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 Bavaro Princess  Location: Beach front - Punta Cana - East Coast - 35 mins. from Punta Cana airport All-inclusive - 82 Junior Suites & 686 Suites Description from resort website: 6 restaurants - 8 bars - 2 pools - Junior Suite - Garden or pool view, Twin beds or 1 King bed, Bedroom area with sunken living with sofa bed, Cable / Satellite TV, Full Bathroom with Tub and Shower - Full Suite - Newly Renovated Suites with Dining and living area and step up bedroom, Twin beds or 1 King bed - Platinum Club - Stay at 1 Play at 4 (Shuttle service included to Caribe Club Princess, Tropical Princess and Punta Cana Princess). Total use of 12 a la carte restaurants, 3 buffets, 1 deluxe buffet, 18 bars, 6 pools, 4 snack bars and 3 theatres and 32 inch Television much, much more...  ~ Reviews posted on this page — 33  Don't forget to send Debbie your review ~ More Bavaro Princess Reviews Reviews ~ Map of Resort  ~ Reader's Vacation Photos ~ 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 ~ Readers Bavaro Princess Wedding Reviews Save on All-Inclusive Caribbean Resorts with Travelocity Save on All-Inclusive Caribbean Resorts with Travelocity.ca |
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| Bavaro Princess | Glen ~ New Jersey, USA |
We have just returned from a week at the Bavaro Princess All Suites. The hotel is average and we have experienced very por level of service.
We stayed in bungalow #34, which was very close to the beach and the pool. To get to the Main Buffet we had to either walk about 15 mins or take a "train" they have running every 5 mins or so.
We stayed on a 1st floor and I could feel a musty smell all 7 days. The rooms are quite old and especially bathroom was in a poor condition, crying for a renovation.
The pool is lovely. The towel distribution guys (from animation team) were rude. They ran out of towels several times per our stay. The working hours of towels' service (9 AM - 6PM) do not correspond to the hours available for swimming at sea or the pool (7 am - 7 PM). The waitress or waiters showed up only 2 or 3 times at the pool area during our 7 days stay, and without taking orders but for distributing remaining drinks they had with them.
The shade lounges on a beach are occupied / reserved before 7:15 AM and we WERE NOT able to get a spot in the shade on a beach. Our friends got lounges for us near the pool instead.
Restaurants are waste of time - we tried Chopin (so-so) and a Stake House - really bad. While the food is not very good, the service is horrible - they forget what orders they take, what drinks we ask, etc. This is applicable to the whole resort - they can't handle orders properly and usually (in 50%) you would not get what you asked for. On our day #2 we ordered 4 Cokes for kids and waited for them over 40 minutes and reminded at least twice until I went to the buffet manager and he took this under his own control. He tried to do something to impress us and not to carry the incident in a memory and arranged our special table reservation for 12 people every evening in the buffet. Nothing more than that, but a t least a try.
Overall I would say this is probably the worst hotel we have ever stayed in D.R. and Mexico. The best part of this travel was the beach and the weather - excellent 7 days. It looks like we would have to stick with better chains, such as Iberostar, to get a better service.
| Bavaro Princess | Ann |
We booked through TNT Vacations and had a great charter flight on Miami Air. We had a lengthened wait on the bus to the resort because our rep. was waiting for a party of 5 that never showed. A totally understandable delay.
Check in was smooth, cool cloths and refreshing drinks were served to us during our short wait.
This is our 2nd trip to Punta Cana, (first to the Riu Bambu) but our first time at this particular resort. We have been to resorts in Hawaii, Jamaica, and Maya Riviera, so we have a fair amount of resorts to compare this one to
We had the honeymoon suite upgrade (an extra $450.00). We did this to ensure we had a king size bed- we were told it was the only guarantee against twin beds – the other option was to upgrade to platinum – which is more expensive. The honeymoon upgrade entitled us to 2 dinners; one at Licey and one on the beach. Our room had a nice Jacuzzi tub - but it took an entire hour to fill it - no exaggeration! The other thing was the location of the honeymoon suites - they are the very first buildings you see when you enter the resort - our view was of the road on one side and a rather odd building of suites that looks like an ancient hotel on the other. The door on our shower kept coming off the tract, and the dead bolt lock into our room was missing. When we walked through the resort, the other bungalows looked much more inviting. We asked to be moved and we were told we had to wait 2 days. Just as promised, on the 2nd day we were moved to a 2nd floor suite nearer the beach. It was a great room, with a wonderful relaxing view - but our refrigerator was broken and we had only 1/2 lighting - the water in the bar sink didn't work, and we had an iron but no ironing board. None of these things were so bad that we couldn't live with them, so we didn't complain when they didn't get fixed the first time. How much time do you really spend in your room anyway? I recommend that guests upgrade to platinum , you would have access to ocean view suites, and the use of all the ala carte restaurants, that other guests have to pay extra for. But I guess that's what bothers me most about this resort. I feel if a resort is a 5 star, then you shouldn't have to pay more to get "better" service or accommodations. We ate at all the specialty restaurants except for "El Gaucho", and that was only because we had all our nights filled. We had the best lobster at Cafe Del Mar that I have ever had and a great time at the Japanese restaurant (Tanuki), wonderful meals at Licey, Sakura, Chopin, and El Pescador. The only meal we were disappointed in was Bella Pasta, but you can't win them all!
The liquor at the resort is their national brand, if you want a better quality (like Tangueray or along that line) you have to pay. The prices were an additional $4.00 and up!
There are also lots of children at this resort – they even occupied the seats at the pool bar. Daytime activities centered around children almost exclusively. So, if you are traveling as a couple, stick to the adult only resorts.
We walked up the coast, towards the Riu's, where we stayed before, and found that the resorts keep getting better the further you go north. One thing I do have to say is that the Bavaro Princess DOES have one of the best beaches in the area. The hurricane a couple of years back, really devastated some of the other resort frontages.
With all that said, the Bavaro Princess All Suites is a nice resort – but there is no “wow” factor here, and to me, 5 star should be 5 star for everyone, you shouldn’t have to upgrade to get better service. As far as we are concerned, this is no 5 star resort – a 3 star is more like it. Would we go back again? To Punta Cana, definitely – to the BP, definitely not.
| Bavaro Princess | Lori |
This resort is great, I can't believe anyone can complain about it. It was my first Caribbean Vacation and we went back for 3 more years. We tried Mexico this year and would not probably go back. It was very disappointing after the princess. And it is in the running for our daughter's wedding next year.
| Bavaro Princess | Frank ~ Rhode Island, USA |
We spent the last week of March at the Bavaro Princess. We chose that hotel because it was a little less expensive than the other resorts we had been to in Dom.Rep and Riviera Maya. What a disaster !
The grounds and beach are beautiful but the suite we stayed in looked tired and needed some serious renovation. The worst part was the sloppy lamp cord wiring throughout the room. The wiring connections were quick and dirty. Twisted and sometimes untaped but never with an electricians nut over the twist. A good shock or a fire is just waiting to happen. Definitely not according to US code or concern for the guest and staff.
The specialty restaurants should be shut down at once. The exception was El Pescador which served a marvelous grilled seafood platter. We went back to this one. The Japanese and Pasta restaurants were just plain awful. El Gaucho was never filled in the evening.
The buffet was a mob scene of Russian and Eastern European guests who have no concept of courtesy. They put their faces down to the plate and use their knives to shovel food into their mouths. And they don't close their mouths while chewing. Yuck ! We have little grandchildren who know better. They were loud, agressive and the sort we don't want to meet again. I will never forget the loud, wet , uncovered sneeze at the buffet table and the loudmouth drunks on the trams.
We met a honeymoon couple on the plane ride home and compared notes. We said we were sorry we had not gone to the Iberostar where we had always had a great time. They said they had stayed there and the food was "Inedible" !
After many trips to the Caribbean I don't think I will go back. The good old USA is starting to look better all the time.
| Bavaro Princess | Kim and Wally ~ Ottawa |
We flew in on Sunwing, excellent flight, on time. We got to the resort at 11:30am and were checked into our room with baggage by noon! Excellent service, we highly recommend the Platinum package. The upgrades in the Platinum package are well worth the extra money. You are garanteed a condo by the beach.. use of unlimited internet access and use of the Lounge where you could alway get drinks and snacks. We would meet with friends there several times a day. We got free 20 minute massages which the kids loved.
Our room was in condo 75, closest to the beach and pool. It was spacious, with plenty of water pressure, hot water and extremely clean and well kept (the sheets were changed daily, more than I can say for home!!). We never saw one bug in our room, other than the odd mosquito. Those who complain about the service obviously can't be pleased anywhere, shame on you!
The staff were very friendly and willing to help. Communication was a bit of a problem, but we always managed to get what we needed. I would recommend bringing a pocket Spanish/English dictionary, wish I had thought of it, it would have come in quite handy.. if only to converse with the staff more easily.
The food was quite good, tons of selection on the buffets.. even my picky eaters were well fed all week. The a la carte restaurants were very nice, pleasant staff and great atmosphere. We really enjoyed Tanuki, the Teppanyaki restaurant... it was our favorite.
We aren't really drinkers, so as far as we are concerned, the bars were fine. When we did have a drink, it was served with a smile and tasted great!
The beach is one of the best I've seen.. powdery sand and turquoise water.. absolutely perfect! The main pool was the only one we used and it was big enough for the kids to enjoy all week. The activities by the pool were always enjoyable.
The grounds were immaculate. We always saw the workers busy raking, picking up dead palm fronds and generally keeping the area clean, those guys worked hard everyday and with wonderful results!
