TripAdvisor Traveler Rating

Traveled with my boyfriend and overall had a good experience. Check in was fairly easy, room was nice and cleaned daily with new towels and wash cloths and the mini fridge was refilled daily. Maintainence responded quickly when we asked them to come fix the safe in our room. We had an issue with loud neighbors at 2am one night and the hotel also took care of that situation quickly. The lanuage barrier is kind of tough as alot of staff did not understand basic English words. Buffet food was average and we did not care for the steakhouse. We did like coral and loved Mexico Lindo. The bar on the second floor was one of our favorite places to hang out as well as the sports bar and swim up beach bar. Excursions were easy to book through the hotel and our booking lady made the process very simple and fast. Transport to and from the excursion was safe and easy to navigate. We paid extra for a couples massage and was fairly disappointed with it. We were supposed to have our massage area lined with candles and roses but there were no candles and roses to be found. Massage itself was great and there was champange and chocolate covered strawberries afterwards as avertised but we were really looking forward to the roses and candles to set the scene. On our second to last day, there was an incident in the buffet line. My boyfriend was in line for food and another guest dropped a buffet plate which shattered and sliced my boyfriends leg in two different places. I was highly disappointed with the way the staff handled it. He was dripping blood throughout the buffet trying to get back to the table where I was at and no staff offered any help. They just stared as we were trying to deal with this bleeding wound in front of all the other guests during the breakfast rush. We got yelled at for taking the bloodly cloth napkins with us to the clinic so he didnt drip blood across the whole resort. We made it all the way to the clinic across the resort without any staff members checking to make sure he was okay and taken care of. He ended up needing stitches. Overall, I think we are likely to return or use Barcelo resorts at another location.

It is my second time at this hotel, we were in a family gathering and we had some difficulties upon arrival and with restaurant reservations but I must emphasize that thanks to the customer service of Ms. Ninafel Ramirez in Guest Service our stay was memorable, she helped us with Every single details we asked. The hotel looks incredible, everything is still clean and well cared, the nightclub is working again although they should play a little more Latin music. Great nightly shows and very friendly cleaning people. Part of my relatives for whom it was their first time were delighted and with the desire to return, considering changing the dates due to the algae that affect the beach this season. I definitely continue recommending this hotel.

I’ll start by saying the hotel overall is beautiful and very clean. Unfortunately the experience is terrible. 1. Food is of the lowest quality in all the buffet areas. The specialty restaurants were not much different. La Fuente, Spanish restaurant was the worse. The Japanese was not too bad nor the Mexican but can’t say it was good. The best, in our opinion was the Italian including the service. 2. Beach area had plenty of chairs but ZERO UMBRELLAS!! We could not believe that a “5 star” hotel does not care enough about their customers to not offer a shade considering the 90 degree weather. Lots of palm trees that do not offer even the smallest shade. 3. Staff was never rude, however, they all seemed unhappy and almost robotic. Never a smile or small talk with the customers. The only ones enjoying the work were the guys at the pool bar. 4. Employees are required to wear masks…. Why??? Thousands of customers walk around without one. Why make the employees wear it especially working in the heat , air conditioning is only in the rooms. My biggest complain is why require all ladies to wear STOCKINGS??!! It is very hot….what year are you living in? A man must have written that policy. 5. Entertainment was terrible. Not even a small group playing music at night as I have experienced at several hotels in my past stays in Puta Cana. 6. Alcohol is included but you must specify they are all water down drinks. Finally, I will never return to this hotel. I love Punta Cana and have visited six times before but never had such a bad experience.

