Iberostar Selection Bavaro Suites: A dreamy vacation

I have travelled here from Nov. 18 to Nov. 28, 2018, and can honestly say this was one of my best trips to Punta Cana in the last few years. Resort: Only half-hour away from the airport, the hotel is friendly for all types of guests: from singles/couples to bigger families. You will always find something fun to do in your own tastes, be it taking a sunbathe at the beach, bird watching along green paths, chilling out at the bar or playing active games at the pool. The location is full of natur [... read more]al vegetation; the gardens are well kept, and the orchidarium is a sweet touch. Overall, the resort is pretty large; you can access main points of interest in a walking distance (should you prefer, there are also carts available to take you wherever you need). Worthy to mention, the hotel has accommodations for people with disabilities as well. There is a store available on-site that has all the basic stuff available: snorkelling masks, swimming suits, bug repellents, sunscreen lotions, toys, snacks, souvenirs, etc. Room: The room was spacious and pretty clean; though some quick fix-ups in the bathroom would be appreciated (i.e. the mirror was covered with rust). The noise isolation was also good. The room included a mini-bar (restocked every afternoon), a safe, an ironing board, a hair-dryer, and a couple of umbrellas. I found it a bit odd that there was no “Do not disturb” sign available though, as there were at least three room service routines happening daily: room cleaning in mid-morning, towels replacement in the afternoon, and mini-bar restocking in the evening. I’ve only encountered two-three bugs during my 1.5 week stay, but would recommend brining a bug repellent regardless. Beach/Pool: The beach line is long enough to take a good walk. It gets cleaned regularly, and even though there was quit a few seaweeds in the first few days, it was cleaned promptly. The sea is shallow at the entrance and gradually gets deeper as you move forward. There are some fishes to observe; though not too many. Tons of beach chairs available and bar service was good. Very few people walking around trying to sell you stuff, though not pushy at all. There are two pools available: one for small kids (the splashing bucket is a blast!), and another one for teens and adults. There is also a bar accessible right from the pool to chill out on a hot day. Food: The food was more than adequate; tons of variety, especially for the sea food lovers. Overall, nice mix of continental and local food choices. The pool/beach grill was great for lunch and occasionally they had something cooking in the big stirfry pan close by. As for the a-la carte restaurants, I’ve tried three out of eight available (as a guest of Iberostart Bavaro Suites, you also have access to two other nearby hotels, including restaurants, casino, shops, etc.). The first restaurant I went to was “La Marimba” (Seafood), located at Iberostar Dominicana hotel. Overall, it was good; though lobster comes at a cost of US $25.00 (you can get free lobster at Bavaro Suites pretty much any day), and some more variety in the main courses would be great. The second a-la carte restaurant was at Iberostar Punta Cana, called “La Pagoda” (Oriental). Just terrible: from service to food itself. Do not recommend. Last but not least was “Jambalaya” (Cajun) at Iberostar Bavaro. Absolutely the best! Top service, great atmosphere, lots of choices and the food was delicious. Staff/Entertainment: This resort by far has the best staff! Unlike many other places, you do not have to tip to get good service (though tips are still appreciated ;) ). Friendly, professional, engaging, everyone—from janitors & gardeners to lobby desk administrators—do their best to make you feel welcomed. HUGE kudos to the animation team (Star Friends). Not only they find new ways to entertain you during the day time, they also help put up great night shows. These were by far the best shows I’ve seen in my recent trips to Caribbean, and not a single one repeated itself during the whole stay. A fly in the ointment: Up until the day preceding departure, I’ve had only positive experience with the buffet personnel; however, on the very last day the whole crew changed and new waiters were assigned. And, wow, what a change! Not a single smile; the tables stayed dirty until you pointed out, no wine being served, etc… I feel sorry for the newcomers who may have to deal with that kind of attitude, and can see how this could spoil their vacation at the otherwise great hotel. :( Overall: I would strongly recommend this resort. I would absolutely return to this place in a heartbeat!!

Bahia Principe Grand Bavaro: Third Time's a Charm!

We have been to the Gran Bahia 3 times now in different resorts on the property. We had a great time! Weather was great, room was great and booking the trip online was a breeze. We put in hotel request prior to arrival and our accommodations were just like we asked! Thank you for an amazing vacation!

