Doug's 25th "Fantasy" Birthday at Excellence El Carmen: Travel Diary & Group Celebration (May 2025)
- Mike's Travel Hub
- 6 days ago
- 6 min read
Day One: Wheels Up and Welcome Cocktails
The excitement was palpable as I woke up at 4:00 AM, showered, and prepped for our flight to Punta Cana (PUJ). Kyle awoke shortly after, finishing his last-minute packing. With Stormy, our dog curled up on the couch awaiting his Aunt Kim's arrival, we headed to the airport.
Thanks to our pre-booked parking at The Parking Spot, we hopped on the shuttle with ease! TSA Pre-check helped us sail through security, despite a small queue. At the Delta Lounge, we met Doug, Brent, Dawn, and Crystal over a hearty breakfast and travel stories.
Our flight took off slightly behind schedule but was incredibly smooth. I passed on an upgrade to stay seated across the aisle from Kyle, both of us enjoying spacious exit-row seats. Classic me, I forgot to charge my earbuds—but the flight was peaceful, nonetheless.
Arriving in Punta Cana, passport control was a trial. Despite being early in line, we were the last ones through. Our passport control agent was meticulous, to put it mildly. After regrouping, we discovered that our ground transportation wasn’t as expected (we were led to believe each couple would have their own Black SUV). But since we all landed together, we made it work with a shared shuttle.
As this was our first time at an Excellence Resort, let alone at this resort - check-in at Excellence El Carmen was seamless. While Kyle and I hoped to upgrade to the Excellence Club, our reserved room type (Junior Suite Swim-Up) was not eligible with that perk. Our friends checked in via the private club, while we settled into our suite and changed clothes to meet the group.
Sidenote:
Although we attempted to upgrade to the Excellence Club and some members of our group appreciated this perk, Kyle and I didn't feel like we missed out by not having it. Our Swim Up Room was luxurious on its own. However, everyone was enthusiastic about the hydrotherapy session at the Spa included with the Excellence Club room.
Starving but not wanting to spoil dinner, we grabbed a snack at the Sports Bar—Kyle went for the Excellence Burger, and I had a Pepito sandwich. Both hit the spot. Afterward, we met up with Doug, Brent, and Ellen (who arrived a couple hours earlier) at La Olas beachfront bar, later joined by Dawn and Crystal.
When that bar closed for the afternoon, we found another by the pool. The bartender graciously whipped up a non-alcoholic dirty banana for me—not once, but twice! I was so full I skipped dinner while everyone else enjoyed sushi at Spice. We wrapped up the evening at the Martini Bar, meeting friendly strangers curious about our festive group and the birthday boy.
Day Two: Sun, Poolside Chats & New Friendships
Kyle beat the sunrise and visited the on-site coffee shop, bringing back pastries and OJ for me. Once I got moving, I tried the walnut Frappuccino—absolutely delicious. We strolled around the resort and later saw Dawn and Crystal, who had minor door lock issues but still managed to enjoy a posh breakfast at the Excellence Club.
We claimed our poolside spots with zero stress—no need to wake up early reserve chairs here. The resort was spacious and at only 60% capacity, which kept everything relaxed. We mingled with some fantastic people: Josh and Becca (Denver natives with Minnesota roots), and Jason and Leah from Louisiana.
Josh and I bonded over our temporary tattoos made specifically to celebrate Doug’s milestone birthday. We sipped drinks, laughed, and basked in the sun—so much so that I had to retreat for a late-afternoon nap.
More of our group arrivals rolled in: Heather, Lisa, Brian, Kecia, Carol, Michael, and Kara. Dinner that night was at The Lobster House, but we also started locking in plans for Doug’s birthday dinner later in the week.
Day Three: Pool Days, and Group Vibes
This day was mostly poolside lounging, drink refills, and swimming. Kyle did manage to work out at the resort gym and could not stop talking about how it was one of the best hotel/resort gyms – it had everything he wanted!
Today was the last day we had people in our group arriving and luckily everyone arrived in time to enjoy the Welcome Party! For a group our size - we qualified for a 1 Hr Cocktail Welcome Party, as this was the day that everyone was going to be at the resort. Honestly, we enjoyed it a bit more than we thought we would. Everything was great!
