Catalonia Royal Bavaro: CATALONIA ROYAL BAVARO needs Management Review

Food: Al la Cartes were fair , but buffets contained a lot of recycled food from previous sittings. Restaurants on site were understaffed Hotel grounds and rooms clean, beach cleaned regularly. Multiple Beach Vendors bothersome Doing on site construction during high season was not well planned for its customers. First day no running water all afternoon and then no hot water. Water turned on later but shower would not drain out. Power outage for several hours 3rd day of our stay Wait  [... read more]staff Yohan on the beach efficient and friendly. Front Desk Staff - Ana was very helpful, polite and easy to deal with.

Grand Palladium Select Bavaro: Just Average

Compared to the 2 other resorts we have stayed at in the Caribbean, Grand Palladium Punta Cana was just ok. The grounds and pools were very nice, and the beach was beautiful. The rooms were clean and housekeeping replenished everything daily, but the were quite dated, with a very awkward tub/shower combo. It was hard to get good service at the buffets - we were always waiting for place settings, water, coffee, drinks... Food was generally lukewarm, but tasted fine. The a la cartes were hit and m [... read more]iss. We had 3 good experiences, and 3 not so good. I would probably try another resort over returning to this one.

Bahia Principe Escape Ambar: Bahia Principe Luxury Ambar

Once again everything was wonderful, rooms are getting run down but always clean The people are amazing! Though if one staff member doesn’t support a request another will, 95% of staff are fantastic! Still a race for lounges around pool and beach and lack of umbrellas oh ya!! But we’re happiest there and will come back 8th time !! Cheers

Bahia Principe Explore Legend: Beautiful Beaches

Stayed at Esmeralda and rooms were beautiful with swim up pools. Beach was fabulous and pools were amazing but had to get up early to get a chair. We were originally booked into punta cana grande but rooms had not been renovated and were pretty bad with broken tiles in bathroom and weird smell in rooms. Very dated and filled with mosquitoes! We paid for upgrade to Esmeralda and we loved it! Food was good and staff were excellent but remember they are on island time so be patient with them. Huge  [... read more]resort and we had access to everything!

Bahia Principe Explore Punta Cana: It was ok

The resort is really too big. I hate it when you have to save chairs — but if you didn’t there was no way you would get chairs at the pool, and forget getting something by the beach Buffet food was never hot. Rooms are dated but service staff are excellent. Would I go back - unlikely. Would prefer a smaller resort with perhaps adults only.

Tropical Deluxe Princess: Awesome resort, fun for the whole family

The resort was amazing. The room was clean and well stocked with towels. Only issue was we had no hot water for a shower at first. It was a quick fix. Staff were friendly and helpful. The grounds were well maintained and very clean. Buffet meals had a range of foods that everyone could enjoy. We had 3 nights of dining in the reservation only dining rooms. The best was the Japanese restaurant, Bavarian an Italian were also good. Beach was amazing with lots of seating. There were 3 pools a [... read more]t this resort and they were all great. Kids would really enjoy the kids pool and play zone. If I had one thing I would change it would be to add another coffee maker to the room as I drink tea and hubby drinks coffee. We will definitely be back in the future.

