Royalton Bavaro Resort & Spa

Terrible stay from start to finish. Poor hygiene: cockroaches everywhere, algae in the pool, staff chasing a rat during breakfast buffet. Numerous complaints and management did nothing, awful attitude from staff all around. Half of the restaurants were closed despite explicitly enquiring about this prior to booking and being assured everything is open. Impossible to book any speciality restaurant (which is included in the price) without bribing staff. People trying to sell junk everywhere from timeshares to counterfeit cigars.

We are currently staying at Royalton Bavaro in Punta Cana, and approximately two days into our vacation, this has been one of the most disappointing resort experiences my husband and I have had. Based on our experience so far, I would not recommend it. CHECK-IN AND ROOM SELECTION: We arrived around 6:00–6:30 p.m. Two guests were already being assisted by two employees, and no one else was waiting ahead of us, yet we waited approximately 40 minutes. Our check-in employee was neither friendly nor welcoming. On April 10, 2026, I selected a specific swim-out room online and received a confirmation email. The system did not allow payment and indicated we would pay upon arrival. At check-in, we were told we did not receive that room because we had not paid. I showed the confirmation and offered to pay immediately, but the issue remained unresolved. We expected a king bed and a location facing the main pool activity. Instead, we received two queen beds and a swim-out facing bushes. The room category was correct, but the location and bed arrangement were not what we selected. HUNTER STEAKHOUSE: The hostess initially told us there were no reservations available, seemingly without checking. My husband then spoke with someone at the front desk and obtained a reservation immediately. At dinner, we waited approximately an hour for drinks, even though our drink order was taken about ten minutes after we sat down. We eventually flagged down another waiter. Bottled water was also unavailable at the restaurants where we requested it. Both steaks were ordered well done but arrived underdone for our preference and remained that way after being sent back. My mashed potatoes and my husband’s very small “rustic potato” were cold. The onion-ring portion consisted of three tiny rings. We were uncomfortable with the crab cake’s pink interior and chose not to eat it. After traveling all day and trying repeatedly to get our meals corrected, we left hungry. SCORES SPORTS BAR: Both visits were disappointing. On our second visit, only two tables were occupied when we arrived, but several parties who arrived afterward were served before anyone took our order. When a waiter finally assisted us, there appeared to be a communication difficulty as I requested a burger with barbecue sauce on the side. I tried using Google Translate to clarify. He repeatedly told me to “calm down,” insisted he understood, and walked away without listening to the translation. I found this dismissive. I then received ribs instead of the burger I ordered. After another wait, the replacement burger was still missing requested toppings, including bacon. My nachos never arrived. The fries were cold despite my specifically requesting hot fries because our food had been cold the previous day. HOUSEKEEPING: Our room had large and medium-sized towels but no washcloths. I called housekeeping within ten minutes of arrival, but none came that night. Over approximately 48 hours, I made five phone calls and spoke with two staff members in person, including someone at the Diamond Club who promised assistance. After an excursion, we returned to a cleaned room with just ONE small washcloth for two guests. Repeatedly chasing down such a basic necessity is unacceptable. THE POSITIVES: Breakfast was acceptable, particularly the made-to-order omelets. Zen hibachi was the highlight: good food and an entertaining chef. We enjoyed it enough to plan another visit before leaving. Unfortunately, those positives do not outweigh the repeated delays, incorrect orders, cold food, unresolved room-selection problem, and difficulty obtaining basic supplies. We paid thousands of dollars to relax and have instead spent far too much time trying to get basic requests addressed. Our stays at Royalton in Cancun and Breathless in Jamaica were significantly better. Based on our experience so far, we would not return to Royalton Bavaro and strongly encourage travelers to consider other resorts.

Jueris made this trip absolutely incredible for our family. He took great care of us the entire week. He was amazing! We would come back to the resort just for him. All the rest of the staff was very friendly and helpful as well.

My wife and I recently stayed at the Royalton Bávaro, and overall, we had a very enjoyable experience. One of the highlights of our stay was the staff. Everyone we encountered was friendly, welcoming, and accommodating. Their hospitality made us feel comfortable and contributed greatly to our overall experience. During our visit, the resort was undergoing renovations. We also noticed that a few of the food trucks were closed. We understand that renovations are sometimes necessary, and hopefully guests will be able to enjoy all the facilities and dining options once the work is completed. Overall, we had a great time and especially appreciated the outstanding hospitality of the staff. Thank you to the entire team for making our stay enjoyable. We hope to see the renovations completed and even more local culture incorporated into the entertainment in the future.

Visited Royalton Hideaway Punta Cana, An Autograph Collection Resort and Casino (23-28 Oct 2026). Not what we expected and definitely not as advertised. Diamond club rooms/status not worth it. No elevators. Well in advance of our trip, I asked for 1st floor close to another couple we traveled with and I got the 3rd floor and other couple of the 2nd floor; asked for king size beds and both of us placed in a room with double queens. First 2 days without ice, my butler had it sent to the wrong room. Ice machine in my building was not working. All pools, ponds need renovations/update - missing too many tiles. Public bathrooms not well maintain (cleanliness) and also need renovations. Sport's bar, A/C was broken. Spa, hydrotherapy - hot tub was not working and steam room was out of service. Photos of the beach are not updated - much of the beach is gone due to beach erosion. Finally, don't be fooled by the $600 resort credit that Diamond club rooms receive - simply a joke and we never received one penny of it. Having said all that, the personnel/employees were professional, hardworking and always smiling. However, overall, simply disappointed