Ocean Blue and Sand: Another Fun Time

We booked our trip to Ocean Blue and Sand thru Tracy at Trip Central, Dundas and everything went like clockwork as usual. This was our 18th visit to this hotel in the last 11 years and we will continue to go there as well as other places. The people who work at this hotel are so friendly and welcoming that we cannot stay away. The grounds of this hotel are immaculate and the two huge pools in the centre of the complex are maintained by several workers using snorkelling equipment who start at  [... read more]dawn every morning. The al a carte restaurants are great and it is so nice to have white tablecloths and napkins and be served by efficient and experienced wait staff. The entertainment staff is like no other. They will entertain you and keep you laughing from 10:00 a.m. until the night club closes at around 2:00 or 3:00 a.m. Their goal is to make sure you have the time of your life and they succeed every time. The beach has seen better days, but because of the eco tubes they have installed to prevent any more erosion caused by global warming, it is improving considerably. Any seaweed is removed with machinery every morning. We are looking forward already to visit #19.

Breathless Punta Cana Resort: It all depends on where you've been and what you expect.

This was a tough review and I’m struggling with how to rate this resort (I really want to give it 4*, but it's not quite there). I admit, everything is so subjective, so I like to provide comparison context to establish “realistic expectations”, noting that 5* doesn’t always mean the Ritz or the 4 Seasons, so I am not measuring on this basis. Full disclosure: We pre-booked a Master Oceanfront Xhale room, and the resort was at 55-60% capacity. We not only knew, but liked and chose this [... read more] place because it was considered a ‘party’ atmosphere. The comparable resorts we’ve been to are Breathless Mexico, CHIC Punta Cana and Hard Rock Punta Cana. Here is how Breathless Punta Cana rates: The grounds: Immaculate, beautifully manicured/maintained. Layout seems a bit awkward and linear (if you are in the Xhale buildings don’t wear heels to dinner unless you take the trolley). The beachfront buildings are a good hike to the main lobby/atrium where you find most restaurants and entertainment. The beach: Nice, but definitely rocky in the water. Careful you don’t cut your feet..recommend swimming more toward the NOW resort beach. The rooms: Very clean, housekeeping was thorough and consistent every day. The master suite comes with a separate sitting room and 2 full bathrooms (which I LOVED). However, I understand when people say the rooms look ‘dated’. The resort is only 5 years old and yet the rooms look much older, because the décor is more tropical than modern. The rooms at Breathless Mexico, and CHIC are quite modern, so sadly Breathless Punta Cana is aging very quickly. Note: On the last day we found the source of a very loud and annoying decompressing sound (occurred every 15-20 minutes). We suffered with it for many days/nights, only to determine it was the scented mister above our bed. The service: Our butler/concierge Glinny was quite awesome. He seemed to find us wherever we were and was keen to help with whatever we needed (always with a huge smile). Most of the bars and restaurants had good service, but the attitudes were hit and miss. Some very friendly, attentive, others were quite short/curt. The entertainment: Admittedly, we didn’t participate in any of the activities or catch any of the shows, but it looked quite lively. The issue we had was the Freestyle pool DJ. Very inconsistent. 1 day great dance music, validated by large, very engaged crowd, other days the DJ should have a better read on the audience (small, non-engaged crowd = change the music). The food: Mmmm, ok so this is where Breathless Mexico and CHIC are WAY ahead. Did we have some good meals? Yes, the Italian and Mexican restaurants were quite good. We ate 2x at each. The French was inedible, awful. The strip soooo disappointing. Husband ordered a beautiful beef fillet, but strangely that they didn’t ask how he wanted it cooked. Before the waiter left he had to ask for ‘medium rare’…..BIG MISTAKE, and now understand why they don’t ask. Honestly, the ‘quality’ was similar to Canada, but it was delivered RAW (not even rare). We thought this might have been a mistake, sent it back, asked for medium rare again….only to get another raw steak. What a waste of 2 beautiful steaks. The afternoon barefoot grill was just ok. Husband really wanted chicken wings and there were none to speak of. Afternoon food choices at Breathless Mexico and CHIC again are much better. However, ALL the food at the Hard Rock is inedible (very disappointing), so Breathless Punta Cana was definitely better. The drinks: Were just ok. Given the size of the resort I understand why most of the main drinks are pre-frozen to ensure quicker service, but Breathless Mexico and CHIC always offer these freshly blended….makes a BIG difference. Note, I would never complain about a drink being too weak since this can be quickly fixed by asking for more booze. We did want to send a special shout out to Leo the Hookah guy. My husband visited him everyday, and he was always extremely friendly and was well versed on the set-up. Overall, the resort was nice, but we did struggle to connect like we have with others places. There were points when they went above and beyond, and others where they fell flat.