The resort is rather large, in a good way.. and the tram system was a great way to get around. We walked the 15 minutes from beach to the lobby several times during the week and it was a wonderful way to see the grounds. The walk in the evening was especially nice. The walkways are kept lit and it makes for a tranquil atmosphere.
Checkout was easy as a dream.
I highly recommend this resort to everyone. I was worried after reading several poor reviews.. but I soon realized those travellers must be very hard to please. We must remember we are in a poor and underdeveloped country. The people are lovely and they try so hard to make it enjoyable for us. It is a holiday away from home, we shouldn't expect nor want it to be like home!
I felt safe enough to let my kids (11 and 8) wander around the grounds unattended for small amounts of time. They loved the independance and my husband and I enjoyed the fleeting moments alone.
I would return to this resort again in an instant. It was a most memorable, wonderful week for myself and my family.
| Bavaro Princess | Vanessa |
We flew via Skyservice from Saskatoon, SK to Punta Cana Feb 6 - 13/08.
Skyservice doesn't really impress me as there were a few minor issues with double-booking seats, and being late going both ways. The food was decent though.
We did the platinum upgrade and were really happy we did. We don't go on many vacations so we thought we'd "do it right" when we do go. We prefer to stay away from large, noisy crowds and it was like this every night at the main lobby. We spent time most evenings having a few drinks at the Platinum Lounge...the guys could watch sports on the big screen and we could keep in touch with family on the free internet...which always seemed to work. There were always snacks there and the atmosphere was very relaxing and the workers very friendly. We used our room service a couple times which was a nice touch. We had beer delivered to the room and had breakfast on the deck...all included with the Platinum package. We also used our 1 hour of free motorized water sports (also included) and went snorkeling in the ocean.
We were in building 75 facing the beach. Our room was beautiful, clean, and spacious. No problems with the hot water or bugs as some have previously reported. The king size bed was very comfortable and the maid service was superb. Being so close to the beach, we brought a lot of sand in the room with us, despite our efforts to clean off before we entered. The maid was in twice a day and we never saw a spec of sand when we went to bed.
The beach is amazing...miles of perfect, soft sand and beautiful, clear, warm ocean water...WOW! The pool was also amazing. It was a bit busier at the pool but it was so beautiful. I loved sitting by the pool in the evenings when everything was softly lit up. The water in the pool was warm as well. We spent most of our last day here and let Julio take care of us at the bar, he was lots of fun.
The food on the resort was good. The buffets get a bit boring after a week but the a la cartes were really impressive. The atmosphere at all of the restaurants was really good. We never had a bad meal. Our supper at Licey was probably the best...excellent food and the chocolate desert was amazing!
We did the Bavaro Runners Safari. This was well worth it as we got to see the beautiful countryside. The roads were rough and would not recommend this to people who suffer from motion sickness.
My only complaints are that the beach bar should stay open in the evening and the loud music gets annoying on the beach and the by the pool.
I found this resort is absolutely amazing in every way possible.
Completely beautiful everywhere, perfect landscaping, amazing atmosphere. The evening atmosphere is amazing, everything is softly lit up, warm, romantic and relaxing.
This was the perfect vacation!
| Bavaro Princess | Jen ~ Canada |
Before I start with a review for this resort I would like to share a few things. If you decide to vacation here please remember that it is a tropical and very poor country. Yes there were bugs-my children got mosquito bites-but lo and behold they lived and still had a great time. No-alot of the workers do not speak English but they still manage to smile and try to help. If you are frustrated with this- yelling and causing a fuss will not help you. You are a guest in their country-you CHOSE to come so how about learning a little of their language? Or perhaps try spending 10$ and bringing a Spanish English dictionary with you to try to communicate better. If bare breasts offend you then you should vacation in your own backyard. If you are the grouchy sort this is not the country for you.
That being said we just spent our 2nd vacation at this resort-we really liked it enough to go back.
Air Canada-Comfortable flight-got us there on time. Go Air Canada!!
Weather-Awesome-sunny, hot-just what we ordered.
Beach-Beautiful white powdery sand. Gorgeous blue water with gentle waves-great swimming. Note to tourists: it would look a lot nicer if you would quit butting out your cigs in the sand and leaving them behind. Same goes for leaving plates of chicken bones and other gross stuff on the beach like a slave will whisk them away for you. Use the garbage cans please.
Pool-I'm not a pool person so I didn't go but my kids had a great time bouncing from beach to pool. Staff treated them really really well.
Food-I am very picky and could always find something I enjoyed or at least tolerated. Its' not North American gourmet so get your head around the fact that you will not be eating at 3 star Michelin rated restaurants. Cooking for 2000 people every meal every day is not easy but they try very hard. Actually,some of the food was quite superb. We had terrific and friendly service at all of the a la carte restaurants we tried.
Staff-I found the staff to be very friendly and they try hard to accommodate. They are a bit slower than home but again-remember you are not in your own country. Leave the crazy fast pace behind you dude-you're on vacation. Relax a bit and enjoy.
Platinum-Worth every penny for this upgrade. Lounge was great to sit in after the beach or after meals. They served sushi every day around 5:00pm, lots of premium liquor, the cappucino machine worked every day for us, both computers worked every day for us. It was a really nice touch to our vacation.
Rooms-Quite large. More than enough space for 2 adults and our 2 children. A little tired perhaps, they could prob use a little face lift but overall clean and good enough for our week. We were lucky-we got good water pressure and lots of hot water in the shower every day. I heard some rooms were unlucky with that. Unfortunately, if you do not pay for the Platinum premium you could very well end up with a room at the back of the resort or near the mangroves (which smells quite funky).
Sports-We went banana boating, snorkelling, para sailing & scuba diving. Kids loved it.
Tipping-Is obviously optional at an all-inclusive but we did it all week. How could you not?
Overall our vacation was terrific. We had 17 people in our party and all of the adults and kids had a good time. Its a very safe resort for the kids to wander around on their own. Again, remember--its NOT the Ritz but if you're not too snotty you should have a good time.
| Bavaro Princess | Susanna |
this resort is very in need of maintaince and should not be classified as 5 star--not recommended for families or anyone who as an aversion to topless guests--if you are american or canadian you may find it difficult to meet people who speak english--we found some of the guests will not speak to anyone that speaks english--had bites from bed bugs the first 2 days before we complained-- asked for a king bed and got two doubles--they offered a king in another unit but too far away from friends---will never recommend this resort to anyone--a poor first impression of punta cana vacation
| Bavaro Princess | Stardu |
If you don't mind bad food and non english speaking people then this is the resort for you. We just returned from this resort on March 5th 2008 and we did manage to have a good time. However the people in the lobby spoke little to no English and we could not get them to understand our needs. Our room was beautiful and clean except for one night I had to call the lobby at 9 pm because our room was not cleaned, but they had someone there very quickly. IF you are very lucky they do have some people that speak a little english. Don't call home if you don't need to they charge you a fee at checkout just for doing so even when you use your credit card. One night we requested beer for our room and they charged us 18 dollars for 5 beers.The airport was organized chaos but it works out somehow. They do charge you 10 bucks per person for a visitors pass then you surrender if 2 minutes later. The whole vacation in Punta Cana seemed like a huge scam to get your money. Oh yeah one couple in our group had cockroaches in their room and ants in the coffee pot. There was no sign of the included excursions anywhere. Free snorkeling? Forget it, if you ask about it they don't understand you. Cream for your coffee? They look at you like you have 3 heads.
All in all it was fun but we will never go back there.
| Bavaro Princess | Mike & Shawn ~ Caledon (Toronto) |
Arrival -
Flew Skyservice, left on time, got to Punta Cana 10 minutes early!
We upgraded to the Platinum, check in and check out was excellent.
Rate - 5 star
Rooms -
Large, clean, however, could never get hot water in the bathroom sink. They tried to fix, but were unsuccesful. Also, my wife likes to bath, and the tub would never fill up! We did have hot water in the shower.
Rate - 4 star (would have given the room a 5 star if hot water and tub problems could have been fixed)
Restaurants -
Favorite restaurant was Licey, the food, service and servers were amazing, they did a great job! ElPesador, the service and servers were the worst I have seen in along time! El Gaucho was inbetween the others for service and servers. Hard to believe these people all work at the same resort. Food at buffets was ok, however, the service was very bad. You have to get your own drinks, whether wine or beer at dinner buffet, or coffee or tea at breakfast. They are not very good at coming to your table.
Overall rate (excluding Licey) 3 star
Bars -
No problems, other than not enough people working the outdoor bars.
Rate - 3.5 star
Beach and Pools -
We have been to Punta Cana 5 times over the past 8 years, they have some of the best beaches we have every seen.
The pools and pool bar were also very good.
Rate - 5 Star
Grounds -
Beautiful and mature well keep.
Rate - 5 star
Activities -
Didn't participate in any activities, however, the entertainment was below par when compared to the other resorts we have stayed in in Punta Cana. We have stayed at the Grand Bahia Principe (true 5 star) Rui Bambu (4 star) Grand Paradise (3 star)Iberostar Bavaro (5 star)
Rate - 3 star
Conclusion -
BEWARE OF THIEF'S IN YOUR ROOMS!!
My wife had a top stolen out of her suitcase, and we were made to feel like it was our fault.
Management told us they were not responsible for anything missing from the rooms, and their attitude was very "so what"
This happenned on our last day, and was not a good way to end what was a good trip. We even left money and gifts every day for the cleaners. However, we were in room 762, ground floor facing the beach and trees between us and the resort beside us, so very secluded from everyone else, which makes it very easy for them to take things our of the room with no one around to see them.
The Platinum upgrade was worth the extra cost, however, the cappacino machine in the lounge seemed to break down ever free days, one of the 2 computers always seemed to be down.
