Riu Palace Bavaro - All Inclusive

Customer Ratings & Reviews

TripAdvisor Traveler Rating

11149 reviews

• 

  My rating is 7 out of 10

  Walking into the room was a pungent smell. There is no pharmacy even though there are signs giving directions that leads to nowhere. There is no emergency number to call if any arises late at night and most of the walkways that connects the outer guest quarters are not properly lit. There are about 5 or 6 restaurants of which one should be Mexican, but there is none. The restaurant is an extention of the Buffet restaurant. Do not try signing up for the internet service because it doesn't work and they would argue that because you signed up for it, you have to pay. The food is plentiful and good and the entertainment is not bad.

  Feb 10, 2026
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  Elite Club

  As we’ve been here 7 times there’s little left for me to say about the resort in general other than excellent. So I thought I would discuss the Elite Club. Through many posts on different platforms I have seen a mixed review for Elite Club so I want to start by saying everyone has a choice and Riu has provided us with a choice. Yes it’s a little more expensive but as soon as you enter the front door your taken to a separate check in desk for a flawless check in. Then your taken to the far end of the resort to the better rooms where there is an Elite pool and cabanas on the beach BTW Elite is adults only. The rooms are on the quieter side of the resort but as Elite you can go anywhere but Elite is just for Elite. We had a private restaurant and a private lounge with top shelf alcohol and the best waitstaff the resort has to offer. There are a number of other Benifits to the Elite club upgraded room service exclusive Breakfast area late check out etc. was it worth it for us absolutely are we doing it again next February it’s in the plan. Is it for everyone that’s something you need to decide, for us we won’t go any other way

  Feb 10, 2026
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  Amazing stay! Second time at this resort

  Check-in: Smooth and very fast, just the way I like it. Thank you very much Marcos. Breakfast Buffet: Thanks to Manuel, Laura, and Alvaro. Fast service for my cappuccinos. Very satisfied with the breakfast buffet selection. Lunch Buffet: Wonderful service and great attitude from Yomelin and Robert. Very satisfied with the lunch buffet selection. For dinner, I went a few times to the buffet, a few times to the steakhouse, and a few times to the Elite restaurant. Very satisfied with the welcome, the service, and the culinary experience. Lobby Bar: Frank and Daniella are the best , service is always well done and fast. Manager Eric does an amazing job ensuring guest satisfaction. Thank you Eric for the warm welcome and the conversations throughout my stay! Greetings as well to David (another manager), who also does a wonderful job. Finally, thank you to Marilyn my housekeeper. it's resort with a wonderful atmosphere and an incredible vibe See you next year guys! Rod Poulin

  Feb 09, 2026
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  Palace, no and we’ve been to a few!!

  Where do we start? We only go to Riu Palace Hotels because we like the quality & experience. Sadly not this time! I’ll do the positives first. Plenty of sunbeds, no rush to get them, even at 9 there were plenty left. Pools all different and again choose where you want to be. Bar staff at pool bar were friendly, some more than others! Main buffet restaurant was good size, you could eat inside or out depending on personal preferences. Towels are available early, you can get more than your 1 pp they seemed very happy to let you have more. Rooms were good standard, roomy and cleaned every day. Good choice of restaurants if you want to eat differently, but some get more busy than others. Gym is small for size of hotel but adequate , you can probably fair better during the day or early tea time. We’re not beach people but it seemed very popular. Staff at restaurants were pleasant and if you went to same buffet area they got to know your drink order, shout out to Francisca, lovely lady. Great coffee shop to have a nice hot drink after dinner. Books are hard to find if you want to replenish your reads, but they’re in reception, you need to ask to look in their cupboard, but there was a good mix, and I left some behind. The negatives, mosquitoes, no, not the hotels fault, but we were both bitten terribly here, so be warned! Noisy people, had no respect at 2am shouting up corridors on their way back from the party. Flies around the food, there was only fly prevention at the kebab area, no other measures put in place, they’re over the food, plates, everywhere. Now going to other palaces, we know they all have issues, but appear to use preventative measures. This actually put me off the food. I always delved for the middle of the salad or waited for fresh meat to be placed, and never took the top plate! The hotel is large, so therefore busy. If you prefer a sedate holiday, don’t come here. Not many English people are at this hotel at all. We didn’t really meet any other Brits, although we knew there were a few. It’s very much an American-Mexican domain. We won’t be coming back here, it didn’t feel like a Palace hotel, more an ordinary Riu. I emailed the hotel a few weeks before we arrived to enquire about Elite Club, didn’t even get a response! When we arrived we enquired too, told no room, fair enough, can’t seem to book this with TUI! Our weather wasn’t brilliant either, not the hotel’s fault, but didn’t help what was already a disappointing stay.

  Feb 08, 2026
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  Best Solo Vacation Spot

  It was a great time! They are quick to respond to any requests, but make sure you lock up any and ALL valuable items. Unfortunately my Beats headphones were taken (but I accidentally broke them on the plane to DR so it was a total loss anyways LOL). The food was good, the steakhouse restaurant?? Amazing. Buffet was good and the food court was alright. It is a huge resort so take some time to explore and map out what you want to do everyday. Overall, I would come back in a heartbeat!

  Feb 06, 2026