Our first official group dinner was at Agave – everyone really enjoyed it. The family style was great and everyone had plenty to eat!
The group dinner coordinator Marleny was a gem—checking in at every meal and making sure everything went smoothly. Johanny, who managed our welcome party, was also incredibly attentive. Doug’s birthday was drawing near, and anticipation was building.
Day Four: Doug’s Big Day, Party Cruise & Cake Mishaps
Doug’s birthday arrived with blue skies and good vibes. Everyone enjoyed a laid-back morning before rallying for the 1:00 PM boat cruise. The bus took us to a local beach market before we boarded a fun-filled catamaran.
The cruise was unforgettable while the catamaran staff danced with us, served cocktails (including non-alcoholic margaritas for me), and kept the mood high. A highlight? Pat, at 87 years young, jumped off the diving board to everyone’s astonishment. Her daughter Meredith nearly had a heart attack on the first deck, watching her mother fall into the water right past her from the top deck, but Pat emerged unscathed—earning legendary status in our group.
We then motored to another area we partied in a cove with other boats, floated around with drinks in hand, and everyone genuinely bonded. Even those who felt left out earlier were now part of the tribe.
Back at the resort, we cleaned up for dinner at Oregano’s. Though we ordered carrot cake, a vanilla one arrived instead. The cake was refunded, but still—missed expectations. That said, Doug felt truly celebrated, regardless.
Day Five: Slower Vibes and Sunday Serenity
Sunday, June 1st—was a slow, easy-going day for most of the group. After a late night of birthday celebrations, folks moved at their own pace. Some got up early to play tennis or squeeze in gym sessions.
Kyle and I opted for a chill morning. We grabbed coffee and pastries at the café, then Kyle and I relaxed at the beach and pool. The weather was flawless—warm sun, ocean breeze, and ample lounge chairs with no need for early reservations.
Day Six: The Last Group Dinner
Monday was our final full day at Excellence El Carmen, while half of the group has returned home over the last couple of days – we still had about 12 people remaining. After another satisfying breakfast (with my beloved walnut frapp and buffet finds like Nutella and actual granola), Kyle and I headed to the beach to relax and listen to the sounds of the ocean. It was peaceful—perfect for reflection and taking it all in.
For dinner, The Grill was lovely (everyone raves about the chicken)—our only dinner there—and capped the trip nicely. Afterward, we grabbed drinks at the quiet (on land) pool bar and climbed to the Sky Lounge, which was closed, but made a perfect spot to sit in the dark and chat under the stars.
Day Seven: Farewell with Fond Memories
Tuesday morning arrived too soon. We had coffee and breakfast one last time before finishing our packing.
The resort staff arrived promptly at 9:30 AM to collect our luggage. I visited the front desk to settle the cake issue—Johanny wasn’t there, but her manager refunded the vanilla-cake-that-was-supposed-to-be-carrot without hassle. They claimed it had “carrot mixed in,” but honestly, no trace was detected – by anyone.
With everything squared away, we were off. Airport security and passport control went smoothly. As we waited at the terminal, I reflected on the week—one filled with laughter, bonding, drinks, sunburns, emotional release, and the joy of shared celebration.
Our flight was uneventful, and we made it home via The Parking Spot shuttle. Atlanta traffic on I-285 was the final beast of the journey, taking us 90 minutes to get home. But once there, we grabbed CookOut for dinner, reunited with Stormy, started the unpacking process and finally collapsed into bed—happy, full, and ready to start reminiscing.
Final Thoughts: Travel Tips, Resort Recap & Group Insights
Best Memories: Doug’s boat party and Pat’s fearless jump.
Top Tip: Communicate directly with Season Transfers for any private car needs; otherwise, the resort staff will call you a cab.
Favorite Spots: Honestly, we loved our back patio with our Swim Up Room and of course, the coffee shop!
This trip gave us core memories, stronger friendships, and a sun-soaked celebration that Doug (and the rest of us) won’t forget.
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