Overall rating - 3.5 star
The grounds and room sizes are amazing, however, they really need to improve on their service in a big way.
We will go back to either the Grand Bahia or the Iberostar next year which are much better resorts overall and priced the same as the Bavaro Princess.
| Bavaro Princess | Margaret ~ Kitchener, Ont, Canada |
Arrival -
plane was late arrived at 2am.took ten minutes to register at hotel was very fast and the guys were so nice
Rooms -
rooms were very nice and so clean I was really surprised as I had read bad reviews guess they didnt know what they were talking about
Restaurants -
loved El Gaucho on the beach ate lunch there all the time the staff was amazing. Ate at the Chopin once didnt like it not much to choose from so we had dinner every night at the hotel buffet it was great the waiters couldnt do enough for us
Bars -
bars were good although the drinks were very weak no problem just ask for another shot
Beach and Pools -
beach and pools were really outstanding spent all our time at both of them. lot of europeans real nice people
Grounds -
grounds were awesome to walk around they are kept very well loved the peacocks and flamingoes
Activities -
didnt do much activity just lay on the beach done arobics in the pool once getting to old.
Tours -
didnt go on any tours but most people i talked loved the safari tour
Conclusion -
we are e senior citizen couple 70 72 yrs old but had a great really appreciated the buses on the resort. the only thing I would change fillin the pool that is in the hotel bar it is parallel with the floor so my husband kept walking and fell in soaking gave me a laugh next night sat in the bar and watchen three women fall in good entertainment.
| Bavaro Princess | P MADD ~ Shetland Isles |
We arrived on 13 Dec just two days after a tropical storm.They say the rainy season here is slipping further into December it it is getting hotter in Dec/Jan to.This meant some pavements were flooded around the resort but extra buggies ran were hardly inconvienienced at all.Hotel and accomadation were first class.They lacked the finish of european 5 star, ie edging strips around the tiles and flacky paint above the shower.These were more cosmetic than anything.
Main restaurant had a great choice and quality but the waiting staff could be a little slack at times.
The fish resteraunt was a big let down with poor service,poor presentation and no atmosphere.
Japanese resteraunt was very poor quality and would not go back.
Heard good reports about the steak place but decided to stick to the main buffet place as choice and quality suited me.
Beach excellent.buoyed off swimming area.Would not recommed going outside this due to number of fast boats in the area.
Shops outside will ask for 300 dollars for a painting you have been offered next door for 65.Do not give the shop "assistsnts" commision they think they are entitled to.The Palma Real shopping center has better quality fixed price products (it may be worth a haggle for expensive or multiple items) and free courtesy bus.Shopkeepers will not hassel you either.
Guy's outside main resteraunt are holiday club touts but do not tell you this until they get you into the hard sell area.Which is the half a la carte resteraunt building.
Noise from next door hotel was a bit much for the nearest flats on our side but stopped dead on 12 o'clock.
Do not do the helicopter flight.Fly up to Samana then over to Santo Domingo for the day or even overnight.This gives you more time in the air and it's cheaper too.Talk to Miguel the Sunwing rep.He organised most of our trips and was very informative about the whole island.
Gone fishing is a bit of a touristy (all reels were penn 9/0's) and any serious anglers should go to the specialists.
The crazy wheels trip in the buggies was great fun but a word of warning.The toilets were the worst we saw(overflowing and no flush).Most facilities for tourists were surprisingly good even out in the country AND I DO NOT KNOW WHAT THE GUY WITH THE VIDEO CAMERA was doing.They made on you were being filmed and many people thought they were getting the DVD for 15 bucks.It was in fact a copy of some salsa music which was convieniently camoflaged on the lablel.
All in all it was a great relaxing holiday and the facilites on site were great.Quiet relaxing mornings by the pool at the hotel.Lunch and then down to the cooling sea breeze at the beach pool .
We only struggled to find loungers once or twice over our 3 weekstay.We never queued for anything except for christmas and new year meals which were fantastic and worth the wait.I was actually fed up with eating lobster at one point but I would not expect this at other times of the year.
The review previous to mine mentioned a smell of sewers in the resort.This was in fact rotting (H2S) vegetation in the more mangrovey areas of the immaculate resort gardens and although unpleasant it is hamless in these concentrations .Also must mention that the mossies were not as bad as I thought they would be .I only got bitten half a dozen times but it is advisable to put on plenty of repellant when lounging around the hotel for meals or drinks etc.Some bites also appeared overnight but we may have been a little careless with the more than adequet air con and doors to the apartment.
ADIOS AMIGOS
| Bavaro Princess | Angela ~ Odenton, MD |
Arrival -
OK- we went with Apple Vacations. They were great except for having to lighten the plane = get rid of 1 flight attendant & 4 pieces of luggage (1 being mine & not receiving it until 30 hours later). Make sure to go to their orientation if you're with them, it's very informative. Also, don't wait until right after the orientation to sign up for restaurants, it will take FOREVER and there aren't many time slots left. Sign up soon after your arrival.
Rooms -
Decent, needing uf a good cleaning and upgrade. It was very pretty, nice layout, but some things left me uneasy. I just didn't have the feeling like it was always very clean. They did a good job, but (being the slight germ-o-phob that I am) I noticed minor mold issues, stains, etc. I felt uncomfortable not wearing flip-flops while walking around, that might just be me though. We initially had some issues with the toilet. It wouldn't flush. But, after having maintenance come and fussing with it ourselves, we realized that it just didn't have enough water in the tank- something we fixed on our own. Our water pressure wasn't too bad, nothing that impeded on my getting ready! We did give our maid a nice tip at the end of the week to show our appreciation for her hard work ($10-15 I believe).
Restaurants -
Still up for debate. We tried out every restaurant except for the French one and the Chinese one. My favorite as far as consistency and choices is La Hispanola- the buffet in the main building. The Argentinean steak house was our first dinner and to be quite honest, the steak was awful (thin, fatty, no edible pieces). Everything but the steak was great: appetizer, salad, bread, and dessert. El Pescador was good as far as the food is concerned, but like other people have said, don't go there expecting any service or on an empty stomach. Sakura/the Japanese restaurant was nice. The chef was wonderful and gave us a lot of attention. Our waiter though forgot some of our orders (apps/deserts) and was just trying to get us out; we were the last table of the night. The Italian restaurant was fine, nothing special. I got the mushroom risotto and really liked it but couldn't eat more than 1/4 of it because I was stuffed from everything else they gave us. As far as breakfast and lunch went I had a VERY hard time finding anything that looked/tasted good. I always had more luck at La Hispanola than the buffet near the beach. By Monday morning of our trip (we arrived Friday) I had come down with an awful stomach pain. I did not actually "get" sick, however I had this terrible burning feeling until Thursday/Friday and even didn't feel too well after I got home. Some people on our trip had more "symptoms" than I had, but mine lasted longer and the burning feeling came and went every 10-30 minutes or so and I just wanted to crawl up and sleep to avoid it. I'm not sure if it was related to the food we ate, but I tried not to let it take away from my experience or live on bread all week. Bars -
Good. They were surely plentiful. I lived on the yummy mojitos. For the most part the bartenders were attentive and timely in getting to everyone, sometimes it did take a while- but that comes with every bar. Beach and Pools -
The beach was very nice, one of the most beautiful I've ever seen!!! There were always tons of chairs open (some days were busier than others). There were people that went up and down the beach trying to sell various items (jewelry, hats, etc.), if you tell them you're not interested or just don't pay them much attention- they leave you alone and keep to themselves. I did like that this resort had a volleyball net and other activities to do, as well as it being right near the pool, buffet and bar! Grounds -
Very nicely landscaped, there are tons of guys working very hard to keep it nice for visitors and it shows. There is this one walkway on the resort that must be right over/next to the sewer lines because it smelled absolutely awful- that was the one area I had to run through and really was unpleasant.
Activities -
I didn't take part in going to the casino or disco. We did go across the street to go shopping once. That was quite an experience, but just be ready to bargain and know that they operate very differntly than in the US, etc. so try not to get overwhelmed or frustrated with their tactics! The last night of our stay the resort had an open market" which had many local vendors set up in an organized way and was a great opportunity to see what the area has to offer and a perfect time for souvenir shopping!
Entertainment: I have never seen a group of young people work SO hard in my life! They were on the beach in the morning teaching yoga/salsa, by the pool in the afternoon teaching water aerobics, on the main stage later in the evening putting on their nightly show and then mingling with everyone afterwards (still teaching more salsa!!)- there were often many more things they did throughout the day as well! I would see these guys (& gals) everywhere. That being said- I did think that some of the shows were a bit cheesy and some of the classes were weird and like nothing I have ever done in a "gym" before. Their enthusiasm and attitude were hard to beat and really got people to forget about the cheesiness of it all.
Tours -
Excursions: you’re choice, but be informed! We went on 2 excursions while on our vacation. The first was to Saona Island. We were told it would take 30-45 minutes to get there. It actually took MUCH longer. The bus left at 7:45ish and we didn’t get to the island until around 12/12:30. There was about an hour catamaran ride included in that time. If I had known the duration of the travel time, I would have opted to stay on our own beach for the day. The island was beautiful, but not worth the time it took to get there. We also went on a ½ day excursion to swim with nurse sharks and manarays. This was really neat and I am glad I did it. However, they were netted up (in a make-shift pool in the water). People kept bumping into each other and the water wasn’t super clear. Don’t get me wrong, this was a very neat experience, but not what I was expecting.
