Hotel Riu Palace Bavaro

Hotel Riu Palace Bavaro

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Pool & Beach (3236)
Hotel Riu Palace Bavaro
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Avg. $441 /night, 2/18 - 2/19
$441
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$428
per night
$415
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About

#39 of 51 all-inclusives in Punta Cana
Location
4.3
Rooms
3.9
Value
3.9
Cleanliness
4.2
Service
4.1
Sleep Quality
4.0
The All Inclusive 24h Hotel Riu Palace Bavaro is located on Arena Gorda beach, one of the most paradisiacal in Punta Cana. It offers a unique experience with rooms designed to guarantee a most pleasant stay with top-level amenities. There is nothing better than waking up in this paradise of white sand and crystal-clear waters. The hotel features 994 comfortable rooms and free WiFi. Relax in our spa or get in shape in our fully equipped gym. 11 pools, a children's pool with slides, a large Adults Only pool with sun loungers and parasols, and the Splash Water World water park, which will fill the days of the whole family with entertainment. Do you like going to top parties on your holidays? #RiuParty is made for you! A perfect combination of music, entertainment and fun. At the Hotel Riu Palace Bavaro, the gastronomic experience is unrivalled. The best buffet breakfasts with live cooking stations, specialty restaurants and the exclusive experience of the Elite Club restaurant.
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Property amenities
Free parking
Free internet
Fitness Center with Gym / Workout Room
Pool
Free breakfast
Beach
Diving
Children's playground
Street parking
Wifi
Pool / beach towels
Pool with view
Outdoor pool
Bar / lounge
Coffee shop
Restaurant
Breakfast available
Breakfast buffet
Kid-friendly buffet
Kids' meals
Outdoor dining area
Snack bar
Swimup bar
Poolside bar
Water park
Water sport equipment rentals
Windsurfing
Aerobics
Entertainment staff
Evening entertainment
Waterslide
Nightclub / DJ
Children's television networks
Children Activities (Kid / Family Friendly)
Kids club
Kids pool
Kids' outdoor play equipment
Car hire
Taxi service
Spa
Couples massage
Facial treatments
Foot massage
Full body massage
Head massage
Makeup services
Manicure
Massage
Neck massage
Pedicure
Steam room
Waxing services
Baggage storage
Concierge
Currency exchange
Gift shop
Outdoor furniture
Sun loungers / beach chairs
Sun umbrellas
First aid kit
24-hour front desk
Laundry service
Ironing service
Room features
Housekeeping
Private balcony
Room service
Safe
Seating area
Flatscreen TV
Bath / shower
Hair dryer
Telephone
VIP room facilities
Room types
Ocean view
Non-smoking rooms
Suites
Family rooms
Good to know
HOTEL CLASS
Star ratings are intended to indicate the general level of features, amenities, and services to expect. This property is classified according to Giata.
5.0 of 5 stars
HOTEL STYLE
Modern
Family Resort
Languages Spoken
English, Spanish
Hotel links

