When it was raining my room was flooded and when I complained nobody cared about my problems after 3 days with lots of stress I put towel behind my door ?managers was so rude when I cried he walked away and never apologized.
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Dreams Royal Beach Punta Cana: Beautiful Dreams Royal Beach
We had a wonderful stay at Dreams Royal Beach Punta Cana. Beautiful location, with a stunning beach, clear water (aside from some sargassum which it is the season for), and plenty of places to relax and enjoy our time away from home. Our room though a little old, was clean, comfortable, and well maintained. The staff were incredibly friendly and helpful, which made the whole experience even better, shout-out to our beach bartender Ambiorix who was always coming making sure we had a cold drink in[... read more] our hands. We also enjoyed the food (portofino, mercure, and seaside grill were very good) and the variety of activities (games, dancing and singing) and amenities available. Shout out to the entertainment team Yumi, Rissa, London, Tupac, Pikachu, Rosa, Geoffrey, and Baby face for running energetic dancing lessons and entertainment at the shows every night. We loved the circus and rock show. The atmosphere was relaxing and perfect for a getaway. There was some construction during our stay but it was handled very well and didnt interrupt guests. Overall, it was a fantastic experience and we would definitely consider coming back!
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Impressive Premium Punta Cana: Beautiful Resort
Impressive Hotel for sure, beautiful green vegetation with many pool options. Everything is within walking distance including the beach. The food at the buffet and à la carte was ok, we were just not lucky with the Italian restaurant, the food was really bad. We enjoyed the shows, especially the great Michael Jackson concert.
Most staff could use a little bit of training to improve on their professionalism. They couldn’t be bothered, it was as if they just didn’t want to be there. The maid[... read more]s were extremely loud. It was not easy to sleep in, which is what most of us like to do when we are on vacation.
We were lucky to have Joel as our concierge, he was very helpful and very prompt in responding to our questions and needs.
Our welcoming committee did not give a good first impression. A gentleman nicknamed Macgyver took us to a corner and asked us intrusive questions, including what we did for a living. He also talked down on the airline that brought us to Punta Cana. We found all that to be very unprofessional.
Overall, we enjoyed our 7 day stay. If only the staff could be a bit more cheerful.
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Secrets Royal Beach: Good resort! Fun time!
Overall we enjoyed our time there. The beach is beautiful and they really clean the seaweed very well every day. The pool area was also really enjoyable and people from the pool bar are very nice and constantly going around to serve you. I want to mention the only women at the pool bar Lady - she is a lady indeed - she is making awesome cocktails, not once mixing up an order and she is very funny always joking and with a smile on her face. The grounds are very clean and people are helpful and ni[... read more]ce . Food was ok - at the buffet they could use a bit of variety in a 7 day vacation because especially for breakfast we had the very same pastries every day. But the omelettes and eggs and smoked fish was awesome and the ladies which make the omelettes are really good at what they are doing . All à la carte restaurants are good - we had very much fun, good food and very nice service at the Japanese and also the grill one - to mention here Marlon Brando- hard working and fun guy. Entertainment was also good, the shows were diverse and pretty good and fun.
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Dreams Onyx Resort and Spa: It all about the beach !
No matter how great the hotel or food is the main part of taking a trip to a sunny destination where there is ocean is to
Enjoy the beach . Sadly we did not experience this at dreams onyx hotel and spa . The excursion was ok but again the beach we attended was full of seaweed . Will not be going to the Dominican Republic ever again and will not recommend anyone. Else to go .
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Annette45 -
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Barcelo Bavaro Beach: Beautiful resort!