Conclusion -
Overall, our trip was very nice and memorable but I wish I had done a bit more research. I do want to go back to the Dominican, but next time I will be willing to shuck out a little bit more money to for a truly 5-star resort and maybe check out a different part of the island besides Bavaro Beach.
| Bavaro Princess | Dorothy |
We have just returned from another glorious week in Punta Cana. This was our seventh trip to P.C. and our second to the Bavaro Princess. Despite some left over water from T.S. Olga, the weather was great and the hotel looked beautiful. We were in bldg #74 on the beach, and had absolutely not one problem with our room, hotel services, checking in or out, food, or the folks around us. We had the platinum upgrade again and things like canadian newspapers, cold bottled beer, premium drinks, canadian club whiskey, and the use of the other Princess properties added a nice touch to our holiday. ( those beds on the beach at the PC Princess..how nice is that?) If you are looking for a property with fabulous grounds, one of the best stretches of beach on the east coast, close to shopping, and most of all, great people who make you feel so welcome, you can't go wrong. For our money...a great vacation experience!! questions..email us at pdvander@hotmail.com
| Bavaro Princess | Diana |
We are so thankful for the web site and all the reviews we read. I almost had to drag my husband there, now he wants to return next year for two weeks. We loved Apple Vacations. Delta Airlines changed our itinerary twice by canceling days that they fly out of Punta Cana, but we ended up with the departure date we really wanted at no extra charge.
I only can describe our arrival at the airport as organized chaos. All seems to work out some how and we were on our way to the hotel.
We are in our mid sixties and found this place to be better than our expectations. We had the platinum upgrade and were taken to the platinum lounge for check in. We were given cool wet cloths and given our bracelets, room keys and safe lock. We were on the very edge of the resort, about 50 yards from the ocean, near the Paradisus. We were on the second floor. Our room was large, spotless, and cool. We always were given washcloths. Sitting in the evenings listening to the ocean was a favorite. My husband is an early riser, so had hot showers, I had one real warm shower the whole week, but people our age are advised by skin doctors to take tepid showers to preserve the skin. It was hot and humid, but not unbearable so. The cool showers were refreshing to me.
We kept looking for the things that people complain about, but could find very few. We only ate at two ala carte restaurants as we just didn't want to make appointments to eat. My husband had emergency surgery the week before our trip, and we were tired of having to be places at certain times. We ate a lot at the large buffet in the lobby. We always found things we liked and new things we tried were very tasty. The American bar seemed to have something if you didn't like the buffet and the pasta station was wonderful. The deserts, and homemade breads, and donuts were grand. We always ate our fill, but never felt weighted down or stuffed. We brought a boatload of pepto and immodiam but never used it. We brought bug spray and wipes, but only got one bite on my knee. The beds are quite hard, but we had brought two twin air mattresses, which fit nicely on our King sized bed. The maid always tucked in the sheets in a way that kept them in place. We did tip, and looked for workers who wouldn't ordinarily get tips to give out the dozen Red Sox caps we brought, or just a couple of dollars. We did leave the maid a pink Red Sox cap and $5 and two gold bracelets I no longer wear the first night. She was such a sweetheart and brought us a gift on our departure day, some Dominican coffee from Santa Domingo. We did leave children's things and a couple of dollars each day for her also. We always had such nice towel swans with flowers every day. We were near a wedding Gazebo and saw three weddings while we were there. They all looked very nice. We didn't hear anybody complaining. We found the platinum upgrade good for us, as we didn't have to keep track of towel cards, beach towels were left with our nightly turndown service. We were also there for my husband to recoup and so used the free room service twice. The grounds are like paradise, and kept clean and manicured daily. Our twenty minute complimentary massage was just wonderful, was so relaxed I almost couldn't walk. The Mangrove swamp is a must see. It does have a funny smell, but didn't seem that offensive to us. The wildlife on the property kept us amused. Two white doves were nesting in a cocoanut tree near us. We used the tram a lot, and sometimes had to wait for two or three trams to go by before there was room for us, but relax, go with the flow. We did not use our included water sport. The pools were so refreshing, the swim up bar great. No end of lovely people from all over the world to meet and talk with. No its not American five star. But we didn't want American, we wanted something different. About the complainers, maybe without the Platinum upgrade, things are bad, we never saw or heard any complaints except about water pressure and shower temperature. As the old saying goes, sometimes you can stand on your head and spit out gold nickels, and its still not good enough for some people. We can't wait to go back.
| Bavaro Princess | Connie |
I will list, not necessarily in order the difficulties surrounding this holiday.
1. The phone in the first room we were given did not work. There were a number of phones in the guests’ rooms (that we traveled with) that did not work. Some telephones would not accept incoming calls as was the case with our second room phone.
2. There was no hot water for 4 days. Not only that there was no water at all for 6 hours on one day and no water at all for half the day on another day. You can well imagine how the toilets stank; we could not shower after being in the pool or in the ocean either. (This is one of the most terrible problems we had to endure)
3. The air conditioning did not work in the first room we were given, the one with two single beds. This room smelled of mold and after looking around the place, there was in fact mold growing up the walls.
4. Sometimes the cleaning ladies left shampoo/bath gel and conditioner but sometimes they did not. This was also true about the coffee supply including the sugar and coffee mate. Some days it was there and some days it was not. One guest did not have her room cleaned for the first 3 days and I know I would have been outraged even more had this happened to us. The cleaning staff showed up at 6 pm one day while we getting ready for the evening dinner and I felt that was bad enough.
5. It took us 3 whole hours to get our luggage from the main lobby to our room on the day we arrived. The Sunquest rep. and the bell boy boss were absolutely sure that our luggage would follow us to our rooms in 5 minutes. This was so irritating to come off a plane and wait for 3 hours to change into the bathing gear and so on.
6. The entry card to the hotel room stopped working three times during the 7 days we were there. The hotel employee assured me it was because I placed the entry card too close to my computer or cell phone; neither of which I had.
7. The general food buffet was not a 5 star rating buffet. In fact it was disappointing at best. Even though the theme sign changed everyday, the buffet remained exactly the same every single day.
8. During one of the evening beach parties, the bar ran out of tequila and vodka. It’s not that I drink a lot, but how does a 5 star hotel run out of alcohol at a beach party, and of all things tequila?
9. The Chopin Restaurant (the other buffet restaurant that was better than the disappointing buffet I mentioned in item # 7) ran out of red wine during our dinner on the second last night. Again, how does a restaurant at a 5 star hotel run out of red wine in the restaurant?
The whole resort sucked so badly. The people that made other arrangements at a 3 star hotel for $875.00/week did not have these complaints or problems. They had better service, better rooms, and a better beach and paid half as much as we did.
If I could of, I would of left the hotel and found another one, but under the circumstances I felt trapped, as did the majority of the guests that traveled together for Hailey and Duane’s wedding.
The wedding organizing coupled with Hailey and Duane having to change rooms (and all their endless stuff with the baby and the wedding gear) for the first 3 days in a row rendered the Bride-To-Be to tears for the first 3 days.
| Bavaro Princess | Robert |
We just returned from six nights at the Bavaro princess. Here are my impressions.This resort is very large however, they do a great job with a shuttle service that runs constanly. The beach is one of the best i have been on. Beautifull white sand, clean and tourquise water. The food for an all-inclusive was OK. You could always find something you liked at the buffets. Great pasta bar. The specility resturants were good. The grounds of this resort are very tropical, and beautifully maintained.I wish they maintained the rooms as well. Rooms are old and not very clean or keep up certinaly not 4 or 5 star. Once i complained I was given a nicer room but the beach helped make up for the room.
| Bavaro Princess | Kim & TJ ~ Edmonton, Alberta |
Stepping off the plane was like walking into a sauna! We quickly made it into the airport (avoiding the photograph with the ladies wearing large fruit hats) and waited in an enormous line. Highly suggest you dress lightly (not in jeans like I was). We were confused about our luggage and where to find it, or if it would be picked up for us. We eventually found it, grabbed it, avoided the young men trying to carry them for us. Air Canada had our rep holding a sign, she told us which bus number to board. Thankfully it had air conditioning! The bus trip was short, and we were greeted in the lobby with a tall mango type drink. Confusion about where we go to check in, we had the Platinum Club upgrade which includes private check-in. Eventually we were told to put our bags on the luggage tram, and that it would be taken to our room. Next, we hopped on a tram and were taken to the Platinum lounge.
Wow, well worth the upgrade! It's a big beautiful open-air style mini lobby with a small lounge, flat screen TV, 2 computers, snacks, premium drinks, soothing music and great staff.
Room was larger than we expected, and it was still being cleaned when we arrived to it. The maid apologized and quickly finished up. The bathroom was done in marble, with the toilet and tub behind a separate door and the sink and closet open to the hallway. There was certainly a musty smell, but when you have a cement building 50 ft from the ocean, what do you expect? I grew to love that smell because it was something different and exotic that we never experience at home in Canada. The air conditioning worked very well, as did the ceiling fan.
King sized bed was very comfortable, we had a cute wicker seating area with a glass-topped coffee table. The rooms could use a little repair here and there, but really cozy and well appointed.
I'm a vegetarian and felt like I was in vegetarian heaven! The fruits and vegetables are to DIE for. I've never tasted mangoes or papayas so fresh or juicy. It was little tricky at the a la cartes when ordering becuase I couldn't be sure if some sort of meat might be in the dish.
I was unpleasantly surprised when I got a mouth full of ham in my minestrone soup. TJ seemed to eat nothing BUT meat, and seemed pretty content with it. Keep in mind that this is a totally different culinary world, go with an open-mind and don't expect the foods you eat at home to taste the same here. Things are prepared a little differently. For example, the scrambled eggs had a touch of vinegar added to them. It was interesting and might cause an uppity traveller to complain. We actually preferred the buffets to the a la cartes because there was much more selection and you could eat a little bit of everything. The milk and cream are not like at home. I'm not sure what it is, but I suspect it could come from a powder? Or maybe it is pasteurized differently.
