Karen Elissa
Overall, Grand Bavaro Princess is a very good hotel. The property is well maintained, the staff is friendly, responsive, and always willing to help. We had exceptional service form so many wonderful servers can’t remember all the names.
Managers Manual Ledsma and Miguel are truly the best, honestly they made our trip and experience here at the Grand Bavaro Princess if it wasn’t for them I don’t think I would give a 5 star rating. They went above and beyond our expectations. The spa staff was wonderful. Now last but never least our sweet hostess Diana I absolutely enjoyed our conversation and her smile always radiates!
Your Canadian friends.
Toby Levy
As a group of 19 people, ranging from 4 months old to 93 years old, we thoroughly enjoyed our 10 night stay at The Grand Bavaro Princess.
I've read some of the reviews and our experience couldn't have been any more different!
We weren't platinum, just standard(!); the rooms were huge and extremely spacious. A couple of the rooms did have a musty/ damp smell - but we decided to give the hotel the benefit of the doubt due to proximity to the beach and the damp climate! We did mention this and the hotel sent the cleaners in to do a thorough clean. We were located across building numbers 7, 8 and 9.
The beach is beautiful. Well maintained, not too busy and picture perfect.
The food is ok. We tried many of the restaurants, as well as the buffet; the teppenyaki and the Indian were the standouts. The others were distinctly average, both in terms of the food and the service.
The service across the resort was disappointing. At the majority of hotels I've ever stayed at, the staff go above and beyond for you - it's part of the job working on hospitality. Unfortunately this wasn't the feeling we were left with as, often, it felt like you were an inconvenience. Of course there were exceptions, noticeably the staff at the buffet by the pool who, every morning, were superb.
Some members of our group tried Cafe del Mar, which wasn't included and were massively let down. Children were charged $25 whilst adults were charged $80. Half the food was inevitable, sent back or not eaten. Based on this we, very reasonably, suggested we pay for half the meal but the hotel wouldn't budge and refused to check us out without payment in full.
If you want some crisps, chocolate or anything from the hotel shop, the markup is extortionate - $13 for a pack of Lays crisps! You're better off heading to a local supermarket.
Booking meals for such a large group was not easy at all and we often had to rely on the help of Guest Services - who were extremely helpful. However often Guest Services only had 1 member of staff on the desk - therefore there was usually a 5/10 minute wait to speak to them.
The train / shuttle service throughout the hotel is very useful as the grounds are massive!
It's easy to point out the negatives but, as stated at the top, we thoroughly enjoyed our stay and would 100% return - the above our merely snags and didn't negatively impact our holiday at all!
If the service were better, I wouldn't hesitate to give 5*...
Mentor Uka
I had an amazing time at this resort in Punta Cana from start to finish. The property is beautiful, well maintained, and has a very relaxing vibe that makes it easy to unwind and enjoy your vacation. The staff throughout the resort were friendly, welcoming, and always willing to help with anything we needed.
One of the highlights of my stay was the bar service, especially Luis the bartender at Cafè del Mar. Luis was absolutely the best — always smiling, incredibly personable, and attentive to every guest. He made fantastic drinks and went out of his way to make everyone feel welcome. His positive energy truly stood out and made each visit to the bar a great experience.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed my time at this resort and would highly recommend it to anyone visiting Punta Cana. Thanks to the great service, especially from Luis, this trip was unforgettable and I would definitely return.
Tiago Colombo
**Severe illness during stay – no responsibility taken**
Stay: 26 Nov – 3 Dec 2025, Platinum Suite, family of 4 (2 adults, 2 small children).
On day 3 I developed acute bacterial gastroenteritis, confirmed first at the resort medical center and then at the hospital. I spent the day in the ER on antibiotics and fluids and was put on a very restricted “bread only” diet for the rest of the holiday.
Our 3‑year‑old and 1‑year‑old children, my wife, my cousin and my father all had diarrhea during the same period. We did not leave the resort or eat anywhere else. Symptoms started only after days of eating at the La Hispaniola buffet, food trucks and drinking at the main pool bar.
I lost my vacation with my family, and the problem persisted for 2 weeks, where I had to take more antibiotics after coming back to my country.
I reported everything in person to the Platinum Lobby concierge on 30 November. No one ever followed up. Later, management replied to my written complaint with a templated email denying any responsibility and suggesting the illness could have come from “many other sources”, even though if you do a quick search shows other guests reporting the same symptoms in the same period.
We paid almost as much for the stay as in medical bills. Vio.com (through whom we booked the hotel) tried to help and escalated several times, but the hotel refused any refund or compensation.
I would not return to this hotel and recommend anyone considering it to read recent reviews very carefully before booking.
RM Renovation
Overall, Grand Bavaro Princess is a very good hotel. The property is well maintained, the staff is friendly, responsive, and always willing to help. The cuisine is tasty and leans toward European standards, which was a pleasant surprise.
The only downside was the hotel’s policy regarding towel replacement — or rather, the lack of a clear one. Every morning used towels were taken away, but clean ones were not automatically provided. As a result, we had to call the reception almost every evening to ask for fresh towels, which became a bit frustrating over time.
Initially, I planned to leave 4 stars, but I ultimately gave 5 stars thanks to Jose Luis R., who works as a bartender at the beach restaurant. His cocktails are truly exceptional — perfectly balanced, prepared with proper technique, and made with genuine passion and professionalism. After experiencing such dedication and love for his craft, I simply couldn’t rate the hotel lower.
I would strongly encourage management to truly value this employee, as he is one of your hotel’s best ambassadors and someone who genuinely enhances your reputation.
I highly recommend all guests to order cocktails and drinks specifically from Jose Luis R. at the beach restaurant near the children’s playground — you won’t be disappointed.
My Booking
