Excellence Punta Cana or any other recommedations??? ( NEWBIE)

[Sunshine15]

Hi

 

I wanted to have my wedding in Punta Cana for December/ Jan 2011.

Any resort recommendation? I want a resort that is reasonable for family members ($800-1k) but with great ratings.

 

My choices were:

1. PPR

2. PPC

3. Excellence Punta Cana

 

Please share any info/recommendations/ pictures/ vendor recommendations.

 

Thank you so much!!

[Sunshine15]

anyone with recommendations?

[staceysbride]

my advice? go to trip advisor (all one word) and search these properties. You'll find honest reviews from ALL types of vacationers, not just brides/grooms (though those will be there as well). Look at the pics/videos on that site as well. It helped me decide which resort I wanted....

[nbulldog19]

I picked Excellence and my wedding is in April 2010. For me and my FI, we wanted good food and a beautiful resort and since no kids were coming anyway, a kid free resort was definitely the right choice. I check trip advisor often and the resort gets amazing reviews. Hope this helps!

[staceysbride]

Quote:

Originally Posted by nbulldog19 I picked Excellence and my wedding is in April 2010. For me and my FI, we wanted good food and a beautiful resort and since no kids were coming anyway, a kid free resort was definitely the right choice. I check trip advisor often and the resort gets amazing reviews. Hope this helps!

I agree completely. We have no kids in the family, other than one stepbrother who is 14, and my friends have no kids. We have no kids. So an adults only resort was at the top of my list.

Second, we wanted one that was a little more 'lush' and 'tropical' in it's surroundings, so some of the newer resorts were out. They may have to die for rooms, but when you look around the vegetation wasn't mature. You could have been in Miami, Phoenix, anywhere, you know? The whole high rise feel was out as well. We wanted something that made you really feel like you'd gone to another place, and we LIKE the idea that the vegetation is mature at some of the older resorts.

Third, we wanted a resort where even at maximum capacity the service didn't die off. TA will help you with that- people are quick to say where the service issues are and what the problems were. Yes, EPC is like 10-12 years old. Yes, it's starting to show it's wear here and there. But will you spend every single waking moment in your room? No. It was more important to us what people said about the food, the employees, the beach, the pool, the spa, the bars, etc. We didn't want a resort that had 2,000 people or 2,000 rooms, etc. We wanted a resort that was smaller, low rise, and had a decent beach. EPC has rough waves, but if you read TA walking down the beach to the right you'll find gentler surf. Plus, beach swimming isn't a make it or break it for us. We're happy in a pool too.

Lastly, it was important to us how many weddings a day are done at the resort. To my understanding EPC only allows 2 a day. I can live with another bride and I getting married on the same day, though I picked a Thursday (10 June 10) so the likelyhood that I'll have to share staff and my day are slim. I didn't want a wedding factory resort. Some of these resorts do 3,4,5 weddings a day esp on weekends. And I wanted a resort that would give us a base package free for the wedding/honeymoon since we're staying there so long. EPC does that.

In the end, only you can decide which resort is best for you, but I'd recommend you sit down and think of what you want and like, etc. And then read TA reviews and see what people are saying. Look at the photos, videos, etc.

Good Luck!

[alisonu22]

Quote:

Originally Posted by staceysbride I agree completely. We have no kids in the family, other than one stepbrother who is 14, and my friends have no kids. We have no kids. So an adults only resort was at the top of my list. Second, we wanted one that was a little more 'lush' and 'tropical' in it's surroundings, so some of the newer resorts were out. They may have to die for rooms, but when you look around the vegetation wasn't mature. You could have been in Miami, Phoenix, anywhere, you know? The whole high rise feel was out as well. We wanted something that made you really feel like you'd gone to another place, and we LIKE the idea that the vegetation is mature at some of the older resorts. Third, we wanted a resort where even at maximum capacity the service didn't die off. TA will help you with that- people are quick to say where the service issues are and what the problems were. Yes, EPC is like 10-12 years old. Yes, it's starting to show it's wear here and there. But will you spend every single waking moment in your room? No. It was more important to us what people said about the food, the employees, the beach, the pool, the spa, the bars, etc. We didn't want a resort that had 2,000 people or 2,000 rooms, etc. We wanted a resort that was smaller, low rise, and had a decent beach. EPC has rough waves, but if you read TA walking down the beach to the right you'll find gentler surf. Plus, beach swimming isn't a make it or break it for us. We're happy in a pool too. Lastly, it was important to us how many weddings a day are done at the resort. To my understanding EPC only allows 2 a day. I can live with another bride and I getting married on the same day, though I picked a Thursday (10 June 10) so the likelyhood that I'll have to share staff and my day are slim. I didn't want a wedding factory resort. Some of these resorts do 3,4,5 weddings a day esp on weekends. And I wanted a resort that would give us a base package free for the wedding/honeymoon since we're staying there so long. EPC does that. In the end, only you can decide which resort is best for you, but I'd recommend you sit down and think of what you want and like, etc. And then read TA reviews and see what people are saying. Look at the photos, videos, etc. Good Luck!

Thank you so much for that posting. That was so helpful. I'm also torn between resorts and excellence is on my list. Good luck at your wedding, let us know how it was

[staceysbride]

You're very welcome. You may also want to consider the Eden Real? I happened to comment on another post in the For Sale section and I guess it's a new resort down in PC. I don't know *anything* about it though, but I thought I'd throw out another option.

[Boston Bride 2009]

I absolutely recommend Excellence. My wedding was so amazing and perfect. It is picturesque and the service is superior. It is on the higher side in terms of price but is completely worth it. Everyone that went wants to plan a trip for next year. They give you so much personalized attention for your wedding and are attentive to the details.

 

We had the master suite that over looked the cascade pool where our reception was...it was really convenient, the room was really really nice, and we were able to change our outfits and then go to the reception.

 

I promise I will write a review when I have more time. There are just so many amazing things to write about. You will not be disappointed.

 

Another suggestion is to plan a long weekend and visit the sites you are considering. My mom and I went to Excellence a year before the wedding to see it. We were so impressed we did not look anywhere else.