Grand Bávaro Princess review: at a glance
- What it is: a large all-suites resort on Bávaro Beach with 1,290 rooms set among gardens and a mangrove area, with little trains to get around.
- Best for: value-minded couples and families who want a long restaurant list, and travelers who will pay for the Platinum upgrade.
- Big pluses: a long list of themed restaurants, a beachfront Platinum section with its own pool, beach area and restaurants, and leafy, nature-filled grounds.
- Watch out for: long distances (the lobby is roughly half a mile from the beach), mostly garden-view rooms, and an on-site waterpark you cannot use from a standard room.
- Verdict: one of the best-value big resorts on Bávaro Beach, especially at Platinum level.
Check Grand Bávaro Princess dates and prices
This Grand Bávaro Princess review covers one of the biggest and most affordable resorts on Playa Bávaro. Grand Bávaro Princess – All Suites Resort, Spa & Casino has 1,290 rooms in low-rise buildings spread across tropical gardens and a mangrove area. Trains and golf carts move guests between the lobby and the beach. It belongs to the Princess Hotels group, which runs several resorts in Punta Cana. Here we look only at Grand Bávaro: its rooms, its long restaurant list, the Platinum section and the trade-offs of a resort this size. If you are choosing between Princess properties, see our Caribe Deluxe Princess vs Grand Bávaro Princess comparison.
Grand Bávaro Princess review: pros and cons
Pros
- Every room is a suite, with a separate sitting area
- A long list of themed restaurants (Princess counts eleven) plus three buffets, a coffee shop and food trucks
- Platinum section on the beach with its own pool, beach area, bars and restaurants
- Lush grounds with a mangrove area and an ecological trail
- Wide, walkable part of Bávaro Beach
- 24-hour sports bar for late snacks and drinks
Cons
- Very large: the lobby is roughly half a mile from the beach, so you will rely on the trains
- Most rooms have garden views, and few look at the ocean
- Standard guests cannot use the Princess Family Club section and its waterpark
- Popular restaurants book up fast, so the first night is often the buffet
- Premium Wi-Fi costs extra, and some guests report mosquitoes near the mangroves
Rooms: Bungalow Suites vs Platinum Suites
The rooms are in low-rise buildings spread across the gardens rather than in a tower. That gives the resort a village feel, but it also means walking distances vary a lot depending on where you are placed. The main categories Princess sells are:
- Bungalow Suite: the standard room, for up to four guests, with a separate sitting area. Most face the gardens.
- Platinum Suite: for up to three guests, in the Platinum section near the beach, with a living room and a pull-down bed.
- Honeymoon Platinum Suite: for two, with a hydromassage tub.
- Presidential Suite and Master Suite: the top categories, with a hydromassage tub on the terrace and a premium in-room bar.
The Princess site also lists Family Club Junior Suites, including swim-out versions. These belong to the Princess Family Club section, which has its own waterpark and its own access rules. The official FAQ says Platinum guests can use the Family section and that other guests can buy a day pass. Independent reviews say standard Grand Bávaro guests cannot get in. If the waterpark matters to you, book a Family Club room or confirm access before you pay.
Is the Platinum upgrade at Grand Bávaro Princess worth it?
For most couples, yes. On a resort this size, Platinum fixes the two biggest problems: distance and crowds. Platinum rooms are by the beach, and Princess lists these benefits:
- A reserved beach area with loungers and waiter service, plus a Platinum beach club and bar.
- A Platinum pool and access to Platinum-only venues: the Chopin buffet, Platinum Beach Grill and Soho, plus a rooftop bar.
- Premium drinks at the hotel bars. Aged spirits, à la carte wines and champagne are still excluded.
- A dedicated shuttle that Princess says runs every 15 minutes, plus in-house transport.
- 10% off spa treatments, a beach bag and upgraded toiletries. Reviewers also mention a lounge with a concierge, room service and turndown.
Princess sets a minimum stay of four nights for Platinum, which may change. At the time of writing, its site lists upgrades on arrival, subject to availability, at around US$45 to US$70 per person per night depending on how long you stay. Booking Platinum in advance is often better value than upgrading at check-in. To compare it with other resort clubs, see our guide to Punta Cana VIP club levels.
Restaurants and bars: what to book first
Food variety is the main reason people pick Grand Bávaro Princess. Princess lists eleven themed restaurants, three buffets, a snack bar, a food-truck area, a coffee shop and fifteen bars. The à la carte venues open to all guests include:
- El Gaucho: steakhouse.
- El Pescador: seafood.
- Tanuki: Asian, with teppanyaki.
- Samsara: Indian.
- La Hacienda: Mexican.
- Il Tartufo: Italian.
- Focaccia: pizzeria.
- Wasabi: another themed restaurant on the reservation list.
The buffets are La Hispaniola, the main buffet for all three meals, and El Trapiche by the beach. The beachfront Café del Mar costs extra, even for Platinum guests. Rebels Sports Bar is open 24 hours for food and drinks. You book the à la carte restaurants through the Princess web app after you arrive, and popular time slots go quickly. So make your reservations as soon as you check in, and expect a buffet dinner on your first night. Our Punta Cana all-inclusive dining guide explains reservations and dress codes.
