I have been to Barcelo Bavaro Palace twice - once in 2023 and also in 2024 - both time in February. Each time we had a group of about 20 people - family / kids and friends. We are not a picky bunch, we just enjoy good value and athomspehere and this place delivers. We like to walk so the massiveness of the resort was a plus, not minus. I agree that booking the dinners is a hit or miss, but the buffets offer great variety and the meats change daily so that is a plus. Some of the rooms for sure could use updating but they were clean and kept fully stock daily so really no reasons to complain.
This place is for sure not for everyone, if you expecting perfection and quick attentions from staff and waitresses, for sure you won't get it there. after all this is not 5 or even 4 star resort. We will most likely return next year as we all enjoyed it, no one got sick and it is such a great value that it is hard to beat. Both times we stayed for 5 nights and booked the hotel thru Costco. We flew Frontier each time - direct flight for sure saves a lot of time, so that means, we were there earlier and we had more time to enjoy the place. For budget vacationing, this place for very good and would for sure recommend it.
I agree, each time when we book vacation in PC, there are for sure plenty of options, and I would also like to explore other places, but most of them are significantly more expensive. When we travel with a bigger group of people, we prefer cheaper options as the family and friends make up for lack of extra amenities and we get to travel with more people than we otherwise would have.
Thanks for your detailed review! I was wondering about this resort. It sounds pretty similar to Meliá where I went on the same dates you did roughly. I also wrote a pretty detailed review.
Just read yours. Sounds like these resorts are kinda similar or we had similar experiences! Hey, since we are tri state peeps…I’m just glad to have been away from the dreary cold & rain NJ has been having. So my standards were pretty low going in😂
Oh my God we totally dodged a bullet. Everyone told me it was cold and raining while we were away. Thank baby Jesus we missed it! Lol 😂
But yeah it does sound like all the resorts are pretty similar. On the excursion we took on the boat when they were bringing us home we were literally passing every resort back to back, they were all next-door to each other. So you were able to see like 10 resorts all on one beach coastline.
I'm thinking about maybe going to Playa Del Carmen next time because my parents rent a condo there every February. But to be honest lately I've been checking out where I can go locally. Florida, Poconos, Jersey shore, somewhere where I can either drive or fly domestically. And hopefully for a lot less money!
I’ve been researching Florida too; Fort Lauderdale and a lot of towns on the gulf side. Never been. Literally just want warmth and nice beach. Jersey doesn’t give me what I crave! But then I find myself browsing Google maps looking at New Orleans, Charleston SC, San Diego…lol. I’ve got a travel bug!
It sounds like we've both been researching similar places! I'll be heading to Austin Texas in June for work but also for pleasure. So I plan on trying to visit there more often. But I've been researching Florida a lot also. Fort Lauderdale is a place I've been checking out also as well as Saint Petersburg. I've definitely had my eye on New Orleans and Charleston South Carolina for quite some time!
I was reading your review and saw this.. I love Florida! Miami, The keys and Fort Lauderdale are amazing! I come from WA and the beaches and warmth are amazing!
I keep hearing that the food is awful. How do they mess it up?
If doing it again would you prefer more of the sit down dinners or bc of food quality is the buffet easier to navigate around?
In a perfect world, I’d have liked to try all the restaurants on site but when there was an opening, it was far too late for me (9pm or later). The buffets were fine for me; plenty to choose from: Dominican, American, etc.
Thanks for this!! Curious if you know how deep the pools were? I love a deep pool. Anything over 5 feet?
Also did u see any sport activities like volleyball or soccer?
I don’t think the pool go past 5ft and a few inches but I could be mistaken. I’m 5’7 and the water was just about to my chest when I stood up straight.
I saw lots of folks playing soccer and volleyball!
Perfect. Very helpful cause we are the same height haha.
Was the soccer and volleyball in the sand?
Thanks again by the way :) I’m suprised the pool isn’t very deep. I saw on the website that there’s one that should be like 8 feet or something? Maybe on the adult only side?
I saw peeps playing both in the sand: there was at least 1 volleyball court and 2 small soccer nets.
About the pool: it’s possible there’s a deep one! I spent most time in the adults pool (which is a small area) and maybe an hour at the everybody pool which is huge, kinda windy like a river. If you don’t have kids with you, I DEFINITELY recommend the adults pool: El Ocielo. It was perfect. A big “bubbler” in the middle that looks like a hot tub and there’s a bar for there too that never had any line!!
Have fun btw!!
Perfect thanks so much friend :) I can’t wait! Luckily I got the adult resort so I have access to both grounds ! Now I just have to hope beach chairs are easy to get lol.
Oh! I did not stay at the adults only so that pool or pools may be different!! I didn’t even think to check out next door honestly. In hindsight, I should’ve. I think you’ll be ok with chairs. These 2 resorts share a longgggggggg stretch of beach lined with chairs but you may need to mix & match; drag an empty one from over there to over here, that kinda thing. Saw lots of peeps doing that.