Location

Playa Arena Gorda, Punta Cana 23000 Dominican Republic
Traveler rating
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  • 1,606
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  • 915
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Detailed Reviews
Alysia S wrote a review Oct 2024
4.0 of 5 bubbles
We are currently on our last day in this hotel, and have really enjoyed it, the rooms are clean however there are some issues with housekeeping regarding providing towels as some days these have had to be requested via the app and we have come back on the odd day to our room not being cleaned, there are ‘bars’ in your room that have Smirnoff vodka and Gordon’s gin in and the man that comes for the mini bar service always stocks the fridge up with plenty of water beer and pop, the majority of the staff are friendly and can’t do enough for you however some of them are rude for example last night one of the waiters at the bar where the shows are held walked up to our table and said ‘what do you want’ and proceeded to mock other guests behind their backs to other staff, in the main buffet restaurant as you walk in they seat you to a table on one day one of the waiters sat us to a table and I went for some lunch when I went back to my partner another member off staff had shouted at him as we had apparently been sat at a table another guest was already sat at to which my partner apologised and she just rolled her eyes at him which was uncomfortable for him as he went to move and she told him to stay there which was an issue that was not our fault and we we’re happy to move, there are a lot of flies around the food in the buffet also. The a la cartés are good and are completely free the Mexican is by far the best and all the staff are lovely in there, the Asian restaurant is the same with all the staff being friendly, the steakhouse is good too however there are some slight language barriers which resulted in the wrong dishes being brought over which was a problem that can’t be helped and the problem was solved almost straight away, the American county is by far the worst and we did not enjoy this one at all, the food court for lunch is really good with many different options to eat including a wok station where they make fresh fried rice and noodles the only other complaint regarding the restaurants is that there is a dress code and some people are turned away for having swimming costumes or swimming shorts on but then others are let in happily which in my opinion it should be all or none,they have pool party’s 4 times a week which you can get on a bus to this from the entrance to the hotel ot walk from the hotel and this is a 5 minute walk under 18s are not allowed here. The shop at the back of the hotel is expensive 33 dollars for a small suncream. We have experienced a slight bit of rain but this passes over after 5 minutes and the bar staff come and wipe down any tables/chairs after so nothing is wet. If you want entertainment throughout the day at the pool the swim up bar pool is the one with the music, and there are plenty of waiters around the pool that are happy to bring drinks over and the area is always been swept and cleaned, the place itself is beautiful with a nice beach and there are no sunbed wars and even areas that are pure shade for people who don’t want to sit in the sun all day, overall we’ve really enjoyed it and would return to the hotel it just needs the odd improvement
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Date of stay: October 2024Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Online Reputation Director, Owner at Hotel Riu Palace Bavaro
Responded Oct 23, 2024
Dear Alysia S, Thank you for taking the time to review our hotel! We hope to see you in the future. Have a great day and stay safe! Hotel Riu Palace Bávaro Online Reputation Manager
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EasternCanada wrote a review May 2023
Quebec City, Canada
+1
Hotel's Favorite
5.0 of 5 bubbles
I arrived at the Riu Palace Bavaro on March 23, 2023 early in the in the afternoon. Staff was welcoming and my room was almost ready (room 0114). The room had a nice view of a garden and landscaped park and rest area with sand and cabanas.

The room was large and open but needed some refreshing. It was more upscale than usual for an all-inclusive resort. The decor was attractive and there was a large water jet bath between the bedroom and the bathroom. The room had a king size bed, a rest area, a flat screen TV, and was a junior suite, which was perfect.

Room service was perfect with rooms made up quickly after leaving in the morning and nice touches with a bed cover designs and flowers every day. The bar was always full with soft drinks, beer and other refreshments.

Restaurants were good. The main buffet restaurant was great at breakfast time. A la carte restaurants were nice at night and more quiet. The Italian restaurant was the best one.

The beach facing this resort was prefect as it full of palm tree and shade and it made the scenery incredible. There were many chairs available on the beach no matter what the time of the day. The pools chairs were more difficult to get though but arriving after breakfast and choosing one was no problem . Water was beautiful with turquoise color. The was some seaweed in the beginning but it was cleaned away after a few days.

This Riu resort also had beautiful pools, a nice bar near one of the pools where service was friendly and fun activities where held at the end of the day. The hotel architecture was beautiful with a Spanish touch and the grounds were perfect. The entire vacation experience was really nice and the hotel had an international mix of clients who were nice and friendly.

The trip went by quickly but many great pictures were taken. It was much fun and relaxing at the same time. Again, the staff was great.

