Rediscovering Excellence at Excellence Punta Cana

If you are looking for a 5 star adults only luxury Caribbean resort, look no further to Excellence Punta Cana. It will exceed your expectations and redefine your idea of paradise.  Simply put, Excellence Punta Cana is nothing short of extraordinary.  

The waves of the sea help me get back to me… Jill Davis

We recently returned to Excellence Punta Cana for the second time and we were just as impressed. Pulling up to this magnificent resort portrays an elegant Spanish vibe matched with modern decor. 

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Before I begin, a few specifics:

Excellence Punta Cana is located roughly 50 min from the Punta Cana airport. The drive is scenic and goes by quite quickly. 

The resort offers 2 accommodation sections –  regular luxury suites with either garden, swim out, ocean-view, or ocean-front suites and their Excellence Club accommodations offering garden, pool view, ocean-view or ocean-front suites. 

Side note: to read more about what their Excellence Club offers, click HERE. 

We were in an Excellent Club Garden View room with a gorgeous view of a cascading water fountain and magnificent mountains. 

No matter which accommodation you select, your stay will be wrapped in luxury and comfort.  Opting for the Excellence Club unlocks access to ALL restaurants, including Magna – the exclusive experience for club members.    

Let’s get into detail.  

Daily Activities:

For an all-adults resort, Excellence Punta Cana offers an abundance of activities to keep you engaged and involved during your stay.  The Excellence App outlines the daily activities where you can easily find at the touch of a button.  

Activities Including – but not limited to:

• Yoga
• Fitness classes
• Weight room
• Bingo
• Spanish lessons
• Pool volleyball
• Beach volleyball
• Pickle-ball and Tennis clinics
• Pool games
• Bocce ball
• Ping pong
• Billiards/pool
• Archery
• Basketball
• Darts
• Painting classes
• Evening shows
• DJ dancing

A variety of activities kick off each morning and lead into their lively evening entertainment and dancing ensuring an unforgettable experience for any vacationer.  

Restaurants:

The Excellence resort brand is dedicated to offering its guests a 5-star dining experience, featuring an exceptional selection of gourmet cuisine.   Every restaurant, including the buffet, offers a variety of options, from vegan and vegetarian, to gluten-free and protein-packed meat or fish dishes.  With such a diverse selection, going hungry won’t be an option during your stay.  

The Kitchen Table:

Their buffet restaurant is open daily for breakfast and lunch.  Offering a wide-range of selections, this all you can eat dining experience will satisfy any palate.  Their delicious selections on hand for easy sampling will have you trying a little bit of everything over the course of your vacation.  I must admit – their home-made guacamole and soups were simply delicious!

Los Olas:

Situated beachside next to the picturesque Atlantic ocean, Los Olas is the perfect setting for your lunch or snack. An open air atmosphere provides a laid back feel as you eat a variety of snacks, grilled meats or fish and pizzas.   We experienced this scenic lunch spot for their St Patricks festivities where they lavishly provided an enormous buffet spread of varying hot and cold items.  Paired with a fantastic band playing Irish tunes, it was a highlight of the week.  

The Grill:

Nestled within their beautiful stone courtyard, the Grill offers mouthwatering steaks,  delectable chicken dishes or light and tasty salmon and seafood to satisfy anyone’s palate.  We have eaten here numerous times over our two vacations and each bite is better than the last.  

Agave:

Their Mexican restaurant serves authentic cuisine, welcoming all guests.  From their flavourful guacamole to their sizzling fajitas, every dish on the menu promises a delightful experience. If you are coming in for a special event – like a birthday – don’t be surprised if they honour you with a dish made from their authentic, time-honoured menu.  We had the pleasure of experiencing some off the menu items made fresh from the chef.   

Spice:

Their eclectic Asian restaurant offers both a la cart as well as Hibachi options.  Their Hibachi does require reservations to experience since you are seated at their few 8 person Hibachi tables.  Here, you will be not only entertained by their extraordinary chef, but you will feast on an abundance of delicious meat, seafood, and vegetable dishes. You certainly will not leave hungry.

Their sit-down a la cart option offers a variety of sushi and authentic asian dishes to satisfy anyone’s palate.  Their dumplings, spring rolls and Pad Thai with chicken were outstanding – so much so that we returned a second night before we departed.  

Spice was definitely a top-notch restaurant in which we thoroughly enjoyed.  

Chez Isabelle:

Their exquisite french restaurant will provide you with an elegant atmosphere making you think you are in the heart of France, but with a Caribbean flare.  We did not take part in this experience on this vacation, but last year, we did.  Although, the food was aesthetically displayed – their french cuisine and our tastes did not coincide.  It could have been our dish selection as other vacationers raved about the delectable tastes.  

Oregano:

Their Italian speciality restaurant provided first class service and dish choices in which each choice satisfied our Italian cravings.  Situated with views of the ocean in an open air romantic setting,  you will certainly dine in excellence here.  Their manager Dimitrius was extraordinary.  Bellissimo!

