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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. 20 people arrived and the rest had to be turned away. Insight/Feedback on Monkeyland and Other Animal Attractions? 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! Dont get us wrong, there is more than enough space at the pools to get a sun lounger and to chill out in peace and quiet. ), Excellence Club is not worth it at Excellence El Carmen, 20 Best Cheap Travel Items Under $20 (that are. The sand is powdery soft and the oceanfront is lined with palm trees, lounge chairs, and thatched umbrellas. We did not try Oregano, Spice, Flavour Market, or Basmati during this trip because we ran out of time. . After one or two many drinks the night before we liked nothing more than getting up and getting some fresh fruit into our bodies. 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. For anniversaries, you can receive this package up to 7 days before and 7 days after your anniversary, giving you lots of flexibility! We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. Read a full Excellence Punta Cana vs Excellence El Carmen face-off, here. You can get a bottle of the house wine included in your package. If beaches are a priority for you then Excellence El Carmen is the resort for you. Discover a world of rewards with The Excellence Collection Rewards benefits program. 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 do not serve their drinks with straws, so bring your own if you wish! Im with the mindset that if we can afford to travel, we can afford to tip. To some it definitely seems like the EC is worth it, but by the sounds of it to me and the wife, I think we'll be just fine with our first room choice even though the EC is not an option. It makes a great all-inclusive resort option for those wanting luxury and comfort. The whirlpools are ideal for enjoying the views and a soak in rainy weather. On both occasions, the food came within 20 minutes and arrived hot, which is always the worry with room service. You can bring this right back to your palapa by the pool or beach to enjoy or eat on the terrace. All Adults - At Excellence El Carmen you are secluded but not isolated. Adults-Only Luxury at Excellence Riviera Cancun, What to Pack for an All-Inclusive Resort Vacation, The Best Adults-Only Resorts in Mexico for a Romantic Getaway, What to Include in a DIY Travel Medical Kit, Why You Need to Stay at El Dorado Casitas Royale, Mexico, 20 Cheap Travel Items Under $20 (that are actually useful!). In the video we tell you how we planned o. 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. Im not kidding people were shocked when they saw the photos. 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! we decided to splurge and upgrade to Excellence Club Junior Suite with Private Pool. Your best option is a 35-minute drive from the resort. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. Excellence Club upgrades come with private lounge and restaurant access, an exclusive area on the beach, and daily in-room treats. We have booked Excellence in Playa Mujeres and in El Carmen for 2016 both non club rooms. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. All products are independently selected by our writers and editors. If youre sharing with a friend or a family member (like my mom and I did), we just called out to each other that we were indecent and to avert your eyes. There are a few tasty options here, like the Dominican patty (filled with beef, raisins and egg, and sooo good! As a previous Excellence Resorts guest, I couldn't imagine how the service could get any better! Excellence El Carmen: Excellence Club WORTH IT - See 8,945 traveller reviews, 11,222 candid photos, and great deals for Excellence El Carmen at Tripadvisor. Rooms have one king bed or two queen beds that are framed by boxy nightstands and telescoping chrome reading lights. 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. Anytime we had finished a drink or a meal the staff were on hand to refill or clean away our empty glasses or plates. Lobster doesn't cost extra either. We ordered room service twice, once for dinner in the evening and once for breakfast. The staff work so hard to give us a relaxing and memorable holiday the least we can do is show our appreciation! The staff really do put their best foot forward in making it an entertaining getaway for the guests. ), Cuban sandwich (also really good! 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. We ended up trying the cheese sticks, croque monsieur, and Asian chicken salad to share and it was all tasty. This is what I normally tip but remember, this is completely discretionary! Excellence El Carmen: Excellence Club WORTH IT - See 7,882 traveller reviews, 10,176 candid photos, and great deals for Uvero Alto, Dominican Republic, at Tripadvisor. Our favorite thing was definitely the casino night. 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. 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. Massages and salon services are available at the full-service spa, as is a free hydrotherapy circuit, and the excellent gym offers daily yoga and aerobics classes free of charge. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. It's definitely not a party resort with guests pounding shots -- the vibe is more towards sipping martinis. 