Frommer's Review
This huge complex of low-rise luxury hotels opens onto one of the most desirable of the many white-sand beaches along the 32km (20-mile) coast known as Bávaro Beach. Until it was surpassed by equally ambitious developments early in the millennium, this was defined, at least for a while, as the most ambitious resort colony in the Dominican Republic, a project whose scope hadn't been equaled since the early days of Casa de Campo. There's even a church on the premises for weddings, and a reputation for good, and in some cases, extremely good, food. Built in postmodern Spanish style, it occupies almost 12 sq. km (4 3/4 sq. miles) of land, including some of the best seafront property on the island.
The resort consists of five separate hotels: Bávaro Beach Hotel, Bávaro Caribe Hotel, Bávaro Golf Hotel, Bávaro Casino Hotel, and the latest contender, the Bávaro Palace Hotel. Arranged within a massive park, and connected via a labyrinth of roadways and bike trails, all but one is parallel to the beachfront. (The Bávaro Casino Hotel faces the golf course.) Neither the decor nor the gardens are as well-conceived and stylish as those within, say, the Paradisus group or the Meliá Caribe Tropical , but the effect is nonetheless comfortable and pleasant. Accommodations in all five hotels are roughly equivalent and are outfitted in tropical furniture, with private verandas or terraces, plus an attractively tiled bathroom with tub and shower. (The Bávaro Palace's rooms are bigger and somewhat more comfortable than the others.) Bedrooms have tile floors, Dominican-made furniture, and colorful upholsteries and fabrics.
Each of the restaurants within this megahotel is interconnected by minivan service, and each will cheerfully accept diners from even the most far-flung corners of the compound. The most upscale and "gastronomic" of the lot is Chez Palace, serving French cuisine, some of whose main dishes require that all-inclusive guests pay a reasonable supplement for their meal. Other, slightly less pretentious eateries include Bohio and La Piña for Dominican food; Los Piños for Italian cuisine; the Coral Steakhouse for two-fisted slabs of grilled beef, chicken, and veal; Mexico Lindo for Mexican food; and an absolutely vast buffet setup within the open-to-the-breezes Ambar.
Facilities:12 restaurants; 13 bars; 6 outdoor pools; whirlpools big enough for 30 people; casino; 3 discos; 18-hole golf course; 9 tennis courts; health club; aerobics; watersports equipment; horseback riding; 3 theaters; salon; limited room service; massage; babysitting; laundry service; dry cleaning; nonsmoking rooms; rooms for those w/limited mobility
Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without
notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before
planning your trip.