Bring a thermal mug! Holy cow, I wouldn't go back without one. by the time you've carried your drink back to your chair, it's half warm or melted. Plus the environmental costs of using disposable cups is simply ridiculous. The roads are literally fenced by piles of plastic bottles and cups. We never had a problem with service at any of the bars.
The sand was silky soft, almost white with tiny flecks of pink coral.
After dark, the mosquitos really came out and made a feast of my legs and back. They were silent and tiny and I had no idea I had been made a meal until the following day. Do bring some bug spray.
The grounds were immaculate. The most impressive thing about this resort is it's sprawling size, lush greenery and manicured lawns.
Truly amazing.
The evening shows were pretty impressive, but we preferred to hit the sack early and enjoy more outdoor stuff.
There was some sort of water aerobics going on in the main pool sometimes.
You could ride a banana boat, boogie board, snorkel (though not much to look at besides sand), paddle boat or windsurf. If you want to find something to do, there's no problem.
We went to a cigar factory and a jewellery store run by a Canadian woman. Plus, there was a huge mini-mall just outside the resort that sold no end of touristy stuff, including some decent jewellery.
We went on a snorkel tour out to a reef, and swam with a couple of huge sting rays and some nurse sharks. I object to caging wild creatures up, and had no idea that they would be trapped in a roped-fence area. I wouldn't suggest supporting this practice, or paying the $85 US per person to do it. If you want to snorkel, hire somebody with a boat to drive you out to a nearby reef.
Just Go! Don't mind any of the bad reviewers on here. They likely can't be pleased ANYWHERE. I can't wait to go back, and I'd go back to the Princess Bavaro in a heart beat. The Platinum upgrade was well worth it, if only for being so close to the beach, and having the free internet at your finger tips.
| Bavaro Princess | Sean ~ Ontario, Canada |
Arrival -
We stopped on the tarmac and were off loaded. It was just a short walk to the terminal building. Upon entering the terminal building you are greeted with music and have to stop for your picture to be taken. Your picture will be waiting for you upon your departure if you want it. I think it was $8 - $10 US. Baggage claim was okay. Once you have your bags, you make your way to customs. Customs was a breeze. Next you are on your way to the buses and you have to walk the plank between all the baggage guys. No need for baggage guys because the buses are very close to the terminal.
Rooms -
We had purchased an upgraded package for our tour operator Signature Vacations. It was the Honeymoon package which we were to get some extras upon arrival. This didn't happen. Our room was not ready upon arrival. We had to come back at 2:30pm to get our room assignment. So off to the bar we went. We went back at 2:30pm and our rooms were ready. Off to the rooms we go........
Nice patio with a table and comfortable lounge chairs that lead up to your room. Then it starts......Oh my god "What's that smell????" The room smelt musty, maybe because it was closed up and no air conditioning. The air conditioner was on. Upon further investigation there was mould everywhere. On the drapes, intake and output vents of the air conditioner, in the closet and bathroom. Need one of your room keys or other plastic card to turn on your hydro. Went to complain to our tour operator representative. Asked if we could move rooms and he said he'll see what can be done. He said he would leave us a message but our phone didn't work. Two days into the vacation still complaining about the mould. The wife had a enough and went to the front desk to ask for the hotel manager. After some persistent requests she finally got to speak with a manager. He is moving us to their "Platinum" suites but we would have to come back at 3:00pm. We'll to keep it short, for a "Platinum" room that usually costs an extra $30/day/per person was not much of an upgrade. But there wasn't as much mould in this room as the previous Honeymoon suite.
Restaurants -
No complaints here. The staff was friendly and the food was plentiful. They had a different theme night in the buffet restaurant but if you didn't like that they always had the American Station. Meat taste very different in the DR. We had reservations at 3 of the a la carte restaurants. Needless to say we had to go to the buffet afterwards. Italian and Japanese were not bad but the seafood didn't go over well because majoritiy of our group was from the East Coast.
Bars -
They are not shy when it comes to making you a drink. Stay away from anything that has coconut in it because it's a natural laxative. Local beer and mixed drinks were good. If you go, try the local speciallity call a MamaJuana.
Beach and Pools -
Beach is beautiful. No bar service. Get there early if you want a Cabana. The only thing is that there are a lot of sales people walking around trying to sell you anything from jewelery to scuba diving.
Grounds -
Grounds were kept clean and well groomed.
Activities -
There are a lot of activities throughout the day put on by the Animation team. Spanish, salsa lessons, beach volleyball, water polo, yoga, aerobics and then the nightime entertainment for kids and adults.
Conclusion -
I wouldn't give this hotel a 5 star rating because it needs some major work done to it. I wouldn't recommend it to any of my friends or family members. There are other hotels in the area that I'm sure are a lot better then this.
| Bavaro Princess | Ron ~ USA |
General Information:
My wife and I booked our trip through Apple Vacations. Price, including travel insurance was $1643. Flight from St. Louis via USA 3000 Airlines took 3 hours and 40 minutes.
My review is written for those who, like me, have never been to Punta Cana. I will be as honest as memory serves. I have no alliance with Apple Vacations or the Bavaro Princess, so I have nothing to gain/lose by my honesty.
Arrival:
We arrived on-time and disembarked the plane onto the tarmac. A short walk down the tarmac and we were in the terminal and led to Customs. Here they issue you a visitors card for $10/per person. You proceed to the next checkpoint and surrender the visitors card that you just paid for. From this point you proceed to baggage claim. After you claim your baggage, you then go through the metal detectors. With baggage in hand, you then get bombarded with baggage boys that don't seem to understand the word “NO”. Since I knew before hand that the Apple bus was just 100 feet from the baggage boys, I knew their services were not needed.
Apple representatives led us to the proper bus and we were off the Bavaro Princess. The ride took about 25-30 minutes along a bumpy road. It was our first glimpse of the Dominican Republic and my first thought was it reminded me of Mexico. We were the first stop for the bus which was nice, because I figured our vacation didn't really start until my feet were firmly planted on the soil of the Bavaro Princess.
As we entered the Bavaro Princess, it was already apparent that the grounds/landscaping I had read so much about was true. Once the bus stopped at the main lobby, we disembarked and went to the check-in, passing a few small shops along the way. Check-in was quick and painless, but since we arrived at 12:00 PM , the rooms would not be ready for 2 or 3 hours. We received our arm bands and told that we could use anything on the property until our room was ready. We were served a nice cool punch drink and were given directions on the layout of the property.
We tour the property for the next 3 hours and return to the lobby to get assigned our room. We were given room 335, which is building 33 room number 5. Once we looked at the map we realize that we are 3 building away from the beach and the main “hub” of activity – pool, grill – restaurants – etc. were all just footsteps away!
This is not your typical hotel layout. There are approximately 90 building with each hosting 8 suites. 4 suites on the ground floor and 4 suites on the upper floor. This explains why this property sits on 96 acres.
Rooms:
At entry, you are on your own patio. The patio features 2 comfy chairs and a table. Upon entry to the suite, the most prominent feature is the raised sleeping area at the center of the room. In our suite, to the left was a sleeper couch, chair and coffee table. To the right was the coffee bar with coffee maker, table and 2 chairs, chest of drawers that contained the refrigerator and held the TV.
Up the two step at the center of the room was a king size bed, chest of drawers and lamps. Above the bed was a ceiling fan.
To the left and down two steps was the bathroom. Large and inviting, it was laid out with a large sized closet with plenty of hangers, safe, iron and ironing board and umbrella. The sink area was more than adequate with space for toiletries. On the wall was a hair dryer. Beyond the sink area, through small French doors was where the toilet, tub/shower and bidet were located.
The larger rooms and fades from the normal hotel room set-up are a huge plus. But the room was dated. Wood trim was worn and damaged. Furniture was sagging and upholstery was worn. Beds were rock hard and uncomfortable. Bathtub was dull from the finish being worn off and the caulking was moldy. Toilet and bidet were old and looked dirty even if clean. Bathroom window had large cracks in the frame that allowed bugs and lizards into the room.
The good news is we seen that they were remodeling building, so ask for one of those!
Also, ask for a room on the top floor. Being on the ground floor, we pretty much heard everything going on above us. Like clockwork, we knew when our upstairs neighbors got “home” for the night. Also ask for a room without a connecting room door. This door is paper thin and you can hear your neighbors if they talk loud.
In my opinion, the positives outweigh the negatives on the rooms. Yes, the rooms need updated, but they were not so bad that they had a negative impact on our vacation. But I would not rate them as 5-star because they do need attention. Perhaps the rooms now being remodeled will deserve the 5-star rating.
Food:
I am probably the last person in the world to qualify if the food was good, bad or average. Give me a burger and fries and I am happy. I am a picky eater – Don't like seafood (If it crawls on the ocean floor and eats fish poop, I ain't eating it!) - I don't like to “try” food. I like what I like and I eat it. My wife, now that is a different story. We heard many comments from guests that the food was not very good. Even that it was awful. I found little that I liked and probably for the first time lost weight on a vacation. Now I understand that they must cook for an international guest base, so I am sure that has a lot to do with it.
The buffets were stocked with a lot of food, but finding something that I liked was impossible at times. I ended up eating a lot of fries from the grill. Even the burgers had a strange taste. The food at the restaurants was better than the food at the buffets. But even then, I had a hard time finding something that hit the spot. My wife said the seafood (grilled lobster) was very good and she eats a lot of fruits and veggies. Also she is the type who will try just about anything, so her dining experience was better than mine. Go with an open mind and understand that you are not in North America and that the food is hit and miss. Keep trying and you'll find something you like.
