Riu Palace Bavaro - All Inclusive

Booked a junior suite for 5 (2 adults, 3 small children). Instead of the suite just got two rooms next to each other. Didn’t get the suite AND BOTH ROOMS HAD ROACHES! We found roaches on our babies toothbrushes. Hotel only reimbursed us $120!!

This trip was the first vacation that I took with my mother in over 40 years. It was very relaxing and fun. The Riu Palace Bavaro is a very nice place. The only minor negative is that room service does not have a full menu, it is very limited. But this will not stop us from coming back again

I can only say it was WOW! Everything was amazing since I traveled alone, I was a little bit hesitant but when I got to RIU everyone welcomes me with a beautiful smile till I finished my trip THANK YOU RIU

Once again, a Riu resort has been opened, or reopened after renovations in this case, before it should have been. This is not the first Riu we have been to that was unfinished, but opened. I am referring to the Riu Republica. As this was a Palace, we expected a better standard than we got. I think we will stick to the regular Riu resorts in future. Not impressed.

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.

Such a good experience! Loved the variation in the food each day at the buffet. Need a little better options at the food court. The staff was amazing!

The only issue was walking up 4 flights of stairs to get to my room, i am a older gentleman in my 60 they had no elevators, we did get help with our suitcases. Loved hanging out in the lobby. We did ask for them to change the sheets, and they didn't, also towels, we had to call them to get it done. The staff was wonderful, the buffet was great for people that are meat eaters, but not a lot of vegetarian dishes, we went to 3 of the ala carts, the steak house was horrible, the American restaurant was bad, the Italian was really good, and the buffet was good.

Overall the trip was amazing. My son had the best time, the food was good and we love the different options for restaurants. The pools were all beautiful. We will definitely return.

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 p