General Information - Impeccable grounds with peacocks and flamingos walking around as if they owned the place, and indeed they do. However, you would never know it by the cleanliness of the grounds. There are four rooms to a villa, all with a sitting area and balcony. The décor and thatch beach huts accentuate the Caribbean experience.

This resort is fairly large with ongoing daily activities and entertainment for all ages, so if you are looking for solitude and quiet, this resort is not for you. However, peaceful and quiet places can be found around the resort grounds. Visitors vary in ages. We were among teens, newlyweds, families with children, and senior citizens--.all having a good time.

Weather
My husband and I visited from May 16th through 23rd. It was mostly sunny, hot and muggy, with light breezes at the beach. Weather(--) was misleading with a ten day forecast of mostly cloudy and 60% showers. It only rained ten minutes one of the eight days we were there, and the rain was greatly welcomed.

Beach
Beaitiful white sand and turquoise waters with gentle waves, but there are rocks in some areas. Although the hotel prohibits going topless, you will see topless bathers at the beach (not the resort).

The Pool
The pool is divided into different sections with a swim up bar for the adults, a wading pool for small children, a general play area and a deep water area for swimming. The pool area is also where most of the day activities take place, so it is usually bursting with activity.

Entertainment
The nightly stage shows are informal and very funny with lots of audience participation, so don’t expect Broadway quality. After the show, there is Latin dancing (Merenge, Bachata, Salsa) and American dancing (Rock, pop, swing, ballroom etc). The best part is that the resort provides a team of energetic and friendly dance partners that ask everyone to dance. Whether you’re single or married to a partner who doesn’t dance, if you want to dance, you will get to do so! Even the non-dancers were dancing as the night wore on!

Drinks
We read on Trip advisor that drinks were too weak but it really depends on what you ask for. Some drinks to be too strong, some were weak and others were just right. The bartenders are always willing to adjust the drink to your liking.

Tipping
While tipping is not required, it is greatly appreciated by the staff. They already do a great job but will jump hoops to please a tipper. Please keep in mind that their monthly salary is about a fourth of what a person doing the same job makes in the USA.

Casino
Small, smoke filled and stuffy with about twenty very tight machines and 5 game tables.

Food
Breakfast and lunch is always buffet style with a large variety to pick from. You have to make dinner reservations for the specialty restaurants but are assured some of the reservations upon arrival, depending on the number of nights you will be staying. We stayed seven nights and were assured three reservations but ate at a different specialty restaurant every night by further making our own reservations.

All the food was good. However, we expected the specialty restaurants to surpass the quality of the buffet food. While the presentation at the French restaurant was beautiful, the taste was not what we are use to at French restaurants in the States. Of course, this is our opinion.

Accommodations
The remodeled rooms nearer to the beach are nicer than the older ones, with upgrades to the bathroom and closet doors but the general décor is the same in all rooms. Every room have a stocked refrigerator with water, soda, and beer. They also have room service, and all this is at no extra cost.

A Problem made Right
When we first arrived we were given an older room which was ok with the exception of the bed which sagged on one end because of a broken leg. It took several calls and a visit to Kathy, the Public Relations Manager who made it right by moving us to a newer room by the beach. The next day we received a beautiful flower arrangement, a fruit plate and a bottle of their local rum. The day after, we were invited to a VIP dinner sponsored by management for their frequent Iberostar visitors. Needless to say, our small inconvenience turned out to be a goodg experience.

Possible Problem for some people is that, depending on what area of the resort you stay, you can hear the peacocks loudly calling to each other, especially in the morning. This can be very annoying when you are trying to sleep. However, some people love the nature experience and others, like us, use ear plugs.

My husband and i had decided that were were in dire need of a of a well deserved vacation so we began our research. Now, I am a total beach person and hubby is a diver so we needed to find a resort that would suit us both. We had originally booked an all inclusive in Mexico but Wilma decided that was not to be so our second choice was Punta Cana . We chose The Bavaro mainly due to the great reviews it recieves. I am happy to say our second choice was an excellent one.

We travelled by skyservice so we know how cramped the seats can be. We went to the airport early in hope that we might be able to snag the exit seats and lo and behold. we got them. What a difference it makes, all the leg room you could possibly need . I would recommend anyone getting out of bed an hour or so earlier so they might be able to have these seats. A 7 hour airplane ride can be pretty uncomfortable if you don't luck into these seats.

We arrived into the Punta Cana airport at approx. 5:30 p.m. They will take your picture with some of the locals in costume (I believe that for 7 or 8 dollars you can purchase them on your return trip home.) We then proceeded to find our bags and then the bus that would take us to the resort. When you turn the corner that leads you to the buses, there will be about 50 or so men with carts waiting to help you and your luggage . If you don't want help then keep your head down and don't make eye contact. They are not pushy they will just go on the the next person. We found our bus no problem and off we went. It's about a 45 minute drive to the resort but I have to say driving through the towns to get there was a huge eye opener. Suffice to say, the bus driver deserves a pretty hefy tip just for getting you there in one piece!

