nets as of the beginning of this month! The menu has your typical bar food favorites such as nachos, burgers, and Pizzas. It was our first DR vacation but we have stayed at 20 . We had just as much fun watching everyone as those who participated in it. Pricier Excellence Club upgrades add pillow menus, Bulgari toiletries, loaner beach bags, and minibars with top-shelf liquor. Appreciate it! You can purchase drinks at the airport to make the ride a little more fun, and perhaps a bit quicker? 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 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. You have a set of headphones with a few choices of music to dance to, and then youre off in your own little world. Its available 24/7 and the menu is very extensive. I will second Thomasgran for all of the reasons he stated. The price including flights, airport transfers, and the all-inclusive came out to $3,000 USD for the complete stay. Once a week, Excellence El Carmen holds a Dominican Night, where you can enjoy dishes unique to the Dominican Republic and enjoy live music and dancing. I worry about hidden fees- is EVERYTHING Included in all inclusive? This restaurant is a Mexican offering and we really enjoyed our night at Las Olas. 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. If you stay in an Excellence Club room those bottles are upgraded. It can be difficult at times to get a booking for treatments, so if you have your heart set on getting a massage we advise you to book before you travel. Ive been looking forward to staying here, and now that Ive fully absorbed all that this stunning resort has to offer after a relaxing getaway, Im excited to share this review with you! Best things to do in Punta Cana.your top 3. There is no dedicated Excellence Club pool at Excellence El Carmen, but there are plenty of suites with their own private pools, swim ups, or plunge pools to pick from! 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! As Excellence Club guests, we were given a free hydrotherapy session to use during our stay, which is always a must for me to experience! At our other Excellence Resorts trips, Ive emailed ahead of time to request a certain bottle in our rooms, which you can certainly do, but I left it until we got here this time. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. Our Vacation was Exellent! If those are things that you would have done anyway and spent money on, I would consider doing the club level for those freebies plus all the other added daily perks of being club. The building that we were in had faced the sun in the late afternoon, so the swim-up suite wasnt too much use. The only room type that has a private garden with a pool bigger than a plunge pool is the Imperial Suite. and loved it. The people (and pets) are so fun. The Mile spa is located just off the main reception area. There are tons of bars throughout the resort. On both occasions, the food came within 20 minutes and arrived hot, which is always the worry with room service. Located right above one of the pools and overlooking the beach, this is the perfect spot for some pre-dinner drinks while you listen to the lapping waves. Before dinner every night we perched ourselves at the Martini bar for a few pre-dinner drinks. You will never have an issue getting a spot at the beach. If you do not like those, or want to swap them out for something else, you can do that too! This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. - See 9,457 traveller reviews, 11,732 candid photos, and great deals for Excellence El Carmen at Tripadvisor. Tons of free activities like pool games, Mamajuana making, and evening shows. ), burgers, fish and chips, quesadillas, fries and more! 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. One comment I will make that really deterred me from being on the beach, is the vendors. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. The service here is really top-notch and the wages in the Dominican Republic for these roles are not high, so these tips can go a long way. The food here was good, but nothing to write home about. The food here was top-notch. 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. By proceeding, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. Regardless! White linen table cloths and a wonderful aesthetic give Chez Isabelle a sense of class as you dine. These cookies do not store any personal information. Arriving guests step through the front doors into a hip lobby that features swish elements like funky, high-backed armchairs, sleek couches, and floor-to-ceiling shelves full of oversized art books. Its luxurious rooms and suites make for the ideal romantic getaway and this property caters to honeymooners and those celebrating their anniversary. We went on the day they had tacos and it was SO good. 