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. by Adrian updated July 31, 2021, 2:41 pm. 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. This post contains affiliate linkswhich means I earn compensation when you click on the links at absolutely no extra cost to you! If you love seafood, be sure to hit up the Lobster House! This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. Its a little cubby that can be accessed by room service staff from the outside to retrieve your dishes. I have to avoid raw onions, but I didnt have to sacrifice taste! Since my mom and I were on a girls trip (which we hardly ever get to do!) A steakhouse in an all-inclusive is not normally a good pairing and sadly the Grill at the Excellence El Carmen was no different. 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. 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 will likely not even realize what you are "missing" being non club. Lunch at the Lobster House and Oregano have the most amazing views. Lets start off by saying all of the rooms at this resort are massive, so space will never be an issue. If you stayed for a week you wouldnt be able to visit them all, unless you visited more than one a night! In my opinion, Excellence Club is not worth it at Excellence El Carmen. This restaurant is a Mexican offering and we really enjoyed our night at Las Olas. Sorry such a technical question and really appreciate your in depth review of the place. You can check it out on the resort map! As they fill up quickly. You have three bottles of alcohol in your room as a standard: Stolichnaya Vodka, rum, and whiskey. We are going to EEC to celebrate our anniversary in mid September. Serving up all of the traditional dishes there are the classics and some dishes that you probably have never heard of before. The only room type that has a private garden with a pool bigger than a plunge pool is the Imperial Suite. Its expansive with loads of loungers and areas to relax. At all of the Excellence resorts, the check-in process is really an experience. Services cost extra, but guests can book a free session in the gorgeous hydrotherapy circuit, which features a sauna, steam room, plunge pool, and jetted beds. Resort recs for relaxing, great beach, hot tub? We actually skipped lunch this day just so we could fill up. 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 treatments included in the excellence club as well as the room location being closer to the beach/better view. Punta Cana International Airport is about a 45-minute drive from the resort. Im glad there were other couples there laughing, because some of you cant help but laugh! There is also a beachfront massage option if you wish to listen to the crashing waves against the shore. It is brand new so it was not crowded at all. I would still go. We went for 7 days and flew out of Toronto. - See 9 464 traveller reviews, 11,732 candid photos, and great deals for Excellence El Carmen at Tripadvisor. If you want to swim, I would recommend bringing water shoes to protect your feet! All of these rooms come with the option of having an ocean view. 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. You can also grab these at Las Olas when they have their Coco Loco drink station going! This resort is a wonderful place for adults to relax and de-stress, and the Excellence Club in my opinion is absolutely worth it. We went to Sanoa Island and Hoyo Azul. Rounds here range from $100 $150 depending on the time of day you play and the season. Check out their website to see what is actually included. My favourite spots included Aroma, the Revive Bar, Magna (for Excellence Club), and the Lobster House. 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. We frequented this little shop to get specialty coffee drinks, browse the different pastries and macaroons that were constantly available, and grab an ice cream cone. This bar is also a great place to go after dinner. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. The spa is always one place I love to check out at Excellence Resorts. The weather was a little windy at times however that's just one of the challenges of trav. The question of club vs. non-club is asked all the time on the forums. Excellence El Carmen is a large, and fairly new (2016) all-inclusive resort with a modern and tropical vibe. There are so many restaurants at Excellence El Carmen. Just another site is excellence club worth it el carmen I tried the braised beef wrap and it was delicious. depends on how you view 5 star - See 9,463 traveler reviews, 11,732 candid photos, and great deals for Excellence El Carmen at Tripadvisor. We went there for dinner and were a little disappointed with the food. If you are booking a room with a swim-up suite make sure to request a room that is directly in the sun during the day or in the morning. The vanity has a double sink and there are numerous towels, hand towels, and facecloths, along with a hairdryer. Its fun to watch the cook prepare your food right in front of you! 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. