Scores at a Glance
Excellence El CarmenRiu Palace Bavaro
Overall
8.8
8.2
Beach
8.0
8.1
Food
8.2
7.3
Service
8.8
8.0
Rooms
8.7
8.5
Luxury
8.7
8.0
Value
8.2
8.1
Romance
9.1
·
Scores out of 10 · higher is better
Quick Stats
8.8
Overall Score
8.2
5-star
Star Rating
5-star
4.9 (21,800)
Google Rating
4.4 (6,661)
Rates TBD
Price / Night (pp)
Rates TBD
Yes
Adults Only
No
–
Kids' Club
Yes
Near coast
Beachfront
Near coast
Mid-size
Resort Size
Mid-size
–
Airport Transfer
–
All Scores
8.0
Beach
8.1
8.2
Food
7.3
8.8
Service
8.0
8.7
Rooms
8.5
9.0
Pools
8.9
8.7
Luxury
8.0
8.2
Value
8.1
–
Family
9.0
9.1
Romance
–
7.4
Nightlife
8.0
7.3
Quiet
6.6
8.5
Wellness
–
7.2
Remote work
–
Vibes
Yes
Romance
–
Yes
Lively
Yes
Yes
Quiet
–
Activities
Yes
Spa
Yes
Yes
Water sports
Yes
Yes
Nightlife
Yes
–
Kids
Yes
Excellence El Carmen
- Adults-only all-inclusive
- 6 pools
- 11 restaurants & bars
- Full-service spa
- Swim-up suites
Riu Palace Bavaro
- 9 pools
- 10 restaurants & bars
- Full-service spa
Pros · Excellence El Carmen
- Strong adults-only couples focus.
- Broad all-inclusive scope with 24-hour room service and minibar.
- Large pool network and swim-up categories.
- Strong service and room sentiment across major sources.
Pros · Riu Palace Bavaro
- True 24-hour all-inclusive with large dining and bar inventory.
- Strong family setup with kids club and Splash Water World access.
- Majorly renovated, modernized resort product.
- Large pool complex with swim-up bars and adults-only options.
Cons · Excellence El Carmen
- Food quality is not universally praised despite strong official dining breadth.
- Some recent room-inventory issues appear in traveler discussion.
- Pool areas can be lively and loud.
- Airport transfer is not included in base evidence.
Cons · Riu Palace Bavaro
- Very large resort footprint and family-heavy atmosphere.
- Food reviews are mixed for a Palace-branded property.
- Not ideal for travelers seeking quiet luxury.
- Pool count and some post-renovation details need manual reconciliation across sources.