Beach & Pools:
Definitely the high point for us was the beach. It is without a doubt the prettiest beach we have ever seen. Even better than Seven Mile Beach in Grand Cayman! The beach itself is expansive. I would guess the Bavaro Princess portion of the beach to be 150 yards wide, if not more. From the waterline to the shaded huts and palm tree line was around 50 yards, so the beach was deep as well. The beach had a gradual slope and was smoothed and manicured each night to remove seaweed and debris. Walking along the coast, it was oblivious that this was the nicest part of the Bavaro Beach There is no wait service, but the bars are close and the service was fast. At the time of the year we went, we found no problem finding beach loungers. Finding open huts was a problem at times, but keep a look out because people come and go.
There are two pools, one near the lobby at the front of the property and the main pool near the beach. The pool by the lobby was small and a nice place to get away from the crowd because most people didn't know this pool existed. The main pool was landscaped with many different kinds of flora and palms. Because of all the botany, the pool did have debris in it, but that was expected. The staff did a good job of keeping the pool area clean. Again, there was no wait service but the bar was right there. The swim-up bar was never over-crowded, but again, we were then when the property was 40-50% full.
Grounds:
One thing the Bavaro Princess can say is they have the most beautiful grounds of any resort in Punta Cana. Every day, maintenance workers were mowing, trimming, raking and pruning the grounds. The men who do this work take great pride in their work and it shows. One gets a true feeling of being in a tropical paradise as they meander along the cobblestone paths. Take some time and visit the mangrove, visit the birdhouse and stroll the grounds around Liceys restaurant. Look at all the beautiful fauna and appreciate where you are.
Activities:
We did not take advantage of much that the resort had to offer. My wife did play a little ping-pong and I played a little archery. The resort offered much more, but we were on vacation, and vegging-out was the name of the game for us!
Tours:
We took the Outback Jungle Safari and were so happy we did. Besides breaking up the monotony of being stuck on a resort for 7 days. If gave us a chance to see how the Dominican people really live and work. While sad in a way, it also made me realize that material things in this life really are not a necessity to maintain my life, just a convenient factor that helps me cope.
The people we met along the way were simple, yet beautiful. They worked hard for what they had and were proud of it. The kids we met just melted our hearts. How anyone could walk off that truck and not be a better person would make me question their character.
Our driver was Louie and our tour guide was Alex. Alex was very knowledgeable and was VERY informative. He had a passion for his people, and was not afraid to list the good with the bad. He didn't paint his people with a broad brush as he explained the differences between the many different sociality gaps. Visiting a typical home, we seen how a typical family lives and how they work to support their family. We learned that unlike North Americans, the elders were treated with dignity and respect – Perhaps modern society has a lot to learn from people we consider “poor”.
We stopped at a rum shack and watched how cigars are rolled. Here they sold cigars and rum... good stuff!
We proceeded to see how sugarcane was grown and had a sample. We learned all about Mama Juana – A potion made of of roots, herbs, berries, rum, honey and wine that is suppose to be a natural aphrodisiac! I couldn't get pass the smell to find out :-)
But the most striking stop was at a school. The kids just melt your heart. We brought along several hundred pencils, glue sticks and gave them to the teacher to distribute as he seen fit. The kids sang us a song and they were just so cute. We were taught how the kids are schooled and what is expected of them.
The beer, rum, water and soda flowed all day and the truck full of international travelers all became Dominicans for a day. If you have the chance to do this excursion, forget the $80 per person fee and just do it. You'll thank me later.
Tips:
1. English speaking TV channels included CNN, TBS, USA, ESPN, ABC out of New York, Cartoon Network, Nick.
2. The TV was only a 19 inch model that was impossible to see from the bed.
3. Bring your laptop and watch DVD's in bed.
4. Bring a thermal cup to hold your drinks, You get more and it will melt slower.
5. The trams were very consistent. But I could see that if the resort was full that getting a seat could be a problem during “rush hours”
6. Bring Dominican baseball player cards. (Pedro Martinez, Albert Pujols, David Ortiz, Etc.) I brought about 150 Sammy Sosa cards on eBay for around $10 and the staff just lit up when I passed them out. I also took them on our excursion and the kids LOVED them!
7. TIP – Just because you are at an all-inclusive doesn't mean you shouldn't tip. We tipped good service here, so tipping there makes sense too. We didn't do it to get better service next time, we did it because it is the right thing to do.
8. Leave you attitude at home. Enjoy yourself. Don't expect to be treated like a king just because you are on vacation. Expect things to not be perfect. Don't sweat the small stuff. Don't worry, be happy – Dammit!
9. Learn as much as you can the first day for the buffet schedule. They have different times at different locations so it can get confusing.
10. The beach is topless, so if you have a “boobie” issue, perhaps the beach should be avoided. Also, men who shouldn't be wearing Speedos do. Again, accept it :-)
11. Learn a few Spanish words – You'll get a big smile when you do!
12. The birds at the very front of the lobby are very entertaining! They greet you with a soft “Hola”, and if you don't respond, the “Hola” gets louder and louder until one of them screams “HOLA!!!”
Top 3 great things:
1. The beach - Beautiful!
2. The staff – Friendly and attentive.
3. The grounds - Wow!
Top 3 bad things:
1. A ceiling fan on each suites patio would have been first class. It would allow you to enjoy the patio by chasing away the heat and the mosquitoes.
2. The food – looks can be deceiving.
3. The rooms need upgraded.
The Ugly:
Really the worst thing by far was the construction work being done. It started Monday at 7 AM about 2 building away and was just a minor annoyance. Contracted help (Not Bavaro Princess employees) were digging up old sewer lines, power washing buildings and re-modeling building. As the week progressed, the work became more intense, and the workers became more ignorant. They would leer at you and make comments under their breath. As you would approach them, most would not say a word, but look at you from the corner of their eyes. As you got further down the path, the comments would come.
They would really leer at the ladies and make open comments. Being a man, I had a strong sense in what they were saying. Body language is something we all understand, no matter the Nationally.
One night as I was going back to my room, a male guest was in an animated argument with several of the workers. It seemed that he was tired of the guys leering at and making comments to his wife/girlfriend and had had enough. He asked me if I had problems with them and I just said it was getting old but being a big fella, they were probably intimidated by me. He said he was about ready to pop a few of them and I suggested he just take it to hotel management.
My wife and I would have asked to be moved to another building had this happened upon arrival and not mid-week. But having settled in, we made the mistake of not doing so. Our fault. She felt safe, but was pissed because they made their rest area right in front of our room.
My feelings are:
1. Hotel management should not have placed any guests in these rooms because of the construction work being done. These guys (25+) were out there for 12 hours, every day making all kinds of noise. My guess is these were “prime” buildings because they were so close to the beach. Because of this, they wanted to take advantage of their location.
2. The workers should have been supervised more closely. It didn't appear that any Hotel management types were watching over these men.
3. This experience soured my view of how the Bavaro Princess is operated. A first-class operation would have recognized that placing construction workers among guests is a huge no-no. In effect, they let these construction workers represent their property, fairly or not, this is a fact.
Conclusion:
The Bavaro Princess is a beautiful property that needs upgraded to truly stand out as a jewel. Considering everything – Room, food, service, staff, entertainment, etc. I would rate this property 3.5 stars out of 5.
The food left a lot to be desired, and with this being an all-inclusive property, food is a major factor that needs to be weighted when deciding if I would return.
The casino likes to take your money! :-)
Their employees all seemed to be helpful and cheerful. We can't recall running into an employee who was rude or uncaring.
The management at the Bavaro Princess needs to address their contracted construction workers. Their behavior is unacceptable. Also, management should be held responsible for placing these workers among their guests in the first place.
We are glad we didn't upgrade to Platinum. Many people who did said they were really sorry they spent so much money for so little in return. This is a personal decision best left to you.
The beach was fantastic! The grounds were immaculate!
I am sure I left out lots of things, but writing reviews is not my forte. The Bavaro Princess was good, not great. But it is not a fault of the staff. Once the remodeling is complete, and the food issues are addressed, perhaps the Bavaro Princess with gain a jewel for her crown.
The true value of any property lies in would I come back? Would I recommend her to a family member or a friend? Yes, I would. Even with the issues we had, they were minor and things that I think can be addressed. Had we approached Guest Services about the construction issues, I am sure they would have moved us to another room. I would also trust that they would communicate to their contracted workers about doing their work and not getting fresh with the women guests.
If you are considering staying at the Bavaro Princess – DO IT! You will be glad you did. All properties will have issues, the good far outweigh the bad at the Bavaro Princess. Just keep in mind some of the things I've written and put them to good use. Just remember, my opinion is just that. I am sure there will be people who have glowing reviews and nothing could ever be bad about the Bavaro Princess, just as some will bash her and say nothing good about her. Myself, take me back tomorrow and I'll be VERY happy!
I have posted over 100 pictures, please have a look and leave any comments.
http://www.worldisround.com/home/kizzer/index.html
| Bavaro Princess | Fernando |
(Translated del Spanish with automatico translator on line by the reviewer)
My wife and I, traveled for the second time to White End at the end of October of 2007. The first time did six years and was in November of 2001 that we stayed in the one of that call HOTEL CELEBRATION PALACE that today is called Grand Palladium Palace Resort & Spa, White End. Our stay six years ago was wonderful and if it wanted to put to him some beats would have to lie.
Of this time, I did not want to repeat hotel, and I chose the one that without counting the Grand Palladium seemed at its moment better to me.
