Grand Bavaro Princess- All Inclusive

Customer Ratings & Reviews

TripAdvisor Traveler Rating

17454 reviews

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  Grand Bávaro Princess – Honest 10-Day Experience

  We stayed at the Grand Bávaro Princess for 10 days, and this review is meant to give future guests a realistic and balanced picture of what to expect. The main concern is not simply that the resort feels closer to a 3.5-star property. The bigger issue is that it is advertised and sold as a 5-star all-inclusive experience, with amenities and service standards that were simply not there during our stay. When you pay a premium price expecting a higher-end vacation and receive a mid-range experience instead, it naturally creates disappointment. On the surface, the resort looks attractive. The grounds are large, green, and visually appealing, and certain areas are clean and pleasant to spend time in. However, once you stay for several days, the gaps in service, maintenance, and overall quality become much more noticeable. A true 5-star resort should deliver consistency across rooms, service, food, amenities, and atmosphere. Here, the experience felt uneven—some good moments, but many frustrations that you would not expect at this price point. Many of the features listed on booking platforms and in the resort’s own materials were either not available, not functioning, or required extra payment. That difference between what is promised and what is actually delivered is the main reason for this review. This is not just about star ratings—it is about transparency and value for money. Customer Service – From the moment we arrived, the service did not feel like a 5-star experience. The bell staff and some front-line employees came across as hostile and rude during our arrival. At one point, I had to ask them to calm down and speak respectfully in English, as the interaction felt uncomfortable and aggressive. Instead of a warm welcome, the first impression felt transactional, which set the tone for the rest of the stay. Throughout the trip, many interactions—especially at the bars—felt driven by tipping rather than genuine hospitality. Some bartenders displayed noticeable attitude, sarcasm, and indifference. Without tipping first, drinks could take an unreasonable amount of time, even when the bar was not busy. Tipping for good service is completely fair, but feeling pressured to tip just to receive basic service is not what you expect from a 5-star all-inclusive. Room Condition – The room was one of the bigger disappointments. There was a strong musty, mold-like smell that stayed with our clothes throughout the trip. The bathroom and shower areas showed visible signs of mold, and the overall condition felt worn and dated—far from what you would expect from a 5-star property. Housekeeping (daily) – Housekeeping replaced the sheets regularly, which was appreciated. However, the minibar—consisting of two canned beers, two small bottles of Coca-Cola, two Sprites, and three bottles of water—was only restocked once during the entire 10-day stay. This was especially concerning because the resort clearly posts signs advising guests not to drink the tap water. We were told at reception that bottled water would be refilled regularly, but that did not happen consistently. Internet (Wi-Fi) – The free Wi-Fi only worked partially around the lobby area. In the rooms, at the beach, or around the pools, it was very difficult or impossible to connect. We paid $18 USD for seven days of “premium Wi-Fi,” but even that only worked in certain spots and was slow and unreliable. For a resort marketed as 5-star, this falls well below expectations. Bars & Beverage Service – This was one of the weakest points of the resort. Service felt completely tip-dependent. Some bartenders showed noticeable attitude and indifference toward guests. Without tipping, drinks could take a long time, even when the bar was quiet. Even simple requests, like two bottles of water, often required tipping first. If you are expecting premium liquor brands like Grey Goose, Jack Daniel’s, or Bombay Sapphire, they are not available unless you are a Platinum member. The standard selection was very limited, mostly basic brands like Gordon’s gin and Stolichnaya vodka, along with lower-tier local options. There was also only one type of beer across the entire resort: Presidente. This makes the beverage program feel very basic for a resort that markets itself as 5-star. Restaurants & Food – Out of the eight restaurants, only four felt close to a decent 4-star standard: Foccaccia, El Gaucho, Tartufo, and Tabanaki. The rest were average and far from a premium dining experience. In addition, the beach restaurant Cafe Del Mar required a $90 USD upfront charge just to dine there. This felt excessive and unnecessary. In many steakhouses in Canada or the U.S., that price would cover a full steak dinner, not simply the privilege of sitting at a beach table. It came across more as a money-grab than part of an all-inclusive offering. Buffet Food – The buffet was decent overall. The selection only changed noticeably every four to five days, but it was still reasonable for what feels like a 3.5-star resort. It was also noticeable that some of the same food items were reused across different restaurants, just presented in different ways. Activities & Amenities – Several amenities advertised online were either not available or not functioning properly. There was no archery, no real casino on the resort, no kayaking, no snorkeling, no windsurfing, and no proper nightclub. A small “silent disco” once a week on Tuesday, where guests wear headphones with three music channels, does not reflect what most people would expect from a nightclub as advertised. Evening entertainment also felt repetitive and lacked variety throughout the stay. The indoor pool table cost $5 USD per game, even for a basic 8-ball game. The outdoor table near the tennis courts had missing balls and very old equipment, and nothing was fixed during our entire stay. The tennis courts themselves felt more like sand and gravel than properly maintained courts, which again does not reflect a 5-star standard. Beach Experience – The beach itself is nice, with white sand and clear water. However, based on our experience, February may not be the best time to visit due to strong winds and cloud cover. Out of our 10-day stay, we only had two truly sunny days. There were also almost no organized beach activities, and vendors approached us every few minutes trying to sell items, which became tiring over time. Compared to destinations like Mexico or Jamaica, the beach experience felt less relaxed. Resort Grounds & Pools – The grounds are large, green, and visually appealing, and the pools were in acceptable, clean condition. Some areas were pleasant to spend time in. However, there was constant traffic from service vehicles and transport carts along the main guest walkways. Instead of having a separate service route, these vehicles regularly drove through the same paths used by guests. This meant stepping aside frequently to let vehicles pass, which again felt more like a mid-range resort experience than a properly planned 5-star property. Overall Experience & Final Verdict – The biggest issue throughout the stay was the gap between what was promised and what was delivered. The service culture, especially at the bars, often felt dismissive and overly casual for a resort that claims to be 5-star. Staff frequently yelled to each other across the bars, laughed loudly, and created an atmosphere that felt more like a busy market than a refined resort environment. After traveling to many destinations and having years of service-industry experience, this level of service and tip-dependent hospitality is simply not what you expect from a 5-star resort. The core issue is not just that the property feels like a 3.5-star experience, but that it is marketed and priced as a premium 5-star vacation. If certain things are important to you—such as true 5-star service, premium liquor, reliable Wi-Fi, accurate amenities, and a calm, professional atmosphere—you should carefully consider these points before booking this resort, as it may not meet those expectations.

