Travel Guide: Excellence Punta Cana
We had the pleasure of taking our second trip to Excellence Punta Cana recently and it was nothing short of Excellente! Below I break down all the details from arrival to departure and everything in between.
Excellence Punta Cana is an all-inclusive, adults only resort boasting a ton of amenities including 8 restaurants, 1 buffet, 11 bars, 24 hour room service, full-service spa, 4 swimming pools, 4 hot tubs, planned activities each day, land and water activities, and free Wi-fi – just to name a few! For the TLDR (too long didn’t read) summary, scroll to the bottom!
Airport
We landed at the airport and was able to get through customs quickly. After customs I changed clothes in the bathroom as the temperature was 60 degrees higher than home! If you plan to do this, make sure you pack your clothes in a convenient location so you aren’t digging through your luggage in public. Next we were greeted by an airport associate who gave us a map of the area and directed us to the Seasons desk where we had a reservation for transportation to the resort.
I highly recommend booking transportation ahead of time rather than opting for a taxi upon arrival. This will ensure your safety and a shorter wait time. After checking in we waited about 20 minutes for our private SUV to arrive. The ride to the resort is about 45 minutes, but it is so worth the wait! Please keep in mind that people drive a bit more recklessly in Punta Can than you may be used to. Just be sure to buckle up and *try* to enjoy the ride. When you see a field of cows on the right side of the road, you are getting close to the resort!
Arrival
Upon arrival we were greeted with a cool washcloth and chilled champagne. This time around we opted for the Excellence Club (more on this later) so we were escorted to the Excellence Club Lounge to check in. We arrived at 2 pm and our room was not quite ready so we left our luggage in the lounge and went to lunch. After lunch we waited for about 45 minutes in the lounge for our room to become available. For this inconvenience, we were told to come back the next day to claim a free 30 minute massage. We were waiting patiently and had not complained so this was unexpected, but an awesome gesture nonetheless. When we came back the next day, he actually granted us a 50 minute massage!
App
Excellence has a fantastic app available where you can navigate all kinds of useful information called The Excellence Collection. All the menus for the restaurants are available on the app so you will need it to make your orders. The restaurants no longer have physical copies of their menus available. I loved the feature where you can see what restaurants are open right now so you don’t have to go into each one and see the open hours.
The app also has the spa menu, a resort map, scheduled activities, and ton of additional information. If you are a planner like me you can download the app before you arrive to get familiar with the resort and to plan out which restaurants and activities to include in your trip.
Room
When our room was ready the bell hop escorted us there and transported our luggage. He showed us around the room including the unlimited bar with full sized Jack Daniels, Local Rum, and Vodka along with a fully stocked mini fridge of soda, water, tonic water, juice, and snacks. Yes, all of this is included so feel free to indulge! We booked an Excellence Club Junior Suite Garden View room (Room 2104), which actually had a beautiful view of one of the private Excellence Club pools. We were on the second floor right above some swim out rooms. The room is beautiful and features a soaking tub in the living space. There are not many English channels on the TV so if this would be an issue for you, plan to bring your iPad or laptop to log into your favorite streaming services.
Beach
The waves in Punta Cana can be pretty intense. When we were there 9 years ago for our honeymoon we were out in the water and both got hit hard by a wave that basically assaulted us. I mean, I literally flashed the entire beach as my strapless bikini was knocked down. This time around they are taking this more seriously. If there is a red flag then you are not allowed in the water (and for good reason). There was a red flag 2 of our 4 days there. On a day with a yellow flag we waded out into the water, but didn’t stay long. We are more ‘lay on the beach with a cold drink’ people than ‘catch a wave with a boogie board’ people.
We had access to the Excellence Club part of the beach, but on 2 of the days we were not able to find an open beach lounger, so we crossed the rope to sit on the regular side where there were plenty available. They do have shaded cabanas available to rent for $60 per day on the Excellence Club side of the beach. This is probably worth it if you plan to be on the beach all day. The Excellence Club part of the beach has free sunscreen available at the lifeguard stand. There is drink service on both sides of the beach.
Honestly, there is no one checking if you are an Excellence Club member when you sit on this part of the beach and there was no difference to the regular part of the beach, so I didn’t really see the benefit here.
Beware of scams on the beach — I’m not sure if scams is the right word, but they are trying to sell you something and it is not associated with the resort. There will be people walking around with parrots and monkeys for pictures, as well as people selling excursions and cigars. I did want to take some pictures with the parrots because we did that here on our honeymoon 9 years ago. Honestly, the pictures turned out fantastic so I was willing to pay for this! He asked for $45 but I only had $25 on me so he accepted that.