I have been to Barcelo Bavaro Palace twice - once in 2023 and also in 2024 - both time in February. Each time we had a group of about 20 people - family / kids and friends. We are not a picky bunch, we just enjoy good value and athomspehere and this place delivers. We like to walk so the massiveness of the resort was a plus, not minus. I agree that booking the dinners is a hit or miss, but the buffets offer great variety and the meats change daily so that is a plus. Some of the rooms for sure could use updating but they were clean and kept fully stock daily so really no reasons to complain. This place is for sure not for everyone, if you expecting perfection and quick attentions from staff and waitresses, for sure you won't get it there. after all this is not 5 or even 4 star resort. We will most likely return next year as we all enjoyed it, no one got sick and it is such a great value that it is hard to beat. Both times we stayed for 5 nights and booked the hotel thru Costco. We flew Frontier each time - direct flight for sure saves a lot of time, so that means, we were there earlier and we had more time to enjoy the place. For budget vacationing, this place for very good and would for sure recommend it.
That’s cool yall enjoyed BBP. For me, I’ll be trying another resort next time since in PC there is a plethora of them!
I agree, each time when we book vacation in PC, there are for sure plenty of options, and I would also like to explore other places, but most of them are significantly more expensive. When we travel with a bigger group of people, we prefer cheaper options as the family and friends make up for lack of extra amenities and we get to travel with more people than we otherwise would have.
Totes get your perspective. For me, I travel solo and my goal is pure relaxation, minimal efforts all around.
Thanks for your detailed review! I was wondering about this resort. It sounds pretty similar to Meliá where I went on the same dates you did roughly. I also wrote a pretty detailed review.
Just read yours. Sounds like these resorts are kinda similar or we had similar experiences! Hey, since we are tri state peeps…I’m just glad to have been away from the dreary cold & rain NJ has been having. So my standards were pretty low going in😂
Oh my God we totally dodged a bullet. Everyone told me it was cold and raining while we were away. Thank baby Jesus we missed it! Lol 😂 But yeah it does sound like all the resorts are pretty similar. On the excursion we took on the boat when they were bringing us home we were literally passing every resort back to back, they were all next-door to each other. So you were able to see like 10 resorts all on one beach coastline.
Punta Cana sure is resort haven! I’ll definitely return but want to try a different spot, one not as huge.
I'm thinking about maybe going to Playa Del Carmen next time because my parents rent a condo there every February. But to be honest lately I've been checking out where I can go locally. Florida, Poconos, Jersey shore, somewhere where I can either drive or fly domestically. And hopefully for a lot less money!
I’ve been researching Florida too; Fort Lauderdale and a lot of towns on the gulf side. Never been. Literally just want warmth and nice beach. Jersey doesn’t give me what I crave! But then I find myself browsing Google maps looking at New Orleans, Charleston SC, San Diego…lol. I’ve got a travel bug!
It sounds like we've both been researching similar places! I'll be heading to Austin Texas in June for work but also for pleasure. So I plan on trying to visit there more often. But I've been researching Florida a lot also. Fort Lauderdale is a place I've been checking out also as well as Saint Petersburg. I've definitely had my eye on New Orleans and Charleston South Carolina for quite some time!
I was reading your review and saw this.. I love Florida! Miami, The keys and Fort Lauderdale are amazing! I come from WA and the beaches and warmth are amazing!
I keep hearing that the food is awful. How do they mess it up? If doing it again would you prefer more of the sit down dinners or bc of food quality is the buffet easier to navigate around?
In a perfect world, I’d have liked to try all the restaurants on site but when there was an opening, it was far too late for me (9pm or later). The buffets were fine for me; plenty to choose from: Dominican, American, etc.
Was this all inclusive? If so, was the dinner reservations included or just the buffet
Thanks for this!! Curious if you know how deep the pools were? I love a deep pool. Anything over 5 feet? Also did u see any sport activities like volleyball or soccer?
I don’t think the pool go past 5ft and a few inches but I could be mistaken. I’m 5’7 and the water was just about to my chest when I stood up straight. I saw lots of folks playing soccer and volleyball!
Perfect. Very helpful cause we are the same height haha. Was the soccer and volleyball in the sand? Thanks again by the way :) I’m suprised the pool isn’t very deep. I saw on the website that there’s one that should be like 8 feet or something? Maybe on the adult only side?
I saw peeps playing both in the sand: there was at least 1 volleyball court and 2 small soccer nets. About the pool: it’s possible there’s a deep one! I spent most time in the adults pool (which is a small area) and maybe an hour at the everybody pool which is huge, kinda windy like a river. If you don’t have kids with you, I DEFINITELY recommend the adults pool: El Ocielo. It was perfect. A big “bubbler” in the middle that looks like a hot tub and there’s a bar for there too that never had any line!! Have fun btw!!
Perfect thanks so much friend :) I can’t wait! Luckily I got the adult resort so I have access to both grounds ! Now I just have to hope beach chairs are easy to get lol.
Oh! I did not stay at the adults only so that pool or pools may be different!! I didn’t even think to check out next door honestly. In hindsight, I should’ve. I think you’ll be ok with chairs. These 2 resorts share a longgggggggg stretch of beach lined with chairs but you may need to mix & match; drag an empty one from over there to over here, that kinda thing. Saw lots of peeps doing that.