Residencial Bavaro Punta Cana Holidays from £1,126

Just got home from Hard Rock Punta Cana and spent the day debating how harsh this review should be. I decided the best thing to do is simply tell the truth. Check-in was easy and the staff was friendly. We speak both English and Spanish, so communication wasn’t an issue for us, although I could see it being difficult for guests who only speak English. We booked a 1-bedroom suite that could have been very nice, but it was poorly maintained. Cracked/missing tiles, peeling walls, broken shower fixtures, insects in the room, and patio doors that either wouldn’t open or close completely, allowing mosquitoes inside. We reported these problems multiple times and were always told, “Someone is coming.” Nobody ever came. Housekeeping was equally disappointing. On multiple days we were left without enough towels, hand towels, and a properly stocked mini fridge. Again, we called, and again, nobody came. The food was borderline horrible. There are plenty of choices, but with the exception of the hibachi, most of what we ate was mediocre at best. Restaurant service was also extremely slow, especially getting drinks. The resort grounds themselves are impressive in size but clearly need a major overhaul. There are many areas that are worn, neglected, and poorly maintained. My family and I still had a good trip because we made the best of it, but that was despite the resort—not because of it. For the amount this place costs, the quality and service simply do not come close to matching price.

We had a wonderful stay at this resort. We stayed a week and thought the service and amenities were fantastic. The resort was so kid friendly. Each restaurant had a supervised kids playroom which was brilliant. So once they finished their meal they could go play so adults could enjoy theirs a little longer. The kids club was excellent as well. We stayed with our son but he had so much fun playing at the club and participating in their nightly events. The pool areas, splash pad and kids pool were also perfect for our son. We loved our room. We stayed in a family suite with a large terrace and plunge pool overlooking the ocean! Having the little pool was our favourite part. The hotel was modern and beautiful and felt luxe. The size of the resort was also perfect. Not too big and so easy to navigate. We’ve been to others that are much bigger and you almost get lost trying to get from one area to the next. The staff were lovely and really went out of their way for us. The restaurants were nice and staff very friendly. The food wasn’t out of this world but it was above average for an all inclusive. When we went in July there was a lot of seaweed. The hotel did their best to clear it in the mornings which is when we’d usually go to the beach. By afternoon it would start to build up some more. We didn’t swim in the ocean but it still didn’t stop us from enjoying the beach. All in all it was a wonderful place to stay.