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. After youre finished eating, you can place your dishes in the X-Box located right at your door. A French offering that is set in a beautifully designed spot. The butter chicken was really good. Flavour Market is ideal for those who want to try a bit of everything without filling up too much on one thing! The Excellence Punta Cana is a luxury offering at a competitive price. Out of these cookies, 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. We have booked Excellence in Playa Mujeres and in El Carmen for 2016 both non club rooms. Once inside, it's all about sharp neutral decor, tranquil vibes, and breezy ocean views. Excellence El Carmen: Excellence Club WORTH IT - See 7,654 traveler reviews, 9,969 candid photos, and great deals for Excellence El Carmen at Tripadvisor. When it comes to food, the resorts 11 restaurants offer numerous options from casual spots to fine-dining. Its a really nice option if you dont feel like getting into your evening clothes and instead just chilling out in the room. We also only book an Excellence Club Honeymoon Beachfront Swim-Out Suite. For a more classic Caribbean beachfront all-inclusive with similar amenities, rates are comparable at the nearby sister resort,Excellence Punta Cana. When we stayed in early 2020 we went through the travel agent Sunwing that is based out of Canada. It didnt bother me, but if youre expecting a pristine, white sandy beach, you wont find it here. I love the different dishes and flavour combinations. Is Excellence Club Worth it at Excellence El Carmen? The menus denote which dishes are grain free. 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. You can do that here no problem. For Excellence Club guests, you have the option to dine at Magna. We have celebrated our past 5 anniversaries at Excellence Group resorts (Excellence Riviera Cancun and The Finest). 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. If youve never tried Indian cuisine, I recommend branching out and trying some new dishes! The main pool is located quite close to the beach and then two additional pools are located near buildings 12-16. Excellence now has their own app you can download to research everything either ahead of time, or to keep up with it during your stay! Our first room was filthy. Club level had upgraded spirits in the room, were not big drinkers, not indoors anyway, so both times we have been, the spirits were left untouched. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience. The park has a number of sinkholes and caves that can be explored. If you are willing to change it you might get a bargain. It was awkward drinking Coco Locos without them! . This all sounds very negative, but I suppose what I'm trying to say is no it's not worth it, hopefully you will have a brilliant time wherever you stay. Each restaurant has numerous options for lighter fare. There is also a beachfront massage option if you wish to listen to the crashing waves against the shore. 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. Its always a favourite spot to gather before and after dinner to enjoy a cocktail. They also have a range of pastries and sandwiches on offer. The poolside service was always quick, the entertainment staff were a blast, the waiters were so courteous and attentivethe list goes on. I like a mix of $1s, $5s and $10s when we travel to all-inclusive resorts. Rooms have one king bed or two queen beds that are framed by boxy nightstands and telescoping chrome reading lights. 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. The EC beach is similar to the non EC but you get the loungers made up for you & concierges to look after you. You can view your cuts of meat if youre unsure of what you want to order. Seaweed blooms are seasonal and also change daily. more. The bed is comfortable but if you choose to switch out your pillows, there is a pillow menu (on the Excellence app) if you want to try another one by calling the concierge. 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. 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! They will want to take a photo of you with them (or you phone, too! The buffet, Kitchen Table, has options for everyone Id be shocked to learn if someone couldnt find something they liked. 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 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. Every time we travel I always bring an extra couple hundred dollars in tips and its well worth it! We did ours at 9:00 am and we had to nap after because it made us tired haha! You can ask for more of certain drinks or snacks if you wish (plus a nice tip wouldnt hurt with that request!). The all-inclusive package is very good here. 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. 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). Insight/Feedback on Monkeyland and Other Animal Attractions? My husband and I are looking into going to EEC and we are wondering if the Excellence Club is worth it. The service is amazing as it always is at Excellence Resorts. , Just an FYI the room service coffee was a bit strong and potent. My wife and I had a very similar experience at Excellence El Carman in November 2019. Make your vacation a little more special with this upgrade and receive upgraded amenities and more! Free water sports include kayaks and Hobie Cat catamarans. It's definitely not a party resort with guests pounding shots -- the vibe is more towards sipping martinis. He just appeared. Casual wear (no wet swimsuits) is acceptable elsewhere for breakfast and lunch. Is Excellence Club at Excellence El Carmen worth it? We have zero complaints and hence the shortest section on this review! The room service here at the Excellence El Carmen is really good. 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. The Masala beef was the best we have ever had. Access to the business center is available for a fee, and there is also 4,800 square feet of event space. After dinner, there was always something going on. The balcony was covered in cigarette butts when we checked in. They have it all from the top-shelf liquor options to local beers and spirits. There is also the Silent Disco. 