Bahia Principe Explore Esmeralda: Overall a great resort

Grounds and public areas were clean and well-maintained. Some washrooms needed soap refills which were not done for a few days, which concerned me as Caney restaurant staff were using these facilities. Women's washroom at the "quiet pool" had flushing problems occasionally. Room was spacious and up-to-date with walk in shower and separate toilet cubicle. Our first room, 96201, overlooked the entertainment area and was not suitable for our quiet-seeking needs. We were well taken care of by Jea [... read more]n, a client experience rep, who quickly found us a new room far from the noise. However, it is difficult to get away from all noise on this property. There are just rooms that are farther from the loudest areas. Our "house concierge", Alfredo, was incredibly helpful in all respects - speaking 3 languages, keeping a small library of books (left behind by tourists) and helping with dinner reservations. The breakfast buffet was amazing - egg/omelet station and a great selection of breads, pastries, yogurt, fruit (even a salad bar), sausage and bacon, ham and cured meats, pancakes/waffles/crepes, etc. It would have been nice to have oatmeal, granola and whole grain breads offered regularly. A shout out to Jose at the omelet station whose custom made creations made breakfast special, and to Jesus who kept our water and coffee filled promptly! The lunch buffet did try to provide variety, with salad fixings, pastas and sauces, rice, cold and grilled fish and seafood, pizza, burgers, and grilled meats. Desserts included cakes and pastries, jello, ice cream and fruits. A shout out to Williams who made sure that there was a fresh glass of cerveza offered throughout our lunch time. The gentle pop music at the Caney buffet was a welcome change from the Latin beats that we encountered throughout the property. We were often able to get our preferred table with a view of the pool. Our favourite dining options were El Olivo (Mediterranean) and Tanaka (Asian fusion). We did not particularly enjoy Casa Bella and Mikado. We found the house wine quite acceptable as many of the wine list offerings were overpriced and made no sense given the house wine's value. In each of the dining room's overviews, the dress code is highlighted. Unfortunately, this was not strictly enforced. There are signs all over indicating that guests were not permitted to reserve beach/pool chairs but this was not enforced. After the first week, we regretfully decided "if you can't beat 'em, join 'em" and started to put towels and personal belongings on chairs as we were on our way to breakfast. We did try to communicate our displeasure to the resort through their app, which proved quite useless in this regard. Technology: need your phone to read QR codes at every restaurant. Need to download the Bahia app to access information regarding resort activities and dining reservations. This is done at check-in with assistance from the desk staff (entering the password) which, for us, did not work. Note - if you bring an e-reader, download all your books before you leave as these devices cannot connect with the resort wifi. Tipping: Too many "touches" throughout the day and the added stress of the front desk cashier not being able to make change when needed. Serving staff presumably receives many $1 bills throughout the day yet needs to take your $10 or $20 away to come back 10 minutes later with your change. Perhaps the resort could add a small service charge or build in a service charge so that guests don't have to think about this. Note: bring $100 - $200 (depending on length of stay) in US$1 bills. There are shows every evening ranging from karaoke to island historical theatre and dance programs. Most of these are in the open air bar area in which smoking is permitted. This, effectively, kept us away from most of these activities as we react badly to cigarette smoke. The wind on the beach also meant that we did not spend much time there, apart from walking, due to being unable to avoid smoke. People also smoke around the pool without regard for the comfort of others. It would be better if the resort provided designated smoking areas away from poolside. There are two pools at Esmerelda. One is a "party pool" with live DJ and fun games throughout the day. We spent most of our time at the quiet pool and were well served by Yannick who makes an amazing pina colada! The beach is amazing - soft, golden sand for miles in each direction. We got in a good 5 kilometers almost every day. This is a busy stretch, with back to back resorts and "people watching" provided much entertainment. Overall, we would recommend this resort for its great staff, good food, amazing beach and comfortable accommodations.

Majestic Colonial Punta Cana Beach Resort: Amazing Resort

Among the top 3 resorts I’ve been in my 35 yrs of travelling. The grounds were beautiful and continuously maintained. The buffet and specialty were very good with a variety of food there was always something to eat. Pools were beautiful, ocean seating was excellent as well, especially the Bali beds! We had Butler service (Juan) and we seen him at least twice daily to ensure all our needs were met.

Secrets Tides Punta Cana: Very nice resort

The resort was very nice, the beaches were terrific! The food was not good! Having stayed at other Secrets Resorts where the cuisine was amazing, this was very much a let down. Most of the restaurant staff were not very friendly.

Bahia Principe Explore Esmeralda: Top notch resort!

Would have no hesitation booking at the Esmeralda again! Great beach, comfortable room, lots of attention to detail, good food & amenities and fantastic wifi. Bring earplugs though... the nightly entertainment is loud.

Riu Bambu: Don’t book

This resort is old. Couldn’t charge our phones unless the lights were on. Food was ok. The Sunwing rep was horrible. The shows were sometimes in appropriate for a younger crowd. Not enough loungers for people by the pools. And not enough pools.

Royalton Hideaway Punta Cana: Amazing Resort

We had a great time at the Hideaway. Rooms were great, clean and in good order. The food and staff ere also excellent. Shout out to Chris,Salomon and TJ in entertainment. Teo and Kelly great in guest services. We will be back!

