is excellence club worth it el carmen is excellence club worth it el carmen

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!). By clicking Accept All, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. During our first night, we visited Agave, which is always my go-to! However, there are some subtle differences worth considering before booking. These are two of my favourite things! All food, snacks, room service, fully stocked mini-bar drinks, and a variety of classes and amenities are included in the package. Note: Bring your swimsuit with you for hydrotherapy! Guests are mostly honeymooners and couples celebrating wedding anniversaries from the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. Avoiding grains? An Excellence resort AND a wedding? We have booked Excellence in Playa Mujeres and in El Carmen for 2016 both non club rooms. The bar service is also better on the EC part of the beach. I would still go. Paper straws are biodegradable and inexpensive. The food here was the best we had in the resort and the minimalist Japanese decor really added to the experience. 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). I piggybacked on another guests recommendation of the Power Smoothie + strawberries and it tasted like a peanut butter and jelly sandwich! There are so many restaurants at Excellence El Carmen. Its open from 6:00 pm 11:30 pm, giving you the fuel you need to keep on going! For honeymoons, you can get this package for free for up to 3 months following your wedding. They will want to take a photo of you with them (or you phone, too! Is Excellence Club at Excellence El Carmen worth it? This is one of the more popular restaurants on the resort. This is why I love the Excellence app so much you can go on there and check out the menus ahead of time to decide on which places to eat at each night (you know, if youre into that sort of thing). The vanity has a double sink and there are numerous towels, hand towels, and facecloths, along with a hairdryer. The menus denote which dishes are grain free. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. We were handed a Coco Loco when we walked in and had a great view of the live music. The EC beach is similar to the non EC but you get the loungers made up for you & concierges to look after you. We went on the day they had tacos and it was SO good. By the end of day one, he had our drinks orders ready before we even had to ask. You certainly will never go thirsty here! The deal I can get right now makes the Junior Suite Pool View really affordable but the Club is just out of our reach. 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. 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 now has their own app you can download to research everything either ahead of time, or to keep up with it during your stay! 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. Even an extra dollar or two goes a long way in improving their quality of life. The locker key pad is very easy to use. We sat outside on the terrace and the resort was so pretty lit up at night. depends on how you view 5 star - See 9,463 traveler reviews, 11,732 candid photos, and great deals for Excellence El Carmen at Tripadvisor. Note that none of the bars are open 24/7. For anniversaries, you can receive this package up to 7 days before and 7 days after your anniversary, giving you lots of flexibility! 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. There is a drinks service on the beach which makes spending a day sunning yourself so much more enjoyable. The Martini bar is a great place to grab a cocktail and watch the world go by. When we ate there we went for the classics with a Burrito and a quesadilla and they were very tasty. Junior Suites can sleep up to three people, but the rest of the room types are for a maximum of two guests. As they fill up quickly. Are you kidding me!? There is also room service! Arriving guests step through the front doors into a hip lobby that features swish elements like funky, high-backed armchairs, sleek couches, and floor-to-ceiling shelves full of oversized art books. There are a few tasty options here, like the Dominican patty (filled with beef, raisins and egg, and sooo good! Or jump to your topic. While interiors are sharp, it's the hotel's lush grounds that give this property its away-from-it-all atmosphere. If you are not in Excellence Club, you can swap out one bottle of alcohol per day. And since its the second-largest country. Everyone dresses up and it gives a classy feel to the resort. or just the tennis net. Eating low carb? Excellence El Carmen Dominican Republic has shops selling sundries and beach attire, a medical clinic (fee to use), and an ATM. One comment I will make that really deterred me from being on the beach, is the vendors. You can also grab these at Las Olas when they have their Coco Loco drink station going! Guests staying at Excellence El Carmen can book excursions to nearby attractions through the concierge. You can bring this right back to your palapa by the pool or beach to enjoy or eat on the terrace. At the Excellence Club, every detail of your stay has been upgraded with seamless perks and over-the-top offerings. