What is VIP Service? Help choosing a resort for my 80 year old aunt. HELP - Secrets Royal Beach or Secrets Cap Cana - price/room. 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. You will see it the second that you arrive. The locker key pad is very easy to use. There are tons of different hot (and cold!) Once inside, it's all about sharp neutral decor, tranquil vibes, and breezy ocean views. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. I worry about hidden fees- is EVERYTHING Included in all inclusive? When my lovely friends invited me to their destination wedding at Excellence El Carmen, how could I say no? They will come up to you and place them on you without even asking. Maybe Im just getting older, but I dont like the rough feeling of wet, sandy feet against flip flops or sand in my bits after a day on the beach. 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. We did this one night and got food from Chez Isabella. 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!). ), or you can be served over by your palapa. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. 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!!! 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! Related: What to Pack in a DIY Travel Medical Kit. Everyone greeted us with an Hola and a smile and you felt welcomed. All rooms also provide safes, umbrellas, irons, and ironing boards. The vibrant colors of the Caribbean are the inspiration behind the dcor at both resorts. . You will find options everywhere you go and the nice thing is, if you choose to eat a certain way, you are in total control! We loved the modern vibe to the resort; the clean architectual look, the immaculate gardening and landscaping, and the freshness of it all. For Excellence Club guests, dont miss Magna! 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 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. You alternate between hot and cold pools, steam rooms and saunas, jet-oriented water experiences and more! Was it worth it for you? As they fill up quickly. Guests staying at Excellence El Carmen can book excursions to nearby attractions through the concierge. The Blue Hole, a cenote with gorgeous turquoise water, is also around a 30-minute drive from the property. I also appreciated that while we asked for two mimosas, he brought us a whole bottle of sparkling wine, in case we wanted two each. Its like he knew us. Perks include upgraded rooms; upgraded room-service menus, minibars, and toiletries; and access to a private lounge with concierge services. ordered the flank steak and charcoal grilled chicken. Its always a favourite spot to gather before and after dinner to enjoy a cocktail. more. It can be difficult at times to get a booking for treatments, so if you have your heart set on getting a massage we advise you to book before you travel. If youve never tried Indian cuisine, I recommend branching out and trying some new dishes! There is lots of choice at the Excellence El Carmen and if you have stayed in the Excellence chain of resorts before you will be familiar with their room offering. There is also Las Olas a beautiful setting on the beach to grab a drink and enjoy the ocean breeze and views. how do floodplains jeopardize the livelihoods of agricultural workers. I also realize there is a lot of confusion with tipping at all-inclusive resorts, since technically, your package includes gratuities. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. We have booked Excellence in Playa Mujeres and in El Carmen for 2016 both non club rooms. It really is a top option for an all-inclusive. Excellence El Carmen: 5 star? You have three bottles of alcohol in your room as a standard: Stolichnaya Vodka, rum, and whiskey. The 23 freshwater pools are scattered throughout the resort and include a main pool with ocean views and two accessible ramps. To use our mobile site, please enable JavaScript. Theyre very quiet and also have their own bars. The two beachfront beauties are almost neighbors you can get from one gated entrance to the next in a five-minute drive. It was one of my favourite spots to go to and they open at 8:00 am. The Dominican Republic has a really beautiful landscape and the Hoyo Azul at Scape Park is a spectacular sight. Check out their website to see what is actually included. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". The room service here at the Excellence El Carmen is really good. The vanity has a double sink and there are numerous towels, hand towels, and facecloths, along with a hairdryer. There are water and cold towels available in the gym and personal trainers on-site if you need motivation. While both resorts offer access to beautiful beaches, the stretch of sand at Excellence Punta Cana is perhaps just a little bit nicer. A Lot of these are connected to the swim-up suites. When it comes to the food at Excellence El Carmen, there is something for everyone. Magna has the best coffee at the resort French press and we loved that our server wheeled out a bread card and cut it for us. The seafood, in particular, was spectacular. The lounge is comfortable with the L-shaped couch, perfect for morning room-service breakfast, or cocktails before heading out for the evening. Throughout the resort there is a huge volume of staff, so no matter where you are there is always some close by that can offer you assistance. Excellence calls it casual elegance.. Although a lot of travel websites and places that you book will say that tips are included in your all-inclusive price, we highly recommend that you bring cash with you to tip the staff in person. A steakhouse in an all-inclusive is not normally a good pairing and sadly the Grill at the Excellence El Carmen was no different. We did not try Oregano, Spice, Flavour Market, or Basmati during this trip because we ran out of time. The question of club vs. non-club is asked all the time on the forums. 