  Feb 14, 2026
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  resort inflicted brain injury!!

  Without prejudice and based on my recollection and opinion. Ryan Rhodes Stratford Ontario Canada cell 519 272 7071. A metal shower head blew off and hit me in the occipital part of my head at the resort Feb 3 2025 and I feel they did nothing !! It was an hour before we were scheduled to leave. They offered me medical, No transportation to it, No backup plan for missing the bus and No plane ride home. Guy at the desk just kept saying "I can only offer you medical". Gave me a departure slip and said that I don't need to come back. I could hardly walk or see for over 3 1/2 months. I had to learn to drive again. I had to take therapy for 6 weeks trying to learn to walk better. I had crushing headaches for months and months. Over a year now and I still can't stand or walk right. Cant work or do hardly any household chores. After a year and I am so injured over this that I am scheduled to take acquired brain injury therapy at the hospital for 4 months!! Many doctor's visits. Resort sent me forms to sign off and offered me $474. Wow, I am over $10,000 in expenses, over a year with a lot of pain. I had to even get a hospital bed. I have to pay for people to do things around the house. When I wouldn't accept the $474 they closed the file. I feel they basically told me to go screw off. Sunwing states that they are not liable, they only book the trips and have nothing to do with this. But I see they are still selling this resort trips. I have vision loss problems, constant brain fog, ongoing headaches, balance problems, walking problems, memory. Still can't work. It is over a year now and I am just now somewhat able to do a review.

