We had a 2-week vacation at the Grand Bavaro Princess Resort in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, in December 2025.
We paid for platinum VIP access.
It had a special place on the beach with good shadows (that was nice).
It had exceptional restaurants (like in the jungle, beautiful).
We paid for platinum VIP access.
It had a special place on the beach with good shadows (that was nice).
It had exceptional restaurants (like in the jungle, beautiful).
Talking about the jungle near the buffet restaurant… There were always birds around, and I liked it. Do you see the bird?
We had butler services included, but I have no clue what that was since we never asked for it. It also included drinks, as many as we wanted. Both my wife and I drink occasionally, mostly bragging about it. For us, it was useless, but hey, that was the deal, no options.
One morning, on the table near us, a little black bird (first picture below) picked up brown sugar bags and dropped them under the table, where another bird (a different species) picked them up, broke the bags, and ate the sugar (second picture below). I did not catch that moment, but we saw the two birds next time we were there and got them on camera.
One morning, on the table near us, a little black bird (first picture below) picked up brown sugar bags and dropped them under the table, where another bird (a different species) picked them up, broke the bags, and ate the sugar (second picture below). I did not catch that moment, but we saw the two birds next time we were there and got them on camera.
The resort was large, and chariots traveled around constantly. We preferred walking to reach the entertainment, crossing the swamp on a trail, where we saw many birds and turtles (if you pay attention to the picture below you may see some).
The trail was available at night too
We paid for a one-day trip to Saona Island.
To reach the Island, we had a catamaran.
It was fun, with music and dance.
To reach the Island, we had a catamaran.
It was fun, with music and dance.
There were photographers on that catamaran, offering to take pictures. Advice: never take a deal without asking in detail what that means. We said yes, and at the end they asked an insane price. Since we agreed initially, we negotiated half of what they asked, but it was still a lot.
Anyway, they asked my wife and me to stay in different positions and take some shots… the whole circus looked like it was in my grandma’s time. Here is a picture.
Anyway, they asked my wife and me to stay in different positions and take some shots… the whole circus looked like it was in my grandma’s time. Here is a picture.
Once the deal was on, they took some instances where I (I am a good dancer, and that is always noticed immediately) was caught on camera dancing with a crew member and a lady sitting on the bench near us during the travel. My wife said I was caught in “flagrante delicto”.
We reach a natural pool, where food came on floating tables.
The pool was 1-1.5 m deep, so it was safe to serve food and drinks in the water.
The only thing that was a little unpleasant on that Saona trip was the 2-hour bus ride from our resort in Punta Cana to Saona Island (comfortable, by the way), then two more hours back.
That same long trip from our resort (huh, it was our choice) was for a trip to the capital, Santo Domingo, another one-day trip.
On our way, we stop at a place where there were cenotas, like a jungle in a massive cave with three lakes at the bottom. Nice, but very crowded.
That same long trip from our resort (huh, it was our choice) was for a trip to the capital, Santo Domingo, another one-day trip.
On our way, we stop at a place where there were cenotas, like a jungle in a massive cave with three lakes at the bottom. Nice, but very crowded.
Another place we stopped was the Cristóbal Colón (Cristofor Columbus) Lighthouse, where the tomb of the famous captain was temporarily located before the final stop in Spain at Sevilla.
The city had nice colonial architecture around official buildings.
The rest looked a bit poor, but seemed welcoming. The tour stops in different places to promote local businesses. Also, the restaurant where we served lunch was 100 percent locally owned and served local food.
Anyway, in that part with the old buildings is the oldest church in the Americas, built between 1505 and 1550.
The rest looked a bit poor, but seemed welcoming. The tour stops in different places to promote local businesses. Also, the restaurant where we served lunch was 100 percent locally owned and served local food.
Anyway, in that part with the old buildings is the oldest church in the Americas, built between 1505 and 1550.
It is an impressive Gothic structure, and I wonder how much technology and workforce were necessary in those times, in such a remote place. Magnificent.
Final note.
I spent my time mostly on the beach, in the shadows, reading books, and taking a swim in the ocean, fighting with the huge waves… We took advantage of the nice, classy restaurants (with good, diverse food) and the evening entertainment with music and dance (though limited to merengue, bachata, and salsa).
As a final note, we liked it, and we’ll probably go there again.
I spent my time mostly on the beach, in the shadows, reading books, and taking a swim in the ocean, fighting with the huge waves… We took advantage of the nice, classy restaurants (with good, diverse food) and the evening entertainment with music and dance (though limited to merengue, bachata, and salsa).
As a final note, we liked it, and we’ll probably go there again.