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. We really cant fault the Excellence EL Carmen for its cleanliness. I love the outdoor seating and the decor here. Youll also get a 15% discount on photo and spa packages! The beach is the real gem in this resort and we will delve into that in a bit. Men are to wear long pants and closed-toed shoes for dinner and collared shirts, and women in dresses/capris/skirts with elegant shoes (no flip flops permitted). If you ask very nicely and youre feeling lucky you can also get food delivered from the restaurants. Since Aroma opens at 7:00 am, its a great spot to enjoy a morning coffee. Its open from 9:00 am 4:00 pm and has all kinds of fruit smoothies and juices to try. Our top recommendations for dishes here are the patatas bravos and the Spanish meatballs. Yes literally everything here is included! Thats part of the reason why we love all-inclusive resorts so much! Re: Excellence El Carmen- Excellence Club, worth it? Ive talked to quite a few people during our time here about that experience. Luxury runs through every one of Excellence Punta Cana's 461 suites and Excellence El Carmen's 492. 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. Excellence El Carmen: Great hotel ! 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. It opened its doors in 2016 and has been a firm favorite for all-inclusive resorts in the Dominican Republic and the Caribbean. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. It takes roughly 45 minutes for it to show up at your room but I loved the freedom it gave us with getting ready and not having to get froofrooed up, as my mom says. We have been to EPC 8 times, and we always do the EC, mainly because we prefer the upgraded, less crowded beach area. The water is refreshingly warm and there are loungers in the water too! 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! 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! There is also a beach area reserved for them, as well as several pools and whirlpools. This one of the Excellence chains has three offerings in the Dominican Republic. If beaches are a priority for you then Excellence El Carmen is the resort for you. Secrets resorts All your questions answered! These bottles do come at an additional cost, but youre on holiday, treat yourself. . 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. It seats up to 8 and there is a set menu. . The marquee element of the park is the Hoyo Azul. Some rooms add semi-private swim-up pools or completely private rooftop pools. As for swimming pools, Excellence Punta Canas main pool is bigger, but Excellence El Carmen has more rooms with swim-up access or private pools. If you are willing to change it you might get a bargain. I have to avoid raw onions, but I didnt have to sacrifice taste! 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. I dont know what it was about that cheese but I fell in love with it and cant stop eating it. 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. The building that we were in had faced the sun in the late afternoon, so the swim-up suite wasnt too much use. There is also an extensive wine on offer if you dont fancy the house wine. For Excellence Club guests, you have the option to dine at Magna. 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). When we eventually secured a table this place didnt disappoint. To be honest I can't say I thought it was really worth the extra. . Sunny yellows, lush flora greens, and ocean blues set the scene for a transfixing mix of island charm and elegance. Just dont go with a wet bathing suit! I understand and appreciate that tipping is subjective. Dont have time to read this review of Excellence El Carmen right now? We like the Beachfront Honeymoon rooms & these are all EC. 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. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". To cooking lessons where the chefs will teach you how to make local Dominican food and sushi. 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. It was our first DR vacation but we have stayed at 20 . This bar is also a great place to go after dinner. Discover a world of rewards with The Excellence Collection Rewards benefits program. If you stay in an Excellence Club room those bottles are upgraded. 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! Since my mom and I were on a girls trip (which we hardly ever get to do!) Excellence El Carmen, Uvero Alto: "How much is the excellence club upgrade" | Check out 5 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. We ordered all the seafood here crab cakes, lobster bisque, lobster risotto (we shared this, and its AMAZING get it! It never took longer than 5-10 minutes to walk to anywhere we wanted to go. You can also pop into the Sports Bar for some infamous cheese sticks and a place to grab a tasty bite during the day or late in the evening. But, if youre sitting on the bed, the bathroom is behind you so you cant see anything. We love to tip, and I feel like everyone should tip, even a little bit! In my opinion, Excellence Club is not worth it at Excellence El Carmen. We dined outside on the patio with a beautiful view of the palm trees (not of the ocean, since Magna is located within the Excellence Club lounge right off the lobby). 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. Excellence El Carmen is a large, and fairly new (2016) all-inclusive resort with a modern and tropical vibe. It doesnt have to be much, and the tips are also very appreciated. So I am just checking to see if there was any extra fees that arent included! This resort is a wonderful place for adults to relax and de-stress, and the Excellence Club in my opinion is absolutely worth it. Breathless Punta Cana Resort & Spa: Need some improvement - See 18,088 traveler reviews, 21,873 candid photos, and great deals for Breathless Punta Cana Resort & Spa at Tripadvisor. 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. You can do that here no problem. The rooms are choicely designed with a great aesthetic. There is also a plug inside your safe should you choose to charge your devices while theyre kept away (which I thought was neat!). Its easily 20 x 15 feet (my mom and I tried measuring with our bodies), warm, and gets the late morning and afternoon sun. We are considering booking this resort for our anniversary in October. Dont forget Aroma! 