thanks for the review! I'm doing this a bit backwards as we booked our trip to finest a couple of weeks ago, and now I'm looking into finding out more about the inclusive activities available (kayaks, sailboards/boats, bikes, etc). I had a chuckle that you rated the beaches at 7/5 but whatever was right before that at 10 out of five! rofl.
Hello! Great review!! We've been to Excellence El Carmen and absolutely love it!! We're thinking about trying Finest. Is there any daytime activities or evening entertainment on the AO side? We're not looking to party, but we do enjoy beach volleyball and some music in the evening and meeting new people. Don't want to be bored by 10pm. Can we go over to the family side if we want to? Also, what are the perks from being on the AO side? Restaurants, bars, etc... and did you happen to notice if there were any adult channels?🙈🤭 Thank you😊
Thanks for the review! Can I ask what is the tipping culture like? Did you tip on the beach, at the restaurants, etc? I am used to tipping for the room cleaning.
Absolutely lovesd this review! Do Finest and El Carmen share amenities and restaurants? We have a group of us wanting a resort that's family friendly for the kids and for the ones that only want adults only. Thank you so much!!
@@BodybuildingPerspective So, are you saying that ones you are on the Excellence side, all your restaurants are separate from the rest of the resort. Gym, coffee shop, buffet, AL el carte, beach area are all separate? Like kids but just not on vacation!
I’ve booked for El Carmen but in July but now I’m thinking of canceling and doing this instead. I’m having a hard time choosing which to do. Thank you so much this thorough review. Did they have straws?
I went to el carmen in in sept 2021 and it was incredible. We did a swim out. It was so good we are going back with my son and thats why we are going next door to finest punta cana.
Booked our pre-30th Anniv. vaca for early Dec., Finest on Excellence Club side w/plunge pool-2story. Wondering if we could slide by w/a cheaper room 4nts $1750.? We usually cruise, not big drinkers - rare..but we like activities, bikes/pickeball/tennis/pools and I want to go ATV/Buggies..and COCO B. nightclub..never been before? Any advice out there?? Never been to an AI resort before. Great explanation on resort facilities - Glad they have heated pools! Thank you!
+Kelly Jordan-Licht you will LOVE it! There are plenty of excursion options and activities to choose from. You will have reps approaching you daily to book Coco B and other activities. We aren’t big drinkers either but our days and nights were filled with fun and entertainment. Enjoy your stay.
Please help me get an answer, my girlfriends not a great swimmer and we are planning to go to the beach often I would like her to have a life jacket on when we’re doing the water activities, do they provide lifejackets?
We booked through Air Canada vacations and a shuttle was included from the airport. I’ve tried private in the past and it was pretty chaotic so we make sure it’s handled through our agent now.
Thank you!! We are visiting in August and I so appreciate this review, it’s so new that there aren’t very many or very good ones out. This was amazing.
@@wasifbhatti3358 Can you share the name of it?? Also music and how late it's open until?? Thanks much...Interested for a girls trip filled with luxury and a bit of nightlife
@@MC-yx8hs I stayed at the finest punta cana but the club didn’t have a name, it was right by the check in for the excellence section which takes you to the adult side. I can’t remember how late it was open because I was there on work retreat so I was leaving early. They played old school hip hop when I was there and second time I just started telling DJ what to play lol, which was also hip hop and r & b music.
@@wasifbhatti3358 Very nice. Exactly what I was needing for you to confirm. Thank you kindly. What could be better than R&B...haha! I was worried given the aesthetics of the resort, it may have been too quiet with not enough nightly activity for the women in my group. Sounds like it would be the perfect balance with plentiful pampering....
Honestly, we didn’t mind the food at all. When we go to a resort, we don’t expect the food to be the best we’ve ever eaten. We expect it to be better than Cuba (our expectations are pretty low - lol). Having said that, we enjoyed almost every meal. I think it’s all about expectations really. It is an all-inclusive resort and in my experience the food is usually pretty good but never “incredible”. But that’s just me.
