|
We arrived in Punta Cana at 7:40pm. We went through customs, bought our tourist cards, and claimed our luggage. The ride from the Punta Cana Airport to the resort is long. Secrets Excellence Punta Cana is the furthest of all the resorts. It is a 75 minute ride and the roads are in need of repair. A helicopter transfer is offered for $125pp.
We arrive at Secrets. It is now about 10:30pm. The man at the front desk was very hospitable. They gave us mimosas and brought us to our room which was in the Excellence Club section of the resort.
Our room was fabulous. Four poster bed, balcony, sitting area, huge jacuzzi tub, mini bar, safe, bathrobes, slippers and a lovely fruit platter and bottle of champagne. The view from our room <even at night> was just wonderful. We overlooked the pool and the ocean.
My husband and I ordered room service. I will tell you that even though it was our first experience with their food it was certainly our worst, everything else we had was wonderful.
The pool was fantastic. It runs the length of the property pretty much and twists and turns. The unique pool is set up so that even though the resort was full when we visited, we seemed to have our own space. The swim up bar was excellent and on either end of the resort there were small "snack bar" type cabanas set up with everything from nachos to chicken nuggets and other snack type foods as well as any beverages you may want <alcoholic and non>.
At night they offered different entertainment. From about 7-8 there was a Sax and Piano group in the lobby bar. They were excellent. Many nights it turned out to be karaoke and people were having a great time. After that the house band would play for a bit <they were very good as well> and then they would do different shows. One night they did a couples game show <very funny>, one night was this amazing magic act, one night they did CATS, another night they had musical tributes to famous artists.
The casino is small but nice.
Monday we met with the private concierges at the Excellence Club...Ivan, Alex and Carlos. They all made it very clear that guests staying in the Excellence Club were to be pampered and that they were at our service.
The excellence club offers so much…like a pillow menu, DVD's you can borrow, private breakfasts, free internet usage. The excellence club itself was presented to us as our "living room away from home".
I did have a manicure and my husband had a massage. The Spa was a wonderful experience and very serene with a gym, sauna, massages and various beauty treatments available.
Secrets Excellence offers a "Romantic Dinner for two" on the beach to clients. It was $160.00 but it was worth it.
The Dinner consists of:
A candlelit table for two set up on the beach surrounded by tiki torches about 20 feet from the tide, a private waiter and full dinner. The food was excellent. While you eat, strolling musicians come and sing to you. It includes wine or champagne…very romantic!!
The resort has a beach party one night of the week. Tables and tiki torches are setup on the beach as a band plays.
The beach is beautiful. It is immaculate. There are pairs of loungers under palm "cabanas" all along the beach. The chairs can be moved out into the sun if you desire. These also make for a romantic setting as under the cabanas feels very private...and peaceful.
The resort holds a “Dominican Fair” once a week. It was a lot of fun. They had various games set up and winners received "money". They held an "auction" that night for items such as t-shirts, tiki dolls, Dominican rum etc.
The restaurants were wonderful. There were a few restaurants we did not utilize as we did not care for the type of food. However, I made attempts to talk to other guests that had dined in the restaurants we missed.
Higuey - Ala Carte, buffet breakfast
made to order omelettes, French toast, pancakes, tons of things.
Ala Carte Lunch from Pizza to Salmon ....food was excellent.
Dress is Informal.
Bella Italia - Dinner <held in the same restaurant as Higuey but they change the ambiance every night to appear as an Italian restaurant.>
Some nights it was ala carte, others it was a sit down with a menu. I was very surprised to find they had an excellent marinara sauce.
Dress is Casual Elegance. <Though many did dress informal>.
Mediterranean - Seafood Lunch and Dinner.
We did not dine here but guests who had said it was fabulous, especially the lunches. This restaurant is very nice because it is an open air restaurant facing the ocean. Nice ambiance.
Dress for lunch was Informal.
Dress for dinner was Casual Elegance.
Madame Butterfly - Japanese Cuisine - Lunch & Dinner.
We did not dine here but I was told by several guests that the food was excellent especially if you enjoy sushi.
Dress for lunch – Informal.
Dress for dinner - Casual Elegance.
Palapa Texas - Lunch and dinner <Tex-Mex>
Excellent food also open air overlooking ocean. It is actually attached to Mediterranean Restaurant by a small arched foot bridge that goes over the pool. This restaurant borders the pool. The food was excellent.
Lunch Dress – Informal.
Dinner Dress - Casual Elegance.
Quisquey - Dinner
This restaurant specializes in French cuisine. It is the most formal of all the restaurants and is only open for dinner. Reservations are recommended with this restaurant as it is smaller than most and usually quite busy. Service was fabulous! The food was incredible. We had filet mignon that was just out of this world and this was the only place that had offered AMERICAN coffee. It was such a treat! The Dominican coffee was good but very strong.
Dress here is Casual Elegance.
Maria Bonita - Mexican - Lunch and Dinner.
Sit down restaurant. Excellent food. Very good service but slower than the other restaurants. ...but worth the wait. The restaurant itself is housed in a beautiful building.
Dress is Casual Elegance.
Carabito - Dominican food - Dinner.
This restaurant shares a building with Maria Bonita. Guests said that the food was very good and that the strolling mariachi band really added to the ambiance of the restaurant.
Dress is Casual Elegance.
Palapa Nissibon & Palapa Macao.
These were the poolside "snackshacks". Nissibon was at the west end of the resort serving snacks and beverages. Macao was at the east end of the resort near the cascading falls pool.
Dress for both of these is informal or beachwear.
The swim up bar outside buildings 6&7 near the Palapa Texas and Mediterranean Restaurants was also just wonderful.
The Excellence Club was just awesome. It has a big TV, tables with chairs, two computers, a private balcony overlooking the pool and the ocean with beautiful wicker furniture. In the club there is always an array of foods <from 7am-10pm> and a wait person always ready to take a drink order or to clear your place. Downstairs in the Club, is where the concierge offices are. They make it clear they are at your beck and call. They will arrange tours, dinner reservations, get you pillows, really ANYTHING you need. They even told me if we needed something from the small store on site to let them know and they would send someone for it and just bill the room.
The honeymoon suites are incredible. They are set out on a huge terrace with two jacuzzis. (One inside and one outside) They overlook the pools and the ocean.
Even the rooms that are considered gardenview or tropical view, have views that are beautiful. The grounds are just so gorgeous.
The gazebo is beautiful with a charming mural of clouds and cherubs in the dome. There is a beautiful old horse drawn carriage nearby and on the other side a fountain. The view looks out onto the ocean...very beautiful.
The grounds at the resort are impeccably kept. They are always maintaining and manicuring the vegetation. The staff is just incredible, courteous, friendly and very helpful.
The resort itself is gorgeous. A post card view everywhere you look.
|