Try to get a room in a quiet part of the hotel. Giving daily tips to maid and at restaurants is nice and I found that staff really appreciated it.
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Date of stay: March 2023
5.0 of 5 bubblesValue
5.0 of 5 bubblesLocation
5.0 of 5 bubblesService
Trip type: Traveled solo
Room Tip: Try to get a room in a quiet part of the hotel. Giving daily tips to maid and at restaurants or...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from RIU Hotels and Resorts, Owner at Hotel Riu Palace Bavaro
Responded May 23, 2023
Dear Eastern Canada, It is fantastic to learn that our team could accommodate your needs and assist you in any way possible. We aim to please and your praise lets us know we are doing our job. Thank you very much! And we very much look forward to seeing you again. Warmest Regards, Hotel Riu Palace Bávaro Online Reputation Manager
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Doogerdog wrote a review Jan 2025
Kendall Park, New Jersey
3.0 of 5 bubbles
We stayed at the resort from December 27 to January 2, and while there were some positives, several issues made our vacation far less enjoyable than anticipated.

The Good:

Buffet: Excellent variety with themed nights. The pastries and baked goods were a highlight—kudos to the pastry chef!
Steakhouse: Great food and service.
Cappuccinos Café: Wonderful service, real cappuccino (not from a machine) and good pastries.
New Year’s Decorations: Beautifully done and added to the festive atmosphere.
Water park: much fun here.
Beds: very comfortable
Lots of bottled water

The Bad:

Water Safety: The water from faucets and showers are not drinkable, but this was poorly communicated. Small stickers to the far left of the sinks are easy to miss. Seven of the eight people in our group got sick, ruining a large part of our trip. They have signs on the lawns on the main grounds showing an outdoor faucet with a red slash through it but you think they are referring to water out side.

Suggestion: Larger, clear notices over all faucets and the addition of filtered water bottle refill stations throughout the resort, especially in the food court near the beach.

Krystal Gourmet Restaurant: This was the worst dining experience we’ve ever had. After waiting an hour and being told there was a kitchen mistake, the food was inedible—lobster steak tartar was poorly executed, the "lobster bisque" was watery with a single shrimp, and the crème brûlée was unrecognizable.
Tip: Skip this restaurant altogether.

Sports Bar: During peak U.S. football season (college playoffs and NFL), the bar didn’t offer ESPN or other American sports channels. Many guests, including us, were disappointed. Hot dogs and hamburgers look like they were sitting out too long and were unappetizing.

Entertainment: While the quality was decent, the volume in building 2 (2000's section) was excessive, continuing until 1 a.m. This is unacceptable for a family resort. If you want to go to a quiet section of the resort, ask for a room in the 6000's. It's a bit further from the beach but close to the water park.

Fire Alarms: Alarms went off twice, including one instance in the middle of the night on January 1, with no evacuations or announcements. This raises serious concerns about emergency protocols.

Overall: While there were some enjoyable aspects, the poor communication about water safety, the issues with Krystal restaurant, and the lack of sports coverage were major drawbacks. The fire alarm incidents and noise level further dampened our experience.

Final Verdict:
This resort has potential, but unless they address these critical issues, we cannot recommend it—especially to families or American sports fans.
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Date of stay: December 2024
3.0 of 5 bubblesValue
4.0 of 5 bubblesRooms
5.0 of 5 bubblesLocation
5.0 of 5 bubblesCleanliness
5.0 of 5 bubblesService
3.0 of 5 bubblesSleep Quality
Trip type: Traveled with family
Room Tip: If you want to be in a quiet part of the resort choose a room in the 6000's.
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Online Reputation Director, Owner at Hotel Riu Palace Bavaro
Responded 4 weeks ago
Dear guest, We appreciate you sharing your thoughts in regards your experience. However, we regret to read of your dissatisfaction withsome areas of your recent stay. We have passed your concerns to the relevant departments for an appropriate follow up. The management will be informed for further acknowledgement. Best Regards, Hotel Riu Palace Bávaro Online Reputation Manager
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Hud b wrote a review Nov 2024
+1
1.0 of 5 bubbles
One of the worst all inclusive hotel experiences I've ever had. One of the goals of traveling is to be able to relax and rest, the hotel has a good external infrastructure, but we were placed in a room full of mold, which after complaint we were promptly changed. I stayed 10 days with a couple of friends and my family, totaling 5 people and 2 bedrooms. The purpose of the trip was purely to relax, eat and rest at will. But we had 2 problems with food and room practically EVERY DAY. First, they never put towels in the correct amount and lacked paper and soap because they were not repaired in most days for forgetting and when asking by phone the informed numbers of the rams were incorrect, managing to talk to the reception came to take almost 1 hour to receive the items in the room.