Everything you need to know! Check in went fine, most resorts I have been to have greeters offering cocktails or cold towels or something in the lobby when you arrive, not here but not a big deal. The room was not ready when I arrived, but it was way before check in time so that was to be expected. I was given a bracelet and card to get towels while waiting. We went to eat and By check in it was ready. See the concierge right away, we went to see Jay I think his name was and he was animated, fun, ordered us some cold drinks while we figured out our reservations and got things off to a good start. Room was fine, the resort was able to accommodate my requests to be near other family member’s room, bed type etc. AC worked well, mini fridge was stocked with water, sodas and beer and they had a coffee machine with coffee and sugar and I think tea plus a little pack of peanuts. No bath tub, standing shower only. We had a robe for an adult and slippers for an adult and children in the room. I had a few minor requests that were responded to quickly. Housekeeper was very friendly and kept the room in great shape daily. I wish the housekeepers would not talk so loudly starting early in the morning, waking us all up. I also wish there was a do not disturb sign so they did not wake us up to clean the room. The beach was just ok, tons of seaweed. Waited a long time to try the kayak as there was a line up but it was fun. $35 if you want to go on the sailboat and one of the staff has to drive it. I was never charged for this at other resorts, so was uninspired. They only take cash or card at water sports, can’t charge it to your room. My room was too far to go back, so we just didn’t bother going tubing. Lots of pools, the bars all around were quite fast, though depending where you were sitting it could be quite far. Getting a chair at the main pool or beach mid-day can be a challenge. The activity people were keeping people engaged and they had games like giant chess and foosball at the beach also. What I did really enjoy were the warm-ish pools, not freezing cold like some places. Not hot but not cold, perfect. The food was just ok in the buffet. The service in the buffet was ridiculous. They really need to purchase more napkins, cutlery and dishes as there was often a wait for a napkin, for an icecream dish etc and they should hire more staff because the staff were constantly running around but seemed like there just were not enough of them. It was impossible to get someone to refill your drink. The one and only person who I found to do so was Nataly Jimenez. She should train everyone else. The staff in the a la carte restaurants were very attentive. The food at the a la carte restaurants was quite good. The servers were also pretty good, but the most animated and fun was Querla at the spanish restaurant. The food at that restaurant was my favourite. I liked all of the a la carte restaurant food much better than the buffet, but the number of allowed reservations is limited. Had to pay $10 per person for the pirate island water park, also have to pay for bowling, arcade games, the french restaurant, the escape room. Bowling and arcades is credit card only. I wish everything could just be charged to the room and I feel like charging for the water park is ridiculous since it is in the middle of the hotel grounds. The bowling price of $15 USD also seems ridiculous to me. There is a train to bring you around, but still it is a big resort and quite a bit of walking. I think there should be 2 trains, one for each half of the resort as the ride is very long going all the way around or sometimes you can wait forever for the train. There are a lot of spanish speaking guests and I feel that the resort caters to that demographic in terms of buffet food, the karaoke night show was basically guests singing spanish songs we did not know. I’m not sure if it is a cultural thing, but people were walking around with huge speakers blasting music in spanish everywhere-every pool, every part of the beach. It was extremely annoying, especially when you are in the middle of 2 ppl hearing both speakers or are wanting to read, have some quiet time etc. Many people also did not understand the concept of waiting in line and would just go up to the reception or bar while you are talking to a staff member or waiting for your turn and they would actually start serving them or answering them instead of telling them to wait their turn. They were always speaking in spanish, so no clue what they were discussing, but where I am from people would have been told to wait their turn. They give you a card to get a towel but at the end of the day they run out of cards or clean towels, so you are stuck lugging wet, sandy towels around. Kids tried the kid’s club and enjoyed it (7 and 8 year olds). It is hot in there though. They have a wide range of activities from the morning to the evening, but close for lunch so you couldn’t plan to go do an excursion for the day. The grounds were beautiful, impeccable, extremely clean. Cups left behind disappear right away, always people cleaning floors, windows, bathrooms etc.Bring bug spray, the mosquitos ate me alive. Very well lit and security around, I felt very safe. I don’t know what rude staff members people are referring to, I did not encounter a single rude person. I didn’t find many of the staff to be smiley and cheerful as you would see in some other places, but they certainly were not rude. Maybe the people who found them rude were being rude themselves or mistook their lack of cheerfulness for rudeness. Tip the staff if you receive even decent service, they work hard. The bell boys helped with the luggage to and from the room, much appreciated.

The bartender Luis and staff in hole 19 restaurant in Bávaro Palace is very hard working and professional. What a unforgettable experience at this restaurant. Food quality very good and very attentive staff. My breakfast and lunch during vacation at Bávaro Palace was my go to restaurant.