Popular drinks include hollowed-out fresh pineapples and coconuts with rum poured into them, offering that truly tropical vacation feel. We stayed in this resort in early 2020 and our review is based on our experiences. Digging deep into our data, we found the most sought-after all-inclusive resorts around the world. It was the Excellence chain of resorts first offering. On a few occasions for midday snacks and then on the day we were leaving because it was an early morning flight and the restaurants werent open yet, we ordered room service for breakfast. Note that some restaurants require a dress code, such as long pants for men. 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. From Sushi, pad thai, ramen, and curries they have a lovely selection of dishes on offer. Its even better when theyre describing a picture-perfect resort in the Caribbean. Since restaurant reservations are not necessary (with the exception of teppanyaki tables at Spice), its easy to be flexible depending on the mood. The property offers sprawling grounds and upscale amenities such as a top-notch spa, yoga, and a seemingly never-ending pool area; couples will find, Eden Roc at Cap Cana is a luxury hotel with a swish oceanfront beach club in Punta Canas posh Cap Cana enclave. gastronoma The Gazpacho was packed full of flavor and was probably my favorite dish here. It is available throughout the resort and we found that the strength to be very good. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. The service, food, beach, and communal areas are all very similar to the other resorts. Part of the Excellence chain of resorts, it was built in 2000. Most of the food you can get in the other restaurants throughout the resort is available in the buffet. The Dominican chicken soup was unreal. Marble bathrooms are large with dual sinks, spacious showers with rain showerheads, generous toiletries, and separate toilets.

The concierge staff can make arrangements for deluxe transportation service, via limo or helicopter. We had the Cobb salad and the Cuban sandwich one night and they were pretty average. This will most likely be the restaurant that you frequent the most. The contemporary rooms have elegant, beachy decor consisting of wood paneling on accent walls, pendant lamps, and clean-lined powder blue sofas. The bar staff are also super talented and put on an amazing show in the preparation of these drinks. We both had the quesadilla and they were delicious.

There are a number of fitness classes that are put on by the staff such as Yoga at the Gazebo and water aerobics to name a few. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. An adjacent terrace has heated loungers, Staff serve chocolate-covered strawberries and Champagne to guests after treatments. There's a huge selection of desserts, plus a self-serve Bloody Mary and Bellini bar. For all those who fall in the latter camp, we compiled a collection of new and newly renovated all-inclusive resorts, from Cancun to the Canary Islands. So, if youre looking for a bargain this might be the spot for you. For more on the Excellence wedding offerings, be sure to check out the section on their website here. The price including flights, airport transfers, and the all-inclusive came out to $3,000 USD for the complete stay. The chain has seen a huge expansion since 2000 and now has three resorts in the Punta Cana region alone. With the morning clean being the primary one and the afternoon clean being more of a turndown. Also, all of the use of the amenities, the non-motorized water sports, and the entertainment that is put on is included in your package. We were a little disappointed with the Pizzas here as the base of the pizza was a little undercooked. Your best option is a 35-minute drive from the resort. Lifeguard stations are scattered along the sand, but they aren't always manned with lifeguards. Footwear must be worn at all times. Upgrading to the Excellence Club gets guests express check-in service, access to a VIP lounge, private pool, private section of the beach with chic sun loungers, and a private restaurant and bar. Dining options are constantly evolving and include a range of gourmet and casual (mostly gourmet, given the crowd). With food, drinks, tips, and activities included in the room rate, guests are free to leave their wallets behind and take it easy. At the Excellence resorts, you can see that the management team have put a lot of thought into the variety of choice and this is on the show with their cocktail menu. Also included in your package is the use of nonmotorized water sports. Note that teppanyaki tables require a reservation. There is also a $10 fee that must be paid when travelling entering Punta Cana airport. From Montego Bay to St. Lucia,, 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. If you are arriving early or planning on leaving a little late just call the check-in desks and they typically sort you out. With fewer than 200 suites, The Reserve at Paradisus Palma Real is a family-friendly all-inclusive resort that offers a serene, luxurious environment. There's no need to claim sun loungers at the beach or two pools (there's a third private pool and dedicated beach area for Excellence Club guests) since the main pool runs the entire length of the resort and the beach is spacious, allowing plenty of room for everyone. Its 60 air-conditioned units are a mix of beachfront units with sophisticated European interiors and more classically styled villas with king beds, flat-screen, One of four Paradisus resorts in Punta Cana, the luxury, 554-room Paradisus Palma Real is an affordable all-inclusive resort with a romantic Caribbean setting along a stellar beach. The resort is remotely located, so theres nowhere really of interest that you can walk to the outside of the resort. The resort was built in 2000, so the aesthetic of the rooms is on the older side. Although we stayed pre-COVID, as we mentioned the resort was exceptionally clean. An Italian trattoria-style restaurant is located with a lovely view of the ocean. So we advise checking out the El Carmen resort first. From pastries, ice creams, and sandwiches. If you buy something through our links, Oyster may earn an affiliate commission. When we stayed we had Johnny Walker Black, Bombay Sapphire Gin, Barcelo Rum, and Absolut Vodka. Spice serves specialties from Japan, China, Vietnam, and Thailand and has teppanyaki tables for live cooking.

