The staff really do put their best foot forward in making it an entertaining getaway for the guests. We love the Club benefits but have gone without it and had a great time. 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. From fitness-based classes such as Yoga, tennis, and water aerobics. 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. These bottles do come at an additional cost, but youre on holiday, treat yourself. We passed so many doors with celebratory banners on them, and its not hard to understand why: Excellence El Carmen offers a great price point and value for money, and is known to provide a top-tier stay in a tropical paradise. By proceeding, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. 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. The Excellence Punta Cana is a luxury offering at a competitive price. There is also a plug inside your safe should you choose to charge your devices while theyre kept away (which I thought was neat!). The Hoyo Azul is also known as the blue hole and is their most famous one. The beach at the El Carmen resort is truly stunning. Is Excellence Club Worth it at Excellence El Carmen? We loved the Caribbean Eggs with plantain and fried cheese. This is a must-visit if youre a fan of Indian food. The biggest question when youre considering an all-inclusive resort is the quality of the food. If you buy something through our links, Oyster may earn an affiliate commission. This resort is a wonderful place for adults to relax and de-stress, and the Excellence Club in my opinion is absolutely worth it. You will also use the Excellence app for ordering at the restaurants they have shifted away from the hard-copy menus to digital (although Im sure you could request one if you preferred it). This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. 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. This adults-only resort is the perfect place to have a relaxing break in the beautiful surroundings of the Dominican Republic. I gave up asking in the end! We had the grilled lobster and the lobster ravioli and the lobster for both dishes was a little bit chewy. Everyone greeted us with an Hola and a smile and you felt welcomed. Its open from 6:00 pm 11:30 pm, giving you the fuel you need to keep on going! 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. They do not serve their drinks with straws, so bring your own if you wish! So, to avoid disappointment, arrive early, and maybe grab a drink and enjoy the views while youre waiting! A Lot of these are connected to the swim-up suites. Their guacamole was delicious! Is the bathroom private? Excellence Punta Cana - A Comprehensive Review (2021) It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. You also get access to a private lounge, which we only used to check in/out or to book our free dinner on the beach. 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. I understand and appreciate that tipping is subjective. When we visited we brought US Dollars and tipped a dollar for each drink we ordered and then $10 dollars for waiters for any of the meals that we had. Access to Excellence Club's Magna Restaurant and exclusive bars. I LOVE Excellence properties, and Excellence El Carmen is nothing short of an amazing resort in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. Our wait was very short and we were guided to our room, where our bags were already waiting for us. Excellence Club Amenities A Tailored Experience at the Best Adults Only Resorts in Punta Cana Private check-in & check-out / Late check-out & early check-in (subject to availability) Access to private Excellence Club lounge (7:00 am to 11:00 pm) with concierge service, smart buffets, and bar service Love Happens at Excellence Punta Cana & El Carmen The staff work so hard to give us a relaxing and memorable holiday the least we can do is show our appreciation! Weirdly enough we found that the food here in the Dominican was way better than the Excellence offerings in their Mexican location. 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 also enjoy breakfast & some dinners at Magna the EC restaurant. This restaurant is a Mexican offering and we really enjoyed our night at Las Olas. It makes a great all-inclusive resort option for those wanting luxury and comfort. Drink service is on offer at the pools and beach. Excellence Club WORTH IT - Review of Excellence El Carmen They will want to take a photo of you with them (or you phone, too! If it would be a financial hardship, just pass on it because you will still have a great time. This is topped off with the most decadent 10 minute head, neck and shoulder massage, all while laying cozied up on a heated stone lounge. The 23 freshwater pools are scattered throughout the resort and include a main pool with ocean views and two accessible ramps. Overall the food here was a pretty good standard for an all-inclusive. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. Open-plan bathrooms are spacious and include tan granite or black marble vanities plus double sinks. The lounge is comfortable with the L-shaped couch, perfect for morning room-service breakfast, or cocktails before heading out for the evening. It was awkward drinking Coco Locos without them! Free water sports include kayaks and Hobie Cat catamarans. Like other Excellence properties, guests can splurge on upgraded Excellence Club packages. We ate in our bathrobes and drank mimosas and it was glorious. Over the 7 days that we visited the Excellence, there were two weddings that we saw going on. All are part of the hotel's all-inclusive rates, as is 24-hour room service. The best part? There is also room service! I would recommend the hydrotherapy, plus you may even be given an additional spa discount for another service after. Every time we travel I always bring an extra couple hundred dollars in tips and its well worth it! If you are willing to change it you might get a bargain. Like all of these offerings, it can be hit and miss and there definitely was some inconsistency in terms of the dishes we were served. 