We were there in Feb so the main pools were heated. The swim out that we had with our room was not heated. I'm guessing it is seasonal and would guess that the pool will be cooler in August.
Great review thanks for sharing with us, Heated pool in the Caribbean not a good idea for me 😫 I just don’t like it!
I tend to agree but my wife absolutely loved it.
thanks for the review! I'm doing this a bit backwards as we booked our trip to finest a couple of weeks ago, and now I'm looking into finding out more about the inclusive activities available (kayaks, sailboards/boats, bikes, etc). I had a chuckle that you rated the beaches at 7/5 but whatever was right before that at 10 out of five! rofl.
Hello! Great review!! We've been to Excellence El Carmen and absolutely love it!! We're thinking about trying Finest. Is there any daytime activities or evening entertainment on the AO side? We're not looking to party, but we do enjoy beach volleyball and some music in the evening and meeting new people. Don't want to be bored by 10pm. Can we go over to the family side if we want to?
Also, what are the perks from being on the AO side? Restaurants, bars, etc... and did you happen to notice if there were any adult channels?🙈🤭
Thank you😊
Thank you for your detailed review. You covered all the points. I’m very much looking into this resort for my 2nd trip to Punta Cana.
Have fun! You will love it.
The resort only opened in October 2021so it's 4 months old at the time of this video. Also the pools are only heated during winter.
Thank you very much for the information.
We've been to Excellence Punta Cana and LOVED it!! Is the Finest as good? I've heard it's less expensive so wondering why?
Yes - it is as nice, if not better (it is a little newer). Both are fantastic though.
Thanks for the review! Can I ask what is the tipping culture like? Did you tip on the beach, at the restaurants, etc? I am used to tipping for the room cleaning.
We left a daily tip for the room cleaning. All of the staff was extremely professional and kind.
I tipped everyone. You don't have too but I'd budget $200 at least if you're there for the week. The staff is absolutely outstanding
Absolutely lovesd this review! Do Finest and El Carmen share amenities and restaurants? We have a group of us wanting a resort that's family friendly for the kids and for the ones that only want adults only. Thank you so much!!
At Finest, one side has a family-friendly section and on the other side is adult only. It was perfect in that way.
They should cut you a check because my goodness, you are really selling this to me. I think I’m going to cancel my El Carmen room loll.
They really should! I will do more reviews in the future. I hope you have a BLAST no matter where you decide to go.
Good review. Like to try an Excellence resort this time. How do you book for the adults only side of the resort?
When you call to book, ask for the adult side. The two sides are very close but completely different. We LOVED the adult only side for our honeymoon.
@@BodybuildingPerspective So, are you saying that ones you are on the Excellence side, all your restaurants are separate from the rest of the resort. Gym, coffee shop, buffet, AL el carte, beach area are all separate? Like kids but just not on vacation!
Can't wait to spend our 1st wedding anniversary here!
You will love it
Hi! Have you ever been to a Secrets resorts? Just wondering how it compares to them, thanks:)
Not yet! But soon
I’ve booked for El Carmen but in July but now I’m thinking of canceling and doing this instead. I’m having a hard time choosing which to do. Thank you so much this thorough review. Did they have straws?
I went to el carmen in in sept 2021 and it was incredible. We did a swim out. It was so good we are going back with my son and thats why we are going next door to finest punta cana.
@@benjaminmorales7562 I hope you have a good time. I ended up canceling because everyone said the food was bad
The food was pretty good ot be honest. Maybe you can book at Finest next time you go. They had paper straws
great review : going in a few weeks thank u
Enjoy your stay. We will be back
Booked our pre-30th Anniv. vaca for early Dec., Finest on Excellence Club side w/plunge pool-2story. Wondering if we could slide by w/a cheaper room 4nts $1750.? We usually cruise, not big drinkers - rare..but we like activities, bikes/pickeball/tennis/pools and I want to go ATV/Buggies..and COCO B. nightclub..never been before? Any advice out there?? Never been to an AI resort before. Great explanation on resort facilities - Glad they have heated pools! Thank you!