Second, if you like omelette for breakfast it will be difficult to get one with quality because different from most resorts, there is no opening to ask the chef to prepare the omelette, I had difficulty to understand if I was wrong to request to make the omelette or not, however when they were made was very poorly done and had practically to beg to perform in a satisfactory way (just without leaving raw), besides after pandemic would be to expect a little stricter protocols as to hygiene, which does not occur and is quite variable (some restaurants have alcohol in gel for hand cleaning, but most do not have).

The biggest problem is if you like meat and prefer to eat at the steak restaurant, it's terrible! If you arrive after 19h you wait at least 1h to be able to have a table available, after this minimum wait, it still delays to collect your order and the meat is never made with the point you request. On the penultimate day of stay there was the cluster of arriving at 7:20, and after a lot of insistence, we entered only at 9:10, almost 2 hours of waiting, after we entered it still took 20 minutes to collect our request and this for a lot of insistence, we almost had to beg to serve the drinks. There is a tremendous badwill and TOTAL lack of management in this restaurant, it completely broke the hotel experience. There is no reservation system and several people pass in front of you because you are called through the pager system and if you are in fewer people is passed in front of you that you are in a larger group. Paying expensive for a 5-star All Inclusive hotel and always having to wait more than 1 hour to be able to enter the restaurant, is totally unacceptable. If it were something punctual or something that happens sporadically, it would even be acceptable, but it is not the case! At this time I will not visit any more hotels of the RIU network, this was much worse than the Cancun hotels of the same network, for example.
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Automatically translated
Date of stay: November 2024Trip type: Traveled with family
Room Tip: Se você gosta de omelete no café da manhã e de comer carne na janta, não escolha esse hotel em...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Travelers C wrote a review Dec 2024
Tonypandy, United Kingdom
+1
2.0 of 5 bubbles
During our recent stay at Hotel Riu Palace Bavaro’s Elite Club, we experienced both commendable aspects and areas needing improvement.

Swim-Up Room

The room was excellent, well-maintained, and thoroughly cleaned by the attentive staff. However, we were slightly disappointed with the swim-up pool, as it remained predominantly in the shade. Observing other swim-up rooms, it seems this issue is common during this time of year. As Elite Club members, we anticipated daily replenishment of soft drinks and treats, but this service was inconsistent.

Elite Club Pool

The Elite Club pool provided an excellent spot for relaxation, being a short walk from the sea and beach. The staff were very accommodating, striving to satisfy all guests, even under challenging circumstances. During our visit, sun loungers were readily available, though it was disappointing to see some reserved with towels but unused throughout the day.

Elite Club Lounge

Great retreat for a quiet drink in the evening, with excellent staff.

Towel Changing Stations

On four occasions, fresh towels were unavailable, necessitating a return later in the day or the following morning.

Main Taino Restaurant

The dining experience was chaotic, lacking an apparent system. Staff were multitasking, which sometimes led to inefficiencies. Finding an empty table was often challenging, and only a few staff members assisted with seating.

À La Carte Restaurants

We encountered several issues with these restaurants. Despite making reservations via the RIU app, we faced difficulties that required intervention from the front desk and Elite Club desk. After requesting to speak with a manager, we were advised to return the next morning to speak with Adrian, who might be available, if he wasn’t having his breakfast. Ultimately, we sought assistance from the TUI representative on-site, who addressed the matter appropriately.

Safety Concerns

A cautionary note: after rainfall, the walkways become dangerously slippery. My wife suffered a fall near the Elite Club pool, bruising her knee. The bar staff were helpful in assisting her and cleaning up the spilled cappuccino.

