For anyone who has stayed at the Excellence resorts (esp Punta Cana)

What room did you choose? Are the Excellence Club benefits really worth the extra money? We're looking to book this month for August.

Re: For anyone who has stayed at the Excellence resorts (esp Punta Cana)

We stayed at the Playa Mujeres one. LOVED IT !

We got the regular room which was HUGE, had a private jacuzzi, terrace with a day bed, living room area, beautiful bathroom etc. Not sure if it is the same at their other locations but the "regular" rooms here WERE suites!

The Excellence benefits package--honestly the only thing I saw was an extra area by the pool...nice but

You dont need reservations for dinner, room service is incl., internet is incl. so I really do not know what the benefit is to this package...I would look into it

Re: For anyone who has stayed at the Excellence resorts (esp Punta Cana)

Don't do the extra money on the room. I reserved the basic room when we went last year (actually 1 year ago this week) for DH's 30th Bday.

The basic room had a small patio with a table and chairs that overlooked the garden. There was a jacuzzi in the room, huge four poster bed, etc.

Only cautions I would take for Punta Cana - bring BUG SPRAY! The sand bugs can be a PITA, but it is a beautiful resort, no dinner reservations needed and very very relaxing!

Re: For anyone who has stayed at the Excellence resorts (esp Punta Cana)

Posted by PotofLuck06

Don't do the extra money on the room. I reserved the basic room when we went last year (actually 1 year ago this week) for DH's 30th Bday.

The basic room had a small patio with a table and chairs that overlooked the garden. There was a jacuzzi in the room, huge four poster bed, etc.

Only cautions I would take for Punta Cana - bring BUG SPRAY! The sand bugs can be a PITA, but it is a beautiful resort, no dinner reservations needed and very very relaxing!

Re: For anyone who has stayed at the Excellence resorts (esp Punta Cana)

I stayed at Excellence Punta Cana in 2007 and Excellence Playa Mujeres last year. I LOVE the Excellence chain, and we're considering going back to Punta Cana this year. At EPC we did the Excellence Club...complete waste of money. The beach is not really private, the pool is not really private, the food in the lounge is no different than the food you can get at any of the restaurants or room service. At EPC I'm not sure if they have an Internet Cafe. If they don't, then that's one perk for the Excellence Club, if you want the ability to check your email. At EPM we just used the Internet Cafe. Excellence Club also gives you a few bottles of premium liquor in your room. If you're not big on it, then I'd save the money. There is no real difference in the rooms themselves, except Excellence Club rooms have the supreme ocean views. We didn't get it at EPM and didn't miss it. We won't get it if we go back this year.

Re: For anyone who has stayed at the Excellence resorts (esp Punta Cana)

can't comment on this particular topic but i'm leaving for EPM tomorrow!!!!! well, actually, in a few hours LOL!

Re: For anyone who has stayed at the Excellence resorts (esp Punta Cana)

SAND BUGS? What are those? Do they bite your feet? DH and I (especially DH) are NOT bug people. If I bring him to a place with a ton of bugs he'll never let me plan a vacation again!

So do you have to wear bug spray 24/7? And is it bad all year round?

Re: For anyone who has stayed at the Excellence resorts (esp Punta Cana)

I don't remember sand bugs in Punta Cana, but then again I went in 2007. We did have to wear bug spray at Playa Mujeres at night because of mosquitos. Maybe check the TripAdvisor forums and see what people who are there or just came back are saying.

Re: For anyone who has stayed at the Excellence resorts (esp Punta Cana)

DH and I were there in April and had an AMAZING time! I agree - no need to to Excellence Club.

We did not experience any sand bugs at all. I brought tons of bug spray but did not have to use any of it until the last evening. It had rained in the afternoon and then there were mosquitos out at night. But like I said, that was only for a few ours on our last night and really, its the tropics so there is no way to avoid the occasional mosquitois etc.

Re: For anyone who has stayed at the Excellence resorts (esp Punta Cana)

Loved our trip there two years ago! I don't think you need to upgrade to the Excellence Club... in fact, I think my hubby and I snuck into the "exclusive" pool area. LOL.

Come to think of it, though, we got eaten alive there. I guess it was sand bugs...

Overall, though, it was one of the most relaxing vacations we ever went on! :)

Re: For anyone who has stayed at the Excellence resorts (esp Punta Cana)

We stayed at the Excellence Riviera Cancun two years ago and absolutely loved it! We're going to EPC in July and are hoping we will have a similar experience. I've heard a lot of complaints about mosquitoes, but that isn't the hotel's fault, it just goes with staying in a tropical location. There were mosquitoes at night when we stayed at ERC, but bug spray seemed to keep them away.

We didn't book Excellence Club last time and won't be booking it this time. It just doesn't seem to be worth the money. From pictures I've seen of the Excellence club rooms, they pretty much all look the same. From the research I've done on the EPC, all rooms have a balcony and whirlpool tub. Excellence Club guests do get a "private" pool and area of the beach, but it's all the same as the other pools and the rest of the beach, and as another poster said, not really that private. And they get liquor in their rooms, but since there are bars all around the resort, and it's all inclusive, liquor in the rooms doesn't really seem necessary.

Enjoy your trip!