Feliz Ano Nuevo at Excellence Punta Cana

A few weeks ago, your weekly inbox or social media feed likely rang in the New Year with a Caribbean Countdown to New Years overview. As mentioned, we welcomed New Year’s Eve at Excellence Punta Cana—a fabulous resort we’ve now enjoyed three times. Our Happy New Year’s Eve celebration, or should I say Feliz Año Nuevo, was simply fantastic.

“When the rhythm is right, the year begins in joy.”… Caribbean proverb

We jetted off to Excellence Punta Cana just after Christmas for a delightful five-night stay in an Excellence Club Garden View Room. We flew with Air Transat—an airline we’ve grown to love for consistently exceeding our expectations—and opted again for their Option Plus upgrade. You can click HERE to read more about Option Plus and its many benefits.

Our private transfer whisked us away to our destination, just 45 minutes along the Macao Beach area. As mentioned in my previous blogs about Excellence Punta Cana, it’s easy to see why we continue to return. While the property itself is breathtaking—boasting old-world charm, classic room décor, miles of soft golden sand, and no neighbouring resorts—it’s truly the people who keep drawing us back.

Side Note:  Click the photo links below to read my other 2 resort reviews on this outstanding property.

Why the people, you ask?

The simple answer: they go out of their way to ensure you experience the most outstanding vacation you could dream of.

From the moment you arrive, you’re made to feel at home. Right at drop-off, the bellboys welcome you back like family. At check-in, the Excellence team ensures every detail of your stay is thoughtfully handled—whether it’s room preferences, special requests, celebrations, or dietary needs. Even David, a trainee who had been on the job for just six days, carried himself with the confidence and care of someone who’d been in his role for years. He was truly outstanding.

At each restaurant, we’ve formed genuine connections with servers and managers who remember us upon our return, greeting us with warm hugs and thoughtfully helped plan special dining experiences. From rose-petal hearts on our tables, to off-menu entrées, to special New Year’s Eve reservations and VIP treatment at breakfast, the Excellence restaurant teams—especially Leo, Manny, Demetrios, Jesus, and Ingrid— made us feel less like guests and more like family.

The New Year’s Eve dinner celebration featured a unified menu served across all six of the resort’s restaurants. Guests were free to choose whichever restaurant best suited their mood and taste, with advance reservations required only to secure a preferred dining time.

The shared menu included:

• Cheese dip with roasted artichoke hearts, tuna, and lemon vinaigrette
• Smoked corn cream with sourdough croutons and chives
• Surf and turf with spring vegetables
(Plant-based option: zucchini sphere stuffed with ratatouille, served with spring vegetables)
• Chocolate and red wine cherry cylinder with hazelnut and strawberry jelly

Side note: Being completely honest, we were a bit puzzled by the menu. On their regular dining menus, Excellence offers a wide variety of meat selections, salads, and thoughtful plant-based options to accommodate dietary preferences. This particular menu, however, leaned heavily toward creamed starters, red meat, and seafood. One helpful suggestion would have possibly to include an alternative option for guests with different dietary needs. Thankfully Leo, our fabulous server, stepped in immediately and arranged a fresh, delicious green salad for us to share as a starter. His attentiveness ensured our dining experience remained enjoyable and seamless.

All in all, the surf and turf was delicious and we certainly ate enough food.

The resort was decked out in dazzling 2026 signs, lights, and flashy retro décor to ring in the New Year. A few fantastic bands got the crowd moving ahead of the big countdown. With all the retro ’80s décor, we expected the music to match—but instead, the evening featured lively Latin beats. Still fun and groovy, though we couldn’t help but wonder where the classic ’80s tunes had gone!

After soaking up a little too much sun the day before, we were feeling a bit “off” and decided to retreat to our room for some quiet rest with a decision made that at 11:45 p.m., we would rejoin the celebration. And we’re so glad we did! When we entered the theatre, the excitement was electric, and the celebratory energy was in full force. Champagne glasses were quickly distributed and filled just in time for the countdown to begin.

In a matter of seconds, cheers erupted, celebratory kisses were shared, and fireworks exploded across the starry sky. These fireworks were some of the best we’ve ever seen—whether for New Year’s or Canada Day. They were truly spectacular and lasted quite a while. Music filled the theatre and courtyard, guests clinked glasses, and everyone welcomed 2026 with love, joy, and emotion.

We stayed just long enough to join in the festivities before heading back for our first peaceful sleep of the new year.

For us, while New Year’s Eve is a fun and exciting celebration for couples, our favorite part is waking early on New Year’s Day. Watching the sunrise over a brand-new year, we take a moment to soak in the beauty, dreams, and possibilities that not just the day, but the year ahead, has to offer.

All in all, we thoroughly enjoyed our New Year’s stay at Excellence Punta Cana. Our third visit left us already planning when our next visit in 2027 could occur.

If you’re looking to escape the winter chill and bask in sunny skies this season—or even to celebrate next Christmas or New Year’s—Excellence Punta Cana should definitely be on your radar. Not only will you feel completely relaxed and well cared for, but you’ll also be embraced by a team of extraordinary people who make this resort a perfect 10/10 in our eyes.

To watch a snippet of the fun-filled NYE, click the video below…