TripAdvisor Traveler Rating

I just returned from a 4-night stay at Lopesan Costa Bávaro with my husband and 2-year-old. We did not do the Unique upgrade and I do not think it is necessary to have a great time at Lopesan. I saw reviews saying there was no welcome drink for non unique guests but we were greeted warmly and did get offered a drink! We chose water but they did offer champagne. The resort is beautiful and very big. It is a mix of nature and modernity. Lots of walking required, especially to go to the Boulevard where the shops are located, the waterpark, coffee shop, ice cream shop, and to visit the neighboring resorts. We used a wagon stroller which is useful to carry items so we don't have to walk back to our rooms once we leave. We asked guest services if we had access to the pools of the other resort and the representative said yes we have access to pools and drinks (not restaurants; check with them if you have restaurant access if you are Unique). We enjoyed the waterpark and cenote pool of lopesan caboa. Must visit the cenote pool! Had a great time at the waterpark. Shoutout to the workers for letting us use it a littlet earlier than it opened. There was one day when there was a lot of sargassum during our but that is mother nature; can't blame the resort for that. The resort did a great job of cleaning it because we did not see much another day we visited. The water is not as blue as i would have liked but it is the Atlantic side of DR so important to keep in mind. There were yellow and red flags up. We don't swim so we mostly put our feet in the water and our toddler played with sand toys. There are a few juice bars and regular bars around the beach areas. Butler service for unique guests. One thing that caught my eyes at this resort and is one reason why I am rating it 3 stars is because of the tip jars or tip plates at bars, the omelette stations at the buffet, and ice cream roll station. I have no problem tipping but compared to other resorts I have stayed at, I did not experience seeing tip jars like I did at lopesan and this is a very grand resort. The atmosphere feels off when I see tip jars. When I tip, I give directly to the person serving me but seeing the tip jars made me feel like this was a requirement and not something I would do because the service was kind and friendly. Which brings me to another area that felt inconsistent: service. There was one greeter who was super friendly; I saw her at the Mexican restaurant, Italian restaurant and the buffet more than once. Very kind and sweet. I have to say, majority of the servers and representatives were friendly and professional but it was not across the board. At the buffet, some servers we were assigned would ask us for breakfast drink orders others would not. Some would come to check on how we are doing, others would not. We waited 2 hours for lunch room service. The person who answered the phone when we inquired about the status of our room service was rude. They later called to apologize for the delay saying there was something wrong with the lopesan app. Another concerning incident was when we passed by the kids club on the rainy tuesday we experienced. First, the door said they were closed but there was a baby inside with a parent so we asked if they were open. There were 2 ladies. They said yes and they went and then changed the sign to open. They made us sign in and said our toddler can play with the toys but to put everything back. They told us to stay in a specific area while they went towards another area and spent the entire time talking to each other. The lights were dim the entire time, the coffee shop and teens club (from the outside) was brighter than the kids club. It made me feel like they did not want guests to know they were open. The atmosphere was definitely not welcoming. However, I made the best of it with my toddler as she and I played together. This definitely made me realize this hotel is not 5-star worthy. The basic thing to do is have employees who are working in a kids club to have a welcoming vibe and to make the area bright for kids to enjoy even if they are younger and interaction is minimal. The second incident that made me decide to rate lopesan as 3-stars had to do with requesting a tea kettle for our room so I could warm up food for my toddler since there are no microwaves. This is not a specific representative's fault but aimed more towards management. Guest services had us wait for 10 minutes and then returned with a typed paper for me to sign which stated that I would have to pay 100 dollars if the tea kettle is damaged or missing after checkout. This is fine however, they did not give me the tea kettle right after I signed the paper. I was told the manager left and it would be sent to our room. This was Monday night. By Tuesday evening we still did not receive the tea kettle so went again to guest services; they told us they would send it to our room because the person in charge of the tea kettle just stepped out. We received it late in the evening and 2 people came to drop it off and took a picture of it. This is not 5-star service. You should not be having guests signing a paper for liability for lost or damaged items and then not giving them the item, which is a tea kettle, until 24 hours later. It shows us the concern is more for loss or damage of a tea kettle than for the convenience of a guest to feed their toddler. Additionally, if we did not go to guest services the next night, it would have been a problem at check out saying we had received a tea kettle because there is a document signed by me saying I would pay 100 dollars if I lost or damaged the tea kettle. Management needs to look into this. Very disappointing. The rain was on and off but one day of the visit did have more rain than usual. We did not let it hinder our stay! Food is great. Lots of options for me even though I did not eat meat there. Reservations were easily available and made on the lopesan app. The Mediterranean restaurant is only open Fridays for dinner so we missed eating there. The steakhouse is adults only; would have been nice to have a family option especially since I saw so many young babies and toddlers. The Italian restaurant let us eat 30 minutes early which was nice but it got very loud and we needed to leave because our toddler was asleep. There was a misunderstanding where the server thought we were leaving and took all our plates but we weren't. Dessert was taking long so we left but then a manager ran behind us and told us to wait and got us desserts and an extra pizza which was kind. Mexican was my favorite. Best fish dish I ever had and great service. Great service anf ambiance as well. Mariachi band sang for us. The servers at Inari forgot to pack our food but we were okay with that since we did not like the food there as much as the others. French restaurant was average in both service and food. Loved all the drinks without alcohol. Pina colada, strawberry/mango/banana daiquiri, Caribe, and bavaro, mango/mint mojito- all lovely. Not watered down like other resorts. A little disappointing that not every bar or restaurant had every drink (the ones mentioned above) considering that I was not asking for specific alcohols. Loved the atmosphere of the lobby and lobby bar. Amazing ambiance with the music and decor. The night music/dj seemed lovely; unfortunately, I could not enjoy much because of my toddler but I enjoyed what I was able to hear. Pools are amazing. Toddler splash area is fun. Room is huge but disliked the open layout. Another disappointing part of the resort is no food by the beach if you are not Unique. Seems off in a resort of this size. Smaller resorts have fast food options by the beach for all guests but lopesan does not. Overall, I enjoyed my stay but will consider another resort for future visits to DR due to the disappointments.