We really enjoyed our stay at the Barcelo Bavaro Beach resort in Punta Cana. However, we were very disappointed as many other tourists in this resort to see the extreme sargassum situation on the beach, which made the beach unusable. The smell of seaweed from the beach caused a strong unpleasant smell in the pool areas. I believe when booking this area with a travel agent, the travel agent should be able to warn the consumer of this extreme situation. We are beach people and this put a damper on[... read more] our vacation. We could not even walk along the beach. We chose this particular resort because of the calmness of the ocean. I know this cannot be remedied due to nature and extreme climate changes on the Atlantic Ocean side, however, to pay full price for a resort and not have the use of the beach proved to be very disappointing for us, as well as many other tourists on this property. I had done much reading and research and I was aware of this situation however upon arrival I was astonished to see the amount of sargassum which even the best of crew members were unable to keep up with. We enjoyed the fact that we were able to use the facilities of the Bavaro Palace it's sister property. However, in comparison the Animacion team and the shows differed immensely! We found the Barcelo Beach side was just too quiet with many activities cancelled without notice on their activities schedule and no vacation vibes music played throughout the resort. There was only one show on the beach side that we enjoyed. We found that we were always taking the train to the Barcelo Palace side to use the gym, the hydroptherapy spa, they included two free visits and the massive pools. The Animacion team made a valiant effort and the shows were of high caliber on this side as well. We did have a decent room with a King bed and much to our surprise we had an ocean view. The variety, presentation, and abundance of food was highly noticably, however even though they had advertised a gluten free station at their buffets, there were no such stations and I had a gluten free card, it was hard for them to accomodate my needs and, I am lucky that I do understand and speak Spanish since at this resort most of the employees do not speak English. They were more than happy to accomodate my eating needs at three of the a la carte restaurants that we ate at. Overall, the cleaninness and the abundance of pools and a la carte restaurants and buffets were plenty when were allowed to use both resorts.
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Tony -
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Royalton Bavaro Resort and Spa: Not a good hotel for family
I stayed at this hotel from August 18 to August 26 with my wife and two daughters, and unfortunately, the experience did not match the 4.5-star rating at all.
The biggest disappointment was the food. There was very little variety, and many of the dishes were served cold. The selection of fruits and pastries was also very limited and not what I would expect from a hotel in this category.
The restaurants were extremely hot because the air conditioning was not working properly. It was honestl[... read more]y very uncomfortable to sit and eat, especially with children. During the first two days, all four of us were badly affected by the heat, which made the beginning of our family vacation very difficult.
The pool was another disappointment. The water was very warm, so it was not refreshing at all and did not help with the heat.
The room itself was acceptable, but the TV and internet were unreliable and did not work properly.
Overall, I expected much better based on the hotel’s rating and reputation. I would not consider this a true 4.5-star experience, and I would personally rate it around 2.5 to 3 stars. I would not recommend this hotel to families with children or to anyone who cares about food quality, comfort, and reliable amenities.
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Niki -
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Royalton Bavaro Resort and Spa: Very average
Overall, I would rate this resort three out of five stars, rather than four point five. While the room itself was decent, the overall experience was disappointing. The food had very little variety, and most meals were served cold. Fruit options were limited and not very good in quality. Housekeeping mostly just, tidied up rather than properly cleaning. The floors and bathroom were often not cleaned well. The Wi-Fi was unreliable and kept disconnecting, and the in-room TV internet rarely worked. [... read more]One of the biggest issues was the pool. The water was extremely warm, which made it uncomfortable to swim, especially in the heat.
Overall, I had much higher expectations, and I don’t think this hotel deserves a 4.5-star rating. I personally wouldn’t stay here again, and I would recommend that anyone who values good food, cleanliness, and reliable amenities consider other options.
They only positive experience was the staff. They were very nice and friendly and they try their best to help.
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Bahia Principe Escape Ambar: Excellent quality
Perfectly appointed hotel with fantastic food, large rooms, and an excellent pool with lots to do.
Staff were all smiles the whole time and made sure that everything was perfect during our stay.
Largely couples during our stay so may not be ideal for singles looking to mingle.
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Royalton Bavaro Resort and Spa: Royal Bávaro — Aug. 26 ? | Our 6th Visit + Current Thoughts
We’ve been to Royal Bávaro six times now, so I thought I’d share my current thoughts on the resort. Overall, it’s still a fun family resort with lots to do, great room options, and the convenience of being oceanfront and all-inclusive.
? PROS
• Lots to do: lazy river, FlowRider, shallow wading pool, mini water park, mini putt and playground.
• Food available throughout the day: two food trucks, outdoor grill, pizza window and Diamond Club food options.
• Great room options: one-bedroom s[... read more]uites and swim-up rooms are available, and the couches convert into pull-out beds — great for families.
? CONS
• Rooms are starting to feel rundown: our room had no alarm clock, the shower barely drained, and there was rust on some of the cupboards.
• Menus have changed: unfortunately, three of my personal favourite meals have been removed. ?
• Dinner reservations: can be frustrating and difficult to get. Diamond Club definitely helps with this. Also very warm inside the restaurants
• Nightly entertainment: not a ton happening in the evenings, especially for kids.
