Bahia Principe Explore Turquesa

The service is what let this resort down for me, especially at reception. Requests were handled without much interest or kindness, and there was a noticeable push for tips that I think can have the opposite effect on European guests. A simple birthday cake for a child couldn't be arranged, and staff gave such confusing directions about the breakfast buffet, which starts at 6:00 a.m., that we couldn't work out where it was, even though maps are available. Sunbeds left “reserved” but empty for hours, sometimes all day, were not addressed either. Some staff seemed burned out or unmotivated. I have stayed at hotels across Europe, Asia, and Africa, and this was among the weaker service experiences. It seemed to affect the whole resort, not only the “Turquesa” section. There are real strengths here: the buildings, grounds, layout, beach, pools, and food selection are impressive. Some staff were excellent, including the chefs, many restaurant workers, the medical team, certain golf cart drivers, and the gentlemen at the gates and by the golf course. The man making morning omelets was an absolute 5/5. Our room had only a limited number of power sockets. I'd choose the cheapest room and skip paying extra for a higher standard that doesn't bring better service. If you think of it as a solid European three-star hotel, you may be satisfied.

We had a strange noise in our room, apparently from the plumbing. Workmen came to listen and tried to fix it, but couldn't stop it. Then Manager Neury (sorry if I spelled that wrong) stepped in and was fantastic. She found us another room, showed it to us herself before we moved our things, and also gave us a bottle of rum and arranged an extra A la Carte meal. We never got to thank her properly for the extra meal, so I hope she sees this. Gracias Neury! We were there for our anniversary and had a great time overall. The drinks were nice, the food really good, service good, and entertainment fun. We liked having shared spaces between the hotels, including pools, bars, and entertainment. The hotel isn't right by the beach, but regular ‘mini cars’ take you there, or it's about a 15-minute walk if you're fit and healthy. Our only other disappointment was housekeeping. The sheets weren't changed very often and bathroom products weren't replenished, so we had to ask. We think it may depend on who does the daily cleaning.

We wanted a more laid-back spring break with friends after the last couple of years, and Bahia Principe Grand Turquesa was a good fit. It wasn't swamped with spring breakers, and there was a fun mix of people from around the world. The resort was very clean, the pools were clean too, the beach was beautiful, and service was top tier. The workers made the stay; we especially liked Franklin at the sports bar/nightclub, Elvio at the sports bar, and everyone at the Turquesa lobby bar. Our Turquesa room was a little run down, and the bed wasn't very comfortable, but it did the job. The AC worked great, and they stocked the mini fridge daily with beer, water, and soda, with as much as we asked for. The Turquesa buffet was mediocre, so be careful about what you eat there; we found the other buffets somewhat better. The A la carte restaurants were phenomenal. Of our three, Rodizio was the weakest but still good, while Maiko and Tequila were incredible. The tepanyaki at Maiko was a blast. Staff were helpful booking excursions, if you want one. Book through the Amstar guys in your lobby, not the salesmen on the beach. I'd love to return with a big group.

After a rough arrival at this property, we upgraded to Bahía fantasia for a fee and were so glad we did. Fantasia was much prettier, closer to the beach, cleaner, had better food, and the service was far better. If you're deciding between properties, I'd recommend paying a little extra to stay at fantasia. I was honestly surprised this one was so highly rated after our experience. We arrived before check-in and had lunch at the buffet, where the food was poor and we had to ask three separate times for water. At 3, our room still wasn't ready, and we returned to the front desk twice more to check. When we finally got to the room, none of the keys worked. It was dirty, with stained bed linens and drapes. The property is also pretty far from the beach, so you'd need a shuttle each time you go.