+Kelly Jordan-Licht you will LOVE it! There are plenty of excursion options and activities to choose from. You will have reps approaching you daily to book Coco B and other activities. We aren’t big drinkers either but our days and nights were filled with fun and entertainment. Enjoy your stay.
@@BodybuildingPerspective Thank you for the info! Waiting to hear more about the impact of Hurrican Fiona. I REALLY WANT THIS VACAY!
Thank you for this! Just booked our trip to Finest for April!
+Whitney Williams I hope you enjoy it as much as we did! Have a GREAT vacation.
How was it? Would you recommend it?
@@humanfairy it was one of the best vacations of my life…and it was our honeymoon. Everything and MORE!!
Please help me get an answer, my girlfriends not a great swimmer and we are planning to go to the beach often I would like her to have a life jacket on when we’re doing the water activities, do they provide lifejackets?
There is a hut down by the water next to the loungers. They have a lot of equipment and I believe they rent out life jackets as well.
My husband and I are planning on going to Finest for our honeymoon in April. When you were staying there, was there any seaweed?
Very little and they had people taking it and moving it daily. Not nearly as much in Mexico (Mayan).
Hey brother did you guys hire a private shuttle from the airport?
We booked through Air Canada vacations and a shuttle was included from the airport. I’ve tried private in the past and it was pretty chaotic so we make sure it’s handled through our agent now.
Great review thank you!
+FraletaW you’re welcome. It really was amazing.
thought I would see the resort...🙄
Huh? There are clips throughout the whole video of the resort. I’ll try to get more next time.
Thank you!! We are visiting in August and I so appreciate this review, it’s so new that there aren’t very many or very good ones out. This was amazing.
Thank you very much. I’m glad you enjoyed it. You will love Finest!
Hey great review... Just wondering if it has an onsite disco/nightclub?
+Chris Moscoso thank you. Unfortunately, there is no on-site disco / nightclub.
There is one onsite I was there two weeks ago
@@wasifbhatti3358 Can you share the name of it?? Also music and how late it's open until?? Thanks much...Interested for a girls trip filled with luxury and a bit of nightlife
@@MC-yx8hs I stayed at the finest punta cana but the club didn’t have a name, it was right by the check in for the excellence section which takes you to the adult side. I can’t remember how late it was open because I was there on work retreat so I was leaving early. They played old school hip hop when I was there and second time I just started telling DJ what to play lol, which was also hip hop and r & b music.
@@wasifbhatti3358 Very nice. Exactly what I was needing for you to confirm. Thank you kindly. What could be better than R&B...haha! I was worried given the aesthetics of the resort, it may have been too quiet with not enough nightly activity for the women in my group. Sounds like it would be the perfect balance with plentiful pampering....
The ocean does not look nice for swimming. Not much sandy spots.
If you walk a little ways to the right…and get out past the rocks a little…it’s actually amazing and sandy. Nice waves too.
@@BodybuildingPerspective Thanks for telling me. My niece insists we all go here. None of the others go in the ocean.
a lot of mixed reviews with the food. How was the food?
Honestly, we didn’t mind the food at all. When we go to a resort, we don’t expect the food to be the best we’ve ever eaten. We expect it to be better than Cuba (our expectations are pretty low - lol). Having said that, we enjoyed almost every meal. I think it’s all about expectations really. It is an all-inclusive resort and in my experience the food is usually pretty good but never “incredible”. But that’s just me.
Thank you for the review! Did they had any seafood? Clams, shrimp? Lobster?
I’m scared that my bf will get bored
It really depends what you are looking for. This was my honeymoon. We were never bored. Total relaxation from start to finish.
Ugh I hope they are not bath water I want my pool a little cooler not bath water that’s what a hot tub is for ugh august I want a cool pool
We were there in Feb so the main pools were heated. The swim out that we had with our room was not heated. I'm guessing it is seasonal and would guess that the pool will be cooler in August.