This resort was gorgeous! I went with my friend for 5 days and we really enjoyed being treated like princesses. The service was great and the workers were friendly and fun to be around. Bonus points if you speak Spanish, they will pay extra attention to you.

The food was good, I only ate one thing that I didn't like, which were the crab legs. They were dry. Other than that no complaints here.

Also, staying at the Grand Bavaro grants you access to the other Iberostar resorts which we took advantage of. We are young girls in our twenties and most of the Grand Bavaro guests were older couples (probably because of the price). But since we were allowed to visit the other resorts we met a bunch of people our own age from all over the world! It really broke our hearts to leave, and we can't wait to go back.

We just returned from our honeymoon at the Iberostar Grand, and we couldn't be more pleased with our experience! We had worried we were paying too much, the total through Apple vacations was just at $4500 for two people for flights and a 7 day stay - TOTALLY WORTH IT! From the minute we stepped off the shuttle, we were greeted with exceptional service from friendly staff. The grounds are beautiful, the hotel is new and extremely clean and well-kept, it's a true paradise. We stayed in room 7368, it faced the side of the resort but I don't think that is a bad thing as all the rooms have giant bay windows overlooking the bathtub! (Unnerving at first but there is an automatic screen that comes down and it actually gives a touch of expansive elegance). The rooms are good sized, well outfitted with marble floors and neutral colors. There is a small balcony with breakfast table and lounge chair that was great for room service, nice sized bathroom with roomy shower. The bed was extremely comfortable. When we arrived they met us at the shuttle with a lovely cold, lavender scented towel to refresh us while we checked in. Then a staff person served us our choice of pina colada or champagne as were shown our rooms. They had a beautiful flower arrangement and a plate of fresh fruit waiting, and our butler gave us a very thorough walk through of the amenities in our rooms and how to reach him and room service, concierge, etc. We were told by our travel agent to be sure to book our reservations at the on-site restaurants right away, when we tried to do this we found our butler had already taken care of it! I should point out here that we tried all 4 restaurants on the resort and they were good, not exceptional. Small menu, 4 courses each, great presentation but I found the food a bit bland...that is definitely more personal taste I'm sure. However the service was impeccable. They also had buffets for all 3 meals every day, great selection and in particular breakfast was great. We also tried a restaurant at one of the neighboring Iberostars (which you as a Grand guest have access to while guests at the other places cannot access the Grand) and it was NOT good. The service was lacking and slow, the food was under par, we left that place before dessert! They most certainly go above and beyond at the Grand, and what really struck us was how nice everyone was! I realize that is the job and they depend on tourism so of course they go out of their way...but everyone we met seemed to really enjoy what they were doing and liked talking to us and helping us. Every morning a butler or other staff member would ask if we were enjoying our stay and if there was anything they could do. Mendy and Raffy, our butlers were outstanding!! Even when we were told the French restaurant was booked until well after our stay, we told Mendy how much we wanted to try it and that night a reservation slip was waiting on our pillow! Our rooms were thoroughly cleaned every day, with various little treats left like chocolates on our pillow or comfy slippers ready by the bed. I did not notice a musty smell, but the oil burners they have everywhere smelled divine! I did see maids cleaning all the time, and other staff even polishing the sides of railings and sweeping, mopping, dusting every surface. Do be sure to claim your spot on choice chairs by the ocean or on a cabana bed early, people seemed to lay their towels out and then you wouldn't see them using their spot all day, it was hard to get a cabana or a chair close to the ocean but it wasn't overcrowded by any means. Certainly not compared to the close quarters on the resorts on either side of us. The nightlife was great, the shows each night were high class and fun, and the live band was great. The staff loved to pull people from the crowd to dance, even a novice is effortlessly pulled through the steps of some traditional Domincan dances, that might have been one of my favorite things! We mostly laid around by the beach or pool, but there are plenty of activities to keep you busy - tennis lessons, sailing, snorkeling, golf...all included with your stay. And even when you are way out by the water, staff comes by regularly to ask if you need anything. My husband had coffee on the beach everyday, he loved it! They will bring you anything!
We will most definitely be coming back to the Grand and we are telling everyone to check it out! You can't ask for a more relaxing place to unwind and I think that anyone who finds this place lacking is just too darn picky!!

We came to this Iberostar on Novmember 19th of this year and for our usual fall sun ,fun vacation one of two beach vacations we do every year.We have been to many Iberostar porpertiies around 15 times and found this property to be one of the most beautiful one we have been to.......

On the resort we have found that although it was very beautiful it was a little too quite I understand that this resort is an adult only hotel but there should be more music and entertanment on the property . We found many people going to the main lobby for this and really there was no music to be found. The hotel has very large lounges all in the front of the property( I will be posting these pictures )but no one goes to them as there is nothing going on in these areas.

The food we liked very much but I think that the lunch buffet is just too restricting you need to get dressed and go into the pool area to go for lunch.They provide food service on the beach but are limted to hambergers ,hotdogs,nacchos.. if you ask for losbter you need to go inside to the pool area. I found that many of us went to the buffet and got our own lunch so we could have more varity. Having said that I will say that the food was cook to order at lunch and dinner buffet and sometimes brought to your table so you could relax and watch the waves on the beach .The alcarts were very good and the service was alway excellent.