Overall Impression

Having visited numerous hotels across various countries, including several RIU properties, we found that this hotel did not meet the standards set by others. We paid extra for the Elite Club and initially doubted its value. However, after exploring the hotel, we concluded that the Elite Club was worth the additional cost, though the swim-up room was not.

We hope this review assists future guests in making informed decisions for their holidays.
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Date of stay: December 2024Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Online Reputation Director, Owner at Hotel Riu Palace Bavaro
Responded Jan 2, 2025
Dear guest, Thank you for taking the time to provide us your feedback on your stay at our property. In our pursuit of excellence, it certainly saddens us to learn that you were left disappointed with some aspects of your experience. This is not the level of experience that we seek to provide our guests. Your review will be passed on to the management department. We hope we have the opportunity to welcome you again. Best Regards, Hotel Riu Palace Bávaro Online Reputation Manager
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Joanne V wrote a review Feb 12
4.0 of 5 bubbles
This is a very nice hotel. It is clean and well looked after with a good choice of dining options and pools. We stayed on the standard package rather than the elite club, but from seeing the elite club dining areas and private pool we do not feel we missed out. The adults only pool and bar feels exclusive anyway and there was never a problem getting beds.

We stayed in a villa. As other guests have said this meant no lift but we are fairly fit and active so it wasn’t a problem for us. Our room was large, equipped with its own mini bar and the bathroom was to a high standard. Our balcony view wasn’t great but hadn’t paid extra for a view so couldn’t complain about that.

Breakfast was plentiful every day and we also found it easy to find nice seating. We had lunch in the American bar and the pool bar mainly. And again lots of choices and good quality food.

For evening meals we liked the Mexican and the Asian restaurant best. The steak house was difficult to get into but having gone early to book one night we were actually a bit disappointed compared to the other restaurants.

The gym in the hotel itself is small but you could use other gyms on the complex and I found it safe to run around the complex.

The beach is nice and not too busy at the time we stayed tho the RIU section is a bit crowded with sun beds and we preferred the pool. But we walked a mile each way a couple of times and never felt aggressively sold to by beach traders.

The hotel is on the Atlantic coast and despite advertising hobie cats and kayaks they could not be used any day we were here as the yellow flag flew every day. That said we are competent swimmers and were fine in the sea but it is worth considering that of those activities are important to you.

The pool bar staff were attentive and helpful, we did struggle with a couple of staff not speaking English but this meant we learnt basic Spanish quite quickly.

The coffee shop opens at 8 which meant you could not get a coffee before trips which was a bit of a shame. The sports bar is very basic and the staff did not have a clue what sport was on what channel but they haded over the remote and let you search.

The Super Bowl was on while we stayed which was shown on the main stage and there was a great atmosphere. The rock show was in our view the best evening entertainment, a couple of the duets were a bit samey and the quiz was the same quiz each time it was on.

There was some pool entertainment in the day but it wasn’t over the top. We did not go to the RIU party of casino but there is a free bus and they are not a big walk anyway. There is a small waterpark suitable for adults and teenagers and a pirate ship for little kids

We did trips to Saona island and the scape park from the hotel which were both really good.

It is definitely a four rather than five star hotel but that’s exactly what is advertised, we were very happy here and would return with kids or stay at another RIU facility.
A clean well equipeee resort with a lot to do.
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Date of stay: February 2025Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Roxanne wrote a review Jul 2023
Mount Pleasant, South Carolina
2.0 of 5 bubbles
Do not waste your time or money on this resort.
The hotel is dated and needs some major repairs and upgrades. We were greeted by a gentleman that said we could be upgraded to a room closer to the beach and pool but would be an additional $800 or he could make it happen if I did something "for him". I gave him a cash tip to upgrade. When we arrived in the room, the keys did not work and had to walk back to the front to have them reprogrammed. Once in the room, the safe didnt work and twice during our visit, we had to call for maintenance to open it. The towels smelled like "dirty dog", the shower door handle was broken and the door knob and lock on the bathroom door was broken. The soap dispenser in the shower was broken. There was only one chair on the balcony.

