First thing after checking in, we dropped off our bags in the room and headed straight to the beach, which is literally a stone's throw away. I was blown away by the stunning view, with plenty of palm trees and both big and small ones. Every time I went for a swim, I couldn't help but enjoy that breathtaking view.
The ocean was warm, like scalding milk, and perfect for swimming for hours without getting out. I visited in November, and the water was amazing. There are algae in the water, and if you get up early, you can catch them being manually removed by the staff.
It takes only 5 minutes to walk to the beach, and what surprised me was that there were always free sunbeds available. The beach has clean, well-maintained restrooms that look like they're part of the resort itself. At the exit of the beach, there's a shower to rinse off the salt.
The Barcelo Bavaro Beach - Adults Only All Inclusive is an adults-only resort, so you won't find any kids here. Plus, you can use the facilities of the nearby Barceli Bavaro Beach, including all the restaurants, bars, and pools.
This photo gives you an idea of just how massive the resort is. I'll try to cover as much as I can in this review, but I'm sure I'll miss something because there's just so much to see and do.
Rooms
When we first stepped into our room, we were immediately struck by the cozy and welcoming atmosphere. It's simple, yet tasteful and comfortable. The free mini bar in our room was a nice touch, stocked with a daily selection of drinks and snacks, including tea, coffee, sugar, fizzy drinks, juices, water, and chips.
I was a bit bummed that there was no electric kettle, but we could use the coffee maker as a makeshift one. I'm a tea fanatic, and I don't drink coffee at all, but my partner was happy to use it.
The room also came with the essentials for a relaxing bath experience. These daily replenished goodies included a toothbrush, comb, shaving kit, cotton balls, soap, body wash, shampoo, and even Epsom salt for the tub.
The balcony in our room was a bit small, but it was perfect for taking a moment to unwind and enjoy the scenery. I was blown away by the view from the balcony - palm trees and the ocean as far as the eye could see.
The balcony in our room
One thing that didn't quite hit the mark for me was the hot water situation. There were a couple of times when the hot water just wasn't there. It happened when everyone was using the shower at the same time. I'd turn the handle expecting hot water, but it was just gone.
On a regular day, the water smells strongly of chlorine. After taking a shower, I felt like I'd been swimming in a pool. My skin would dry out ridiculously fast.
I spent a while trying to figure out why the air conditioner in the room was working so well. It cools the room down really effectively and does it quickly. However, there are a few issues. First, it's not positioned correctly, so it blows directly onto the bed, even when I've adjusted the direction. It's still freezing, even with the bed turned away.
Second, it blows at the same temperature no matter what I set it to - whether it's +10 or +30, it's always the same. And third, it's incredibly loud. I wasn't able to sleep with it on at night.
There's no iron in the room, but you can pick one up at the reception. There are scales, but they're not working because they still haven't replaced the batteries. But that's not really important. The fact that they're not working is what matters.
Beach
It takes only 5 minutes to walk to the beach, which I'd already mentioned. What surprised me was that there were always free sunbeds available. It meant I didn't have to rush to get one at 5 am, or else I'd be left out.I visited in November, and the water was amazing - warm and perfect for swimming for hours without getting out. There are algae in the water, and if you get up early, you can catch them being manually removed by the staff. Some days the algae was super thick, while others it was almost nonexistent. To be honest, it never really bothered me. At the exit of the beach, there's a shower to rinse off the salt. And get this – there are multiple showers, so you never have to wait in line.
Pool and Bar
I've got to say, our resort has an amazing pool + bar combo where you can order drinks straight from the pool. The bar is super convenient when you're lounging by the pool or on the beach, right next to the pool, and even in the pool itself! They've got a huge selection of booze and non-boozey drinks to choose from. At night, they add chlorine to the pool, but the water's always crystal clear and warm. The pool's got a hydro massage, jacuzzi, fountain, and lounge chairs right in the water.
And if you head over to our neighboring hotel (which we can use fully), there are even more pools and bars to enjoy!
I even caught some aqua aerobics in the pool a few times, and they had a friendly game of soccer going on. With so many pools, there's no such thing as overcrowding - you can always find a spot to relax.
The beach has clean, well-maintained restrooms that look like they're part of the resort itself.
And the territory
The grounds of the hotel are massive and meticulously maintained. Everywhere you look, there are speakers playing background music, and the entire area is lush with greenery.
For our convenience, there's a tram that runs every 10 minutes, taking you from one part of the hotel to another. On foot, it'd take around 25 minutes, but the tram makes it a breeze. It stops running at night, of course.
Evenings are filled with great performances in the amphitheater, featuring dances and songs you can watch from the comfort of your seat.And if you're an animal lover, you'll love the variety of creatures roaming the grounds, including penguins that will literally come up to you and beg for food. Be warned, though – they're loud in the mornings, so you might get woken up if you're staying near their habitat.Unfortunately, we didn't manage to get to the flamingos on the golf course – they're a bit too far away.Food
La Breeze Restaurant
My first experience here wasn't a success - we needed to book in advance. We booked a table for dinner for four of us, turned up on time, and they just wouldn't let us in because I was wearing flip-flops with a gap between my toes, and they've got a dress code (which we weren't even warned about when we booked).
Steak house
To get into this restaurant, you need to book in advance at the Premium Lounge. Usually, bookings are for the next day. This place only does dinner. The guys were allowed to come in in lightweight trousers, not beach shorts, or sneakers. Most of the women were in heels, I saw some in jeans. The main thing is not to wear beachwear, and you'll be let in.