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. The food here was good, but nothing to write home about. You can grab a coconut at the swim up bar most days where you can have any drink you want inside of it. The food here was the best we had in the resort and the minimalist Japanese decor really added to the experience. Your minifridge will be stocked with four bottles of water, club soda, tonic water, fanta, orange juice, coke, and Presidente beer (regular and light). If you want a lighter bite, head over to the La Placita food truck at the X-Lounge terrace! 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. . A nice L-shaped couch that made the perfect midday lounging area. 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. A. , Just an FYI the room service coffee was a bit strong and potent. The property's secluded beach is one of Punta Canas best. By the end of day one, he had our drinks orders ready before we even had to ask. This adults-only resort is the perfect place to have a relaxing break in the beautiful surroundings of the Dominican Republic. This was definitely the spot we frequented most for lunch. I never not tip at a meal, and I will leave tip money throughout the week for housekeeping, turndown service, and the minibar. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. We also enjoy breakfast & some dinners at Magna the EC restaurant. Our Best All-Inclusive Resorts In Puerto Vallarta for Food, Our Best All-Inclusive Resorts in Los Cabos for Food. There are many options: We never had an issue with the water, from bottled, ice, restaurant water, or brushing our teeth. A. French, Indian, Spanish, and Mexican restaurants are also open. Save it for later! Do not miss the huge savings! You can, of course, enhance your stay by option to upgrade to their paid honeymoon and anniversary package which includes everything in the complimentary package, plus dinner on the beach, and a 40 minute spa package. If youre in Excellence Club, try Magna for breakfast at least once! It looked like they had drinks and a canopy thing going on there. If you have stayed in an Excellence resort before you know that the amenities on offer are always top class. Junior Suites can sleep up to three people, but the rest of the room types are for a maximum of two guests. We like the Beachfront Honeymoon rooms & these are all EC. Q. All Adults - At Excellence El Carmen you are secluded but not isolated. The only restaurant that requires a reservation is Spice, which has limited seating at its teppanyaki counters. . There are too many food stations to even mention. The evening cleaning was more of a turndown service. You definitely get better value for money in the Dominican Republic compared to the likes of Mexico. Other activities include ping-pong, pool tables, and a life-size chess board. Note: Bring your swimsuit with you for hydrotherapy! Eating low carb? We did ours at 9:00 am and we had to nap after because it made us tired haha! You are greeted with a glass of bubbly and a cold towel. This topic has been closed to new posts due to inactivity. Will we be sorry not booking the club? It was perfectly located to grab a bite in between tanning yourself. This is always a favourite for me but I had to sacrifice my desire for sushi to try some other restaurants! We had some insightful conversations with some of the employees there and they really love their jobs and are grateful for them. Excellence El Carmen, Uvero Alto: "How much is the excellence club upgrade" | Check out 5 answers, plus 8,667 reviews and 12,158 candid photos Ranked #3 of 9 hotels in Uvero Alto and rated 4.5 of 5 at Tripadvisor. Flavour Market is a great spot for tapas, sharing, and light bites. Required fields are marked *. An Italian offering that serves up all of the staple dishes you would expect from your local Italian. For a more classic Caribbean beachfront all-inclusive with similar amenities, rates are comparable at the nearby sister resort,Excellence Punta Cana. 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. Is Excellence Club Worth it at Excellence El Carmen? Its luxurious rooms and suites make for the ideal romantic getaway and this property caters to honeymooners and those celebrating their anniversary. Pricier Excellence Club upgrades add pillow menus, Bulgari toiletries, loaner beach bags, and minibars with top-shelf liquor. Its a lovely experience. Lets start off by saying all of the rooms at this resort are massive, so space will never be an issue. The Masala beef was the best we have ever had. (Feb 1, 2022). After youre finished eating, you can place your dishes in the X-Box located right at your door. I love the different dishes and flavour combinations. The resort has tennis courts and free lessons. Access to the business center is available for a fee, and there is also 4,800 square feet of event space. 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. There are so many restaurants at Excellence El Carmen. We had just as much fun watching everyone as those who participated in it. If you do not like those, or want to swap them out for something else, you can do that too! The staff work so hard, and provide excellent service with a smile. 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! With 16 different bars in the resort, you are never too far away from a drink. You will never have an issue getting a spot at the beach. We did EC when we went a month ago for the first time. ), Excellence Club is not worth it at Excellence El Carmen, 20 Best Cheap Travel Items Under $20 (that are. If youre celebrating your anniversary or honeymoon, be sure to take advantage of that at Excellence El Carmen! Weirdly enough we found that the food here in the Dominican was way better than the Excellence offerings in their Mexican location.
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