The cleaning staff working in our building were kind but would open your door without knocking and were sometimes sleeping or getting ready/half dressed. At one point, there were cleaning crew who were drinking out of a champagne bottle that I assumed was left over from a room they cleaned and acted annoyed that I happened to be walking by and they were caught in the act.

The private pools were beautiful and the bartenders were wonderful and earned their tips (tips are optional) everyday. The main pool is dirty and loaded with drunk guests of all ages which in all honesty was not appropriate for children. Even though the main pool was lively, my own 14 year old didn't want to be anywhere near that pool...Says a lot about the atmosphere.

The food was good but the restaurants that require reservations are hot and the servers (especially the women) were less than friendly. Don't even think about ordering room service unless you want a soggy sandwich or wilted cesar salad, made that mistake just once.

The spa...the discount links did not work as promised so we did not recieve the discounts/credits that were part of the hotel package. Our massage was wonderful but we were rushed out when done and never had an opportunity to utilize the spa or pools.

We spent a very large amount of money on this vacation and will not return to the Hotel Riu Palace Bavaro. Too many other wonderful places to make the same mistake twice.
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Date of stay: June 2023
1.0 of 5 bubblesValue
4.0 of 5 bubblesLocation
4.0 of 5 bubblesService
Trip type: Traveled with family
Room Tip:  If you do not turn in your towel cards at checkout you will be charged $20 a card. Tip your...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from RIU Hotels and Resorts, Owner at Hotel Riu Palace Bavaro
Responded Jul 7, 2023
Dear Rhallpac, Thank you for choosing Riu and for sharing your impressions. As service is one of the key values of our company and we strongly believe that customer comes first, we are truly disappointed to hear that you were not completely satisfied with your recent experience with us. We have of course passed your comments to the relevant department for further consideration, and we sincerely hope that despite the mentioned inconveniences you would still give us another opportunity to host you soon and convince you of our RIU service and quality. Please receive our warmest regards, Hotel Riu Palace Bávaro Online Reputation Manager
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Suzanne w wrote a review Oct 2024
Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
5.0 of 5 bubbles
We booked this knowing it had just reopened following refurbishment and we werent disappointed. On arrival we were upgraded, free, to the Elite club. We had looked at this when booking but decided it was a lot of money for not a lot. However, happy to have it for free. The hotel was clesn and as an Elite member we never had any problems getting into the speciality restaurants. The exclusive elite pool maybe could have been seperated more as people were wandering into it but if they did not have the appropriate band were asked to leave. Also I noticed people coming into the elite area and taking extra towels. This might be as one of the pool men was only giving towels out at the end of the day if you gave him money! On the whole we had a slightly larger room than originally booked. Better optics and toiletries but I still think it would have been a lot of money for the extras you get. Oh and the Elite breakfast area was a waste of time. The designated staff didnt bother with you. We tried it once and ended up going into the main restaurant where the staff at least noticed you.
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Review collected in partnership with riu.com
Date of stay: September 2024
4.0 of 5 bubblesValue
4.0 of 5 bubblesRooms
5.0 of 5 bubblesLocation
4.0 of 5 bubblesCleanliness
4.0 of 5 bubblesService
4.0 of 5 bubblesSleep Quality
Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Online Reputation Director, Owner at Hotel Riu Palace Bavaro
Responded Oct 28, 2024
Dear Suzanne w, With so many great places to choose from, it is an honour that you decided to give us a try. Thank you very much! We are very happy to read you enjoyed your stay and the Elite Club. Looking forward to welcoming you again soon, Suzanne. Loving Greetings, Hotel Riu Palace Bávaro Online Reputation Manager
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jessica k wrote a review Jan 2025
2.0 of 5 bubbles
We are a family of 5 with 2 teens and a tween.