Great resort, plenty of food a variety, clean and perfect service, we loved how the workers treated us especially: Oscar Javier at the reception, and Junior at the “Asador” restaurant.

Super coffee Thank you so much

This was our second visit to Lopesan Costa Bávaro, and once again, we had a wonderful vacation. We've stayed at several resorts in the Dominican Republic, but Lopesan remains the most memorable for us. Between the facilities, dining, entertainment and genuinely friendly staff, it offers an excellent vacation experience. Unique Club – Worth the Upgrade! We opted for the Unique Club upgrade again and thoroughly enjoyed the experience. Unique offers several additional benefits, including dedicated dining facilities, an exclusive pool and beach area, and personalized butler service. One of the biggest bonuses this time was access to the new Lopesan Caoba facilities, including a wave pool, huge waterslides, a cenote and additional restaurants. This was a fantastic addition and essentially allowed us to enjoy two resorts for the price of one! That said, Costa Bávaro has plenty to offer on its own, so I wouldn't consider the upgrade essential to enjoying the resort. It simply adds another level of comfort, convenience and variety. Whether it's worth the additional cost will depend on how much you value and intend to use those extras. Exceptional Staff – Special Mentions The staff throughout the resort are consistently friendly, helpful and willing to go the extra mile. Our butler, Victor Medina, deserves special recognition. He is knowledgeable, professional, personable and genuinely attentive. Victor makes it his mission to ensure guests feel comfortable and well looked after. Having experienced his service during our first visit, he was actually one of the reasons we chose to return! The resort is wonderful in its own right, but Victor makes the experience even more memorable. I'd also like to recognize Carolina from housekeeping, who took excellent care of our room throughout our stay, and Mr. Rivera, the restaurant supervisor, for his hospitality and attentive service. It's staff members like these who make a lasting impression. Pools, Beach & Family Activities Lopesan is an excellent resort for families. There is a fabulous water park with slides and a splash area for toddlers, along with a kids' club and teen club. There are multiple pools and bars throughout the property, and the beach is beautiful and clean. One thing that has impressed me on both visits is how comfortable the water temperature is, both in the pools and the ocean. Swimming is always a pleasure! Dining & Entertainment The food is good, with plenty of variety at lunch and dinner. There is a wide selection of buffet and à la carte restaurants catering to different tastes. As Unique Club guests, we also enjoyed access to additional restaurants at Caoba. However, even without the upgrade, Costa Bávaro has more than enough dining options to keep things interesting throughout your stay. Evening entertainment is enjoyable, with shows at an impressive theatre and activities to suit different interests. Amenities – So Much to Do! One of Lopesan's strengths is the sheer variety of amenities available. There is a bowling alley, games arcade, casino, theatre, spa, wine bar, English pub, coffee shop and an ice cream shop with a decent selection of flavours. There are also several gift shops offering a good variety of merchandise, along with a doctor's office and a well-stocked pharmacy. The gym deserves its own special mention! It is easily one of the best gyms I've experienced at an all-inclusive resort. It is fully equipped, with a wide selection of new machines and equipment. Anyone who enjoys working out while on vacation will appreciate this facility. Rooms & Cleanliness The rooms are exactly as advertised on the website, with no unpleasant surprises. The entire resort is beautifully maintained, consistently clean and always smells amazing! The attention to cleanliness throughout the property is noticeable. Weather, Minor Issues & How They Were Handled We did have a weather system pass through during our stay, but the occasional rain certainly didn't dampen anyone's spirits! If anything, it seemed to add to the fun around the pools and beach. The showers were generally brief, with plenty of sunshine in between, so we were still able to enjoy our days outdoors. There was also one day when sargassum washed ashore. But this is the Caribbean, and nature is part of island life! The resort staff cleaned it up quickly, and it was never a significant concern. We also experienced a minor air-conditioning issue in our room, which was addressed promptly. I mention these things because no resort will ever be 100% perfect. What matters most is how quickly and effectively issues are addressed. In our experience, Lopesan's team was responsive and handled things well. Final Thoughts After two visits, Lopesan Costa Bávaro continues to impress us. It offers a great combination of relaxation, family activities, dining and entertainment, with staff who genuinely contribute to the experience. Would we return for a third visit? Absolutely! Thank you, Victor and Lopesan Team. We are already thinking of our next vacay

Dominican coffee is very tasty ) Thank you