I went to the Bavaro Princess. I looked for I surround similar to the Grand Palladium, where the treatment outside the best thing, the facilities of the best thing, the calm atmosphere to relax and all easy and comfortable one. Tapeworm doubts if to go to the Natura Park or the Bavaro Princess, but by Internet, I were investigating and everybody that Park towards for diverse reasons thought bad of Natura, but in one agreed everybody; the quality of the food. As I to the food he is something to which I give much importance him praises/pours off me by the Bavaro Princess, where in all the bad opinions that I read, none towards reference to the food. In which if it agreed everybody that spoke bad of the Bavaro Princess was in the quality of the rooms, but I to that did not give much importance him and also I thought the form to solve it.
First it is of justice to recognize all the people who have complained the quality of the rooms that were all the right. Those that spoke of great cockroaches in the rooms to recognize that they were right. Those that they spoke of humidities, old baths, dirts, etc... were right. Those that they spoke of bad scents in the rooms near when manglar, also were right, even though to my personally it seemed to me a tolerable and nondisagreeable scent perfectly (that either pleasant).
It is certain, the Bavaro Pricess fails resoundingly in that aspect. But, even being importarte this aspect, is another one I personally I consider much worse and with but much disagreeable difference.
Not if the case occurs in all the hotels, single I have personal certainty of which it happens in the Bavaro Pricess and the Flamingo by own experience.
In the Bavaro Princess, by the mornings, they are located strategically by the hotel, perfectly uniformed personnel, trying to locate to the clients who arrived previous night afternoon, to ask to them if they have already received the welcome gift. All this with an exquisite amiability. Like received nonace nothing, you say that and they are not offered personally to acompañarte for dártelo. Your you leave everything for a moment what you had intention to do and you accompany to him. You finish committing the greater error of all your vacations, in a matter of seconds, you sides in people offices full, dance you of person in person, they presented/displayed you to a pile of people and dealed with venderte a participation in a Club of Vacations. The problem is not that they deceive to you and you become partner of the Club, thing that is very difficult, because you must initially disburse a so crazy amount of money, that it is almost impossible that nobody that it really does not want to be partner it does it. The problem comes by all the morning of playita that there are lost by a t-shirt or a bond for a restaurant. The policy of sales that use is but violent, aggressive, ruthless, mentirosa, the cynical one that I have seen in my life (and personally in the professional deal with hundreds of salesmen).
In case already single, this incident, the first day of stay in the hotel, can predisponerte for the rest of your vacations. That a hotel that assumes of the category that assumes to him uses to its clients for a so crawling action he is total and absolutely reproachable and indignante. Personally it makes a complaint in writing in the hotel that single was worth so that they requested excuses to me and they free offered a supper to me in a restaurant (so miserable thing that by principles, it rejects right away).
But problems of the hotel, that compared with previously described are small things without much importance, are the attention of the personnel of the bars. In order to be able to drink something, you must obtain that they pay attention to you in the bar and that can take a good time to you. In the tables of Lobby they do not take care of, single happen to gather the set of dishes that is. Of all the bars of the beach, single one opens. The bar of the small swimming pool never opens. The thematic restaurants to which you must request reserve three days ahead do not open every day and they are them alternating. All this because it is not high season. But, in spite of not being high season, the great swimming pool, a soul does not enter. This absolutely saturated everything. You do not have where to put a towel, not even to the sun. I do not have nor then idea as it can be that in high season.
All this that I say to you, and some things that I keep are absolutely certain and attributable to the one hundred percent to the direction of the hotel Bavaro Princess. Another series of disadvantages that could indicate of the hotel, no longer is direct responsibility of the direction, reason why it would be unjust to emphasize it. The direction of the hotel was noticed that of my arrival of house, it would put in knowledge of all that that it wanted on the matter to read it my opinion on the hotel.
If some of vosotr@s wishes detailed information but it can ask for it in my electronic mail frdacosta1@yahoo.com.br to me where with pleasure I will take care of all the one that it wants.
A greeting, and if you go on a trip, happy vacations.
| Bavaro Princess | Joseph |
Debbie, yes it's a beautiful resort. It just needs a lot of work on it's infra structure. And tell people to try not to get themselves hurt while they're there. I was nearly electricuted by a faulty hot dog warmer they had at the beachside cafe area. It was total negligence on their part cause less than an hour before I got zapped, another vacationer got 2 shocks just by placing her hands on the metal counter that the warmer was on. Her husband showed the guy behind the counter that the unit had a defective ground and told him they better replace the unit before somebody gets seriously hurt or killed. However, I guess the guy was just interested in moving the hot dogs cause he plugged the unit back in and when I stepped up to get mine, I was sent flying backwards head over heals. The only factor that saved me was when I flew backwards I must have caught the unit with the prongs and knocked it off the counter and it unplugged. Otherwise, I wouldn't have been here today telling you about it. The best part was when they said they were sorry and said I could have free room service for that evening WOW-WEE. Fortunately I was leaving the next day and after filling out the accident report the wonderful guest services manager, Mr. Vargas, tells me he's sorry and offers me nothing for almost dying at his resort. To add insult to injury I spoke with about 3 lawyers and they said there's probably not much you could do.
| Bavaro Princess | Scott and Kathy |
We travelled to the Bavaro Princess for a family vacation. We are a family of six and had three rooms. We really enjoyed this resort and found it to be very beatuiful. It really is a large resort as everyone says but we were very lucky to be in Villa 3 right by the beach and pool area. All the action is around this area so we had very little walking. We would take the tram up to the main lobby in the evening for the evening shows. The evening shows were just ok but entertaining. The room was very nice and our air worked perfectly. Sure they need to be updated but I see no problems with them. They are really large in size. The food is ok although not a five star as stated . I would give this resort a 4 star rating. We ate in two of the speciality restaurants Chopin and El Graunte ( steakhouse and may be spelled wrong). Chopin is a buffet but more of a elegant buffet and it was our favourite. The steak house was ok and we laughed as we all ordered something different and each got the same thing. But we ate it anyway as we were not there to complain, we were here to have a great time and we did. The pool is big and has a nice pool bar area. The beach is beatuiful , and had no problems with sea weed, just soft sand as far as you wanted to go out. We walked the beach and found that annoying as you have the Paradisus on one side and the Occidential Flamingo on the other side. Both had time share people bug you as you walked by so that was annoying and I swear they would come into the water with you as you walked by.There was no one to bug you at this resort and I didn't even find vendors walking the beach. They say that happens more down by the Rui reosrts but really don't know.The service was great. Although we are not demanding people. as for activities the kids went horseback riding one morning and they pick you up and take you. They said it was fun. I did the snorkeling with the kids another day and really wouldn't do this again. They take you out to a reef about a 15 minute ride. I didn't find alot of fish to see so it was just ok.We walked up one night to the casino and looked in. It looked nice but didn't gamble. We also went shopping across from the casino but the kids didn't like this as they are so pushy and we just didn't feel comfortable being there in the evening. We really liked when they brought the vendors in Thursday night at the resort and found this much more relaxing. We went with Apple Tours. I think they bring alot of people to this resort. One night ( Tuesday) they had a special beach party for Apple guest on the beach. It was really nice and we had steak, lobster etc. This was a nice touch from Apple. So go and have fun at this resort. My advice would be not to get to nuts up about all the negatative reviews you read.A holiday is what you make of it. Would I go back? Yes and no. I would recommend this resort to other people but I like to see different resorts until I find the perfect one. I have been to Dominician four times. Most to the Puerto Plata area. PUnta Cana does have the best beaches but if very quiet and not much to do. Puerto Plata area has more to do for shopping, night life etc. I find the resorts are no different. I have stayed at 3,4 and 5 stars resort and really haven't notice much difference. Have fun.
| Bavaro Princess | Gary |
This was our third trip to Punta Cana, second to Bavaro Princess. In past years we traveled as three, but this year we had a group of twelve people. We departed from Newark, New Jersey on a direct flight with USA 3000. The flight was on-time, we went through baggage claim and security checkpoints, and arrived at the resort around noon. Prieto Tours did a good job in helping us with our bags and boarding the bus.
Check-In
| Bavaro Princess | Michael |
My fourth trip to DR and my first to Bavaro Princess. I love DR and this last trip in August was no exception. I was a little concerned about the size of this property, but the trams were very efficient and our room was an easy walk to the beach and pool.