  Feb 14, 2026
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  Wonderful Week in the Platinum Section

  We just returned from our one-week stay (February 4–11) and had a wonderful experience overall. We chose the Platinum section and were very happy with that decision. As beach lovers, the location was perfect for us. We stayed in Building 67, conveniently located between the Platinum Reception and the Cappuccino Coffee Bar — about a five-minute walk to the beach. Our room faced the Tropical/Caribe/Punta Cana Princess resort (where we stayed two years ago), with a vacant lot in between. While the view wasn’t the highlight, it certainly didn’t matter given how little time we spent in the room. The room itself was one of the nicest we’ve had — very modern, and most importantly a comfortable bed. Toiletries were provided (great for anyone who prefers not to pack full bottles), and the minibar was well stocked with water, pop, and beer. Complimentary full bottles of rum, vodka, and scotch were also included, with additional bottles available for purchase if needed. We appreciated that the room key was part of the resort bracelet — no worrying about lost cards! We used the app to book our à la carte reservations. Reservations open weekly on Sundays for the upcoming week (for example, you can’t book Monday on Saturday). We weren’t limited in the number of restaurants we could try, which was fantastic. The filet mignon at El Gaucho was excellent — I ordered it medium well and it was cooked perfectly. The pizza at Focaccia was also very good. The only slight disappointment was the food trucks, where the fries were cold and my hamburger didn’t seem fully cooked, so I chose not to eat it. Otherwise, we found the food to be very enjoyable. We visited the main lobby area twice for evening entertainment. The theatre space appeared to be set up in a conference-style room and didn’t have programming on the nights we checked. There was live music in the open lobby area, which we enjoyed. We did stop by the sports bar and were surprised that games like pool, air hockey, and foosball had an additional fee. At $8 Canadian for a game of pool, it felt a bit pricey for an all-inclusive resort. Most of our time was spent at the beach. We never had difficulty finding chairs. My husband would head down around 7 a.m., and we would go straight to the beach after breakfast. There is beach service as well as a beach bar. The PBG rooftop bar is a great space, though it can be quite windy and cool in the evenings — I was glad to have a long-sleeved jacket along. One thing to note is that the Platinum section is not adults-only. This didn’t matter for us, but it may be helpful information for others when booking. The majority of the staff were friendly and accommodating. There were a few minor service hiccups, but nothing that detracted from our overall enjoyment. All in all, we truly enjoyed our stay and would absolutely recommend this resort to other travelers looking for a relaxing beach getaway.

  Feb 13, 2026
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  Attention by Eiddy

  The food was delicious. The service 10/10. Eiddy

  Feb 12, 2026
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  My Wife Ended Up in the Hospital Because of the Food Here — Vacation Ruined

  If I could give zero stars, I would. Our “holiday” at Bavaro Princess ended with an ambulance, a hospital bill of USD 1,933 and five days of taking care of my wife in a dark hotel room instead of enjoying beaches and sunshine. She became semi-conscious after eating at the hotel and was diagnosed with a severe bacterial gastric infection at the hospital. We NEVER ate outside the resort. Other members of our group had the same symptoms (just less severe), so this was not “bad luck”, it was a food safety failure. And before anyone suggests that “medical emergencies happen”, let me be clear: the resort is responsible for its food safety. A 5-star all-inclusive should not send guests to the hospital. Now let’s talk about what we paid extra for: the famous “Platinum package”. Here’s what Platinum actually meant for us: • The exclusive Chopin restaurant? CLOSED most of the time. • International drinks? “Sorry, we don’t have it anymore” after one or two servings. • Wi-Fi? Works better at 3 AM than at 3 PM. • Service? Friendly only if you tip BEFORE you get service. We tried dealing with management on site. The reaction felt like: “not our problem”. No urgency, no accountability, no care for guests facing a health crisis. We spent thousands of dollars to have a holiday we couldn’t enjoy and that literally made us sick. This is not a minor complaint — it’s a serious warning to future travelers. Until this hotel fixes its food safety and actually delivers the services it sells, I strongly suggest booking elsewhere.

  Feb 12, 2026