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. Everyone dresses up and it gives a classy feel to the resort. Plus, the addition of the Excellence Club lounge and bar makes it a great hangout spot before or after dinner. If you want to be in a secluded spot and close to the beach then building 9 is your best bet. We often started our days with a couple glasses of mimosas and you will never be far from your next drink. For Excellence Club guests, you have the option to dine at Magna. We also liked the Excellence Club lounge to have a pre-dinner drink. The gym at this resort is very well stocked. 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. If youve been to Excellence Playa Mujeres or Riviera Cancun, there is an additional Wine Cellar you can dine in privately. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Excellence El Carmen is very competitively priced. Insider tip: Dont miss the hidden gem by building 10! The menu for the room service was very extensive. Best Adult Only All Inclusive in Punta Cana? The Excellence El Carmen is just a 40-minute drive from Punta Cana international airport. How much is the excellence club upgrade - tripadvisor.co.za After youre finished eating, you can place your dishes in the X-Box located right at your door. 20 people arrived and the rest had to be turned away. 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! Note: They do not serve their drinks with straws, so bring your own if you wish! 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. Since you mentioned your anniversary, look at the anniversary packages that you would get for free if you travel over your anniversary and stay for 7 nights. Discover a world of rewards with The Excellence Collection Rewards benefits program. You will see it the second that you arrive. Excellence El Carmen: Excellent! We hit up this spot every single day. Perks include upgraded rooms; upgraded room-service menus, minibars, and toiletries; and access to a private lounge with concierge services. How much is the excellence club upgrade - tripadvisor.ie 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. In reality, there are really three main pool areas. This is $699 USD, or complimentary with 6 nights or more in any Excellence Club room category! Note: we had someone come by our room every morning around 8:00-8:30 am to clean the pool from the outside. To be honest I can't say I thought it was really worth the extra. The gym is modern and loaded with Technogym treadmills, elliptical machines, stationary bicycles, recumbent bikes, weight machines, dumbbells, free weights, a punching bag, and a squat bench. 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. Ecological park with flamingos and macaws on-site. The Masala beef was the best we have ever had. I called twice and went to the Excellence Club lounge (as they requested), and by the second day in the afternoon they sent someone. Hi David! 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. To cooking lessons where the chefs will teach you how to make local Dominican food and sushi. . You have a set of headphones with a few choices of music to dance to, and then youre off in your own little world. Was it worth it for you? We have celebrated our past 5 anniversaries at Excellence Group resorts (Excellence Riviera Cancun and The Finest). Can anyone who upgraded to Excellence club upon What to Pack for an All-Inclusive Vacation (Plus Free Printable! 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 also have an ice bucket, and the ice machines are located on every floor of every room block for easy filling. The service is excellent and the food is diverse. Related: What to Pack for an All-Inclusive Vacation (Plus Free Printable!). And since its the second-largest country. Some people have said they have asked upwards of $80 USD for these photos. and loved it. 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. This is what I normally tip but remember, this is completely discretionary! Excellence Club WORTH IT: Excellence El Carmen - See 7,750 traveller reviews, 10,047 photos, and cheap deals for Excellence El Carmen at Tripadvisor. Its non-stop! 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. They have a lovely Gazebo overlooking the water which looks like the perfect spot to exchange vows. 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. The water is refreshingly warm and there are loungers in the water too! If you are not in Excellence Club, you can swap out one bottle of alcohol per day. We also found that most people chill out on the beach, so the pools were never too busy. Our top recommendations for dishes here are the patatas bravos and the Spanish meatballs. The evening cleaning was more of a turndown service. Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. The question of club vs. non-club is asked all the time on the forums. 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.