Catalonia Bavaro

This is all inclusive for the masses. It reminded me of European mass tourism. Just to check in, we had to stand for an hour in line. They don't care. The drinks are horrible, the pool bar has always a line of people waiting to be served. The beer is cheap swill and so are the drinks. Pina Coladas that just don't taste right. The pizza shack is overcrowded with the feel of a feeding trough. The pool and beach snack bar doesn't let women enter in bikini tops. Of course it is empty. The buffet is huge. But lacks in taste. There are no star cooks in the kitchen. Aggressive hawkers have their stands in front of the single restaurant and you constantly hear "my friend..." This place certainly has its clientele, mostly Dominicans, but I left after a day. No porter service, I had to lug my suitcases out to the parking lot far away.

Wonderful place to stay. Beautiful grounds, awesome staff, good food, great pools and beach and very clean. Loved it and would definitely recommend.

We recently spent 15 days at the Catalonia Bavaro Beach Resort with our family, and while there were certainly some highlights, there were also several issues that left us disappointed — especially considering the premium price we paid. Let’s start with the negatives: The beach, although beautiful in appearance, had an overwhelming amount of seaweed in the water every single day. It was genuinely difficult to find a clear spot for swimming, which took away from the tropical paradise feel. Power outages were another recurring problem — the electricity went out four times during our stay, each for around half a day. It was extremely inconvenient, especially in the heat and with small children, and even basic things like getting a coffee became impossible. Check-in was a nightmare. After a long international flight with three children (including a 5-month-old baby), we had to wait four hours to get our room because their system was down. No backup plan, no communication — just waiting in the lobby with tired kids. The rooms themselves are spacious, which we appreciated, but they’re definitely in need of full renovation. On top of that, the phone in our room never worked — despite repeated requests to fix it — which meant we had to go to reception every single day to report issues. Housekeeping consistently forgot essentials like towels or bottled water, which became frustrating over time. One of the most uncomfortable aspects of our stay was the constant presence of non-resort vendors on the beach. Every day, we were repeatedly approached by people trying to sell excursions, souvenirs, massages, etc. The security staff did little more than chat with them, which didn’t help. While we understand that local commerce is part of the experience, the lack of privacy and constant interruptions created a sense of discomfort that really took away from the relaxation we were seeking. Now, the positives: The animation team was excellent — daytime activities were fun, but the evening shows were truly spectacular. Our kids had an amazing time thanks to the warm and talented staff at the children’s club, who went above and beyond to make every day exciting for the little ones. The resort’s landscaping is absolutely beautiful. The lush greenery and tropical atmosphere are extremely well maintained and contribute greatly to the resort’s charm. We also had very good experiences at the à la carte restaurants — the Spanish restaurant in particular stood out, and we dined there four times. In conclusion, Catalonia Bavaro Beach Resort has a lot of potential, with strong entertainment, great landscaping, and a few standout restaurants. However, the overall service and management fall short of a true 5-star experience. For a stay that cost over £5000, we expected a much higher level of comfort, organization, and attention to detail. With significant improvements in customer service, maintenance, and beach security, this resort could be much more than just “decent.”