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! This was definitely the spot we frequented most for lunch. Subscribe and get my Travel Safety Checklist! We had a fabulous time the first time we went to ERC, which was non club, so much so we went back for our honeymoon. From themed nights such as Casino night and Dominican night. Hairdryers, magnifying mirrors, scales, robes, and slippers come standard. For starters, its absolutely stunning. If you love seafood, be sure to hit up the Lobster House! To be honest I can't say I thought it was really worth the extra. Do not miss the huge savings! ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-110442921', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Excellence El Carmen? Resort recs for relaxing, great beach, hot tub? To cooking lessons where the chefs will teach you how to make local Dominican food and sushi. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. If youre part of the Excellence club you will have the likes of Absolut Vodka, Johnny Walker Black Label, and Anejo Rum. We ordered all the seafood here crab cakes, lobster bisque, lobster risotto (we shared this, and its AMAZING get it! Check-in is a breeze and you are whisked to your room where your holiday can really begin. Dont get us wrong, the steaks were well prepared and the burger we tried too was pretty good. You can check it out on the resort map! Wood-Fired pizzas, rich and creamy pasta dishes, and some really nice seafood options too. I also appreciated that while we asked for two mimosas, he brought us a whole bottle of sparkling wine, in case we wanted two each. Its like he knew us. 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. Your email address will not be published. Although there is no golf course in the resort there are a few options within driving distance of the resort. As well as a nice selection of ice creams for your midday treat. So, to avoid disappointment, arrive early, and maybe grab a drink and enjoy the views while youre waiting! There is also a plug inside your safe should you choose to charge your devices while theyre kept away (which I thought was neat!). If youre celebrating your anniversary or honeymoon, be sure to take advantage of that at Excellence El Carmen! 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. . The locker key pad is very easy to use. 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 . When we eventually secured a table this place didnt disappoint. Excellence El Carmen is a large, and fairly new (2016) all-inclusive resort with a modern and tropical vibe. There are entirely separate menus for that. Excellence El Carmen: Excellent! 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. how do floodplains jeopardize the livelihoods of agricultural workers. We went to Sanoa Island and Hoyo Azul. There are tons of delicious vegetarian dishes (along with non-veg options) you can order you wont miss the meat! Excellence El Carmen is very competitively priced for the standard of the resort, food, and service that you get. For Excellence Club guests, dont miss Magna! 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. Just as an FYI if youre walking around indecently with the blinds open. 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! What let the side down here was the quality of the meat. This resort was beautiful!!!! Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. You will see it the second that you arrive. If you are not in Excellence Club, you can swap out one bottle of alcohol per day. The shows start later 9:30 pm (most nights at home Im in bed by then!!! We had some insightful conversations with some of the employees there and they really love their jobs and are grateful for them. Thats what I love about the food here. That, of course, is no fault of the hotel. Hi Taylor! ), and then charge you a ridiculous amount for it. Punta Cana International Airport is about a 45-minute drive from the resort. From the moment you get out of bed and slip into the private pool outside your Junior Suite your day is going to be electric and jam-packed with fun, romance, action and entertainment. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Please check our partner sites when booking to verify that details are still correct. Woodie and I went to Excellence El Carmen, Dominican Republic in December 2021 and absolutely loved the resort! Opting to eat healthier during your stay? If youre in Excellence Club, try Magna for breakfast at least once! 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. 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 LOVE Excellence properties, and Excellence El Carmen is nothing short of an amazing resort in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. 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. Its 492 modern suites have elegant interiors plus high-end features like free bottles of liquor and double jetted tubs overlooking private balconies. These bottles do come at an additional cost, but youre on holiday, treat yourself. It was pure heaven. Part of our club honeymoon package was to get a free couples pamper session at the spa, but this was only available at certain times in the evening, which didn't suit us, so we ended up paying for spa treatments during the day. We arrived in the morning and our room wasnt ready yet, so we went and grabbed a cocktail at the main bar. Its important to remember the Excellence dress code! There are lots of antipasto dishes at Oregano, along with risottos, custom pasta dishes, and pizzas to satisfy your carb craving. At the Excellence Club, every detail of your stay has been upgraded with seamless perks and over-the-top offerings. My mom and I had big ambitions to participate in some of the physical activities, like aerial yoga on the beach (how fun right?!)