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. Re the alcohol in the room, on our last visit, we didn't touch it. Those spots, along with the Kitchen Table for the buffet, and room-service, are your breakfast options. Free daily classes like yoga and stretching are available, and personal training sessions are included in nightly rates as well. To be honest I can't say I thought it was really worth the extra. The Excellence El Carmen is another top-class offering from the Excellence chain of resorts. The all-inclusive package is very good here. There are also a number of liquor bottles that are in the room too. That, of course, is no fault of the hotel. Insider tip: Dont miss the hidden gem by building 10! Ecological park with flamingos and macaws on-site. Note: we had someone come by our room every morning around 8:00-8:30 am to clean the pool from the outside. A. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. A. 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. Spice also has a fun option for groups and for a live cooking show: the Hibachi! I was under the impression that EC guests had an upgraded minibar, but there was a bit of confusion with our room, since they said only Excellence Club can swap out bottles (this is not true, by the way), and we said we were Excellence Club. So I am just checking to see if there was any extra fees that arent included! There is also the Silent Disco. Excellence El Carmen is a luxury adults-only all-inclusive resort that sits along an idyllic beach in Punta Canas laid-back Uvero Alto. Basmati is one restaurant Im sad to have missed on this trip! 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. 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!). A French offering that is set in a beautifully designed spot. 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). For Excellence Club guests, you have the option to dine at Magna. . They have a large menu with all of the smoothies combinations under the sun. It includes upgraded amenities, exclusive areas, and added perks. : Excellence El Carmen - See 9,462 traveller reviews, 11,732 photos, and cheap deals for Excellence El Carmen at Tripadvisor. We really cant fault the Excellence EL Carmen for its cleanliness. Excellence El Carmen is very competitively priced for the standard of the resort, food, and service that you get. Yes, even though you didnt consent to it. If you stay in an Excellence Club room those bottles are upgraded. We have to give a shout-out to Felix the bartender here. We loved the modern vibe to the resort; the clean architectual look, the immaculate gardening and landscaping, and the freshness of it all. Its normally located on the X-Lounge terrace outside, but ours was held at the Kitchen Table. Located in the Uvero Alto area of the Dominican Republic. There is music by the pool bar, too! Excellence Club guests get private access to a top-notch restaurant that opens for breakfast and dinner. They take you off the resort to see some interesting things nearby. What let the side down here was the quality of the meat. When we stayed in early 2020 we went through the travel agent Sunwing that is based out of Canada. To cooking lessons where the chefs will teach you how to make local Dominican food and sushi. Opting to eat healthier during your stay? 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! Everyone greeted us with an Hola and a smile and you felt welcomed. This Asian eatery serves up the most famous dishes from Japan, Thailand, China, and Vietnam. 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. The seafood, in particular, was spectacular. The gym at this resort is very well stocked. The Blue Hole, a cenote with gorgeous turquoise water, is also around a 30-minute drive from the property. Yes, Wi-Fi is included in your package. Or jump to your topic. We only managed two meals a day most days because we were so full from breakfast, so having a smoothie to tide us over was perfect. When we ate there we went for the classics with a Burrito and a quesadilla and they were very tasty. This adults-only resort is the perfect place to have a relaxing break in the beautiful surroundings of the Dominican Republic. THE ROOMS. 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. Getting to beautiful Saona Island takes an hour and 15 minutes and requires a drive followed by a boat ride. It's like VIP at the airport. There is a great bustling atmosphere and the bartender Jordy served up some of the best concoctions at the resort. For all your caffeine needs, Aroma is a coffee shop where you can pick up your morning pick me up. 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. Every staff member that we dealt with was great. And, if youre even more like me, food is very important to you! Wood-Fired pizzas, rich and creamy pasta dishes, and some really nice seafood options too. One comment I will make that really deterred me from being on the beach, is the vendors. I definitely would like to stay at this resort. 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. I would still go. From the Gym, tennis courts, beach volleyball, and water sports they have it all on offer. Travelers wanting a beautiful island setting with a grown-up vibe should book a stay at one of the numerous adults-only resorts in the Caribbean. You certainly will never go thirsty here! Just something that you might not have considered that might help you decide. I also realize there is a lot of confusion with tipping at all-inclusive resorts, since technically, your package includes gratuities. My husband and I did Excellence Playa Mujeres last year. The live music is so relaxing in the evening, and is a great way to pass the before and after dinner before the shows.