None of the bars are open 24/7, but there are full liquor bottles in every room and ice is available from room service. In resorts such as the Finest or Excellence Playa Mujeres in Cancun where the beach area is pretty small, we think the Excellence club is 100% worth it for the privacy and ease of getting a sun lounger. The hotel feels bigger than its sister properties, thanks to a palatial lobby leading to a jaw-dropping, Beach at the Paradisus Cancun/Oyster If there was a popularity contest for sunny vacation spots offering a seemingly endless number of all-inclusive resorts to choose from, Cancun in Mexico and Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic would undoubtedly fall at the top of the list. Although gratuities and tax are included in the price of the all-inclusive, its common courtesy to tip the staff for their service. Almost all units feature king-size beds, though there are a few rooms with two double beds.

Premium alcohol doesn't cost extra, which is pretty rare in Punta Cana. Check in is at 3pm here and check out is at 12pm. Dont expect anything special from the food department here, but it serves up all your traditional bar food favorites. The decor at Chez Isabelle is the real winner here. From fitness, cooking, and dance classes. The spa menu has a wide assortment of massages, facials, and wraps that incorporate ingredients like algae and cacao. The front entrance of the resort is home to a gorgeous park-like space with lush foliage and bird viewing areas -- the flamingos are worthy of a visit. There is a dress code for some of the restaurants in the resort. From tribute acts, to themed nights, dance performances, and karaoke. Its not only honeymooners here, and the partiers in celebration mode add some fun and liveliness to the resort. Dotted throughout the resort are a range of bars. Straddling either side of Cuba about 1,200 miles apart, An all-inclusive resort often seems like the obvious choice when planning a budget-friendly vacation. Order from an extensive menu of tapas dishes paired with premium wines recommended by our sommelier. There is a large selection of room choices available here. These are the Stone Gazebo, the tropical gazebo, and the beach.

If you like Margaritas and Mexican food, this is the spot for you. Your choice of romantic indoor seating or outdoors under the moonlight in our hacienda-style courtyard. Think of it as a bit of the Old World in Punta Cana.Open from 6:00 pm - 2:00 am. Bathrobes and slippers are provided. This is an adults-only resort, if youre looking for a quality resort that is on the same level as the Excellence Punta Cana, but you can bring the kids then we suggest checking out the Finest Playa Mujeres which is a sister hotel to the Excellence. There is a lot on offer. The main pool runs almost the entire length of the resort and fronts the ocean, and allows swim-up access from some suites, plus it has a swim-up bar. For info on these editor-selected items, click to visit the sellers site. Kudos to Sonia at the Spa for making our experience top-notch. The other great thing to do is a day trip to Saona Island, which is a picture-perfect beach that is well worth the trip. For dinner, our gourmet chef serves paella, veal, beef, seafood and a variety of tapas dishes.Dinner open from 6:00pm - 10:30 pm, Dinner at Chez Isabelle, Punta Cana signature French restaurant, is as alluring as a night in Paris. Be sure to check out the activities information board which is located near the main building. Check out the newsletter delivered to rooms each day for the schedule. A. The second pool is in a garden setting, and has a waterfall infinity edge. Parking is free. There are a range of precautions that the Excellence chain of resorts has put in place and if you would like to review these they can be found here. Youll feel transported from the beaches of Punta Cana to the Left Bank of Paris as you choose among dishes that live up to the great culinary reputation of France.Open from 6:00pm - 10:30 pm, For lunch, The Grill serves up an a la carte menu of hearty salads, sandwiches, burgers and wraps in a giant thatch-roof palapa. Nightly entertainment rotates on a weekly basis, so there should be a different show every night for seven days. For an unforgettable evening, amp up the romance with a private dinner on the beach, and see how magical a dcor of sand, stars and sea can be. All rooms come with furnished terraces or balconies, coming with either garden, mountain, or ocean views. The volume of choices can be a little overwhelming, to be honest. Whether or not to choose the Excellence Club add-on really depends on the specific resort you are going to. The staff was super prompt in tidying up. Located in the Punta Cana region of the Dominican Republic, this 5-star resort is a luxury getaway for a very competitive price point. