Reviewers Rating: 
Good
I had booked a week in Melia Bavaro, from 13 to 20 December, but when i was there i decided to leave the hotel to other place... But i still stayed there two days (13 and 14) and then when i returned to take my things the 20th December.
First of all, I have to say that I'm very decepcionated with Melia Bavaro resort... Last year i stayed for a week in Fiesta Bavaro, just next door, and it was supposed that Melia would be much better, but for me it wasn't. The check in was very efficient. They gave me all the things I needed, plan of the resort, safe key, and so on... I went to the room in a little car with my cases... The room is very good, but it needs a face wash, you know, it's a bit old. The room is suite type, with two beds ...It has also a saloon where the tv was and a little "kitchen" where there was a mini bar.. You have in the all inclusive plan 2 cokes, 4 waters, and some juices for free... In the bath there is a hairdresser, and many facial clothes... All the rooms are in bungalows of four rooms... All the rooms have a terrace with furniture... Nice at night.. The resort is very big, so going walking to everywhere could be very tired... But they have a train, with bus stops, that is travelling around the resort all day.
The beach is marvellous. I can't deny that, Bavaro Beach is the most beautiful beach i have ever seen... The swimming pool is not bad, but i founded it very quiet... Much better the beach. There are not lots of vendors, and a simple no is enough. There are lots of chairs.. no problem to get one. You can walk to the other resorts... Or you can take a free boat (just in the middle of Melia Bavaro and Occidental Flamenco Bavaro). This free boat, take you to Captain Cook, a place which has a very good restaurant, shops, and supermarket. Use it, it's a very good experience.... I haven't proved the a la carte restaurant... so i'm not saying anything about them. The buffet is not a 5 Star buffet. The breakfast is poor (no omelettes, not much variety...), and in the other meals, they haven't indications of what each food was (perhaps you don't understand my english...it's impossible to know what each thing was....).... To make a reservation for the a la carte restaurant you have to go in the morning and make a queue in the hall (not 5 Star). You can only go for dinner to Melia Tropical, and the transportation is not included... What i liked was the snack bar at the beach... You can eat there, salads, sandwich and hamburguer almost at any time of the day... Don't forget to eat the toast with tomato and cured jam... (really spanish cured jam...), it's on the all inclusive plan and i can say to you that it's much better than the buffet food... The services of the bars is not good... You should take at least 15 minutes for a drink, although the bar is not full of people... That really annoyed me,... Being in DR and knowing how dominicans are.. i founded it not normal.... I think that all the employees of the resort are very controllated, which make them to be more serious and inneficient ..... So, I find that being in Melia Bavaro is like being in Melia Bali or any Melia in Spain, you won't notice the difference... But i can understand that some people like that. The animation staff wasn't bad. But merengue classes were very sad, when merengue is a very happy music..... The check out was good... I could use a courtesy room to have a shower until the bus came. From the hotel you can walk to Plaza Bavaro to buy tipycal things and there are also telephone shops... where it's cheaper to make international calls. (you can also buy a COMUNICARD from Codetel, if you use it in the hotel, they wouldn't charge you anything). I founded some of the hotel services very expensive... 20 minutes of internet cost 100 pesos... which are, more or less 7 USD.... Internet is cheap in DR... (so, why charging so much for it?)
So, what is my conclusion? I love Bavaro beach, but i think that there are other resorts much better than Melia Bavaro (Most of the guests are Spanish and Argentinians). Don't expect to receive a nice HOLA or a smile like in other resorts ... Here everything is serious...Luxurious but serious.... and DR is not serious, my friend......
(You can see my other reviews from the hotels of this trip: Gran Ventana in Playa Dorada and Decameron Club & Casino in Juan Dolio, and one from Fiesta Bavaro, last year...) Email me if you need any info, ok?
Maca
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