Bahia Principe Escape Aquamarine: Very nice resort

On the whole the resort was very clean although some of the rooms need updating and the food was very good. Staff were pleasant and many spoke some English. There were a lack of umbrellas by the pools and a resort of this caliber should have had a lot more of them as it was brutal sitting in the sun without some shade. Also more ordinary chairs should be placed by the pools as not everyone wants to lie on a lounge chair and sitting on them is not comfortable for many. The shower floor [... read more]s were very slippery with no hand bars to hold onto.

Serenade All Suites Adults Only Resort: Perfect vacation resort

We really enjoyed our stay at Serenade All Suites Adults Only. It had something for everyone. The grounds were immaculate they were constantly cleaning, each morning the pool areas were washed the lounge chairs were cleaned. The food was ok, there was always something to eat. The room, we had pool view, was very clean, and every room had a view of the ocean which is a bonus since most resorts charge and up fee to have ocean view. There are 3 pools which we found to be great there are 2 quiet  [... read more]pools and a party pool. If you wanted complete silence you could have that with the pool far from the party pool. There was fast and friendly poolside bar service The beach was cleaned all through the day so seaweed wasn’t an issue. Some guests complained about the ocean being shallow but we actually liked that you could walk for quite a distance and not be pushed over by waves. The evenings were relaxing with indoor and outdoor areas to enjoy. The entertainment was enjoyable and overly loud Overall we would definitely recommend this resort, and are considering going back since it checks all of our boxes.

Dreams Onyx Resort and Spa: Amazing resort

This hotel far exceeded my expectations!! Every employee I came in contact with wanted nothing more than to make our stay a wonderful experience. All staff went above and beyond to make even the smallest detail special. We were a family of 8 with 4 teens. They loved the teen club, and said they enjoyed it even more than the arcade. I can not wait to return to this resort again

Bahia Principe Explore Punta Cana: Average at best

We don't usually do reviews, but I think this resort warrants one. Overall resort is just average, what might have been a 5 star at one time, is maybe a 3.5 now. There are many upgrades needed in this resort, granted some have been completed and are still on going. Our room was a renovated room, which was very nice. The buffet restaurants definitely need some TLC, they are showing there age as well as some unpleasant smells which doesn't fair well when trying to eat. A La Cart restaurants  [... read more]were nice and food was good. Pools have algae and mold in them and never once saw anyone cleaning them in a 2 week span. You can never judge things on reviews alone, but, read and take the average experiences from others.

Bahia Principe Escape Aquamarine: Amazing resort - Top notch and great service .

Very well organized and clean . Great staff at front desk and all around. Air Transat , as usual was great , although they damaged my wife’s suitcase which we have reported to them , and hopefully they will resolve soon . We would return there , as we were that pleased with the resort .

Bahia Principe Escape Aquamarine: Amazing Resort

We had an amazing time at the Aquamarine. Everything was top notch EXCEPT the pool chairs. Was extremely annoying to be worried about our pool chairs. Mine were taken by your staff when I was at breakfast with my husband for a half hour. My friends were in the pool and their chairs were taken by the staff. The manager with the 2 long pigtails was extremely rude and did not listen to anything I was saying. She just kept saying, “I will take your chairs again if you are not there”. We paid a lot o [... read more]f money to come to your resort and it was upsetting to know our things were at risk of being taken away. We have never had this happen at any other resort. Perhaps more chairs are needed by the pool. Also more umbrellas as no shade available. Everything else was amazing. Pool was beautiful and your staff mostly very helpful. Oh and Juan was the BEST poolside waiter ever. Such zest for his job smiling and energetic all day long.

Bahia Principe Explore Punta Cana: Lipstick on a pig.