Pools, beach and the mangrove grounds
Princess officially lists three pools, including themed pools for children. In practice guests mention a main pool near the beach, a quieter Relax Pool by the spa, a kids’ splash pool and the Platinum pool with a swim-up bar. The Family Club has separate pools. In September 2025 the main pool closed for about ten days of maintenance, a reminder that big resorts schedule such work in the low season.
The beach is the classic central Playa Bávaro: fine, bright sand, palm shade and a long stretch to walk along. As on the rest of this coast, you will meet vendors, and sargassum can arrive in warmer months. Our Bávaro Beach and El Cortecito area guide shows what is nearby.
What makes this resort unusual is the land between the lobby and the sea. Princess calls part of it an ecological zone: a mangrove area with a short walking trail, where visitors report seeing flamingos, peacocks and iguanas. It is lovely, but it also means real distance. One detailed 2025 review measured the lobby at roughly 0.45 miles (about 750 m) from the beach, so you will use the little trains a lot. Some guests mention mosquitoes near the mangroves, so pack repellent.
Spa, activities, kids’ club and casino
- Spa: massages, body treatments and a hydrotherapy circuit with sauna, Jacuzzi and Turkish bath. Treatments and the circuit cost extra.
- Gym: in the spa area, open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
- Activities: three tennis courts, yoga, Zumba, Pilates and non-motorized water sports such as catamaran, canoe and snorkeling. A 2025 review notes that water sports run only during set hours in the middle of the day.
- Kids: a Kids Club and Mini Club for ages 4 to 12, plus paid babysitting.
- Casino and nightlife: as the full name suggests, there is a casino by the hotel, and reviews also mention a disco where drinks are usually not included.
- Wi-Fi and parking: basic Wi-Fi and parking are free. Premium Wi-Fi costs extra.
How far is Grand Bávaro Princess from the airport?
Princess puts the resort about 35 minutes from Punta Cana International Airport (PUJ). Traffic and how many stops your shuttle makes decide the real time. Our airport transfers and e-ticket guide compares shared shuttles, private transfers and taxis. Remember that tips and excursions are not part of the all-inclusive price. Our taxes and tipping guide helps you budget.
Who should book Grand Bávaro Princess?
Book it if you want plenty of choice at dinner without paying luxury prices, enjoy green, spread-out grounds and do not mind taking a train to the beach. It also suits couples who will pay for Platinum and get a calmer beachfront section with its own restaurants. To weigh it against other value options, see our best affordable all-inclusive resorts in Punta Cana.
Skip it if you want an ocean-view room at a standard rate, need to be a short walk from the sand, or are traveling with kids who mainly want a waterpark. In that case, book the Family Club section or a resort with a waterpark open to all guests. If you prefer a more compact layout from the same group, look at the sister resort below.
More compact sister resort
Caribe Deluxe Princess - All Inclusive
- Completely renovated rooms, lobby, pools & restaurants
- Shares complex with Tropical Deluxe Princess (9 restaurants, 9 bars, crepe station & coffee shop)
- Compact layout from pool to beach compared to massive mega-resorts
- Romantic Honeymoon Suites with jacuzzi and VIP amenities
Caribe Deluxe Princess sits on the Arena Gorda end of the beach and is much easier to walk around. It is a good fit if the size of Grand Bávaro puts you off.
Prices vary according to travel dates and availability.
Our verdict on Grand Bávaro Princess
Grand Bávaro Princess offers a lot for the money: all-suite rooms, eleven themed restaurants, a good stretch of Bávaro Beach and grounds full of greenery and wildlife. Its weak points come from its size: the walking, the trains, the garden views and the scramble for restaurant reservations. Book Platinum if your budget allows, since it solves most of those issues. Choose a Family Club room if your kids want the waterpark.
Prices vary according to travel dates and availability.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Grand Bávaro Princess a good resort?
For the price, yes. It offers all-suite rooms, a long list of themed restaurants and a beachfront Platinum section on Bávaro Beach. Its main drawbacks are its size and the distance between the lobby and the beach, which you cover by little train or on foot.
How far is the beach from the rooms at Grand Bávaro Princess?
It depends on the building. Platinum rooms are by the beach, while some garden buildings and the lobby are several hundred meters away. Trains and golf carts run frequently, so you do not have to walk.
Does Grand Bávaro Princess have a waterpark?
The waterpark is in the Princess Family Club section, and access is limited. Princess’s FAQ mentions access for Platinum guests and a paid day pass for others, while independent reviews say standard guests cannot use it. Confirm with the resort before booking if the waterpark is important.
Can Grand Bávaro Princess guests use the other Princess resorts?
Generally no. Princess’s FAQ says guests cannot use the facilities of other Princess hotels, with the exception it lists for the Family section. Plan your stay around Grand Bávaro’s own restaurants and pools.
How much is the Platinum upgrade at Grand Bávaro Princess?
At the time of writing, Princess’s site lists on-arrival upgrades at around US$45 to US$70 per person per night depending on length of stay, subject to availability and a four-night minimum. Prebooking Platinum is usually the better deal.
