Catalonia Bavaro Beach Resort

4 readers found this review helpful

We had a great holiday here. The hotel was recommended by some friends who have since honeymooned in St Lucia at Sandals and this hotel was actually better in terms of standards and value for your money. We paid just under £900 pp for 2 weeks all inclusive. We could not have a fornight in Europe for this so it is worth going a bit further afield.
Rooms - Really lovely large airy rooms with huge beds. Fresh bedding/towels very regularly rooms cleaned daily. Bavaro is still a very poor area and so if you leave a small tip, sweets or make up for the maids you will be rewarded with a smile, extra drinks in the mini bar, beautiful flowers around the bath and towels arranged in hearts or swans. The service is great anyway so you don't need to do this. The rooms are set in mini villas 2 storey we had one on the higher floor and would recommend this for views also abit further away from the creepy crawlies; we saw a tarantula the size of a dinner plate no joke.
Food - Good, not the best we have ever had but in terms of value and choice can't complain. Buffets were fantastic at all meal times with a huge selection of options and lovely puddings. There was not enough availability in the feature restaurants for our liking so book as soon as you can after arriving. The japanese one is great and a novelty if you have never been to a japanese restaurant and seen them prepare your food. The Italian was rubbish as was the mexican but these could have changed since our stay as theywere building a new restaurant when we were there. The french restaurant was fab we would have liked to have gone again the second week but it was fully booked. The best thing about the food is the weekly BBQ, think it is on a friday. The staff make a fantastic effort, the entertainment is great and the food is really good as well. It is set on the beach so don't forget your mozzie repellant! We would have paid to go to this had it not been included it was that good.
Staff - Generally very good and very gracious and helpful can't do enough for you but there are not many english people staying at this hotel and so they don't all speak it. If they do they will have the union jack on their name badge.
Bar on the water near reception - because this is set away from the rest of the complex it gives the impression it is not part of the hotel and is quiet. We ventured there and were so glad we did we went back every night. Having tipped the barman who looked just like the little guy from Different strokes "What you talking about Wllis?" we then our own personal wine waiter with fizz on ice every night! He also made us great cocktails with international spirits. Great!
Casino - Don't bother absolute con. We went in and spent our free dollars we got on check in; I won them staright back got a dirty look when I went to cash them in having realised that was my only win of the night. Complete sheisters no way you would win.
Pools and grounds - Lovely
Excursions - would reccomend if here for two weeks we would have got cabin fever if not. Although the beach is stunning, even this gets borng after a while. the xcursions are dirt cheap we did a James Bond style one in a jet ski my boyf really thought he was James B this also included snorkelling on a reef. I enjoyed the Jungle safari tour best where you hop on a bus and tour the island ending in boogie boarding at a local beach.
Hope my comments help if you are thinking of going here!