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience. For us, the Excellence El Carmen has more of a modern aesthetic and we found that there was a little less wear and tear throughout the resort. There was a range of entertainment that was put on in the evenings. There was a little bit of seaweed that sometimes washed up on the beach, but the staff did a great job of keeping the beach clean. The layout of this resort is a little unique. With luxury service, food and amenities we found it very hard to find faults in this resort. Lobster and premium alcohol are included at the 12 bars and 10 gourmet restaurants -- only the teppanyaki restaurant requires reservations. Shout out to Joel who is looking after us there. The atmosphere here was popping and it was a lot of fun here. On the few occasions that we have gone to the Domincan Republic. Our top recommendations are the Hoyo Azul, which is a magnificent sinkhole and national park. The private pool area is pretty good here as there is really only one large pool for non-EC members. Over your complete timeframe of your stay you will have all access to the resort, this includes the day you arrive and leave. We went for a few dips throughout the week and it was really calm and relaxing. Smooth is the best way of describing this. The beach here is really what distinguishes this resort. In total there are four main pools. All food, most drinks (Wine offerings at some restaurants come at an additional cost), snacks, Coffees, room service, and mini-bar are all included in your price. Best of all, reservations are never required so decide what restaurant to try when the mood strikes you. These will be the likes of Grey Goose, Johnny Walker Black Label, Absolut Vodka to name a few. Flat-screen TVs have a few English channels and Wi-Fi is free. This does come at an additional cost though. But if the sun, Playas Uvero Alto, Punta Cana 23000, Dominican Republic. There is a huge slate of classes and activities that are on offer throughout the week. If you take a look at the resort map you can see that it is really massive. So be prepared to wait once you touch down and make sure that you have all of the necessary documentation on hand before leaving. From soft white sand to turquoise water its truly stunning. Small plates deliver big flavor in this cozy gourmet restaurant. Excellence Club guests are escorted to a private lounge where they complete registration paperwork at a desk. We were pretty disappointed with the offering here. The vibe we got from it was that for the evening meals you were not allowed to show up to restaurants with shorts and a tank top on. Things you buy may earn us a commission. Excellence Club Mountain View Junior Suite, Excellence Club Ocean View Excellence Suite, Excellence Club Ocean View Junior Swim Up Suite, Excellence Club One Bedroom Imperial Suite. Staff can arrange romantic private dining throughout the resort, with advance notice and for a fee. Don't forget about the fun disco with a DJ and late night dancing. There is definitely some wear and tear around the resort, but overall it still has that luxury feel. In addition to the nine restaurants, snack bars and lounges, gourmet room service is available 24 hours a day at Excellence Punta Cana Enjoy a buffet breakfast and lunch with international dishes and a variety of food stations. Some of them actually add value while others are more for show. Technically it's considered Higuey, an area that is largely associated as Punta Cana but is, in fact, just slightly north of it. There is a really solid drink offering at the Excellence Punta Cana. This is also the spot for late-night dining, as it's open well after midnight. The mixed Paella was also a winner and worth trying. To beach volleyball, wine tastings, and bingo there is a lot to do at the Excellence Punta Cana. Casual shoes or elegant sandals must be worn. Additional tips should be taken into consideration when planning a trip to any all-inclusive. So, be sure to book early to ensure you can get a table. There werent even empty glasses that were left lying around. Shorts, Bermudas, sarongs, and t-shirts are welcome. The 450 contemporary suites are divided into six categories, and all have romantic jetted tubs, free Wi-Fi, and free minibars. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. The price of the resort when you compare it to the other Excellence resorts in the area is appropriately priced for the experience. We especially enjoyed the surf and turf. There are alot of smaller buildings dotted throughout the resort where the rooms are located. By clicking Accept, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. Punta Cana is a big tourist destination, so organized excursions are a big thing. The third, Excellence Club pool, is shallow and has partially submerged sun loungers, plus ocean views. We used this a few times throughout our stay. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Weve been to nearly all of the Excellence offerings now and its been hit and miss to whether theres a benefit in going for the Excellence Club. It was easily the most idyllic location we have seen in the Dominican and well worth a visit. On offer here are pizzas, grilled meats, and veggies. Wi-Fi is free and fast throughout the property. Some have ocean views, swim-up access, or private pools. Agave serves Mexican and Tex-Mex fare for dinner, including seafood options. Kitchen Table is the impressive buffet restaurant for breakfast and lunch. When any delivery happened large trucks would drive past the suites, which was quite noisy and off-putting. 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. Tapas is one of our favorite styles of food and Flavour market didnt disappoint. The minibars here are stacked full of goodies. Q. There was more than enough equipment with loads of cardio machines, free weights, machine weights, and a studio area. When we finally were able to get a table midway through our holiday, we were very impressed with the food. So, if fitness is a priority youll have no issue getting the heart rate going in this resort.