The good- the hotel is newly renovated and beautiful and clean. The beach was really great, pools were good. Juan the executive chef at the buffet has AMAZING customer service and was so good with my kids, he remembered them and took care of the ones that had dietary needs

The bad- the food was terrible and we are not big eaters and do not have picky kids. We didn't have a good meal once.
We booked a 2 bedroom connecting suite and our first room was not connecting. I paid for connecting and wanted my kids to have an open door to us, the women at the desk actually doubted my husband that the rooms were not connecting and accused my husband of just not seeing the door. We did move rooms and the connecting door was broken and wouldn't open from one side, got someone to open it but he didn't tell us it was broken we thought it was just needing to be unlocked so of course our kids closed it and then it was stuck shut again. Finally after many calls we get it open after multiple calls and app requests. No one came to fix it in our entire rest of our stay.
We have some pretty easy dietary restrictions and sent an email prior asking how to handle it we told mention it at check in and someone would speak with us and give us a card to hand hosts. We did this she told us no need and just tell hosts at each meal and no card, fine my kids speak Spanish but man if they did not I would not have felt safe with them eating here. No hosts seem to have a clue, it was just a terrible dining experience for the entire week with terrible food. I guess the positive is my kids were excited to get home and have me cook for them.
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Date of stay: December 2024Trip type: Traveled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Online Reputation Director, Owner at Hotel Riu Palace Bavaro
Responded Jan 3, 2025
Dear jessica k, We truly regret to learn about your discomfort. Regardless, this does not excuse your experience and we would like to apologize. This is not the excellent level of customer service that we pride ourselves in delivering. If you wish you can file a formal complaint at: complaints@riu.com Our After Travel Customer Care will kindly assist you. Sincerely, Hotel Riu Palace Bávaro Online Reputation Manager
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Alex C wrote a review Apr 2024
Cartago, Costa Rica
1.0 of 5 bubbles
As a continuation of my comment from April 13, 2024 and in response to the Hotel Riu Palace Bavaro Online Reputation Manager, I must indicate in the most sincere and respectful way that I cannot imagine how your staff can be flattered in any way. Therefore, I proceed to detail the examples I have experienced: the first thing was with the lady at the reception who, in addition to her obvious apathy in the treatment, knew that we had a reservation for a Jr. Superior VIP Suite and gave us the white bracelet, which made us We would spend a full day in a lower category and the bartender in the VIP area rudely told us that we couldn't be there. Then when we went to speak with the supervisor Juan at reception, his treatment was equally apathetic and seeking to justify the hotel's actions regarding the room assignment and also he did not indicate absolutely anything about the wishes raised and I go further; He realized the category we had and did not change the bracelet and left us with that white bracelet. The next day when we went to talk to him again to change the room for one with a better location and that the bathtub did not have rust, not only did he ignore our wishes again, but he had even forgotten that he had talked to us the day before .
Of the planned wishes, the most important was the detail of my wife's birthday, which we had requested through the system, then with the lady at the reception on the first day, then with Juan once and the next day and there was never anything, despite because we saw that other clients were given those details. Therefore, asking for something again for the fifth time on the third day no longer made sense and the illusion of detail had been completely lost. What a disappointment for God's sake!!!
I continue with the staff..., we saw with total displeasure that the attitude of the staff (with very few exceptions) was one of laziness, apathy and indifference, as if they were tired of life. Of course, that changed with North American clients where we saw the attitude change. Could it be because we are Latin Americans???
An example was some lemonades that we ordered at one of the lunches, they brought them to us when we were finishing.
Another example: in one of the lunches we arrived at the main restaurant at 12:59 p.m., and an employee told us that it was closed and that we should go to the pool restaurant, but the interesting thing is that some North American customers told us not to leave because in a minute they opened and that's how it was. Incredible that the employee herself did not do that.
As for the positive, I say that the food, the hotel and the beach are in line with RIU standards, but the treatment, care, interest and affection of the staff is light years away from other Riu Hotels in Costa Rica and Mexico where the service yes it is exceptional.
Finally, to close, I expected that at check out some compensation would be offered not only for the failures in the wishes, but also for having received the wrong bracelet, but apart from the late check that I had to beg for, there was absolutely nothing. Mr. Reputation Manager, you can verify my reservation and the wishes that I wrote down in said reservation from April 12 to 15 and if you carry out an internal investigation with a self-critical sense you will be able to verify what happened, my membership is 92193938
And by the way, the points for this stay have not yet been assigned to my membership.
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Date of stay: April 2024
2.0 of 5 bubblesValue
2.0 of 5 bubblesRooms
4.0 of 5 bubblesLocation
4.0 of 5 bubblesCleanliness
1.0 of 5 bubblesService
3.0 of 5 bubblesSleep Quality
Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
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Farzana I asked a question Feb 14
4 contributions7 helpful votes
How much is the elite club
Answer from cardinal
Providence, ri75 contributions122 helpful votes
Yes, however, they do expect tips. Also, "room service" is a waste of time and takes a while and limited. Your better off checking out other places to eat something, or go to another property.
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stephver2015 wrote a tip Feb 11
Manitoba, Canada15 contributions5 helpful votes
4.0 of 5 bubbles
"Plan to use your phone (wifi is very good) as the restaurant menus are all by QR code. Take small bills for tipping (US $)"
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Robert D wrote a tip Feb 11
1 contribution
2.0 of 5 bubbles
"Watch if they say their upgrading you and move you to th other hotel the Macao. We got screwed by moving, very bad experience!"
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Loe2112 wrote a tip Feb 10
Green Bay, Wisconsin7 contributions1 helpful vote
4.0 of 5 bubbles
"The pool is better than the beach. Polish up on some basic Spanish. Gluten Free is there, but you have to work at it."
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Korra101 wrote a tip Feb 9
Birmingham, United Kingdom1 contribution
3.0 of 5 bubbles
"Consider carefully before paying extra for elite club."
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Eli P wrote a tip Feb 1
1 contribution
1.0 of 5 bubbles
"Its Dominican, hope nothing goes very wrong. You will not get a fair and legal response."
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PRICE RANGE
$284 - $445 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
LOCATION
CaribbeanDominican RepublicLa Altagracia ProvincePunta Cana
NUMBER OF ROOMS
994
Prices are the average nightly price provided by our partners and may not include all taxes and fees. Taxes and fees that are shown are estimates only. Please see our partners for more details.
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HOTEL RIU PALACE BAVARO - Updated 2025