The view of the harbor is really beautiful - there are tables both inside and outside, but we always got seated inside.
I've noticed the tables aren't always full, usually maxing out at around 80%. The service is a bit like dining at a restaurant - one waiter handles your table all evening, making sure the table's clean and your glasses are full. Everything's presented in a single cohesive theme - understated and to the point.
The dining area's decorated with all sorts of equestrian-themed stuff. They've got a buffet-style menu with salads, desserts, and fruit, but you can also order a soup and main course from the menu.
I was really impressed with most of the dishes - you can choose from a range of doneness. Almost all the meat was cooked to perfection. I loved the barbecue assortment - it's a great way to try all the different types of meat in one go.
Seafood restaurant
Like the steak house, this place does set meal times, but you need to book in advance. We found it tough to get a table, as they only have a limited number of seats available. But the concept is similar - main courses from the menu, with everything else as a buffet.
I was a bit disappointed with the soups here - not a fan of creamy soups, to be honest. So, I just stuck to other dishes.
It's worth noting that some restaurants in the area can get a bit rowdy in the evenings, so it's a good idea to dress up a bit more than you would for a beach vibe.
Byffet caribe
This restaurant in our building is a great spot for dinner - they have a different theme every night, and the best part is that you can come and go as you please. I mean, I've come in for breakfast, had a few bites, and then come back later for lunch. The freedom to eat without worrying about a set schedule is amazing.
Looking out at the beach, I knew it was time to head back for another meal. Most mornings, I'd grab breakfast, so here are some shots of my morning meals: One thing I loved about breakfast was the fresh fruit smoothies: Breakfast was a great time to see people in their swimsuits, but sometimes, during lunch, some guys were asked to put on a shirt. Guess it depends on the day!
Another restaurant
The main restaurant in the hotel, where breakfast, lunch, and dinner were served. Two massive dining areas. The menu was similar to our hotel's restaurant, with a lot more options - they always had grilled fish and meat, a huge selection of salads, pasta with various sauces, pizza, and fresh fruit.
Bar
The cafe is basically a sports bar, with loads of sports photos on the walls, and comfy seats. It's open 24/7, which was a total bonus! I mean, this is a sports bar, with massive TVs on the walls showing all sorts of different channels. There's even a cinema area where they show online streams. On the days when they're showing live games, it gets pretty packed. The atmosphere is electric. These photos were taken on a regular day, around morning time. When everyone's still sleeping ) I thought the food would be available 24/7, but one morning I arrived around 10 am and found they were just setting up. It's all about the pub grub - plenty of salads, pizzas, and fruit. And it's all available around the clock. The bar has a game zone where you can play pool. The tables are usually free. However, when I visited the bar at 4 am, I was disappointed. It was a mess. The tables were dirty, and the staff had vanished. We found a relatively clean table, but there were no utensils. It was like they'd just cleared the table and left.
Premium Lounge
I'm still not sure how it works, but you can basically just hide from the heat. They also take reservations for dinners at various restaurants.
There's a coffee machine that's restocked throughout the day. You can grab a fresh cup any time. Snacks are always replenished, so you can grab a bite whenever you want.
I have to say, the hospitality here is top-notch. After breakfast, they'd set up champagne. And whenever something ran out, they'd instantly replenish it. The service is really good. If you're running low on champagne in your glass, they'd top it off right away - same thing with tea. Treadmill RoomSince the hotel is massive, there's always someone working out in the gym.
They've got a ton of cardio equipment, and there's always space to use them.
There's also a group fitness room. You can check the schedule to see when yoga and Pilates classes are happening. If there aren't any scheduled classes, you can still use the equipment and get a good workout in. They also offer spin classes. And if there aren't any scheduled classes, you can still use the equipment for a solo workout.One of the nice touches in the gym is the water cooler and towels.
Spa
The spa is located in the same building as the gym.
Sharco Sauna. Multiple cabins. Saunas with both hot and cold water. There's an enormous number of saunas here, and the best part is, they're almost always empty. After a workout at the gym, this spa is a total lifesaver. We left our room feeling so relaxed that we barely left for the rest of the day. We even took our gym gear to the beach with us!
Everything you need is available in the locker room - towels, soap, shampoo, conditioner, body lotion, and even a hair dryer.
And then it's back to the beach!
Leisure Time
There's plenty to keep you entertained at this resort, including:
A huge tennis court
Next to our hotel building, there were three tennis courts. One spot was always free, but you do need to be equipped to play. The first time we went, we showed up without our sports shoes, and after about 5 minutes of playing, a trainer asked us to change into proper shoes.Tennis
Getting bored? There's chess, billiards, and tennis - all with relatively short queues. What's more, these activities aren't all in one place.Rental
You can rent a catamaran, kayaks, or a small sailing boat.
They always ask if you know how to handle the boat. If not, you'll need to take a 50-dollar course. You'll also need to wear a life jacket.You just need to show up early and book in advance. Most of the time, you'll only get a spot the next day.
We were lucky enough to rent kayaks a couple of times right on the spot.Wrapping up :
I'm still raving about my stay at the Barcelo Bavaro Beach - Adults Only All. For me, it was a little slice of heaven, but with one major caveat - I was a bit disappointed by the lack of flexibility with the dress code. I spent over 250,000 rubles on this vacation, and I was still being turned away from the restaurants because I wasn't dressed to code. And don't even get me started on the hot water situation - it was hit or miss.
If you're an aviation buff, check out my review of this interesting hotel with plenty of photos.
Don't miss the ice city