Overview
Barcelo Bavaro Palace is a sprawling, family-friendly resort on beautiful Bavaro Beach, in the Dominican Republic.
The Palace, also known as the Palace Deluxe, is one half of Barceló Bávaro Grand Resort: the Barcelo Beach Resort next door, for adults only, is the other half.
The 1,402-room Barcelo Palace hotel in Punta Cana has plenty of amenities for families, including a water park, 11 restaurants and four pools.
However, many luxury amenities are not available to all guests in the all-inclusive package.
If you want 24-hour room service, premium alcoholic drinks, access to the adults-only Barcelo Bavaro Beach next door, free in-room WiFi and free entrance to the Pirates Waterpark, you will need to upgrade to Premium Level.
If you are looking for Barcelo Bavaro Palace reviews, read on to find out if this is the right all-inclusive resort for your Caribbean vacation.
What We Love
- Great beachfront location
- Does not feel crowded even at busy times
- Fun waterpark for kids
- Nightly shows
What We Don’t Like
- Some amenities have extra fees
- Long walks from some rooms to the beach
Things to Consider Before Booking
Budget
The nightly rate includes food, drinks, nightly entertainment and daily activities.
The spa, excursions, babysitting outside of the kid’s club, golf and the casino will cost extra, so make sure to budget for these extras.
For a five-star experience at this hotel, you can upgrade to Premium Level.
What does the premium level at Barcelo Bavaro Palace get you?
Quite a lot! Including: 24-hour room service, premium drinks, free in-room WiFi, free entry to the Pirates waterpark, pool towels in the room, access to Barcelo Beach next door (adults only), priority bookings for the restaurants and a private check-in desk.
If you can afford the extra $100 or more per night, it is a better experience.
Packages
Barcelo Bavaro Palace offers several different wedding packages, from around $800.
The beach is a popular setting but with a chapel on site, couples can also have a Catholic ceremony.
Family Interests
Punta Cana has some restaurants and bars, but most tourists stick to their resort.
There is not much to do within walking distance of Barcelo Bavaro.
Tours are available from the hotel, including to the beautiful Saona Island and the historic city of Santo Domingo.
How far is the Barcelo Bavaro Palace from the Punta Cana airport?
The hotel is around a 25-minute drive from the airport.
Transport can be arranged with the hotel or privately.
Check-in Time
Check-in time is 3 p.m and check-out time is 12 p.m.
Features & Benefits
Amenities
- Four pools
- Spa
- Casino
- Night club
- Escape room
- Non-motorized water sports
- Dance and Spanish lessons
- Fitness center
- Golf
- Tennis courts
- Beach
Four pools
The resort has four swimming pools, including one for children, one for adults and a semi-Olympic pool.
Spa
U-Spa has an outdoor pool, hot and cold tubs, Vichy baths, thermal pools and a full menu of treatments available.
Casino
The casino has 150 slot machines and several gaming tables for Texas Hold ‘em, blackjack and roulette.
Night club
Bavaro Nightclub is open 11 p.m until 3 a.m for over 18-year-olds.
Escape room
The Barcelo Bavaro has an escape room game, where groups of two or more have one hour to solve the clues and escape.
The escape room is $30 per person with an advance booking, free for children between two and five years old.
Non-motorized water sports
Kayaks, pedal boats, basic windsurfing, catamarans and sailboats are available to guests as part of the all-inclusive package.
Dance and Spanish lessons
Learn salsa, merengue or bachata dances.
Spanish lessons are also offered.
Fitness center
The hotel has a modern fitness center with spinning and aerobics areas.
Golf
The Lakes Golf Course is steps away from the hotel and guests can play several rounds of golf for free (depending on how many nights you book).
Equipment and golf cart rental carries an extra charge.
Tennis courts
There are three tennis courts available for guests.
Beach
The hotel is directly on a nice stretch of Bavaro Beach with plenty of loungers available to guests.
Many guests want to know: is there seaweed on the beach?
The answer is, yes seaweed can be an issue but the hotel works hard to minimize this.