We arrived at the resort at 7:00 and checked in which was a breeze by the way. We left our bags in the lobby as they were going to be delivered and we set out to find our room. The resort itself is not too big and all the areas are well marked so it is very easy to find your way around. By the time we walked over to where we would be staying for the next 2 weeks our bags were already waiting for us.

The room was just as we knew it would be from all the pictures posted on this site . I did a quick check for bugs because well, I have a huge aversion to them and was happy to see that there were none to be found. What I did find was an extremly clean room with a nice fruit plate and bottle of rum waiting for us . Nice touch.

We didn't do or see too much that first night because by the time we were settled it was dark so we went to the lobby bar , had a couple of drinks and turned in for the night. We both found the beds to be comfortable and I for one slept like a log. My husband could sleep on top of a moving freight train so sleeping for him was no problem either.

We are early risers so when the buffet opened at 7:00 am , we found a table (we sat at the same one for the whole 2 weeks ) Now, I am not normally a breakfast person, I have my morning coffee and off the work I go. But ... I walked into the buffet and my first thought was, so much food ... so little time ! The breakfast buffet is just wonderful . There was fruit, poached eggs, bacon, pan fried potatoes, waffles, pancakes, all different cheeses, sausages, every type of bun or bread that you can imagine, cereals french toast, hot oatmeal, yogurt of every type, and of course the infamous omlet station. My hubby opted for the omlets which he said were terrific. Me? I loved the scrambled eggs , bacon, french toast and whatever else hit my plate. All in all, a really excellent breakfast buffet.

Time to find the beach... we went back to our room , quickly changed into our bathing suits and set off to explore the beach and find the dive shop. We found both within a very short time.

The beach is stunning! The water is a beautiful blue and when entering , the water was so warm and the waves were huge (it was very windy that day) . I don't weigh much and didn't really realize how strong the waves were. Well, one picked me up and dropped me to the sand (which incidently feels like cement when you are slammed into it) I landed on my tailbone and hobbled around for the next couple of days but no real harm done. Just remember to plant your feet firmly and you should be okay. A lesson learned.

Dressel divers is at the end of the resort, just follow the red flag. My hubby booked his dives but it was too windy for the first 4 days to go so he was a little disappointed and we really couldn't sit at the beach because the wind was so strong so we opted to lay around the pool. The pool is great. It was really cold but very refreshing when you need to cool off.

Every day at the beach buffet they prepared a great lunch for all. There was usually a special item they cooked on the grill (one day huge shrimp, the next kibobs, the next ribs and so on) but for the most part, the usual consisted of all type of salads, burgers, pizza, fries, and foods of that type. I must say the chicken that they cook is just terrific. They also have an ice cream machine , a nacho station, and just outside the buffet they have an italian ice cream hut. There really wasn't anything that they lacked.

Just a small note on the drinks, we are not huge drinkers but I did manage to down a few of their fruit drinks (banana daquiris and a drink that they call a monkey's lounge not lunch) . I would go back just for that reason alone. All made with fresh fruit and blended.. just delicious.

In the two weeks were were there, we chose 2 excersions to go on both purchased through Dressel Divers. Catalina Island and Saona Island. The reason we chose these were for the scuba diving. I dont snorkel or dive but because they are lenghty (12 hours) i went along to keep my hubby company. On both of them you take a 2 hour bus ride to another Iberostar in La Romana (the other side of the island) get on a boat and go. On both of them you snorkel and dive then go to the Island and have a lunch (which was pretty good) and then snorkel and dive again. My husband said the diving was much better on the Catalina excursion . Me? I like the Saona because of the Island itself. The hammocks are great. I ate lunch and proceeded to have myself a little nap in one of them. On the Saona excursion, on the way back to the resort they park the boat in what seems like the middle of the ocean but the water is only waist deep. They break out the rum/coke and beer, crank the cd player and it's like party central. A great time had by all some more than others if you get my drift. A word here for Nester the dive master. Just Great is about the only word I can think of. He took care of everyone . He ensured everyone's safety and was just terrific. Upon arriving home, my daughter (20) after watching the video we took while there, informed us he is "extremely easy on the eyes" as well lol. Each excursion cost 80 u.s. dollars each so in total it came to 320.00 total u.s. If you pay cash for the scuba diving and excursions, Dressel will give you a 10 percent discount.

Every night, the resort has a childrens show and an adult show. The adult shows can be pretty funny and the star friends work really hard to entertain you. My only thought on this is the parents who think that it's "cute" to let your children run all around and on the stage during the adult shows. Not a good idea... at one of the shows one of the star friends came roaring in on a motorcycle and barely missed one of the kids that was running loose. Keep your kids close, nobody wants to see anyone injured.

Before i close, just a little note that doesn't really pertain to anything in particular but for some unknown reason, (we were in room 2577) the second week we were there, 5 peacocks decided that our balcony (second floor) would be the perfect place to sleep every night. So around 7:00 p.m. every night they would wander on over and do just that.
They were very quiet well behaved little girls so they were more than welcome. We just thought it was cute that they picked our balcony and really don't know why. They did leave a huge mess behind every night but the cleaning staff cleaned it up every morning and you couldn't even tell they had been there .... until the next morning and on it went.