Excellence El Carmen: Amazing Experience!

This was the nicest resort we have stayed at to date! Swim up rooms are beautiful and luxurious and the service throughout the resort was outstanding. 24 hour room service was perfect when we arrived late due to delayed flight. Hotel was 86% full but there seemed to be ample amenities such as beach loungers and huts for the number of people. This resort had a more serene, spa like vibe than others which made it perfect for two parents looking to relax. We would go back again.

Occidental Caribe: GREAT RESORT!

This resort was great. Check in was great; Carlos was amazing. Resort was very clean and our room was clean and fantastic view of ocean. Enjoyed Japanese restaurant, chef was very entertaining. Buffet was good; but very repetitive. Entertainment in evenings was so so..... and music during day could be more selective, not all Spanish. Pool party with foam was fun. Beach was great but if your not a good swimmer waves were very dangerous... red flags most of the time... Would definitely retu [... read more]rn to this resort at same deal we had.

Occidental Punta Cana: Beautiful resort

We had a great experience! Hotel was very clean, very friendly staff, our room was clean, bright and spacious!! Food was great. Lots of selection of restaurants, something for everyone!! Beach was beautiful! The vendors didn't bother you too much. If you said no, they walked on! Pool was clean too!! Had a great week!! Would highly recommend!

Riu Republica: Amazing Resort, everything we expected and more.....

Riu Republica is a very modern and clean resort, and very spacious offering many bars and sitting areas. Rooms are spacious offering all the comforts of home. Mini fridge was stocked every other day, always had fresh water and clean towels. Al la carts are first come first serve, no reservations or limits. We went to the Steak house twice and the Asian Restaurant 3 times as well as the buffet and there was a huge variety of food offered with great presentation. No complaints with the food, somet [... read more]hing for everyone....Have to say this resort had the best beach around, they took the time and cleaned it every morning. Lots of chairs available either at the pools or beaches. Incredibly with the size of the resort it never felt over crowed. The staff works so hard and aim to please. This resort really nailed it for entertainment for all ages,lots of activities going on steady all day and all night. Foam parties, Beach Parties, Disco, Water Slides, many games....I will totally go back and recommend this Resort.

Barcelo Bavaro Palace: Punta Cana Vacation

This was our first trip to the Caribbean and the resort was fabulous. Service was top notch and the beach was perfect. The food was very good with a great selection at the buffet; as well as a nice assortment of A La Carte restaurants.

Catalonia Royal Bavaro: 1 week @ Catalonia Royal Bavaro

Excellent Resort, Excellent Room, Excellent Staff, Excellent Dining, Excellent Amenities... unfortunately the beach area was overrun with seaweed and the water murky but the swimming pools were excellent...

Bahia Principe Escape Aquamarine: Forth vacation and still our favourite

My husband and I loved the Aquamarine but were curious about the newly renovated section at the Luxury Akbar, so we upgraded for a reasonable price and spent 5 of our 7 nights enjoying the Pool Swim Out from our room. We faced the greenery along the opposite side where the main walkway was and loved it. The room was fresh and modern. The food is always the best but room/drink service for guests wanting to lounge by their Swim Outs needs improvement. We preferred to be at the Aquamarine for the o [... read more]verall poolside experience for activities etc. I do wish they would stop promoting swimming with dolphins and pictures with parrots with clipped wings. When you see wild parrots in Punta Cana, why clip their wings for a photo long forgotten. I prefer Hotels that are aware of the cruelty behind dolphin captivity. Other than that, the Aquamarine and the new Luxury, both exceeded our expectations and we will continue to make this our destination.