The Bahia Principe Grande Punta Cana was badly in need of repair and maintainence,. Both of the buffet restaurants had areas in which the smell of sewage was overpowering , table and chairs were worn, broken and chipped. Food was generally good but constantly running short. We had one of the renovated suites and as such was pleasantly appointed and roomy. A lack of ventilation in the bathroom was allowing mold to form in the corners of the shower and under the sink. The beach pool and beach wer [... read more]e over crowded and lacked space for the number of guests booked in. Central pools and deck areas weren't as crowded but the 2 pools were serviced by 1 washroom with 2 male and 2 female stalls, for several days this area was flooded by overflowing toilets and had fecal matter floating in it. None of the stalls were lit as motion sensor switches had been removed and covered with steel plates.Pools had algae coating the perimeter drains and large areas in the center of the pools. Some staff were very helpful but many were just marking time. Upon arrival the resort looked fine but after a few days of constantly dealing with issues it became obvious that it was severely overcrowded and lacked the amenities for such a volume of guests.Meals felt like cattle calls with long lines, no plates and missing items. A LA carte restraunts were rushed and not pleasant dining experiences. To sum up the experience it was crowded and rough around the edges like a cheap carnival. 3 star resort at best.

Dreams Onyx Resort and Spa: Great Resort!

This was our second time at Onyx, we were there just after it opened in March 2017. They have since then expanded the grounds to include a waterpark and additional rooms. Note, our first stay was mainly adults, it is now more of a family resort. Not an issue for us, and we did not find the kids overly intrusive as they tended to frequent the water park etc. Much busier this time capacity wise. The abundance of staff was able to provide proper service despite that. The weather was great, 28-30 C [... read more] during the day, partly cloudy, overnight dropping to 20-24 C but by 9 am it was back up to at least 26. Not much rain, the usual 5-10 minute showers off and on for the most part. Taking everything into account, we really enjoyed ourselves. Pros: Staff was very attentive, helpful and friendly. Key persons such as the hostess at the buffet and bartenders at the bars we frequented remembered us after the first couple of days and greeted us more like friends than guests. Very clean resort in all aspects with constant cleaning/upkeep Maintenace across the entire resort. Food was a bit hit-and-miss based on our tastes (typical of most resorts), however overall the quality and selection was good. We just had to learn what to look for and choose accordingly. The A La Carte restaurants were good although they were first come, first seated. Wait times not bad (the longest we waited was about 1/2 hr, just grabbed a drink at the Prelude Bar and enjoyed the wait). Drinks were decently prepared, bartenders were able to prepare a good selection, and the bars are spaced around so that you didn't feel like it was hard to get refills. See note below regarding Beach Area (service). Room. We had a swim up (as usual), the room was well appointed, the outdoor area had a hot tub, 2 sitting chairs, 2 loungers (with a small grassy area we could move them out onto) and a small table. The cleaning staff did a good job and after speaking with the person who stocked the mini bar, every day we had lots of bottled water and 3 beers with nothing else as we requested. Be sure to read the Cons section below... Beach Area, lots of lounge chairs at the beach, enough that after the first couple days we didn't bother to go down early to claim some where we wanted that day. We prefer being in the sun, the Palapas seemed to fill up faster? Very clean beach, virtually no seaweed. There were 2 bars at the beach area, so not far to go to get drinks. Service at the beach was typical, moderate wait times as the servers took massive orders/filled /delivered them. I prefer to get up and move around every now and then anyway, I can't just sit there drinking and baking in the sun all day. LOL! Pool Areas we cannot comment on as we never sat there (we never hang out at the pool, prefer the beach). But passing by, everyone looked to be having a great time. We did a walk-through of the water park; it was busy and looked like a lot of fun. We just ran out of time, or I would have done the slides that looked great. Cons: VERY windy (coming straight off the ocean) this time compared to the last time. Effect of going almost a month earlier? Ocean was breaking in the center of the beach, which could bowl you over when they broke if you aren't that confident in the water, once past the "surf area" it was more of a bob in the water. My wife preferred the left side of the beach that had a bit of reef where it was pretty gentle getting in/swimming. The WIND tended to sandblast you, mostly when people would walk by/kids playing. For that reason, we spent a lot of time at our swim up room sunning/swimming/drinking. There was a bar very close, and sporadic service right at the room. NOTE: Not much the resort can do about the weather. House flies were pretty annoying early morning/later afternoon on our patio. I noted they were pretty much across the resort as well, although I didn't notice them in the buffet (open air)/restaurants. Not biting flies, just annoying when they would land on you. The resort may want to look into fly strips, but not sure if that would take away some of the ambiance? At least there were no mosquitos that we saw at any point, and I only saw them fog the edge of the grounds on our side once.