Hotel Riu Palace Bavaro
Family-friendly resort in Bavaro.
Room Upgrades
Amenities
Traveler Insights(52 discussions)
Hotel Riu Palace Bavaro had a major renovation and the travelers response has been strongly positive. The property that attracted mixed-to-positive reviews pre-renovation is now getting enthusiastic write-ups from guests who specifically sought it out post-renovation and found it exceeded expectations. The Elite Club tier with swim-out rooms has become the standout feature - guests describe the experience as peaceful, private, and excellent value for the Caribbean, with seamless check-in and a room category that justifies the premium. The Bavaro beach it sits on is objectively one of the Caribbean's best: flat, white, calm, and photogenic in every direction.
The practical on-property experience benefits significantly from the Riu group's infrastructure. The party shuttle to the Riu party hotel runs several times per week and is genuinely fun - foam parties and theme nights that couples in their 20s and 30s consistently describe as a highlight. The kids club and waterpark are good enough for family travelers to get real value, and connecting rooms solve the multi-family logistics problem that most large resorts fail at. Where it stumbles is food - the DR consistently underperforms Mexico on all-inclusive cuisine, and Riu Palace Bavaro doesn't buck that trend despite the renovation. If food quality is your top priority, Mexico is the better call.
Riu Palace Bavaro is best for couples and families who want a complete, well-rounded resort experience in Punta Cana with a great beach, good party options, and solid value. It's not the right call for food-first travelers or those seeking an intimate boutique experience. For multi-generational trips covering elderly parents and young children simultaneously, the connecting rooms and varied amenity levels make it one of the better DR options available.
Pros
- +Recent major renovation has left the property looking fresh and modern - Travelers who visited post-reno consistently describe the rooms as excellent and well-maintained
- +Elite Club section with swim-out rooms is a genuine highlight - private, peaceful, and pool-level without the crowds of the main areas
- +Punta Cana's Bavaro beach is one of the Caribbean's best - flat, white sand with calm turquoise water that's excellent for swimming and snorkeling
- +Waterpark access included for all guests - a proper on-site waterpark plus the shared Riu waterpark nearby makes it one of the better family or group activity resorts in DR
- +Access to Riu party nights - guests can attend the famous foam parties and theme nights at the nearby Riu party hotel via shuttle bus several times per week
- +Connecting rooms available for families and multi-generational groups - a feature that's genuinely hard to find at comparable price points
- +Kids Club and children's pool facilities make it a legitimate family destination without sacrificing the adult resort atmosphere in the Elite Club section
- +Strong value for money post-renovation - multiple Travelers note finding packages well under $1,100 per person including flights from East Coast cities
Cons
- −Food quality gets specifically called out as lower than RIU Palace properties in Mexico - 'DR food quality is overall a bit lower' is a recurring travelers observation across the entire Punta Cana market
- −Large resort scale means you're part of a crowd - not the intimate or romantic experience of smaller boutique properties
- −Elite Club access comes at a significant premium, and standard room guests can feel the gap between their experience and the upgrade tier
- −The renovation made it more expensive, narrowing the value gap versus premium Punta Cana competitors like Hyatt Ziva Cap Cana or Excellence El Carmen
- −One guest's hilarious but alarming check-in story about finding a housekeeper using the toilet in their room suggests some room preparation lapses during high occupancy
- −Punta Cana airport transfers can be chaotic and expensive during peak season - budget extra time and money for ground transport
- −Entertainment programming, while solid by DR standards, doesn't match the scale and quality of mega-resort entertainment at Hard Rock or Royalton
- −Multi-generational groups report logistical challenges despite the connecting rooms - the resort is very large and keeping elderly and young children together requires planning
Common Questions
Google Rating
Google Reviews
“We would like to leave a very positive review for Carlos, the beach waiter. He always brings everything on time, works quickly, and is extremely attentive to guests’ needs. His service is consistently excellent, and he truly goes above and beyond. We...”
“The hotel is absolutely fantastic! The food in every restaurant is exceptional — delicious, beautifully presented, and of top quality. In addition to the restaurants, guests can also enjoy a lovely café and an ice cream parlour, both serving wonderfu...”
“Hotel itself 4/5 for the price! We payed ~$450/day for family of 4. My family with kids enjoyed our stay here. Below I'm ranking this hotel by different categories: - Cleanliness 5/5 - they constantly clean and mop every surface indoors or outdoors,...”