Barcelo Bavaro Palace - All Inclusive

Customer Ratings & Reviews

TripAdvisor Traveler Rating

32234 reviews

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  Excellent Stay Thanks To Jonathan and Ivanessa

  Excellent service from Jonathan and Ivanessa. They took great care of me and the family. Would stay again because of them.

  Dec 30, 2025
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  Great option for a family trip

  Came with family including a toddler, great amenities for everyone! I recommend pay extra for the premium level totally well spend $. A la carte restaurants very nice, specially Kyoto with the hibachi. Beach is clean and calm for kids. Plenty of amenities.

  Dec 30, 2025
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  No Snacking Allowed !

  I wouldn’t return, and here’s why: 1. No snacking culture (and it’s very strange) This resort genuinely does not believe in snacks. You are not allowed to eat at the pool or the beach, not even a piece of fruit. Between breakfast and lunch or lunch and dinner, you’re basically expected to survive on drinks only. When I asked about it, the explanation was that guests sometimes leave food by the pool, take photos, and then post bad reviews about cleanliness. Instead of managing that properly, the solution was to eliminate snacks altogether. So it’s either: • A mojito in hand 🍹 • Or being hungry until the next official meal That’s not what most people expect from an all-inclusive resort. 2. The “trifecta” of things that don’t work This seems to be a pattern, not a coincidence: • Mini-fridge didn’t work • Safe didn’t work • TV didn’t work All three. And after speaking to others, this appears to be common. 3. Excessive walking everywhere The resort is massive, and while that can sound nice in theory, in practice it’s exhausting. • Long walk from the room to the pool • Long walk to restaurants • Long walk to pretty much everything If you’re traveling with kids, older family members, or just want convenience, this becomes frustrating very quickly. Overall While the property is large and visually appealing, the lack of basic snacking, recurring room issues, and long distances make it uncomfortable and inconvenient. For an all-inclusive resort, comfort and accessibility matter. This missed the mark. Would I come back? No.

  Dec 30, 2025
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  Oversold, under delivered.

  We are still at the resort, 2 nights into our 7 night stay. We’re here with 3 other families. The resort grounds are beautiful and well maintained, and the staff we’ve interacted with has been consistently kind and friendly — but unfortunately that’s where the positives largely end. The property itself feels tired. Our room clearly needs attention: peeling or worn paint, tiles literally falling out of the wall, cracked or missing grout in multiple places. It gives the impression of a resort that is cosmetically maintained on the surface, but not truly cared for underneath. There’s a sports bar, but they couldn’t figure out how to get certain sports on the TVs. The pool is excellent, and the kids pool has been a hit with our 5-year-old — but the experience is dampened by constant competition for chairs and the fact that used towels and abandoned belongings sit around for long stretches with no staff clearing them. On top of that, the larger water park area requires an additional fee, which feels nickel-and-dimed considering this is already a premium resort stay. The biggest disappointment, however, is the food program and overall capacity management. The buffet is decent, but it’s routinely overcrowded and struggles to keep up with demand — lines are long and food turnover is slow. Upon arrival, we immediately tried to book reservations at the à la carte restaurants, only to find that most were already fully booked for the entire week. We managed to get a couple of reservations, but none of the restaurants we were most excited about (specifically the Japanese and Mexican options). Because the à la carte restaurants are essentially unavailable, everyone funnels into the buffet — which only makes the overcrowding worse. The final straw was New Year’s Eve. Apparently even the buffet requires a reservation that night due to a “special menu,” and no one informed us of this at any point. By the time we found out, everything was booked except for a 10:00 PM seating — which is not reasonable with a 5-year-old. So we’re now spending New Year’s Eve at a resort with no dining options available to us. We’re here for seven nights, and: • Preferred restaurants were fully booked when we arrived. • The buffet is overwhelmed and understaffed for the volume of guests. • We were given no proactive communication about NYE dining restrictions. • And we’re effectively left to fend for ourselves on one of the most important nights of the stay. It’s frustrating because the resort has so much potential — beautiful grounds, a nice pool, friendly staff — but it simply cannot keep up with the number of guests it’s hosting. The lack of transparency, planning, and capacity management turns what should be a relaxing vacation into a constant logistical hassle. In short: a pretty property that’s aging poorly, oversold beyond its ability to serve guests properly, and managed in a way that prioritizes volume over experience. Two stars feels generous, but fair.

  Dec 30, 2025
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  Not a four star resort

  Nice beach, average food. You can’t upgrade to premium at $200 a night per person- because there are no spots available. Which means you can’t reserve at any of the hotel restaurants. This leaves you to eat at the buffets, which are not good. You can find one item that is freshly cooked, then you are lucky! Staff does not really speak English so be prepared to try or suffer with them ignoring you. Beach is lovely, and quiet. Rooms are decent, though our mini fridge didn’t work and even after we notified them nothing was done. No one answers the phones and you will wait in line at concierge. Check in took 50 minutes and everything is done on paper. No daily schedule of activities or events, only posted on a couple walls.

  Dec 29, 2025