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! Others have said all I have is $5 and they take it. They do not serve their drinks with straws, so bring your own if you wish! 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. Getting married here seems to be a very popular choice. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. An Excellence resort AND a wedding? There is also a beach area reserved for them, as well as several pools and whirlpools. They have a lovely Gazebo overlooking the water which looks like the perfect spot to exchange vows. It was packed when we arrived and we actually walked away the first time because we thought we wouldnt get in. 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. We sat outside on the terrace and the resort was so pretty lit up at night. When it comes to adults-only luxury, Excellence El Carmen in the Dominican Republic has it down to a science. There is also the Silent Disco. Honestly, though the room service menu is so large that you probably wont need to do this. I also realize there is a lot of confusion with tipping at all-inclusive resorts, since technically, your package includes gratuities. We really got the feeling of 5-Star luxury once we walked in. The vibrant colors of the Caribbean are the inspiration behind the dcor at both resorts. I gravitate towards dishes with flank steak (we ordered the Puebla and Tamaulipas) its easily one of the best beef options and the most flavourful! We have celebrated our past 5 anniversaries at Excellence Group resorts (Excellence Riviera Cancun and The Finest). Its 492 modern suites have elegant interiors plus high-end features like free bottles of liquor and double jetted tubs overlooking private balconies. The all-inclusive package is very good here. The atmosphere is always buzzing. 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? 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. Many rooms at the Excellence Resort El Carmen feature direct access to a pool, private or shared with other guests in the same room category. It makes a great all-inclusive resort option for those wanting luxury and comfort. The only room type that has a private garden with a pool bigger than a plunge pool is the Imperial Suite. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Located in the Uvero Alto area of the Dominican Republic. 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. 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. If you ask very nicely and youre feeling lucky you can also get food delivered from the restaurants. The Dominican Republic has a really beautiful landscape and the Hoyo Azul at Scape Park is a spectacular sight. 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! But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience. Its open from 9:00 am 4:00 pm and has all kinds of fruit smoothies and juices to try. As these pools are not heated, they were very cold during the day. The whirlpools are ideal for enjoying the views and a soak in rainy weather. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. ), 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! Every staff member that we dealt with was great. 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). A French offering that is set in a beautifully designed spot. Dont forget Aroma! Casual wear (no wet swimsuits) is acceptable elsewhere for breakfast and lunch. They do advise that you ring before your trip to check availability. - See 9,457 traveller reviews, 11,732 candid photos, and great deals for Excellence El Carmen at Tripadvisor. Excellence El Carmen is very competitively priced for the standard of the resort, food, and service that you get. 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. Im glad there were other couples there laughing, because some of you cant help but laugh! The resort is set on large grounds so some of the room locations are a bit of a walk from the beach and the main areas. The only area that we felt a little let down on was the. The wait isnt long, so stick around (or maybe have a drink first or head to the Flavour Market next door for some tapas!). We have booked to stay at EEC for 2 weeks from opening day! The butter chicken was really good. Related: How to Travel with a Carry-On Only. Feeling hungry late at night? We found the signal to be very good throughout the resort. The main pool is located quite close to the beach and then two additional pools are located near buildings 12-16. We have to give a shout-out to Felix the bartender here. Will we be sorry not booking the club? The building that we were in had faced the sun in the late afternoon, so the swim-up suite wasnt too much use. Members who are knowledgeable about this destination and volunteer their time to answer travelers' questions. If you want to be in a secluded spot and close to the beach then building 9 is your best bet. Related: 20 Best Cheap Travel Items Under $20 (that are actually useful!). This adults-only resort is the perfect place to have a relaxing break in the beautiful surroundings of the Dominican Republic. ), Cuban sandwich (also really good! The staff really do put their best foot forward in making it an entertaining getaway for the guests. ), or you can be served over by your palapa. Jan 12, 2023 - Wondering if Excellence Club at Excellence El Carmen in Punta Cana is worth it? We brought these ones which were the perfect size, and were easy to inflate, and easy to pack up to bring home! 