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. Excellence El Carmen is very similar in terms of amenities to its sister property Excellence Punta Cana, which is just a five-minute drive away. To be honest I can't say I thought it was really worth the extra. Excellence El Carmen: Excellence Club WORTH IT - Read 9,048 reviews, view 11,301 traveller photos, and find great deals for Excellence El Carmen at Tripadvisor. Insight/Feedback on Monkeyland and Other Animal Attractions? This is the only restaurant at Excellence El Carmen where you need a reservation. Over the 7 days that we visited the Excellence, there were two weddings that we saw going on. The two beachfront beauties are almost neighbors you can get from one gated entrance to the next in a five-minute drive. Thank you for supporting my blog! You alternate between hot and cold pools, steam rooms and saunas, jet-oriented water experiences and more! If you like sushi, maki, and noodle dishes, head to Spice! Related: What to Pack for an All-Inclusive Vacation (Plus Free Printable!). Before dinner every night we perched ourselves at the Martini bar for a few pre-dinner drinks. Bike tours, Spanish lessons, beach volleyball, archery, pool games, water aerobics, poker tournaments, and bingo are scheduled regularly. The Excellence Punta Cana is located a short 6-minute drive from the El Carmin offering, as well as the Finest Punta Cana which is their latest offering and is located a 5-minute drive from the El Carmen. Its a really nice option if you dont feel like getting into your evening clothes and instead just chilling out in the room. 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. The EC beach is similar to the non EC but you get the loungers made up for you & concierges to look after you. Average. The gym at this resort is very well stocked. This spot does Tapas really well. Yes, even though you didnt consent to it. I understand its how they make money, but they can be quite pushy, so be prepared. My mom and I had big ambitions to participate in some of the physical activities, like aerial yoga on the beach (how fun right?!) ), or you can be served over by your palapa. Free water sports include kayaks and Hobie Cat catamarans. While both resorts offer access to beautiful beaches, the stretch of sand at Excellence Punta Cana is perhaps just a little bit nicer. If youre not already a member of Welcome to Excellence El Carmen on Facebook I highly recommend you join there are a ton of Q&As in there! Were not whiskey drinkers, but we do love tequila. This resort is a wonderful place for adults to relax and de-stress, and the Excellence Club in my opinion is absolutely worth it. The buffet, Kitchen Table, has options for everyone Id be shocked to learn if someone couldnt find something they liked. No amount of milk or sugar was going to save that, so we just waddled over to Aroma later on for a caffeine drink. Honestly, though the room service menu is so large that you probably wont need to do this. The food here was very good. (Feb 28, 2021), Which Airlines Are in Terminal A & B? - See 9,459 traveler reviews, 11,732 candid photos, and great deals for Excellence El Carmen at Tripadvisor. For beachside dining, head to Las Olas. That is important to us, as we are "beach people" who spend the day from 8am until 6 pm on the beach. 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. Im with the mindset that if we can afford to travel, we can afford to tip. The patio is HOT, so I think not having the pool wouldve made it nearly unbearable to sit out there (at least during the first week of August!). If you want to swim, I would recommend bringing water shoes to protect your feet! Re the alcohol in the room, on our last visit, we didn't touch it. What let the side down here was the quality of the meat. Just dont go with a wet bathing suit! Opting to eat healthier during your stay? Your email address will not be published. The weather was a little windy at times however that's just one of the challenges of trav. The cleaning in the morning was the main clean of the day and lasted about 15 minutes. Its open at 8:00 am and the view of the azul-blue pools and swaying palm trees along the beach cant be beat. 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 question of club vs. non-club is asked all the time on the forums. 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). It boasts white- and golden-sand beaches, swaying palm trees protected by the government, turquoise waters, and pleasant year-round temperatures. Excellence El Carmen is a large, and fairly new (2016) all-inclusive resort with a modern and tropical vibe. It showed which restaurants were open the following day, which activities were scheduled throughout the day, and what the evening entertainment was. I have to avoid raw onions, but I didnt have to sacrifice taste! For Excellence Club guests, you have the option to dine at Magna. The main pool is close to Las Olas for a bite to eat or you could head over to Oregano or Lobster House for lunch! If youre like me, I love knowing what dinner options are available before I go to a resort. Today we are sharing a best food and worst food review of Excellence Club El Carmen, Punta Cana Dominican Republic. We (once again!) The beach is public which means vendors can have full access to guests, wherever theyre sitting on the beach, to ask them to buy what theyre selling. Those wanting their own private pool can book a range of other suite types, including the Excellence El Carmen Terrace Suite with Plunge Pool, Junior Suite with Plunge Pool, and any of the Two-Story Rooftop Terrace Suites available. I tried the braised beef wrap and it was delicious. The room is spacious and modern with a HUGE hidden walk-in closet with plenty of hangers, shelving, robes, a steamer, and a safe. That, of course, is no fault of the hotel. There are too many food stations to even mention. 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. It never took longer than 5-10 minutes to walk to anywhere we wanted to go. Dont get us wrong, the steaks were well prepared and the burger we tried too was pretty good. 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. Is Excellence Club Worth it at Excellence El Carmen? There are plenty of plugs throughout the room, including two USB ports for charging on either side of your bed. We often started our days with a couple glasses of mimosas and you will never be far from your next drink. Plus, the addition of the Excellence Club lounge and bar makes it a great hangout spot before or after dinner. We arrived 30 minutes early for our painting session for which they had 8 easels. