Barcelo Bavaro Palace - All Inclusive

Customer Ratings & Reviews

TripAdvisor Traveler Rating

32228 reviews

• 

  Wouldn’t go back

  Overall an okay experience, but was expecting better. It was a struggle to get service and often would wait an hour before getting our water filled. Would drinks and wait two hours for receive them, they never came on two occasions so we left. Would make reservations at restaurants and then still wait 20 minutes. At the Japanese restaurant, we got no drinks or water and our waiter disappeared for 45 minutes. We reminded the waiter about our drinks and still never saw them. Ended up leaving two hours later, very disappointed in the experience. People would reserve over 7 chairs for 4 people making it difficult to find somewhere to sit during the day. At the buffet we often couldn’t find tables that had cutlery, cups or napkins (and we were only two people). There’s definitely room for fun but I did leave the resort dissatisfied and I’m usually pretty content when it comes to all inclusives. Also, they try and get money from you even at the resort. Mini putt, bowling, escape rooms all part of the resort but cost extra which felt like a bit of a money grab.

  Dec 24, 2025
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  Best vacation ever staff and resort food excursions were amazing everything and everyone was so friendly accommodating

  The resort was beautiful. The staff was amazing. Had a great massage. Spent a lot of time at the pool at the water parks at the bar five star hotel I’ve been recommending it to everybody. I’ve been talking to. I will definitely be coming back would like you to change the TVs to smart TVs and more English stations however, everything else was amazing. I felt safe great great country amazing people all my excursions were over the top exceeded my expectations. thank you so much. I will be coming back.

  Dec 23, 2025
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  Plenty of better options for the price

  We were a group of 14 family members getting together for a special celebration. One family was placed in a room that was so musty that they had a dehumidifier in the room which they had to empty 3 times the 1st night. Fortunately the manager got involved on their second day stay and they were moved to another room. Of the 14 in the group at least 9 got sick to their stomach during the stay. Service was inconsistent. Staff definitely needs training, one day for breakfast the young lady asks if we want juice and coffee and brings it. The next day another lady offers coffee and when we ask for juice she tells us to go get it ourselves. The beach bar was a joke, each time we ordered a drink the ingredients of the same drink changed depending on who was making it. The lady bartenders were much better. I imagine staff is tired of not being appreciated. Most guest did not tip, though we always did. Also at the beach there was almost a drowning. When everyone was yelling for the lifeguard he was not there. Fortunately, one of the members of our group was a certified lifeguard and pulled the young girl out. I do want to say the rooms are very nice and spacious. The beds are very comfortable. The resort grounds are very beautiful.

  Dec 23, 2025
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  Great All-Inclusive Escape, But Food Quality Slipping

  Beautiful beachfront resort with spacious, clean rooms and friendly, attentive staff. Pools and beach are fantastic, and there’s plenty to do for families and couples. Food variety is good, but quality has slipped recently and needs improvement. Spa and gym are decent but could use upgrades. Overall, a great all-inclusive stay with minor areas for improvement.

  Dec 23, 2025
• 

  Beautiful beach, broken experience — my 3rd stay was the breaking point.

  Rating: 3/10 (only because the location is excellent and the beach/pools genuinely deliver) What worked • Beach & pools: This is the resort’s saving grace. The water, the sand, the pool areas — all very enjoyable. • Grounds/location: Punta Cana does its job here. The setting is naturally gorgeous. What didn’t • The resort is sliding backwards: This was my third trip, and it’s gotten worse each time. This stay hit the bottom. • Food (especially for Premium): The food was terrible overall and absolutely not worth paying extra for the Premium package. • Unpleasant smells: Our room had a strong, unpleasant odor — damp/musty at times, and at other moments it felt sewage-like. I can’t say what it was, but it was bad enough to affect comfort. I also noticed a similar smell in the sports bar, which made it hard to enjoy being there. • Premium “reservations” felt misleading: Premium is supposed to make dinner reservations easier. We were told restaurants were “sold out,” then showed up and saw open tables. That doesn’t feel like sold out — it feels like a system that’s not being managed honestly or well. • Service decline: Service felt worse year after year, and this time it was impossible to ignore. • Review pressure (not okay): Multiple employees pressured guests to unlock their phones and leave 5-star / 10/10 reviews on the spot. When I said I’d do it later, the reaction wasn’t “no problem” — it was annoyance and “why not?” That’s not hospitality. After checkout, the resort kept sending repeated reminders pushing for 10/10. It came across as desperate and uncomfortable. One mini-story that sums it up (birthday disappointment) We planned my spouse’s birthday three weeks in advance. The result: • The cake arrived two days late • The champagne never showed • Dinner at the Mexican restaurant was cold and poor quality — and we live in Texas, so we know what good Mexican food tastes like. This was not it. Bottom line / recommendation This resort still has a beautiful beach and pools, but everything else feels like it’s being held together with marketing, upsells, and review requests instead of real quality. Quotable warning: • “The beach is five stars — the experience around it is not.” • “If staff have to ask you for a 10/10 review while you’re still standing there, that tells you a lot.” I won’t return. Who should book: If you only care about the beach/pool and can tolerate mediocre food/service, you might be okay. Who shouldn’t: If you’re paying for Premium, expecting smooth reservations, strong service, or celebrating a special occasion — I’d look elsewhere.

  Dec 23, 2025