Hotel Riu Palace Bavaro

Had an amazing stay at this hotel and would definitely return! Check-in was quick which got our holiday off to a great start. If you're a foodie, this hotel is a fantastic choice. The food hall is a brilliant addition, and there's a great range of à la carte restaurants to choose from. Favourites were Zen (Asian), the Italian, and the Mexican, so there was always somewhere different to enjoy a meal. The only slight downside was the buffet, which I felt was a little underwhelming compared to other Riu hotels I've stayed at, but it didn't spoil our stay. The hotel itself is well designed with a modern and stylish feel. There are plenty of pools to choose from, so it never felt too busy (spent our time at the adults only pool). The cocktails were good, and it was great to see branded spirits included (Hendricks Gin, Aperol, Bombay Gin, Martini, Disaranno). Another great addition was Riu Party, which hosts four different themed pool parties each week. Guests from all of the Riu hotels in the Dominican Republic can attend, so does get busy. There's also a nightclub on the complex that's shared between the four Riu hotels. The only other area that fell short for me was the entertainment team. Having stayed at other Riu hotels, I'm used to the entertainment staff being very friendly and engaging, always saying hello and making guests feel welcome. Unfortunately, that wasn't my experience here. At times, it felt like I was bothering them when I asked a question, which was disappointing, as the entertainment teams at other Riu hotels have always been full of energy. Overall, I very much enjoyed the holiday and wouldn't hesitate to recommend this hotel. Will most likely return next year.

We have just returned after 11 nights. We are a family of four with a 9 year old and 11 year old. The hotel is beautiful. Staff are very friendly and helpful. The resort is spotless. Staff are constantly cleaning. Twice we used the app to request towels and a clean ( they had been earlier and we were in) both times the response was quick. You will never go hungry at the hotel. The buffet has lots of options and even for fussy eaters you will find plenty to eat. The food court is brilliant for lunch and the pizzas are delicious. Drinks- are strong and plenty of choices. I also liked the cocktail bar in the lobby. We went in July and the seaweed was an issue. Beach still beautiful but we didn’t spend much time there. The pools do get quite warm as the day goes on. The Waterpark is brilliant and my two enjoyed it as did the adults The only negative I have with the hotel is the entertainment. The app has many activities listed but we struggled to find them. My daughter went to the kids club twice- the activities listed were not was on. The night time entertainment is poor. If there is a RIU party on there is no entertainment at the resort- one night we sat and watched adverts for the party for 90 mins. They should have better entertainment and have family parties. There is def room for improvement. We were there during the World Cup and the sports bar was great. My son played pool most nights. As the resort is quite big it was harder for the children to make friends I would definitely go back and would highly recommend the hotel even with the poor evening entertainment