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. 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. This is always a favourite for me but I had to sacrifice my desire for sushi to try some other restaurants! Was it worth it for you? Yes, parking is available for guests and it is complimentary. French, Indian, Spanish, and Mexican restaurants are also open. Quite frankly, aside from the private, frosted-glass door for the toilet, its all open air. We really got the feeling of 5-Star luxury once we walked in. We spent our mornings by the pool, where you have access to their swim up bar, Blue. Excellence El Carmen is very competitively priced for the standard of the resort, food, and service that you get. Tip: bring your own floaties with you! This topic has been closed to new posts due to inactivity. The food here was top-notch. . So, in our opinion, they are always worth that extra cost. I called twice and went to the Excellence Club lounge (as they requested), and by the second day in the afternoon they sent someone. Anytime we had finished a drink or a meal the staff were on hand to refill or clean away our empty glasses or plates. Theres always some type of entertainment going on. There is a newly-placed birm out in the ocean to prevent the seaweed from coming ashore, but there was still a ton of it on the beach. Disclaimer: This content was accurate at the time the hotel was reviewed. This adults-only resort is the perfect place to have a relaxing break in the beautiful surroundings of the Dominican Republic. In reality, there are really three main pool areas. However, the dress code is one of the reasons why we love Excellence. Youll never be bored. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. 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. There is a beautiful swan-neck fountain in the corner of the pool which adds to the ambience. Excellence Club upgrade provides a private pool, beach, lounge, and restaurant. You can also get this type of room without Excellence Club. You always have the option for room service if you want to just veg out at night, too! Mexico Resorts Excellence Playa Mujeres Excellence Riviera Cancun Beloved Hotel Playa Mujeres Caribbean Resorts Excellence Punta Cana After dinner, there was always something going on. Will we be sorry not booking the club? 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. 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. You will also have some snacks: crackers, oreos, and peanuts. Seaweed blooms are seasonal and also change daily. Read a full Excellence Punta Cana vs Excellence El Carmen face-off, here. Do not miss the huge savings! To cooking lessons where the chefs will teach you how to make local Dominican food and sushi. I LOVE Excellence properties, and Excellence El Carmen is nothing short of an amazing resort in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. Best Adult Only All Inclusive in Punta Cana? Access to private Excellence Club lounge (7:00 am to 11:00 pm) with concierge service, smart buffets, and bar service. Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. If you are willing to change it you might get a bargain. The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. The only restaurant that requires a reservation is Spice, which has limited seating at its teppanyaki counters. Each restaurant has numerous options for lighter fare. The spa is always one place I love to check out at Excellence Resorts. Our top recommendations for dishes here are the patatas bravos and the Spanish meatballs. The all-inclusive package is very good here. This is obviously down to the staff who were so proactive in making sure the place looked tidy. It does not store any personal data. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". Its 492 modern suites have elegant interiors plus high-end features like free bottles of liquor and double jetted tubs overlooking private balconies. We had just as much fun watching everyone as those who participated in it. . 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. The sauce was rich yet balanced and the beef literally melted in the mouth. You will never have an issue getting a spot at the beach. Like other Excellence properties, guests can splurge on upgraded Excellence Club packages. Excellence always nails it with their Martini Bars and how its the focal point from when you first arrive and look down the stairs. Required fields are marked *. You can grab a coconut at the swim up bar most days where you can have any drink you want inside of it. . All are part of the hotel's all-inclusive rates, as is 24-hour room service. My husband and I did Excellence Playa Mujeres last year. 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. (Feb 2022), Are inclusive resorts vs day pass and independent excursions, Ocean El Faro VS Grand Bavaro Princess VS Royalton Bavaro, Thanks for the advice on Punta Cana Princess All Suites. There is a massive king-sized bed which is super comfortable. The spa at Excellence El Carmen was a bit different (for me) since it was located off the main lobby and not in a separate building, like at Excellence Playa Mujeres or Riviera Maya. We have booked Excellence in Playa Mujeres and in El Carmen for 2016 both non club rooms. 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. Their guacamole was delicious! This one of the Excellence chains has three offerings in the Dominican Republic. more, You seem to have JavaScript disabled. The Excellence El Carmen is another top-class offering from the Excellence chain of resorts. The poolside service was always quick, the entertainment staff were a blast, the waiters were so courteous and attentivethe list goes on. Its available 24/7 and the menu is very extensive. Although there is no golf course in the resort there are a few options within driving distance of the resort. 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.