When three longtime friends and I were brainstorming our next vacation without our children, we knew we wanted something easy that could offer a break from the heavy mental load so many mothers carry. With nine children ages 2 to 12 among the four of us, our minds and bodies were shot. We desperately needed a break from being around-the-clock drivers, chefs, tutors, housekeepers, and personal shoppers. For three nights, we needed someone to do all of that for us for a change, freeing us of thoughts of swim practice pickup and defrosting chicken for dinner.
Excellence Punta Cana in the beautiful Dominican Republic delivered all of that and so much more. It’s adults-only, which meant no screaming babies on the beach or anywhere for that matter, and it’s all-inclusive, which meant no need to divvy up the bill after every meal and round of martinis by the pool.
In addition to the friendly service, dazzling evening entertainment and beautiful pools and beach, here are the 3 best parts of this impressive, all-suite resort conveniently located 50 minutes by car from Punta Cana International Airport.
1. The Spa
Miilé Spa is a tiny slice of heaven offering all-natural therapies with a long list of facials, massages and body treatments to choose from. Everything is customized, and my masseuse even arranged rose petals in the shape of a heart alongside a “D” for my name to welcome me. But the real draw of Miilé Spa is the Hydrotherapy Circuit, which includes a combination of cold and hot water therapy, as well as hydro-pressure to relieve sore muscles.
I began my journey in the relaxing sauna, then continued to a shower-like stall with a bucket of cold water overhead. As instructed I pulled the rope, and down came the refreshing chilly blast. Next, I entered the pool and spent a few minutes at each station where powerful jets of water focused on my tired shoulders, back and legs. After that, I spent five relaxing minutes in a cold tub, which my friends skipped. It was frigid, but I know the scientifically proven benefits of cold therapy, so I focused on my breath and allowed the icy water to do its job. Then I spent five minutes in the hot tub before continuing on to the best part – the “reward” at the end: A relaxation area with heated lounge chairs, where I parked myself for a decadent face and scalp massage. Miilé Spa is a true sanctuary and I can’t wait to return with my husband to try one of the nine romantic, couples’ treatments on the menu.
2. The Dinners
The term “All-inclusive” can sometimes conjure visions of bad buffets and even worse meals. But at Excellence Punta Cana, dinner was always the best meal of the day. Chez Isabelle, the resort’s French restaurant adorned in luxurious, all-white drapery, transported me to some of the finest places to dine in Paris. The food alone – try the cognac-flamed beef tenderloin in a three pepper sauce with potato mousseline – made this my favorite restaurant on-site. When our entrees came, four separate servers set our plates down simultaneously and clinked each cloche in perfect unison before removing them to reveal our orders. I can’t say I have ever seen this level of fine dining at an all-inclusive. The very helpful sommelier poured us a bottle of Moet Chandon, and he added an additional layer of sophistication to our experience by wearing a tastevin around his neck. A tastevin, which is French for “taste wine,” is a shallow silver metal cup used by winemakers to evaluate the color and clarity of wine dating back to the 15th Century.
We also loved the property’s Mexican restaurant Agave, which I dined at a year earlier at Excellence Playa Mujeres, one of its sister properties in Mexico. Agave was one of my favorite restaurants at that resort, but my expectations were low for this location because typically the best Mexican food is in Mexico. Well, to my surprise, I was wrong. The meal was possibly even better at the Punta Cana location with impeccable service and ambiance to match.
Another stand-out restaurant where we enjoyed an impressive dinner – with purse stands no less at our table - and an equally impressive breakfast was Magna. The outdoor terrace is surrounded by a small fountain and provides sweeping ocean views. I’m still dreaming of the saffron and shrimp Arborio risotto with steamed asparagus in lime-infused olive oil almost as much as the early-morning oat milk cappuccino I was served. Magna, however, is only available to Excellence Club level guests, which brings me to item number 3 below:
3. The Excellence Club Beach and Pools
Booking a suite in the Excellence Club gave us access to two secluded Excellence Club pools - one with ocean views and one with a relaxing waterfall spanning the length of the pool, appropriately named the Cascade Pool. Our last afternoon there, a live violinist performed poolside, while drink attendants served a variety of cocktails - pina coladas in our case.
The Excellence Club private beach featured plush loungers under palapas for my fair-skinned friend who preferred the shade as well as loungers in direct sunlight for sun worshippers like me. The beach attendants made sure our drinks were never empty and we never had to worry about finding four chairs together. The food service menu at the beach was limited to pizza (delicious pizza by the way), burgers and fries, but I was told more options possibly in the way of food trucks were coming soon.
With round-trip transportation from the airport, premium liquor options and a private check-in lounge included, booking a suite in the Excellence Club was a no-brainer and something I plan to do when I return – maybe with my husband next time, if he’s lucky.
For more info and to book your stay visit: https://www.excellenceresorts.com
