QUOTE=meganmm212;638164]My friend and I are looking to spend a week in the Dominican at the end of June/beginning of July. We want an all-inclusive resort so we dont have to worry about anything but are a little worried that we won't choose a good one. We are looking at the Bavaro Palace. Anyone know anything about that or any other resorts you could recommend?
Thanks![/quote]
Just in case I'm covering information that has already been covered, let it be known that I haven't read further than this first post.
My Bavaro Princess Review
Spent 8 days there just last month.
First trip to DR and never been to any other southern/carribean resorts/locations.
I am PICKY, PICKY, PICKY when it comes to service, but also I don't have to complain about EVERYTHING and I can also be easy to please in some areas.
Food - I only ate at the buffets, was too intoxicated to ever remember to book any of my a la cartes - so my restaurant/food reviews are limited - the dinner buffets at the main lobby (Hispinola restaurante if I remember correct, was the name of it) was a 6.5/7 out of 10 (10 being excellent). There is NO FOOD between 11pm & 12am, other than a couple croissants and coffee/tea (located directly beside the main bar in the main lobby). The other restaurant down by the beach (and pool), again, buffet, serves breakie & lunch...but I don't think they serve dinner buffet style only dinner via reservation - the breakfast there is great, wish I had of known about it sooner than the last couple day of the trip. The lunch -dont' remember if I even ate lunch from the buffet, was usually already under the influence by this time. The "Mac Princess" burger place (located again, on the beach, but literally ON THE BEACH on one side, and one side is on the patio that sits between the buffet restaurant and the burger place) the food there is deep fried hot dogs, fries and burgers, pretty comparable to the North American burger places. They close at 6....as well as the bar right beside them.
Rooms - all suits, very large in comparison to a hotel room. The beds are uncomfortable so make sure you use the extra pillows in the closet. As it is HOT there, there is very little bedding on the beds, but again, there were extra blankets in the closet..and believe me, I like the heat, but keep the room really cool otherwise you'll really notice the humidity in the room. Water pressure was different in each room (I had 2 rooms while I was there, will tell you why in a minute) - and the room I had with better water pressure seemed to come out less clear when I initially turned it on. The lack of clarity in the water didn't last more than 10 seconds though. Was happier to have pressure and "dirty" water for 10 seconds than to have clean water without pressure. I never ran out of hot water, though there were times where you had to turn the hot higher than at other times.
The pool - never used it, but it shuts down I THINK earlier as they put chemicals in around 7pm if I was told correctly. Though it was BEAUTIFUL & HUGE. The largest pool was always busy during the day, but there is another pool, not HUGE, but still large, located really close to the main lobby. Much more quiet and there's a bar there too.
I think the resort has 8 bars in total (main lobby x2, 1 swim up bar includes walk up and then one walk up at the smaller pool, 2 walk ups on beach - one is like a hut located just down on the beach to your right of the pool/restaurant/volleyball area, it plays really loud music, shuts down I THINK around 4/5/6/...something like that - then the restaurant at the beach also is a bar - those are the only ones I can think of right now - of course there are probably bars in each of the restaurants where you need reservations). I think there are a total of 6 restaurants - no complaints about any of them from the other 50 people that I was with - wedding party.
Umm....the beach is PHENOMENOL and HUGE - where I have read about many people at other resorts having a hard time getting loungers and those bed things....sure the beds things were always unavailable, but loungers didn't seem so hard to get.
TIPS - DON'T lose your beach towel - it's easy to do and will cost you.
There is a voicemail option on the phone in your room - I never did figure out how to check it.
THERE ARE NO CLOCKS anywhere, including in your room, and DON'T rely on the time set on the tv itself - I was late for everything for the first two days I was there.
The service was AMAZING, had NO problems with service at all.
