Princess Family Club Bávaro
Family-friendly resort in Bavaro.
Room Upgrades
Amenities
Traveler Insights(441 discussions)
Princess Family Club Bávaro exists to solve a specific problem: parents who want the all-inclusive ease of Punta Cana without the anxiety of a large resort that's optimized for adult fun. At 164 rooms the property is compact enough that children don't get lost, staff actually know returning guests by face, and the kids' facilities are close enough to the pool that a parent can watch from a lounge chair while the children are supervised. The water park slides, dedicated children's buffet, and kids club are genuine programming rather than afterthoughts added to an adult resort.
The Bávaro beach situation here is one of the strongest endorsements of the property's location. The shuttle train runs frequently to a beach that deserves its reputation as one of the nicest in the Dominican Republic - clear, calm water, wide sandy shore, and reliable lounger access. The suite-to-pool room category is genuinely transformative for families with young children; being able to step directly from your room into the water removes an entire layer of daily logistics. The housekeeping across the property is consistently excellent - rooms are clean and well-maintained throughout stays.
The ideal guests are families with children roughly 4 to 12 years old who want their kids occupied and happy while they can decompress with a drink at the pool bar. Multi-generational groups traveling with grandparents should know the property's stair-light layout and compact scale works well for older travelers. Couples without children would be better served by one of the adults-only properties in Punta Cana - the family orientation is genuine and pervasive. For its target audience, Princess Family Club Bávaro competes very effectively with similarly positioned family resorts in Punta Cana at its price tier.
Pros
- +The water theme park with multiple slides is a genuine on-site amenity rather than a kiddie splash pad - it creates real all-day entertainment for children and tweens without leaving the resort
- +41 rooms with direct private pool access give families a genuine upgrade option that transforms the in-room experience, with kids able to step into the pool directly from their suite
- +The train shuttle to the beach runs frequently with minimal wait times - a practical quality-of-life feature that matters significantly when you're managing children, towels, and beach bags
- +Staff at the children's facilities, particularly the Mordisco kids' buffet, receive exceptional reviews for their enthusiasm and attention to young guests - they genuinely enjoy working with kids
- +The beach at Bávaro is consistently one of the best in the Dominican Republic - calm, clear water, white sand, and reliable lounger availability even during high season
- +Housekeeping service is praised across reviews for thoroughness and reliability - rooms are kept genuinely clean and well-stocked throughout multi-week stays
- +The family-specific amenities (kids club, dedicated snack bar, children's activities) are genuine programs with real structure rather than a token checkbox on the marketing sheet
- +Proximity to the Grand Bavaro Princess complex means guests can access additional restaurants and facilities from the larger parent resort, expanding dining variety beyond what a 164-room property alone provides
Cons
- −Evening entertainment is inconsistent for a property marketed specifically at families - some stays see only two nightly theater shows per week, leaving families without structured evening programming on off nights
- −Upselling attempts from vendors outside the resort perimeter and occasionally from within the property have been flagged in multiple guest accounts, which disrupts the all-inclusive experience
- −Wi-Fi performance receives mixed reviews - speeds are adequate for casual use but inconsistent enough that guests relying on it for streaming or video calls will be frustrated during peak periods
- −Smoking around public areas of the property is a recurring complaint - designated smoking areas exist but are not always respected, affecting guests and children in shared spaces
- −The buffet food variety is sufficient but not exciting - guests on week-long stays note that the rotation is predictable enough to get repetitive by the second half of the trip
- −The resort's smaller scale means a la carte dining options within Princess Family Club itself are limited - accessing the larger Grand Bavaro complex adds a walk or wait
- −Transportation wait times between areas of the resort during peak periods have been noted in recent reviews as occasionally stretching beyond comfortable levels with children
- −Budget-conscious travelers may find hidden friction in the 'all-inclusive' designation - some experiences and services that seem like inclusions carry additional charges that only become clear on-site
Common Questions
Google Rating
Google Reviews
“This was our first time here, and our first all inclusive vacation. The staff are super friendly people even though I only know 2 Spanish words. The young man in the main buffet making omelets to order each morning (I wish I could remember his name)...”
“Our stay at the Family Princess Bavaro Hotel was absolutely fantastic. We’re giving it a full five stars! The entire experience was top-tier, but we especially want to highlight the wonderful service from Maria Santana, the bartender near the kids’ c...”
“Rooms are beautiful and clean. Especially the swim out suites in the Family Club section. Housekeeping cleaning daily. Refilling of minibars everyday. Waterpark is great for kids under 12. The beach is about 10 minute walk but there’s golf carts goi...”