Riu Palace Bavaro - All Inclusive

Customer Ratings & Reviews

TripAdvisor Traveler Rating

11187 reviews

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  Great place to go for a winter getaway vacation

  This was our second visit to the RIU Palace Bavaro after their renovations in 2024. The Bavaro is the largest of the RIU resorts in Punta Cana but it is easy to walk the entire grounds without needing some type of shuttle. We liked the added food court near the beach and pool areas. No need to change from your swim suits to grab a quick lunch. And the food choices are great for both adults and kids. For dinner the buffet has endless choices and a nightly theme. Then the 6 other restaurants offer unique options as well. Our favorite was the steakhouse. Get there by 6:00 for the best chance at dining if you aren’t in an elite room. This resort has top shelf liquors and also a few different beer choices. I like Dos Equis amber but you can only get it at the American Country restaurant unless you make friends with your server and add a tip. The staff is very friendly and always go out of their way to make your vacation enjoyable. A small tip will help them remember you when you want something unique. The beach is one of the best in the world and you can safely walk many miles in either direction. At the swim up bar look for Yohan or Victor to make your favorite drink or a celebration shot. The entertainment staff is fun and always looking to include guests in games. But they won’t push you out of your comfort zone. I enjoy riding the waves and you can get a boogie board at the Scuba Caribe stand. My only wish was that they would ease up on the red flag. I often saw other resorts allowing boogie boards which require yellow flag days but our resort would say no. I bet they don’t even have a green flag. The Bavaro is unique because it has a family or kids section that has it’s own swim up bar plus a play land pool. Some guests felt they should bring their kids into the adult swim up bar pool which is NOT allowed. Unfortunately those people can make it unpleasant for partying adults when they don’t think rules apply to them. The staff do their best to keep everyone happy and we have met new friends from all over the world while staying at the Bavaro. You won’t regret staying at this resort.

  Feb 25, 2026
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  Great facilities and delightful staff

  We travelled as a family group of 10 of mixed ages. The resort is beautiful, exceptionally clean and the staff were delightful. Things we loved - the interconnected family room was huge and great for two adults with two young teens. The four Riu hotels were interconnected along the beach. A few of us ran this promenade each day and the scenery is beautiful. The fact you can leave the hotel grounds but stay within the security zone of the larger resort was great. The snorkelling boat trip was excellent and comes highly recommended. The rooms, communal areas, paths, pools and restaurants were continually cleaned and always immaculate. The staff at the hotel were hugely attentive and kind from waiters to cleaners and the water sports staff. Things we didn't love - this resort has a party atmosphere. All of the larger pools have loud music for most of the day, with a huge drinking culture from a large proportion of guests. There's an on resort club with a themed party most days and lots of effort from the party team to get guests along. All great for the 18+, not so great for kids/younger teens or family groups. We love to have a drink and some fun on holiday, but it was giving 18-30 holiday vibes at points and some of the pools were grim by mid afternoon. The evening options for family groups who weren't partying were limited. There's a small indoor bar (super loud with limited seating), a huge outdoor entertainment area in front of the stage (really noisy if you're not interested in watching the show and a bit soulless) or a large sports bar (loads of screens and lacking any atmosphere). An outdoor bar, with lounge seating and a chilled vibe would have been a great addition for us and we felt it was missing. We had a great time - the scenery, climate and locals were fantastic. Overall the resort was just a bit too big, noisy and boozy for us.

  Feb 25, 2026
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  First Time at Rio Bavaro

  The resort is absolutely stunning. Very spread out, lots of food options, it was a great choice and I would go back for sure.

  Feb 20, 2026
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  A great family vacation!

  This resort was the perfect size for our family of four (2 adults and 2 teens). There was lots of variety that kept us busy and happy every day. The resort is beautiful, clean, and immaculately maintained. The highlight was the beach and ocean, but the pools were excellent as well. Service was fantastic. The food wasn’t as good as other resorts we’ve been to in Mexico, but there were still lots of options to keep all of us happy. The nightly entertainment was sometimes great and other times just okay, but that wasn’t a big deal for any of us. This is a resort that we’d definitely return to again.

  Feb 20, 2026
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  Fabulous Vacation!

  We had an absolutely wonderful trip to Punta Cana and give this resort very high marks! This beautiful resort is very large and very well maintained. The rooms are spacious, clean and comfortable. What I found impressive is the wonderful customer service. The staff are professional, friendly, courteous and helpful. Several of them went above and beyond to ensure we were enjoying our visit. This was my fifth time visiting DR and this resort is by far the absolute best. Great destination for families too, there is a section that caters to young children, it’s great! My family and I agree that we will definitely return!

  Feb 19, 2026