Our room was beautiful and our butler was very good and getting our reservations and all our needs during our stay.His name was Louis on the second floor wonderful service although he got us a better room due to minor things A/C on the first day he always popped in to make sure that everything was going well. Thank you Louis....and a mention to Henry thank you....

The beach was sooo beautiful having been to the Iberostar next door before this was finished being built we knew what to expect.My only concern is that this property does not have a bathroom on the beach really no bathroom you need to go to the pool restrooms to go and it is quite a ways away. This is really inconvient ( I made a joke saying ,you payed extra to pee in the Ocean it is your right.) this was really not good .

Service on the beach is a little slow and before you get your drink is is warm and really not very good we ordered anyway because it got reallly hot but many times we would go get our own drinks (they did not like this at the pool bar very much but you should provide an ice bucket or have a beach bar so that your drinks come to you cooled as they are ment to be served....) sorry

The fun squad Star friends my compements to all of them but mostly to Ricardo (Roberto lol)

All in all this was a beauful resort the staff were overall good and friendly and I would return to this resort if they change the beach problems.....

We can't say enough about this resort. As beautiful as the resort is, it is the staff that make this resort what it is. Right from the moment we arrived, we were greeted by friendly staff everywhere we went. The check-in was very easy. We were greeted with a delicious Welcome Drink. And if you look around, you will see your name on a sheet of paper Welcoming you,throughout the main floor. Our 'first' room was very nice, very close to the beach and buffet, but no view. Each room is assigned a Butler. This person will help you with anything you need. They speak in many languages and is your go-between. We asked our butler if we could get a room with a view, Shipside and then we went for the day at the beach. He DID get us Shipside with a view and arranged the time to move us. We were thrilled. And loved our new view. The Butler also takes care of your "al la carte's". We were not picky on the dinner times and told our Butler what ever he can get we will take. And first night he had all our 'al la carte's booked for us. It was great. Carlos and Arsemendy (Mendy) Two wonderful, helpful people, we can't say enough about. Both are so pleasant to talk to, and fast to come to you, and make things happen.
We arrived late day, so a walk down to check out the beach. we read about the bar in the ship so we went down there. It does have an odour as you hit the bottom, but you get used to it. Some nice scented candles may help a bit. But that didn't stop us from dropping in each evening for a couple of drinks. First night we strolled in to check it out, the bartender was just filling up the bar. What a GREAT GUY... Tomas.... (and can he sing). Thank you Tomas for being so kind to us all the time. My husband and I had a few private dances on the dance floor, silly but very romantic. Thanks for the great music Tomas. And your relief, Bruno, another great bartender, friendly person.

We went to acouple of Shows. Would have went to all of them but we were so tired by the end of the day we fell asleep. The staff will come and ask you to go for a dance, and will teach you. Fun, I love the "patience" the staff have with those of us who have two left feet. Very fun.

Food, we loved the food. We have a favourite all-inclusive in Mexico, and can always find some thing to eat there to our liking but here we found the taste of most things very very tasteful, even delicious!!! Only thing I didn't care for was the lobster, but I am used to Cold Atlantic Lobster. So I understand that. Also we like Well Done meat so you need to express that if that is what you like. They are great to do it, but you need to have them cook your burgers, or fish longer. The staff at the buffet are great. They remember you from day to day, and what you like to drink.
Al la carte's. We liked all of them. Our favorite evening was at the Japanese. Victor was very entertaining, even had my husband up cooking. Everything was Delicious too.
We also found the Star Friends great. They got in me into the pool for a Zumba Lesson... fun.
Richardo was one of our favourite's... He always stepped over to give us a big greeting and a big hug for me.
Lizette... waitress. We met her first night in the ship. She even had a dance with me. And we met her throughout our trip in different places and she was always so loving.
Lyla... front desk... you are precious. Thank you for guiding us and helping us. You're friendly disposition makes traveling to another country easy.
Poolside Bartender.... Great.... and there are waiter's walking around the beach to carter to you all the time. We spent all our time at the beach, with one "to say we did it" visit to the pool's swim up bar.
While on the beach we were served with a Nice Cold Cloth for our faces. Nice touch. There is much to love about this resort. It is very beautiful, everywhere you look. We love the Adult Only part.. very peaceful, not noisy. And no nudist's.

You can walk the beach going past many resorts. Nice.
The water was nice but very rough all the time which meant no snorkelling which is what we like to do.
The beach is gorgeous.
Would DEFINITELY go back to this resort. Iberostar Owner, please recognize Carlos and Arsmendy (Mendy) Butler's, Lyla, Richardo and Lizette for their outstanding service. And there are also so many but I just don't have their names.

We had not problems with the language. We speak only English and had no issues.

Note: don't take beach towels to room. The Maid will take them out when they clean. Just return after each use and get new one next visit down to pool or beach.


The one thing that bothered us during this trip was the lack of tipping done. We hardly saw people tipping. WHAT... Don't be so cheap. We tipped everyone, all the time. We tipped each drink, each meal, each morning in our room and extra's to those who made our trip memorable. We even tipped at the end the Towel guy who greeted us each day with his Santa Hat (loved that) and don't forget the Gardener's who make the grounds so nice. Yes we know you don't need to tip but we like to show our appreciation for their work.