• Pool maintenance: we noticed quite a few broken/missing pool tiles. We also seen a young boy needing stitches after cutting his toe in the pool, which was concerning.
• Tons of seaweed. Obvi that can’t be controlled but there was nothing being done to try and tidy the beach.
? FINAL THOUGHTS
After six visits, I’d still say Royal Bávaro is a fun family resort with a lot to offer.
That said, I do feel like some areas of the resort are starting to show their age, and there are a few things I’d love to see improved.
Would we come back? Probably yes. The overall experience, location, activities and family-friendly setup keep bringing us back. ❤️?
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Viva Miches by Wyndham: viva Miches bt Windham is a superb resort.
Viva Miches by Windham is very good. we have no problem for the room, spacious, clean, food, lot of selections, crew are very polite, pools are good, beach calm, no big waves. My wife and I was happy. I will recommend this resort to my friends
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Bakour Punta Cana Suites: Amazing Service
Hotel
I had the Junior Suite with two beds. The room was spacious, clean, and comfortable. The bathroom could use a little work, especially the stand-up shower. The pool was clean and well maintained. Overall, the hotel is a clean and pleasant place to stay.
Staff
The staff were amazing! After reading all the reviews about the staff in Punta Cana, I honestly didn’t have very high expectations. However, this place completely changed my opinion. The service was excellent, and the st[... read more]aff were very friendly, welcoming, and helpful throughout our stay.
Beach
The beach was the most disappointing part of our stay. It wasn’t suitable for swimming because there was a lot of seaweed and a strong smell. There were also a lot of boats and ships parked in the water, which took away from the overall beach experience.
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Dreams Flora Resort and Spa: Amazing resort
The hotel was clean and the staff was helpful and friendly. The food was great lots if variety and they accommodate my allergy towards dairy and nuts. The entertainment was for all ages. Pool side bar was amazing
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Riu Republica: Decent enough
The Resorts upkeep could have been better, the vent in our room looked like it hadn’t been cleaned in a while as well as the AC not working as intended leaving us in a hot room all week long not fun.
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Norby -
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Dreams Flora Resort and Spa: Resort was good
i give it a 8 out of 10 the only bad thing was we could not enjoy the beach. The water was dirty and full of see weed. We like the beach and go swim in the water but could not do it any f the days nobody was in the water that part was disappointing. The resort and the food was excellent and the staff was great.
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Barcelo Bavaro Beach: Barcelo Bavaro Beach - A Fantastic Adult-Only Escape with Exceptional Service
Dates: August 13–20, 2026
Resort: Barceló Bávaro Beach (Adults Only)
Overall Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ (4.5/5)
We recently returned from a fantastic week-long stay at Barceló Bávaro Beach. If you are looking for a beautifully maintained property with great entertainment and a relaxed atmosphere, this is a wonderful choice. Here is a detailed breakdown of our experience.
? Premium Swim-Up Room (Room 3021)
* Daily Use: Having direct water access from our terrace was a game-changer. We used the swim[... read more]-up pool every single day.
* Meticulous Care: The ground staff cleaned the pool area every morning and checked the pH levels throughout the day to ensure perfect water quality.
* Room Service: Prompt, attentive, and consistently great quality.
?️ Dining & Gastronomy
* La Brisa: Outstanding experience. The food was delicious and the service was absolutely excellent.
* The Buffet: While smaller than standard mega-resort buffets, the food preparation and flavour were vastly superior to most other resorts we have visited.
* The Main Downside (Palace Side A la Cartes): To attend the specialized à la carte restaurants, you must travel to the family-friendly side of the resort (Barceló Bávaro Palace). This area is incredibly chaotic and "stupid busy."
* The Commute: You have to take a small train ride over to a massive plaza, which you then have to navigate through just to find your restaurant. We found this overwhelming and a complete distraction from the tranquil, chill vibe we enjoyed on the adults-only side.
? Outstanding Service & Concierge
* Mister Amazing (Felix Ozuna): Our concierge, Felix, truly went above and beyond to turn our holiday into a special event.
* Highly Responsive: He was always available on WhatsApp to answer questions or help out (though, of course, the man rightfully deserves his time off with his family!).
* VIP Perk: Felix provided us with a complimentary excursion to Don Lucas, which was a massive highlight.
