Free water sports include kayaks and Hobie Cat catamarans. As soon as you enter the resort you really are put at ease. You can bring this right back to your palapa by the pool or beach to enjoy or eat on the terrace. 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. Excellence Club guests get private access to a top-notch restaurant that opens for breakfast and dinner. Help choosing a resort for my 80 year old aunt. HELP - Secrets Royal Beach or Secrets Cap Cana - price/room. The room is spacious and modern with a HUGE hidden walk-in closet with plenty of hangers, shelving, robes, a steamer, and a safe. 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. ordered the flank steak and charcoal grilled chicken. You want for nothing and youre pampered as soon as youre handed a glass of champagne and walk through those big wooden doors that open to the main lobby, where the spa-like zen instantly soothes you. The price including flights, airport transfers, and the all-inclusive came out to $3,000 USD for the complete stay. Its a scam. Is Excellence Club at Excellence El Carmen worth it? We have been to EPC 8 times, and we always do the EC, mainly because we prefer the upgraded, less crowded beach area. The hydrotherapy circuit takes about an hour to complete and is well worth doing. 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. Weirdly enough we found that the food here in the Dominican was way better than the Excellence offerings in their Mexican location. The X lounge was our other most frequented spot. From fitness-based classes such as Yoga, tennis, and water aerobics. 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! To tribute acts and musical entertainment. 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! Excellence Club Suites come with access to the private Magna Club restaurant and bar, plus the private lobby puts out special treats and desserts throughout the day. ago Excellence Club is a nice-to-have but no must-have. ), and then charge you a ridiculous amount for it. There are a few tasty options here, like the Dominican patty (filled with beef, raisins and egg, and sooo good! Please check our partner sites when booking to verify that details are still correct. Theyre very quiet and also have their own bars. 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. We always stay in the club area to take advantage of the club anniversary package. ), and lobster tails. The Hoyo Azul is also known as the blue hole and is their most famous one. We loved the Caribbean Eggs with plantain and fried cheese. What let the side down here was the quality of the meat. You have three bottles of alcohol in your room as a standard: Stolichnaya Vodka, rum, and whiskey. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. 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. We love the Club benefits but have gone without it and had a great time. We visited these during our other Excellence trips and loved them. The property's secluded beach is one of Punta Canas best. The atmosphere is always buzzing. I have to avoid raw onions, but I didnt have to sacrifice taste! Average. When my lovely friends invited me to their destination wedding at Excellence El Carmen, how could I say no? Today's best Excellence Resorts coupon is up to 62% off. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Im with the mindset that if we can afford to travel, we can afford to tip. We accosted the minibar guy one day to give us kitkats, so just so you know, there is also chocolate! For honeymoons, you can get this package for free for up to 3 months following your wedding. Many of you have asked: there is no waiter service at these rooms but you have an entire minibar in your room and a minifridge which you can request to have stocked with what you like, or you can order room service for some sparkling wine if thats your thing, or even toddle over one of the many bars for some cocktails to bring back. There are so many restaurants at Excellence El Carmen. These are two of my favourite things! Are you a vegetarian? It was perfectly located to grab a bite in between tanning yourself. Just dont go with a wet bathing suit! On both occasions, the food came within 20 minutes and arrived hot, which is always the worry with room service. Just something that you might not have considered that might help you decide. It opened its doors in 2016 and has been a firm favorite for all-inclusive resorts in the Dominican Republic and the Caribbean. There were tons of loungers and palapas available, with great poolside service. We like the Beachfront Honeymoon rooms & these are all EC. Our Best All-Inclusive Resorts In Puerto Vallarta for Food, Our Best All-Inclusive Resorts in Los Cabos for Food. We knew we'd go back so I thought I would do . We had just as much fun watching everyone as those who participated in it. When it comes to adults-only luxury, Excellence El Carmen in the Dominican Republic has it down to a science. 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. To be honest I can't say I thought it was really worth the extra. With 16 different bars in the resort, you are never too far away from a drink. Your bags will be taken by the staff and be delivered to your room. more, You seem to have JavaScript disabled. Excellence Club is described as the best adults-only all-inclusive resort experience in the Dominican Republic, with upscale service and elevated offerings. 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. 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. ), classes by the beach, live music at lunch, live music behind the theatre in the evening, live music at the Martini Bar, plus the evening shows and more! (Feb 1, 2022). So, to avoid disappointment, arrive early, and maybe grab a drink and enjoy the views while youre waiting! The staff work so hard to give us a relaxing and memorable holiday the least we can do is show our appreciation! Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. Serving up all of the traditional dishes there are the classics and some dishes that you probably have never heard of before. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-110442921', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Excellence El Carmen? Its open at 8:00 am and the view of the azul-blue pools and swaying palm trees along the beach cant be beat. 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. 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. 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 . This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. There is also room service! For a more classic Caribbean beachfront all-inclusive with similar amenities, rates are comparable at the nearby sister resort,Excellence Punta Cana. how do floodplains jeopardize the livelihoods of agricultural workers. For all your caffeine needs, Aroma is a coffee shop where you can pick up your morning pick me up. Avoiding grains? You are greeted with a glass of bubbly and a cold towel. If youre like me, I love knowing what dinner options are available before I go to a resort. Stop by the Food Shark food truck, right at the theatre for tacos, burgers, hot dogs, fries and more! The wide and varied selection continues in your room with a packed mini-bar and a number of premium liquor bottles available. If you want a little pick-me-up, there are fruit cups, snacks, and gelato here, too! Bavaro Express Bus Information? Related: How to Travel with a Carry-On Only. The live music is so relaxing in the evening, and is a great way to pass the before and after dinner before the shows. Junior Swim-Up Suites, located on the ground floor, offer access to long pools with private nooks outfitted with a swan-neck jet. The butter chicken was really good. Free daily classes like yoga and stretching are available, and personal training sessions are included in nightly rates as well. Yes literally everything here is included! We have to give a shout-out to Felix the bartender here. 