1 Bedroom Garden View Presidential Suites Cabarete

Our room faced a really noisy street, and the extra charges were confusing. They wanted $50 for wristbands, though nobody had told us we needed to wear them, so we threw them away rather than keep a bright orange bracelet on all week. They also charge for everything, even drinking water, and room service didn't include basic silverware with a salad.

The room was spotless and the kitchenette had everything we needed. I’d definitely get a suite with one, since having a fridge was useful. We were lucky to be away from the road, and the price felt good for what we got. There are extra charges for room servicing, though. We enjoyed being able to use the pools here and at the Imperial Suites. The location worked well for lounging and going to the bars, though Cabarete feels pretty rustic away from the beach. Excursions generally mean at least an hour each way from town, and although the desk’s prices were competitive, ask lots of questions: they didn’t mention that one trip involved five hours on a bus for just 45 minutes of activity. One other booking detail: Expedia’s photo showed the pool across the street at the Imperial Suites, so we expected an oceanfront room by the pool. We were actually staying at the Presidential Suites property across the road. I’ll mention that in my Expedia review.

I chose Presidential Suites BÁVARO (Punta Cana) after searching Google Maps for hotels in Punta Cana. Agoda was the only reservation option, so I clicked “Book Reservation,” entered my personal and card details on the page it sent me to, and confirmed. The next page gave me a Reference Number and Booking ID and said it was processing. A few minutes later, the confirmation email said the booking was successful. When I opened it to print a copy, I saw it was for the CABERETE location near Sosúa, not the one I had selected. I contacted Agoda and the property immediately to explain the technical error. The property didn’t respond urgently. Agoda said it was out of their hands, though they did contact the property for me. Both the property and Agoda were told the same thing: they wouldn’t make an exception to the No Refund Policy, even in this unusual situation. I lost $315. Given how wealthy the people who own or run this hotel are, even by first-world standards, I find it hard to call that honorable. It says a lot about their business model.

If you’re an RCI member, know that this resort isn’t on the ocean and has no ocean views. Those are across the street, for Lifestyle members only. The rooms and service are just okay, and the rooms could use some upkeep. There’s also a $50-per-day fee for cleaning, internet, and other things. The property sits on a busy, noisy two-way road with horns, motorbikes, and cars. I wouldn’t stay anywhere in this area if you’re after peace and quiet.