? Don Lucas Excursion Insights
If you get the chance to go, do not hesitate. This excursion offers a fascinating, in-depth look at traditional Dominican
products:
* Cigars: You get to see the meticulous process of manual cigar rolling and learn about the different tobacco blends.
* Coffee & Chocolate: They provide immersive educational breakdowns on how local cacao and coffee beans are harvested, roasted, and processed.
* Tastings: You can sample and purchase authentic, high-quality Dominican goods directly from the source.
? Property & Entertainment
* Grounds: The entire property is pristine, lush, and exceptionally well-maintained.
* Nightly Shows: The entertainment team puts on fantastic, high-energy productions every evening that are well worth watching.
? Final Verdict
Barceló Bávaro Beach delivers a top-tier adult-only experience, largely driven by stellar staff like Felix and excellent food quality. Just prepare yourself for the stark contrast in energy levels if you decide to cross over to the Palace side for dinner!
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Riu Republica: Beau resort
Nous avons passé des belles vacances, la nourriture, la pina colada , les activités et la plage étaient magnifiques.par contre, la chambre 2148 que nous avons occupé allait être meilleure si la sortie de ventilation n avait pas eu de moisissures.
Bref, nous avons aimé notre séjour et c était la première fois que j ai vraiment profité de mes vacances.
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Royalton Splash Punta Cana: Amazing Family Resort for littles!
This was our first family trip with our 4 year old and 1 year old and Royalton Splash Punta Cana did not disappoint. There was always somwthing to do for both kids, whether it was the pool, the beach, or the water park. The rooms were fabulous and well maintained. Only thing that could be fixed was the showers did not drain well and would leak from the side to the floor. The restaurants were delicious and service was impeccable, particularly at the Mexican Restaurant. Overall, amazing trip and w[... read more]e would come back with family/friends!
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Whala Bavaro: Beach Hotel (Lagoon-like shallow bay)
*RULE: No toilet paper permitted to be flushed down the toilets!!!! use waste basket--same rule as in Costa Rica.
**Pro: beach is beautiful, minimal waves! Food and drinks. Security. Friendly. Hairbraided for good price. Punta Cana Airport and near the airport is Starbucks, Burger King, Taco Bell, Pizza Hut, KFC.
***Con: Canadian Dollars NOT accepted in DR (vendors want their pesos or USD only) - so everything is very expensive, front desk is slow service and many don't speak/understand Englis[... read more]h, choking toxic fumes from boats/motorized rec vehicles, vendors along the beach that come up to your lounge chair non-stop, rooms have poor flushing toilets, restaurants around the area are loud with kids staying up really late at night.
****Comparing with Cuba----For this 3.5 stars, the cost of the trip was the most expensive one so far @ $2000 pp 2 weeks). Cuba 2025 Summer was $1300 for 5 star Grand Muthu Almirante (Emerald in English) Beach Hotel. Food tasted much better at Whala Boca Chica DR than any Cuban Hotel I've stayed at. Dominicans add spices and herbs.
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Whala Bavaro: Waiting for Cuba so this is the alternative!
Comparing with Cuba's standard of service and nature.
Pros: Beach is lagoon-like, so shallow and crystal clear for a long distance. You have an opportunity to visit Saona Island where some scenes for The Blue Lagoon were filmed. The buffet is better than Cuba's 3.5 star hotels - more variety. Wifi is available at the beach. Two beaches to enjoy with a beach-front private restaurant and public road (locals on motorcycles use) that leads to a dock for boats and jets you can rent. Lots of private [... read more]beach front restaurants to see along you walk on the shore. Tourist police patrol on motorcycle a few times a day and foot patrol by local police. Local grocery stores in a walking distance (Ole de Boca Chica is great). Burger King and Little Caesars.
Cons: Airport is in Punta Cana so 2 hour, white-knuckle drive in a mini-bus. 12-minutes ride to Santo Domingo Internation Airport!!!!!
This hotel has inconsistent service - bar, buffet and room cleaning. Can't relax --- "looky looky" aka view the merch (DR themed bracelets, t-shirts, towels), coconut/cashew brittle, flat bread deep fried, red candied coconut balls, corn on the cob, ice cream,
Lots of construction all over the narrow streeted Boca Chica beach front town. Lots of litter in the ditches and left by the locals or Dominican weekend warriors. Drinking in the water in the day and evening.