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. The setup outside is really beautiful and should be experienced if youre there even if you dont have a full meal just so you can see some of the entertainment! This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. When it comes to food, the resorts 11 restaurants offer numerous options from casual spots to fine-dining. It was packed when we arrived and we actually walked away the first time because we thought we wouldnt get in. 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. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". All food, snacks, room service, fully stocked mini-bar drinks, and a variety of classes and amenities are included in the package. 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 are considering booking this resort for our anniversary in October. 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. For those who wish to explore down the beach, Tropical Treasures also has great beach side massages and souvenirs. 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. You certainly will never go thirsty here! The service here gets a 5-star rating from us, it was literally impeccable. There is music by the pool bar, too! Lunch at the Lobster House and Oregano have the most amazing views. Dreams resorts All your questions answered! The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". It was awkward drinking Coco Locos without them! All rooms also provide safes, umbrellas, irons, and ironing boards. Its 492 modern suites have elegant interiors plus high-end features like free bottles of liquor and double jetted tubs overlooking private balconies. The food here was the best we had in the resort and the minimalist Japanese decor really added to the experience. There is also one daybed in the shade and another one closer to the steps of the private pool, tucked away in its little alcove. Thats part of the reason why we love all-inclusive resorts so much! I am SO happy we decided to book this room, and quite honestly I dont think I can book any other room type now. 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. From themed nights such as Casino night and Dominican night. We really got the feeling of 5-Star luxury once we walked in. You will see it the second that you arrive. You also have an ice bucket, and the ice machines are located on every floor of every room block for easy filling. I understand that spa services and tipping are not, but are all the restaurants, drinks and room service included? I have seen others tip generously to get their preferred alcohol, or have had them all swapped out at onceIm not sure what the real case is here, but nonetheless youll have alcohol in your room. Guests are mostly honeymooners and couples celebrating wedding anniversaries from the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. The park has a number of sinkholes and caves that can be explored. Keep in mind that you are in the Dominican Republic but the food here is far better than other resorts Ive been to while travelling here. French, Indian, Spanish, and Mexican restaurants are also open. You could jump from activity to activity all day long and you still wouldnt be able to participate in all of them. Our two favorite spots were the Martini bar which is the main lobby bar and the X Lounge. This one of the Excellence chains has three offerings in the Dominican Republic. There is also the Silent Disco. The beach at Excellence El Carmen is long its a beautiful, soft, and golden stretch of beach when there is no seaweed. Out of these, 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 highly recommend the scallops and the Tuna steak. 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. As they fill up quickly. We ordered room service twice, once for dinner in the evening and once for breakfast. It was never rowdy, and is quite peaceful here and we enjoyed the central location to everything we wanted. We even had a decent signal on the beach. However, the dress code is one of the reasons why we love Excellence. The Dominican Republics minimum wage is the equivalent to $154 USD a month! Im not a huge pizza or pasta fan when theres tons of other things to try that I cant get at home (or want to make at home, more like!). The Excellence El Carmen is another top-class offering from the Excellence chain of resorts. You do not need to bring an adapter with you if you are travelling from North America. Although there is no golf course in the resort there are a few options within driving distance of the resort. Feeling hungry late at night? Once the info sheet is delivered try and book the treatment for the next day to grab a bargain. You always have the option for room service if you want to just veg out at night, too! We had an additional bottle of vodka (Absolut), tequila (Agavita) and gin (Tanquerey). 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. We did this one night and got food from Chez Isabella. The perfect spot to sink a few beers and watch some sports. We have booked to stay at EEC for 2 weeks from opening day! - See 9,457 traveller reviews, 11,732 candid photos, and great deals for Excellence El Carmen at Tripadvisor. A. The spa is always one place I love to check out at Excellence Resorts. This category reimagines Dominican Republic resorts in an adults only oasis that delights the senses. My husband and I did Excellence Playa Mujeres last year. Youll never be bored. Its non-stop! The park also boasts a range of other activities including ziplines, animal parks, and the impressive surrounding forest. 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. They also have a range of pastries and sandwiches on offer. It was pure heaven. 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. 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. Rooms have one king bed or two queen beds that are framed by boxy nightstands and telescoping chrome reading lights. The entertainment crew really does make a solid effort in keeping everyone entertained with a wide range of activities going on throughout the day. 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. Aroma is open until 10:00 and also offers sandwiches, fruit cups, pastries, macarons, cookies, and gelato. You alternate between hot and cold pools, steam rooms and saunas, jet-oriented water experiences and more! This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. When it comes to the food at Excellence El Carmen, there is something for everyone. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. You can always go to the Revive Bar for a smoothie if you dont want to spoil your dinner. Resort kids clubs - do they enforce/check ages? These bottles do come at an additional cost, but youre on holiday, treat yourself. We (once again!) My wife and I had a very similar experience at Excellence El Carman in November 2019. Im not kidding people were shocked when they saw the photos. Unfortunately, there are some guests who havent been to all-inclusives before that dont know that isnt the norm, and pay it. 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. Like other Excellence properties, guests can splurge on upgraded Excellence Club packages. I LOVE Excellence properties, and Excellence El Carmen is nothing short of an amazing resort in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. 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. 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.