If you like slot machines, skip the casino. The machines look and act like recycled, refurbished machines from years ago. The table games are fine, in fact I won three hundred dollars the first night and gave most of it back in subsequent trips to the Tower Casino. My wife and I had no gastrointestinal problems. The food was varied enough to allow everyone to find at least something they liked. I never had a decent piece of beef, except at Tempura which foodwise was the highlight of the trip. The table side chef wasn't as polished as others I've experienced, but he was very personable and the food was A-1. We had great service...friendly and efficient throughout our one week stay. We had one beetle in our room each of two different nights...but good grief folks we're in a tropical ecosystem. I'm more concerned about the dangers of what they spray in order to avoid complaints about critters. One of the finest excursions I've ever taken, anywhere, was the "Outback Safari". Our guide "Danny-Boy" was magnificent...knowledgeable, funny, and truely an expert guide. I would recommend this trip to anyone. In all of my trips to the DR I have made reservations to go to the "special restaurants" on the resorts. I've concluded that for the most part, it isn't worth shedding shorts for long pants....which is supposed to be required. I've never seen that rule enforced and this trip was no different. And one other observation about these reservation restaurants...they usually try very hard to be rather formal. Fancy menus, over-dressed waiters, pretentious attitudes everywhere, and way too much silverware.....okay I'm a blue-collar-origin, socialist-at-heart, bleeding heart liberal college prof. But here's the rub. All the pretentiousness is truely silly if they screw-up my order and fill my half drunk glass of white wine with water. Okay these things happen, I don't really mind, because I'm on vacation in a very poor country, trying to do their best to cater to some mental image of a typical tourist. These places are beach clubs...very nice beach clubs, but they are not the Ritz-Carlton. I believe you can only be disappointed if you have unreasonable expectations. The climate is beautiful, the scenery is magnificent, the people are terrific, especially if you are friendly. Tipping isn't required, but it often gets you little extras and from what I can figure these resort workers average about 80-90 cents per hour....they really live on tips. I don't tip everybody, but I do look for reasons to tip, not for reasons not to.
| Bavaro Princess | Mike and Deb |
We are planning our second trip to the Bavaro Princess in Punta Cana very soon and decided to check out the latest reviews. We couldn't believe the negative comments that were being written. Our experience was fabulous! The resort, the people, the food and of course the beautiful beach left nothing but wonderful memories for both of us. We travelled with Air Canada and went platinum which gave us a beautiful room close to the ocean with everything mentioned in the hotel overview. Check in and check out was a breeze. The resort was beautiful, well maintained..clean, clean, clean. We were very close to the platinum lounge which made it convienient to check our email from home and every morning my husband would walk over to the Lounge to get warm milk for our coffee which we enjoyed sitting on the terrace watching the local lizards doing their exercises on the Palm tress,(you had to be there to get it). Afterwards we would head down to the beach to enjoy breakfast overlooking the ocean. The food was great albeit different from home but you are there for the whole experience and you should expect it to be different from what you may be used to. You don't have to speak much Spanish to fit right in and the whole staff work very hard to make sure your stay is great. We spent all day on the beach and met so many wonderful people from all over. Everyone we met agreed that this was the most beautiful beach in the world and were really impressed overall. The a la carte restaurants were great. We even took advantage of one of the restaurants at another resort as per our package. The Buffets had so much variety that it was difficult to choose and everything was presented so nicely. We also found the service i.e. @ the bars etc to be excellent, never waited more than a minute or two for a drink. Yes we did tip a little but did so because we know how little these people actually make and wanted to give back. I also brought along little gifts for the maid that cleaned our room i.e; lipstick, hair clips, chocolate and such. The Resort does offer some entertainment in the evening but we found that after a full day playing on the beech we would rather enjoy the evening in our room quietly together. - Anyway I could go on and on trust me:-) Bottom line is if you are looking for a great get-away in the DR the Bavaro Princess in Punta Cana is the place to go!!!
| Bavaro Princess | Cindy |
First Hurricane Dean did not impact our stay. The weather was amazing, and Saturday was rainy and windy only. Sunday.....all sunshine and warmth all over again.
Overall we were pleased with the resort, not having high expectations as we have been to true 5 star in the past. But this is a 3.5 star at best. It was a first for our children and they were very happy. However the Platinum upgrade didn’t offer much value given the two internets were constantly “used/abused” by guests. it wasn’t until after my suggestion to post a time limit on the last day that it was done. Check in was very slow, and no checkout, we had to go to the main one, as the computers were down. Trams were often full by the time they got to our lounge for pick up because so many people got on at the beech. What would be better is if they reversed the direction of the route, giving platinum guests some tram seating advantage. Another downer was the bed bug bites my husband and I received on our necks, backs and shoulders. We arrived home on Sunday August 19th, 2007 and had them reviewed…..yes bug bites. We stayed in room 778 make sure that mattress gets checked and replaced. Licey Restaurant is the crown jewel for food preparation, taste and service. The buffett and rest of the a la cartes are all the same. Buffet food, delivered to your table, truly no difference and the service not very good. What we did enjoy very much was the resort's beauty, animals and activities. Having the second pool that is quiet was a great feature, the one near the beech was too loud at times with Bavaro staff doing comercials for their activities and evening presentations. Kids Club was Great for the children.
| Bavaro Princess | Rob & Dara ~ Alberta, Canada |
We travelled with four friends (2 other couples) to celebrate our 10th wedding anniversary and renew our wedding vows. This was our 3rd trip to Punta Cana, DR since 2004 but our first time to the Bavaro Princess. We absolutely love this tropical island and it's people, so we keep going back, and we?ve been looking forward to staying at the Bavaro Princess since the last time we were here. We travelled with Air Canada Vacations and stayed in an Oceanview Platinum Club room close to the beach. We had also pre-booked the "Infinity Renewal of Vows Ceremony" with Francelia the wedding coordinator (she's great).
Overall, we had a fabulous 2-week vacation and wouldn't hesitate to go back to the BP again. From the flight, to the airport shuttle, to the Platinum Club check-in - everything went very smoothly. Francelia had our "wedding" package all ready for us. We choose to do the ceremony on the beach at 4:00 pm - it was beautiful and we were blessed with a clear blue hot sunny day.
The food at the main buffet and in the a la carte restaurants was the best we?ve had so far in the DR - with a good selection of local and international dishes. The food and wine was also more flavourful this visit too. I won't get into too many details because everyone has such varied tastes, however I highly recommend trying as much variety as you can. The dinner buffet themes change daily. Our favourite a la carte was the Fondue restaurant at the Punta Cana Princess. Staying at the BP also includes the use of Princess Hotels other three resorts next door (Tropical Princess, Caribe Club, and Punta Cana Princess) which greatly adds to your selection of a la carte and buffet restaurants. The BP even drives you and picks you up at the different resorts if you want to enjoy one of the other resorts a la carte restaurants.
The Platinum club "upgrade" was GREAT and totally worth it (I don't think you need it to enjoy your stay though unless you value what it offers). It included a separate check-in in the Platinum Club, use of the Platinum Club lounge (including special conceirge, domestic and international drinks and some light food choices, interest access, DVD's to borrow, easy bookings for all al la carte meals & excursions), robes, beach towels in your room, nightly turn down service, a 20 min. massage, 1/2 of motorized watersports, & cigars. We used the Platinum Club FREQUENTLY - as a meeting place for our friends, to get water or a nice adult beverage every time we went to catch the tram, to use the internet, read the newspapers, check the weather forecasts, or just to hang out while enjoying a nice cold Presidente beer. I can?t say enough good things about the Platinum Lounge. The conceirge staff were always attentive, friendly and available to help with anything we needed.
The spa is very nice, and my wife and I enjoy our massages. We went for a couples massage in the spa (both of us in the same room at the same time), and we also went for another massage outdoors by the pool area. Different staff and different venues provide for a different massage experience. The Bavaro Princess did not disappoint in this regard either.
The beach is of course - amazing - and one of the nicest around. The rooms were very clean - I think we maybe saw one ant in the bathroom.
Other memorable things from this vacation was taking a dip in the ocean at night; the excursions we did - quading, parasailing, Soana island, and Helidosa helicopter ride (this was the best thing we've ever done for an excursion - VERY COOL); our tropical anniversary ceremony; walking through the immaculate mature grounds and mangroves at the BP while enjoying the flora and fauna and wildlife (turtles, ducks, flamingos, peacocks, ducks, parrots); the tram rides through the resort (very convenient); and drinking out of a coconut freshly cut down from a palm tree outside our room and turned into a coconut cup for me by one of the groundskeepers.
We do enjoy bringing some small gifts for the maids or staff and giving the odd tip here and there, but the most important thing to remember is?.although it is very appreciated by them, it's not expected and you will get the same great service either way. You don't have to tip or give a gift to get a friendly smile or "Hola" or to get service. Alternatively, it doesn't cost anything to give someone a friendly smile and "Hola" too. One of my favourite parts of the vacation is to try and talk to the staff/ locals as much as I can in Spanish and to use the Spanish I know as much as possible - they appreciate it too.
This was definitely a fabulous vacation and an anniversary trip to remember. We met some peope who were already absolutely frustrated with the resort and upset on their first day - these people would have probably felt the same way no matter where they were because of their attitude or their personality. Believe me, they are not the majority. Many other people we met, really enjoyed this resort too. Everything considered? the BP deserves it's 5-star rating. It's all about attitude. It's your vacation so make the most of it, and keep your expectations in check.
Try this resort out - it's definitely worth it and have an amazing time.
| Bavaro Princess | Violet ~ Canada |
We spent Christmas 2006 at the Bavaro Princess and at that time, I failed to post a review. Having just returned from another fabulous vacation at the BP, I thought it time to finally express my thoughts on this wonderful hotel. Both times, check-in was quite efficient and we were fortunate to get into our rooms almost immediately. We found the rooms to be quite comfortable and spacious. The fridge and small kitchenette were restocked without fail every day. There were always plenty of towels (and hot water!) and I loved the full length mirrors on the closet doors. The hotel lobby is very inviting and was particularly beautiful during our Christmas visit. The grounds are immaculate and the wildlife sanctuary is a very nice touch. Bavaro beach never disappoints. There were always plenty of loungers and palapas. We loved being able to walk endlessly on the beach in both directions. We all thought the food was fantastic. I don't eat red meat and I had no problem finding a wide variety of vegetable, poultry and seafood dishes. There was a great selection which changed on a nightly basis and I particularly enjoyed "Dominican Night" as I got to try things that I normally wouldn't eat. I'm big on breakfast and I must say, the morning buffets at Hispaniola made me want to stay forever. None of us became ill; in fact, I ended up gaining a couple of pounds. Service was very friendly - everyone from the guys at reception to the wait staff / chefs at the restaurants to the maids / groundskeepers always had a smile and a "hola" ready. We've been to the Dominican seven times now. Although I think we may go to La Romana (another favourite of ours) next time or perhaps, give Samana a try, when we inevit