Whala! Bavaro Hotel All Inclusive

The staff made a lasting impression on us. Everyone we met was warm, kind, professional, and attentive, and they clearly cared about making our stay special. The pool area was lovely, the atmosphere was relaxing, and the sunshine helped make the holiday memorable. The team’s effort each day was greatly appreciated. The facilities didn’t match the four-star rating being advertised. The hotel felt closer to two-star in its current state and needs refurbishment and better upkeep. Our room, and rooms other guests told us about, looked tired and scruffy. The facilities didn’t meet expectations for the rating or for the long trip to get there. We hoped to arrive somewhere comfortable, welcoming, and well maintained. The beach was pleasant but small, with so few sunbeds that we had to reserve one very early. The food was acceptable, though average for a four-star property. Several other guests had similar concerns and had needed to switch rooms because of maintenance or cleanliness problems. It’s disappointing, since the hotel has a lot of potential. The exceptional staff made our holiday enjoyable despite those shortcomings, and their kindness and dedication deserve recognition. With investment in refurbishment, maintenance, and guest facilities, the hotel could live up to its rating. I hope this feedback is taken constructively, because the team deserves a setting that matches the quality of their service.

The beach was the one real highlight, but the rest of the stay was a letdown. The photos online gave the wrong impression. I booked partly because of the sky bar shown there, only to be told it wasn’t part of the resort and would cost $50 USD to use. The resort has just one buffet and a snack bar, with hardly any food or coffee choices. We ended up eating out, so paying an extra $400-$600 for a more luxurious resort would have made sense. Depending on your airline, checked bags on a budget carrier can add to the cost too. Cleanliness and sanitation were the biggest problems. Towels and sheets were rarely changed. Housekeeping made the bed each day but left the same sheets all week. I had a small cut, and the blood spot stayed in exactly the same place for the whole stay. Food was sometimes okay and occasionally there were a few good choices, but everyone in our group got diarrhea by the end. I can’t say if it came from the food or the water, but it made the last part of the trip unpleasant. One couple traveling with us found brown water coming from their taps when they first arrived. There weren’t nearly enough beach chairs for the number of guests, and many were broken. The beach itself is beautiful, but there was often a sewage smell around the beach bar. Bartenders served cocktails without rum unless we specifically asked, even though the menu listed them as alcoholic. Service was disappointing too. When we ran out of toilet paper, we were told someone would bring more that night, but nobody did. We went through the night and into the next morning without any while dealing with stomach problems, and eventually had to get more ourselves at the lobby. I wish I’d read the negative reviews before booking. I wouldn’t choose this place again.

The pools were small but still enjoyable, though loungers were hard to find because people saved them and stayed away for hours. To reach the ocean we had to walk through a neighboring resort, something we didn’t know until we explored beyond the property. The access road was in poor condition, and the surrounding area looked run-down. Check-in took longer than expected because nobody had told us to bring printed reservation details. Getting on WiFi was awkward too. The person at the counter took my phone to enter the password, which felt unnecessary. The room was comfortable, but the floors could have been cleaned better. Housekeeping was inconsistent: towels weren’t replaced until the second-to-last day. Pool towels cost $10US each, so I was glad we brought our own. They did replenish water bottles daily, and there were water stations throughout the resort for filling our own bottles. There was a decent variety of food, but not enough tables, so we had to wait. Once seated, the meal felt rushed. Staff brought a glass of water but rarely came back to refill it, and trying to get water ourselves seemed to annoy them. Staff experiences were mixed, with some friendly and welcoming and others rude. I’d consider returning or recommending the place only to someone on a budget who’s set on visiting the Dominican Republic.

The pools were clean and nice, and the range and quality of the food surprised us in a good way. Staff didn’t seem friendly or rude, just like robots doing their jobs. If you don’t speak Spanish, you won’t get much attention. That was fine for us, since we weren’t there for that. The room was old, with rust and mold all over, though the bed itself was clean. Mold bothered me more than the leaking shower pipe or slightly salty water. There was also a faint sewage smell in the bathroom and some outdoor areas. The beach is small and not very pretty, but it does have sunbeds. Beach towels cost $10 to use. For what we paid, we got what we paid for, but we won’t return.