Frequently Asked Questions about Hotel Riu Palace Bavaro
Which popular attractions are close to Hotel Riu Palace Bavaro?
Nearby attractions include Splash Water Park (0.2 miles), Mercadillo del Guineo Maduro (0.7 miles), and Riu Palace Macao Beach (0.3 miles).
What are some of the property amenities at Hotel Riu Palace Bavaro?
Some of the more popular amenities offered include a swimup bar, free breakfast, and a pool.
What food & drink options are available at Hotel Riu Palace Bavaro?
Guests can enjoy a swimup bar, free breakfast, and an on-site restaurant during their stay.
Is parking available at Hotel Riu Palace Bavaro?
Yes, free parking and street parking are available to guests.
What are some restaurants close to Hotel Riu Palace Bavaro?
Conveniently located restaurants include Kukua Beach Club & Restaurant, El Galeon, and Restaurant Garden Grill.
Are there opportunities to exercise at Hotel Riu Palace Bavaro?
Yes, guests have access to a pool and a fitness center during their stay.
Which languages are spoken by the staff at Hotel Riu Palace Bavaro?
The staff speaks multiple languages, including English and Spanish.
Does Hotel Riu Palace Bavaro have any great views?
Yes, guests often enjoy the ocean view available here.
Is Hotel Riu Palace Bavaro accessible?
Yes, it offers wheelchair access and facilities for disabled guests. For specific inquiries, we recommend calling ahead to confirm.
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