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! As you walk through the doors there is an impressive view down to the main bar area and you really get the feeling of luxury and grandeur. To cooking lessons where the chefs will teach you how to make local Dominican food and sushi. Excellence El Carmen is a luxury adults-only all-inclusive resort that sits along an idyllic beach in Punta Cana's laid-back Uvero Alto. The staff was also super friendly which made us feel very welcome. - See 9 464 traveller reviews, 11,732 candid photos, and great deals for Excellence El Carmen at Tripadvisor. This was definitely the spot we frequented most for lunch. 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. 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!). Serving up all of the traditional dishes there are the classics and some dishes that you probably have never heard of before. Unfortunately, there are some guests who havent been to all-inclusives before that dont know that isnt the norm, and pay it. The nightclub stays open late and has a DJ who takes request. This is a must-visit if youre a fan of Indian food. 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. Please check our partner sites when booking to verify that details are still correct. but then drinks happened and we ended up just lazing by the pool. 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. The sand is powdery soft and the oceanfront is lined with palm trees, lounge chairs, and thatched umbrellas. Book Excellence El Carmen, Uvero Alto on Tripadvisor: See 9,464 traveler reviews, 12,158 candid photos, and great deals for Excellence El Carmen, ranked #3 of 9 hotels in Uvero Alto and rated 4.5 of 5 at Tripadvisor. The EC beach is similar to the non EC but you get the loungers made up for you & concierges to look after you. Everyone dresses up and it gives a classy feel to the resort. 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. The EC beach is similar to the non EC but you get the loungers made up for you & concierges to look after you. We also saw one of the wedding parties using the X-lounge for after the reception. Even an extra dollar or two goes a long way in improving their quality of life. If you want to swim, I would recommend bringing water shoes to protect your feet! 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 can break large bills at the front desk for ones if youre running low. 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. We spent 8 days at Excellence El Carmen, in a Ocean View Club suite. Answer 1 of 6: My husband and I are looking into going to EEC and we are wondering if the Excellence Club is worth it. There are water and cold towels available in the gym and personal trainers on-site if you need motivation. They also have a range of pastries and sandwiches on offer. It's definitely not a party resort with guests pounding shots -- the vibe is more towards sipping martinis. If youre in Excellence Club, try Magna for breakfast at least once! 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. 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! 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. Premium alcohol and specialty beers are included. 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 many options: silicone straws, metal straws (which keep your drinks cold) or paper straws. There are plenty of plugs throughout the room, including two USB ports for charging on either side of your bed. It was never rowdy, and is quite peaceful here and we enjoyed the central location to everything we wanted. Im sure if we couldnt get an EC room we would still have a great time though. I called twice and went to the Excellence Club lounge (as they requested), and by the second day in the afternoon they sent someone. It looked like they had drinks and a canopy thing going on there. If youre like me, I love knowing what dinner options are available before I go to a resort. By the end of day one, he had our drinks orders ready before we even had to ask. Quite frankly, aside from the private, frosted-glass door for the toilet, its all open air. We also found that most people chill out on the beach, so the pools were never too busy. 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. Re the alcohol in the room, on our last visit, we didn't touch it. At every Excellence Resort, the Excellence Club represents the ultimate in luxury, privacy and service. 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. Our first room was filthy. The course is well designed and challenging and the upkeep of the course was very good. The resort has tennis courts and free lessons. There are tons of delicious vegetarian dishes (along with non-veg options) you can order you wont miss the meat! Its a scam. : Excellence El Carmen - See 9,462 traveller reviews, 11,732 photos, and cheap deals for Excellence El Carmen at Tripadvisor. 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 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. As soon as you enter the resort you really are put at ease. 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. We love to tip, and I feel like everyone should tip, even a little bit! You will also have some snacks: crackers, oreos, and peanuts. For a more serene atmosphere, dont miss the pools by buildings 11-16. This was pretty much the only time that we had any issues with the service throughout our stay. The Masala beef was the best we have ever had. 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!).