I had to get my room moved as my first room, 228, was located near what you will be told is the 'swamp'....but what only a few select will mention is that it is the SEWEGE swamp...and yes, it does have a very pungent smell, however, not many rooms/areas are affected by this. You'll be better off in any room that start with the late 20's - 29, 28 etc. or rooms in the 30 or 40 series buildings. The man at the lobby that helped me change my room came with me to help me move my luggage on the trolly - I thought this was great. I had no problems with smell thereafter. The ground keepers, maids and servers were all wonderful. The entertainment in the main lobby nightly is great, though again, I have nothing to compare it to. But I did rather enjoy it. There are plenty of activities around the resort all day long, and plenty of live entertainment on the beach & by the pool.
The walk from main lobby to beach is HUGE, hence why the resort does have trollies...these are very useful, and they stop running regularily at 12/1 at night, but you can call I think it's 4144 to get one after hours - and it never takes long. The grounds are kept in immaculate condition, and the ground lights are kept on until late, late, late...but never so lit up that they are bothersome to those trying to relax.
The casino and disco inside the casino are nothing to rant and rave about...but they are there, and can be fun. I never played at the casino, but did enjoy myself at the disco there one night.
Then, a couple resorts further north, a short trolley ride away is Arieto...fabulous "club"...or disco as they call it. Runs til 5am, the bartenders to fire shows, they shoot confetti from the ceiling and none the less, drunk or sober is a huge bout of entertainment to say the least.
There is a store, internet cafe and gift shop in the main lobby. I suggest if you're going to go shopping though you head over to the Bavaro plaza, which is literally a 3minute walk to the left when you get to the main gate of Bavaro Princess. Be prepared though, these people are PUSHY PUSHY PUSHY at trying to get you both in their stores and to buy from them. WORK IT THOUGH....shopping in the tourist areas is all about BARTERING...I got them down from 65US for a mahogany wood jewelry box to 28US...it's all about how assertive you are back with them. Don't take their crap and make sure you show them that they can't push you over.
Oh, ya but back to the resort...internet....12/hour which you can break up over 5 days. The code they give you counts down, has 60 mintues on it and expires 5 days after purchase. I do believe there are other ways you can buy internet time, and if you upgrage to the VIP suites...you'll have I THINK unlimited at the lounge that is only for VIP members - most say it's worth it to go into these suites.
Honeymoon suites are ok, nicer inside than the regular suites, but not that much difference, and they are the furthest from the beach. So, it's a toss up...nicer room with jacuzzi and more expensive, plus a bottle of free rum...and a couple other things included...OR a cheaper room that you can get closer to the beach. Though the VIP's should be the honeymoon suites. And there is a plus having your room by the main lobby - if you finish your day off with the entertainment at the lobby, your room is 2 seconds away.
Ok, I think I'm rambeling now....sorry
All in all, I think I've mentioned the worst of it, and really, all those things are bareable for sure. There wasn't really anyone out of the 50 of us who had problems enough to NOT go back to that resort. I would return for sure.
Some of my family has spent much time in DR and said that this was the nicest of all the beaches they have seen.
As far as all inclusive resorts go...it's not likely you are going to find anything but all inclusive...I don't think Punta Cana has them.
Now...didn't catch if you're male or female....BUT watch out for the animacion/animation teams no matter where you go. Apparantly, according to them, Grand Paradise has the best of the best entertainment and shows in all of punta cana, but they fall short everywhere else and they seem to be one of the cheaper ones...at least when traveling from Canada as I've been doing some research myself. The Occidental and Pardisus resorts are VERY expensive, quiet and nice...but not really geared for partiers. Melia resorts (a group of them) are the largest group of resorts around the world, so I do believe they are all more expensive as well.
I don't know what I haven't covered....probably more than what you were looking for.
If you want more info, pics or have any specific questions regarding Bavaro, I'd be more than happy to share with you.
And remember...steer clear of those sankies! LOL...unless you are willing to deal with the sankian way.
I've only found out about it since I've come back...what a change of life I've had!
Good luck, maybe I'll see you down there...I'm going back soon too...June or July -hopefully!
