Hi Taylor! 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. There are lots of antipasto dishes at Oregano, along with risottos, custom pasta dishes, and pizzas to satisfy your carb craving. But, if youre sitting on the bed, the bathroom is behind you so you cant see anything. Thats what I love about the food here. They also have a range of pastries and sandwiches on offer. If you want a little pick-me-up, there are fruit cups, snacks, and gelato here, too! We did EC when we went a month ago for the first time. This category reimagines Dominican Republic resorts in an adults only oasis that delights the senses. Yes, Wi-Fi is included in your package. 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 love to tip, and I feel like everyone should tip, even a little bit! With all Excellence offerings, they are typically priced on the premium side when you compare it to the average price of other resorts, but for that somewhat premium price you are definitely getting a premium experience. . I would recommend the hydrotherapy, plus you may even be given an additional spa discount for another service after. Its open at 7:00 am and you have the choice to eat inside or out. If you ask very nicely and youre feeling lucky you can also get food delivered from the restaurants. Dont get us wrong, the steaks were well prepared and the burger we tried too was pretty good. 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. The X lounge was our other most frequented spot. As a previous Excellence Resorts guest, I couldn't imagine how the service could get any better! Honestly, though the room service menu is so large that you probably wont need to do this. Some of the jets really move your swimsuit around and I remember one year I had to hang on to my top and bottoms during some of the water treatments! We have celebrated our past 5 anniversaries at Excellence Group resorts (Excellence Riviera Cancun and The Finest). 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. We found the signal to be very good throughout the resort. We did two excursions when we visited. However, there are some subtle differences worth considering before booking. 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. 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! Over the 7 days that we visited the Excellence, there were two weddings that we saw going on. Please check our partner sites when booking to verify that details are still correct. Located in the Uvero Alto area of the Dominican Republic. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Oddly enough, it was never too busy when we went there and we put it down to people not loving Tapas as the food here was top-notch. It was pure heaven. . 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 Although there is no golf course in the resort there are a few options within driving distance of the resort. Insight/Feedback on Monkeyland and Other Animal Attractions? The Excellence El Carmen is just a 40-minute drive from Punta Cana international airport. 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. The Cocotal Golf and Country Club. It's definitely not a party resort with guests pounding shots -- the vibe is more towards sipping martinis. 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. Sorry such a technical question and really appreciate your in depth review of the place. 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. While Excellence isn't the largest resort in Punta Cana, it certainly packs in a mega-resort's worth of features -- and its most exceptional are outdoors. An Italian offering that serves up all of the staple dishes you would expect from your local Italian. Their guacamole was delicious! We brought these ones which were the perfect size, and were easy to inflate, and easy to pack up to bring home! 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. I understand its how they make money, but they can be quite pushy, so be prepared. The weather was a little windy at times however that's just one of the challenges of trav. - See 9,457 traveller reviews, 11,732 candid photos, and great deals for Excellence El Carmen at Tripadvisor. Excellence Club upgrade provides a private pool, beach, lounge, and restaurant. A French offering that is set in a beautifully designed spot. Sunny yellows, lush flora greens, and ocean blues set the scene for a transfixing mix of island charm and elegance. The atmosphere is always buzzing. If youre part of the Excellence club you will have the likes of Absolut Vodka, Johnny Walker Black Label, and Anejo Rum. 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. However! From small surprises that delight the senses to complimentary suite upgrades and premiere bottles of bubbly, a stay at one of our resorts comes complete with an experience cultivated especially for our loyal guests. Or jump to your topic. Some people have said they have asked upwards of $80 USD for these photos. When it comes to food, the resorts 11 restaurants offer numerous options from casual spots to fine-dining. The blanket was dirty, showerhead was rusty, the air vent in the bathroom was clogged with dust and hair. 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. Bar-wise, Excellence El Carmens 16 options include swim-up pool bars, a sports bar, a martini lounge, a beach bar, and a made-to-order juice bar with fresh fruits and veggies. The actual check-in process took less than 3 minutes. Your email address will not be published. Its a lovely experience. He just appeared. You will likely not even realize what you are "missing" being non club. All food, snacks, room service, fully stocked mini-bar drinks, and a variety of classes and amenities are included in the package. The two beachfront beauties are almost neighbors you can get from one gated entrance to the next in a five-minute drive. The Blue Hole, a cenote with gorgeous turquoise water, is also around a 30-minute drive from the property. 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. I worry about hidden fees- is EVERYTHING Included in all inclusive? 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. 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. There are a few tasty options here, like the Dominican patty (filled with beef, raisins and egg, and sooo good! Its available 24/7 and the menu is very extensive. We spent our mornings at the main pool with their (only) swim up bar, Blue. The resort does a wonderful job of keeping the EC things hidden. We knew we'd go back so I thought I would 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. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. 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. (Feb 1, 2022). 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. 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. My favourite spots included Aroma, the Revive Bar, Magna (for Excellence Club), and the Lobster House. 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. They serve food here too, but we never ate there. For a more classic Caribbean beachfront all-inclusive with similar amenities, rates are comparable at the nearby sister resort,Excellence Punta Cana. I understand and appreciate that tipping is subjective. This resort is a wonderful place for adults to relax and de-stress, and the Excellence Club in my opinion is absolutely worth it. Hmm. Is Excellence Club Worth it at Excellence El Carmen? The wide and varied selection continues in your room with a packed mini-bar and a number of premium liquor bottles available. The menu for the room service was very extensive. To use our mobile site, please enable JavaScript. My wife and I had a very similar experience at Excellence El Carman in November 2019. Seaweed blooms are seasonal and also change daily. The all-inclusive package is very good here. Im not kidding people were shocked when they saw the photos. A. If you stay in an Excellence Club room those bottles are upgraded. Its open from 6:00 pm 11:30 pm, giving you the fuel you need to keep on going! The food, the staff, and the feel you get as you walk through the resort are 5-star. If it would be a financial hardship, just pass on it because you will still have a great time. The sauce was rich yet balanced and the beef literally melted in the mouth. The park has a number of sinkholes and caves that can be explored. This is a must-visit if youre a fan of Indian food. 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. Its expansive with loads of loungers and areas to relax. The beach at Excellence El Carmen is long its a beautiful, soft, and golden stretch of beach when there is no seaweed. All Adults - At Excellence El Carmen you are secluded but not isolated. Other options include an extensive buffet with live-cooking stations and small selection of Dominican specialties; the open-air eatery Oregano that specializes in pizza and pasta; and the Lobster House for seafood specialties overlooking the beach. It boasts white- and golden-sand beaches, swaying palm trees protected by the government, turquoise waters, and pleasant year-round temperatures. I heard a few people talking about that and then we forgot when we went to steam our dresses. Casual wear (no wet swimsuits) is acceptable elsewhere for breakfast and lunch. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Yes, even though you didnt consent to it. For an authentic Dominican town, the hamlet of Higuey is home to a famous cathedral, local market, and shops, and takes around 50 minutes to reach by car. If beaches are a priority for you then Excellence El Carmen is the resort for you.