Family Activities
- Barcy Water Park
- Pirates Island Water Park
- Nightclub for teens
- Kids’ club
- Babysitting
- Bowling alley
- Mini golf and laser tag
Barcy Water Park
Castles, water slides and waterfalls in the children’s pool.
Pirates Island Water Park
A new water park within the hotel with a wave pool.
There is an extra fee for this area but Premium Level guests can come and go as they please.
There is also a minimum 4 feet height restriction.
Nightclub for teens
Teens between 13 and 17-years-old can dance at their own nightclub from 9 a.m until 1 a.m.
Kids’ club
Supervised activities for children available during the day.
Babysitting
After hours childcare is offered, for an additional fee.
Bowling alley
A four-lane bowling alley is on-site, for anyone over the age of 10.
There is a fee of $15 per person.
Mini golf and laser tag
Barcelo Bavaro has an 18-hole mini golf course and laser tag but these are offered at an extra charge.
For Mom and Dad
Parents can send their kids’ club and head to the spa, or hang out around the adults-only pool for some quiet time.
The hotel has 13 bars, including a sports bar, with domestic drinks included.
Premium Level guests can enjoy international drinks.
Dining Options
The Barcelo Bavaro Palace hotel has 11 restaurants, seven of which require reservations and formal dress.
The only restaurant not included in the standard all-inclusive package is La Comedie; Premium Level guests can eat here for free.
Guests are guaranteed four a la carte meals a week, except Premium Level guests, who get priority and can eat at the themed restaurants as often as they like.
Premium guests can also make reservations before they arrive.
What is the food like?
The food, on the whole, is average but there is plenty of choice.
La Comedie is the best option, so if you are a foodie, consider upgrading to a Platinum Level room.
There are two buffet restaurants, one international and the other specializing in Dominican food.
Room Information
All rooms are well-appointed, with rainfall showers, flat-screen TVs, minibars and a rainfall shower.
The best rooms are the Premium Level suites, which offer extra hotel amenities.
Superior Rooms, which are the hotel’s standard suites, can only accommodate up to three people, so families with more than one child should look at a Junior Suite or one of the Family rooms.
How many family rooms are there?
There are four types of Family Room.
Family rooms include a Barcy Club kit and the minibar is stocked with milk and cereal.
A Family Duplex with two levels, or a Family Room with two bedrooms, accommodate five guests.
If you prefer a Premium Level experience, book a Family Junior Suite Premium Level, with either a garden or ocean view.
These rooms host up to six and have two bedrooms.
If you want a Junior Suite close to the water, be sure to book an oceanfront room.
Wheelchair Accessibility
All areas of the resort are wheelchair accessible and accessible rooms are available.
Alternatives
Paradisus Punta Cana vs Barcelo Bavaro Palace
Paradisus is an oceanfront all-inclusive with upscale facilities that will appeal to families.
The vibe is fun but family-friendly, with nightly entertainment and parties on the beach.
- Huge property with plenty of space
- Plenty to do in the day and at night
- Great beach area
Melia Punta Cana vs Barcelo Bavaro Palace
Melia is an adult-only luxury all-inclusive resort on Bavaro Beach.
With a golf course nearby, a spa, private beach and 12 restaurants, there is plenty to do for couples or families with adult children.
- Adults-only resort
- Private beach
- YHI Spa
Iberostar Bavaro vs Barcelo Bavaro Palace
Iberostar has 600 spacious Junior Suites, spread over a lush, sprawling property.
The hotel sits on a beautiful stretch of Bavaro Beach and the staff work hard to keep it clear of seaweed.
Families will find plenty of kid-friendly amenities such as water slides at the pool and free WiFi for all guests.
Conclusion
Barcelo Bavaro Palace ticks a lot of boxes for a great family vacation – good food choices, great rooms with options for privacy, and not one but two water parks.
The location on Bavaro Beach is great and although there isn’t much to explore within walking distance, there is so much to do on-site, most guests won’t care.
The downsides to this hotel are the lack of free WiFi, which has become a standard for most resorts now, and the long walks.
Be sure to check which amenities you will be using and book your room accordingly – if you think you will make use of the Pirate Island Water Park and WiFi, reserving a Premium Level room might make more sense.