Cancun vs. Punta Cana: Which Vacation Destination Should You Choose? The perfect location for a restaurant. Think about white linen clothes and choose aesthetic decor and you have Chez Isabelle. I asked for my steak to be cooked medium and it came cremated. Each day the spa will offer discounted treatments that are usually advertised on a board outside the spa as well as the information sheet delivered in the turn down service. Once arrived, guests mostly stay put on the property. Quality is excellent, and there's a wide variety of options that cover everything from Dominican favorites to a la minute options like omelets and carved roasts. Excursions can be booked for a fee. We broke it down by the following criteria. Although we werent staying in one we heard from other guests that were staying in the back of the buildings that there is a delivery road behind their suites. The dinner menu upgrades to prime steaks and shrimp. Excellence tempts you with nine world-class resort restaurants and ten bars serving the most popular international cuisines. The resort is about a 45-minute drive north of the Punta Cana International Airport. Waves are bigger and stronger here, so weak swimmers should be wary -- but they can at least enjoy endless miles of walking on the sand and there are few vendors with which to contend. All products are independently selected by our writers and editors. Our menu is filled with delicacies from the land and sea, grilled, sauted or marinated. Yes, Wi-Fi is included in the price of your package. For the Excellence Punta Cana vs the Excellence El Carmen, it really comes down to the difference in price. The resort has a wealth of restaurants, amenities, and things to do to keep you occupied. The food here is actually very authentic and the restaurant was buzzing with atmosphere. Thanks to a 45-million dollar renovation completed in 2017, the adults-only Excellence Punta Cana is now one of the best luxury all-inclusive properties in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. There is a lot to see and do in the Punta Cana area. The main area serves an al-a-carte menu. In front of the resort, just past a row of retail cigar and clothing shops, sits the superb fitness center with modern TechnoGym cardio equipment, fresh towels, water bottles, a bowl of apples, and chlorophyll juice. Tableside entertainment completes your perfect Mexican evening.Open from 6:00pm -10:30 pm, Delight in the fine cuisine of Spain and Mediterranean. There Is an extensive gym on offer here. Food and beverages are a highlight here, and all meals, snacks, and alcoholic drinks -- even premium brands and lobster -- are included in the rates. For us, our favorite is definitely Sanona Island we have an overview of it below. The restaurant has a minimal Japanese design to its decor and had a humming atmosphere the two nights we went there. One of the best elements of the Excellence Punta Cana is the stellar service so from our point of view tipping should be considered mandatory. Both resorts are comparably priced, but we did notice that the price fluctuated down at times a little more for the Excellence Punta Cana resort. We ended up getting around 25% off the usual cost and it was an absolute delight. Having never been to a Hibachi experience like this we found it to be a great show and the food was top notch too. The Excellence Punta Cana was definitely on the upper tier of food output for the all-inclusive resorts we have stayed at. They had a different theme of food every day alongside the staple pizzas. There was always a sun lounger and an umbrella available which was good to see. Both al fresco and indoor air-conditioned seating can be had. Excellence Punta Cana is another strong offering from the Excellence chain of resorts. There are two restaurants and one bar that is available to EC members only, but honestly given the range of choice in the resort, theres really no need for this.