Pools
We loved lounging by the private Excellence Club pools. One of them is on the beach side of the resort and the other is nestled between buildings 1, 2, and 4 – known as the Waterfall Pool. We loved the Waterfall Pool! It was quiet and private, with full bar service and food service. The pizza delivered to our lounger was amazing! The loungers were basically full sized mattresses and provided complete shade. It’s a perfect spot to read to catch a nap. For a more lively experience, visit the Beachfront Pool on the beach side of the resort in front of Buildings 1 and 2 and also features 2 hot tubs. Beyond the Excellence Club pools, there are 2 more pools available as well as 2 hot tubs.
Food
With 8 restaurants to choose from you should have no problem finding something to eat. I will say the options were somewhat limited for lunch and the buffet was nothing to write home about (as my Grammie would say). Portions are small, but the beauty is that you can just go to another restaurant or order room service if you are still wanting more to eat. We typically eat 2 dinners when we go to an all-inclusive – I mean, why not sample everything? You can also hit up the restaurant with your favorite dessert if you are picky on sweets like me.
The best meal we had during our stay was Chez Isabelle for dinner. We started with marinated mussels and French onion soup (yes, you can order an appetizer and soup), then for the entrée we both ordered grilled rib eye with mushrooms and potatoes. Keep in mind that the portions are small so each person orders their own appetizer, they are not shared portions like you would expect in a restaurant in the US.
Another fantastic dinner we enjoyed was Magna, which is only available to Excellence Club members. I started with salmon on toast and my husband opted for sauteed calamari. For the entrée I ordered the 45 oz Tomahawk beef cut and my husband ordered the surf and turf. Both of these entrees were fantastic!
Be mindful that some restaurants have dress codes, so fellas be sure to pack some khaki pants and dress shirts. Ladies, a dress or pants with a blouse will work for you. Just be sure to change out of your beach attire before heading to dinner.
Drinks
With a stocked in-room minibar and 11 bars, you should have no trouble finding an adult beverage. Additionally, there is pool and beach service where waiters will take your order and bring your drink right to you. Bars are fully stocked so you can request a specific brand of liquor. Personally, I enjoy a strawberry daquiri or blended Amaretto – yes, you can ask for your favorite drink blended to make it a refreshing frozen treat!
Spa
The Excellence Spa is A-MA-ZING! If you are in the Excellence Club, you have access to one hydrotherapy treatment, so don’t miss out on this free amenity! If you are not in the Excellence Club, you get a free hydrotherapy treatment with any purchase of a spa treatment. We booked a 75 minute couple massage and then came back 2 days later to claim our free 50 minute couples massage from the inconvenience we had a check in. Both experiences were phenomenal.
Money
All-inclusive may sound too good to be true, so what’s the catch? You can literally come to this resort and not spend any additional money while here and have an amazing time. You will need to bring your credit card to check in and have on file for incidentals (like any hotel in the US). Other costs you may incur:
· Tips: tipping is not expected or required, Excellence talks about this on there website, here. Personally, I like to tip drivers, bell hops, waiters, and bartenders. They are very appreciative of it and it certainly doesn’t hurt for ensuring great service throughout your stay. We usually spend about $25 per day on tipping.
· Gift Shop/Convenience Store: In case you are sick and need medicine, sunscreen, or want to take a souvenir back home
· Spa: The spa is not included in your stay so budget for this if it is something you would like to include in your visit.
Excellence Club
Is the Excellence Club worth it? If the Excellence Club is not in your budget, don’t let this stop you from visiting Excellence Punta Cana! If your budget allows for either the Excellence Club or an extra day, I would recommend the extra day instead. If you are used to luxury amenities and like the idea of an exclusive experience, then I recommend opting for the Excellence Club.
Departure
You not want to leave, but the day before your departure head to the front desk (or Excellence Club lounge) to confirm your transfer to the airport. They will arrange for your luggage to be picked up from your room and stored at the front desk until your departure time.
Cost Breakdown
This is the cost breakdown for a 4 day/3 night trip for 2 people including flights from Louisville, KY.
· Flights: $1,225.60
· Resort: $1,569.85 (3 night stay – Excellence Club Garden View Room)
· Spa: $510.93
· Tips: $100
· Airport food: $126.02
· Airport Parking: $54
· Total: $3,586.40
How to Book
If you feel comfortable booking your trip yourself, you can book the resort with flights directly through the Excellence website. If you prefer to get some help, I highly recommend using a travel agent! Using a travel agent does not cost you more because they are paid a commission from the resort, hotel, or other travel company. Travel agents may actually be able to save you money by having industry knowledge and access to special rates.
Summary
From a warm welcome at arrival to the bliss of beachside lounging this all-inclusive, adults-only paradise spoils you with 8 restaurants, 11 bars, and a spa that's simply A-MA-ZING! Dive into the Excellence Club for extra perks and let the Excellence Collection app be your guide. While there are some minor considerations, such as beach conditions and lunch options, the overall experience is highly positive for those seeking a luxurious and hassle-free getaway.