I am going to leave you with a few tips and then I will be on my way

1. Pre-tan before you go... the sun is very strong and we saw alot of really bad burns.
2. Use 45 sun lotion for the first while until you tan up as you will burn. I did and i pre-
tanned before I left.
3. Bring a mug with you to keep your drinks cool.
4. Stick at least 8 to 10 bounty sheets in your suitcase before you go as you will find that t there is a musty smell in your clothes when you get home.
5. Tip the workers there , they are really really great people and do appreciate it very
much. Take pleny of one dollar bills. We took 150.00 and used them up.


Well folks, that's about it ... We are both very confident that you will really have a nice time. A vacation is what you make it to be ... and if you happen to snag room 2577 ... say hello to our little friends.
any questions feel free to email me at sable@shawbiz.ca

Melissa & Dave B.

We just came back from our lovely week at this fantastic resort [5/13/06 to 5/20/06]. From the people who work so energetically breaking into a dance and a song to brighten your days, to the wonderful lush tropical grounds and warm turquoise ocean..... I couldn't have asked for a nicer, more beautiful place to vacation. I love love love those young people who work in this resort; their friendliness and kindness was above and beyond what I have experienced from other resorts in other countries. Special thanks to Gregorie and Dalicia ; ) You brightened our days with your kindness and warmth. The food, mama mia...... so much to choose from. I was very happy with the food offered at the buffets, and the ala carte I absolutely loved the best was La Capole. The buffets contained so many choices of foods that I can't think of many who would go away hungry. In my opinion, the food was tasteful and delectable. I didn't get sick at all, and forgot myself on several occasions drinking the water offered at the buffets. Some of the people I heard complain about being sick from the food were seen visiting the bars quite frequently for alcoholic beverages, and I can't help but wonder if high consumption of fruity tooty alcohol along with the heat we had this week might have been the cause of at least one chaotic belly rather than the food???? I know I laid low on alcoholic beverages while basking in the sun and ocean and kept rehydrated with lots of bottled water instead. Besides enjoying the water and alcohol are not necessarily a good mix. Save it for the evenings in moderation while you are relaxing and enjoying the shows. The entertainment we experienced changed nightly. Broadway shows -- singing, acting, costumes, and choreography -- just as good as going to the real Broadway shows. The professionals are good at what they do. They also lighten up and mingle on other nights with the audience to bring a little spice and laughter. Works like a charm. We had a great time. The weather was grand. We had a few intermittent clouds that offered respite from time to time, and maybe a 30 second shower one evening. All I can say is, for those who are scheduled or have choosen to vacation at the Iberostar Bavaro, rest reassured you will have a wonderful and beautiful vacation. We are already planning to go back next year, and this time it will be for 2 weeks ; ))))) I already miss the friends I made in that resort; who kept our days charged and our laughter flowing.
Huggs, Bekka

2 sisters in thier mid 20s just back from vacation at Iberostar Bavaro in Punta cana. We had an awesome time.

When we arrived at the airport we purchased a tourist card 10$ US, unfortumately they kept both pieces so we figured we would have to buy another one when we were leaving, butapple informed us they took care of the departing tourist pass-so that was great. Once getting our luggage we found the Apple guys and they directed us to the van that would be driving us to the resort. The drive from the airport was about 40 minutes. Be prepared-they don't seem to have many traffic laws!

Pulling up to the resort-WOW GORGEOUS. The grounds are immaculate, and they stayed that way our entire stay. We always saw workers outside keeping the grounds up. Check in was super easy. We arrived at like 12 and check in is usually 3:00 but they already had our room available for us. We got our packet with room info and a map of hotel and they put our bracelets on us and then they drove us to our room. Our room was very nice. We had 2 beds, 2 couches, coffeee table, tv, desk area, and large closet and fairly large bathroom. The shower curtain wasn't very long so we always ended up with water all over the floor after a shower, so just put a towel down.

We changed into our swim suits as soon as we got there and headed to the beach. The beach was great. Ocean is a gorgeous turquoise color with a white sandy beach. There was always plenty of lounge chairs and tiki shades. No matter what time we went we never had a problem finding chairs or tiki shades.

There was always food and snacks available. Food at Buffets were good-lots of variety. Restaurants were good as well, we prefereed the buffets-there was more to choose from. The restaurants only had like 5 entres' to choose from.

Everyone was always very friendly and always spoke even in passing. Be sure to tip for drinks and service they appreciate it.

We went parasailing. That was great. It was neat just to float int he air. We also went on the excursion Marinarium. Wow that was great. You get on a big boat and they take you out to snorkel along corl reefs and then you go to a unique marine park, where you swim with nurse sharks and sting rays. We got some great photos on this 1/2 day trip for $65 +tax. well woth the money, we had a great time.

Resort is very large, make sure you are ready to walk and have some comfortable shoes.

I tried to think of us much as I could, feel free to ask me any questions.