Lobster House:

Their seafood restaurant sits adjacent to Oregano and also provides extraordinary seaside views and elegant romance flare.  This restaurant is open for breakfast and dinner providing you with an abundance of fabulous choices.  

Breakfast:  We ate here 5 out of 7 mornings and each bite was better than the last.  They offer a la cart options with plenty of alternatives as well – for example – their team would go above and beyond providing gluten free or dairy free options (like Almond milk) if asked.  Leo and Manny will be sure to make your mornings fabulous.  

Dinner:  Dining here provided such an elegant ambience to our vacation.  Although lobster was out of season (difference times of the year Punta Cana abides by its local laws in having lobster-free dishes), their shrimp dishes were exquisite!  

Overall, Lobster House was probably one of our favourite dining choices during our holiday.

 

Magna (exclusively for Excellence Club members only):

This exclusive restaurant is only for its Excellence club members and is open for breakfast and dinner daily.  Our last vacation to EPC, we had a fabulous dinner here and raved over its service and ambiance.  

However, this holiday, we tried its breakfast option and were left slightly disappointment.  Service was not up to par and their menu options were average at best.  Although their view was 5 star with wide open views of the ocean, we were not left satisfied with this years’ experience.  Also, their dinner menu has limited to no chicken options.  If you are looking for beef, then you are in luck, but if requiring or wanting a chicken dish – there was none to choose from.  Maybe a future visit will have their menu choices upgraded to include some non-beef choices.

Aroma:

Their speciality coffee house is truly unmatched in quality.  Nestled within the charming Old World stone courtyard – also home to the Grill and Agave – it offers an impressive selection of coffee creations for any time of day.  Whether you prefer a simple, classic cup or an indulgent masterpiece, the possibilities are endless.  With a variety of toppings, syrups, and speciality shots, every request is met with care, ensuring the perfect brew to suit your taste.

Excellence Club Beach Area:  

A nice perk of the Excellence Club Beach area was food delivery.  Each day, their team would offer a selection of pizza or fries to its club member guests.  We did not remember this from last year and simply put – their pizza was delicious! 

Special Occasion Venue:

If you are dreaming of a destination wedding, choosing Excellence Punta Cana would provide a gorgeous backdrop for unforgettable photos.  

As you explore the grounds of Excellence Punta Cana, you’ll find two stunning locations for your vow exchange:  a charming wedding garden gazebo or a picturesque beachside gazebo.  Both options offer breathtaking views, elegant decor, and a romantic ambiance for your special day.

Just a note:  We visited for a ‘couples’ getaway, not a wedding, so we don’t have firsthand experience with the wedding planning process at this resort.   However, they do have a superb Wedding Professional Team dedicated to he making your dream day absolute perfection.     

To see a snippet of their wedding venue option, click the video below.  

Their Team:

Calling their team as extraordinaire would be an understatement.  From the time of your arrival to the bittersweet farewell, every member of the Excellence Team is there to assist you.  This exceptional service extends to all guests, whether you’re staying in a luxury traditional room or as part of the Excellence Club.  

Several team members went above and beyond to make our vacation exceptional, and it was clear they genuinely love what they do.  Those team members deserving of attention are:

Elizabeth in the Excellence Club Concierge – Amazing and attentive to all requests

Hendriux in the Excellence Club Beach section – Gracious and thoughtful in reserving our palapa each morning.

Reison in the Excellence Club Beach section – Spectacular and sincere with an amazing birthday beach greeting.

Benny in the Excellence Club beach bar/serving area –  Phenomenal drink maker.  

Leo in the Grill and Lobster House – Attentive and remarkable in tending to your food requests.

Manny in the Lobster House – Welcoming and exceptional in keeping you engaged during your meal.

Iris – in the Kitchen for Breakfast and lunch – Welcoming and sincere for your delicious lunch.  

Pros:

• All adults
• Quieter – away from the busyness of Bavaro Beach
• Plenty of activities to do
• Quiet and peaceful rooms
• Excellent evening shows
• Food was fabulous and choices plentiful
• The spa is outstanding
• The beach is breathtaking
• Plenty of palapas and chairs regardless of which area preferred – Beach or Pool
• The Excellence Team is outstanding

Cons:

• The Magna restaurant for Preferred Members was not quite up to par. It could have had more food choices for those not wanting – or unable to consume – beef.  For an exclusive restaurant – this could (and should) be corrected. The other Excellence retaurants had plenty of choices – from gluten free and dairy free to fish, chicken, vegetarian or beef options. That being said – for this to be the only ‘con’, that says something spectacular about this resort.

In Summary:

Returning to this resort for a second time, we were once again left in awe.  Often, revisiting a destination can lead to comparisons or unmet expectations, but not here!.  Instead, it only deepened our appreciation, leaving us eager for our next visit.  We cannot wait for that opportunity to pack our luggage, share more laughter, and embark on another unforgettable adventure.