Bahia Principe Explore Esmeralda: Perfect place for a Wedding

Beautiful Resort,Clean,Friendly staff,Pools and beach are beautiful,Butler service was great,Beds could be softer,Close to walk any where to view other resorts,I would definitely return for a vacation,

Royalton CHIC Punta Cana: Fantastic service and resort

This is a great resort if you are looking to relax. While they do have a great entertainment team with plenty of activities during the day and night, my purpose of this trip was to relax and I was more than able to do that. I definitely recommend the diamond club when you go as the beach butler service was fantastic as well as the beach beds that come with this upgrade. The spa on site was perfect to have an even more relaxing experience. I highly recommend this resort and will be returning  [... read more]soon!

Bahia Principe Explore Esmeralda: wonderful trip

This was my first trip loved the ambiance and the staff was exceptional loved the close proximity to the beach.the food was very good a wide range plenty variety of it .If you went hungry it was your own fault.

Bahia Principe Explore Esmeralda: Absolutely fabulous!

We loved the luxurious clean grounds and rooms with jacuzzi, the staff was super friendly and eager to please. The beds could have been more comfortable however the over all experience was wonderful. We plan on returning in 2 years or so.

Riu Republica: Excellent Resort!

This is an excellent resort. This resort is very clean and the staff are very friendly and helpful. The rooms are clean and a good size with a balcony. The mini bar is restocked every second day and the reception desk freely gives out bottled water for your room if you run out. The buffets and restaurants had great food. Love the idea of no reservations! There are plenty of pools to suit every type of vacation from quiet to party pools. There was always plenty of shade and lounge chairs at a [... read more]ll the pools and the beach at any time of the day. The beach was amazing but the waves were too big and rough for my liking. Our beach did not have a seaweed problem like some of the other resorts. All the staff were great, but some go above and beyond like Alison and Roberto our waiters in the Buffet and Chocolate of the Animation Team. I would recommend this resort.

Barcelo Bavaro Palace: Disappointed

We went to Barcelo resort in Maya Revira last year and was quite enjoy the hotel. We thought stick to the same resort chain just to be safe. This time we are quite disappointed at Punta Cana Barcelo Babaro Palace: there are flies chasing the food at buffet, and we have to fight with flies at dinner table for our utensils and glasses. Either of us are drinkers, we were hoping to enjoy some good dining at this five star hotel, I have to say that the restaurant food are not impressive either.

Majestic Mirage Punta Cana All Suite Resort: Mirage Club Section Excellence

Had a great 2 week stay Nov.. 9 - 23rd.2018 Pool and grounds very clean and maintained by excellent staff that were meticulous at their job. Great food / drink selection, top line alcohol choices - Sports bar, French, Italian, Japanese, Steakhouse and Buffet. Food was sometimes cold for my taste but they corrected it then and there. Also every main meal the staff took notes on what to improve in service. They are trying very hard to maintain excellent service. Staff all over were fabulous.  [... read more]Special recommendation to the 2 butlers that served us to book restaurants (large group), golf, bell service, assist in fridge stocking.etc. Yanny and Reinoso were amazing. Kept in touch every day and were available by text anytime. My wife and I highly recommend this place.

Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Punta Cana: dont go to this hotel hard rock hotel puntacana

service from the hotel sucks big time manages do not care about Canada or usa people rooms stink musty damp wet stinks back up all the time food is just ok not 5 star pools are good room service good not to go to this hotel if you want a 5 star go els where hard rock puntacana should take a page out to learn how to deal with customers that pay holiday money not to stand and beg for help

Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Punta Cana: hotel hard rock puntacana

hi nov 15 -22 2018 trip of night mare at hotel hard rock great looking place nice pools food just ok from 1 to 5 2 rated rooms are what big headaches nice looking no vanting in room bed damp wet smell of drian call them and tell them about it they don't care send a man to spray and leave manager ask what you want I tell him move me and lol no plamming for 2 days no water or hot water cash bar in casino this was to be a all in trip disco 20.00 us and cash  [... read more]bar nice sea food restaurant lobsters they said none steak house poore pizza great chinesse very small portions ask for more never came staff is nice they try but hard rock let me down very hard to talk to them they ask you to put in writing and they file it no west jet rep to be found or call out 1 to 5 rate 1 check it out