LOBBY BAR HOTEL GRAN BAHIA PRINCIPE PREMIER — Restaurant in Higüey

My husband and I very much enjoyed our stay at Gran Principe (Bavaro specifically) and would definitely recommend the resort! However, we did have multiple concerns that we feel that Gran Bahia, and specifically Bavaro, could improve on. Other than those things, we loved it!

Everywhere we went we were greeted and asked how our stay was. We were pleasantly surprised at how friendly and accommodating all of the Bahia employees were.

The food was pretty typical for a buffet - hit or miss, but some stuff was really good, and we loved breakfast. A lot of food was cold, especially the pastas, so that's something that workers could check on more frequently during meal times.

Drinks, on the other hand, were awesome and very yummy! The free shows were also very entertaining (the circus was especially fabulous), and the club was fun to dance at, too! There was plenty of entertainment from the live music to the shows to walking around the shops, so we enjoyed that.

We were happy that the cleaning service was prompt every day, as well. They left us alone when we wanted to sleep in but then popped in to clean when we weren't there, so that was nice! They also left us chocolates at night, which we LOVED.

Other favorite things about the hotel were the jetted tubs, the Italian restaurant, the service overall, the spa, the space in the rooms, and the transportation service that they had to get us around to the beach, pools, cafes, etc.

However, the downside to a huge resort is that it's very confusing as to which lobby is which, and it is not very convenient to get to where you want to be. (If you have an excursion, make sure to specify the correct pick up lobby so you don't miss out!) The transportation bus can sometimes take a while to arrive (not fun when it's raining!) - especially later at night. So I would recommend Bavaro to have a set pick up schedule that's posted at each bus stop so that guests are aware as to what time the bus will come and can prepare accordingly. Even if it's in ten minute intervals during the day, I think it's helpful to have a set schedule - especially for those of us who like to be out late!

With that, we were also disappointed in the separation of beaches and cafeterias by hotel. We came with a group that stayed in Esmeralda (part of Gran Bahia but just a different hotel in the resort), and we were not allowed to go to the beach/pool with them or eat with them. A separate beach for each hotel within the resort was very excessive and unnecessary to me, and I was not happy with that. I get that each hotel has its own inclusions & things you pay for, but it's not like they paid for a separate beach! The beach is the same for everyone, except maybe for Premier members who pay for separate, adult-only or something.

Another absolutely huge area of improvement is the floors around the hotel and more importantly - the pool. They are very slippery! Even when they are not wet, we were slipping and sliding when in flip flops, so I think that's a huge hazard to consider.

Specifically for Bavaro, I don't like that it's among multiple hotels with free wifi but yet Bavaro does NOT offer free wifi in the rooms (and the lobby one isn't super awesome either). Instead, we had to pay a hefty price to have wifi in our room that week, so I would recommend altering that price a bit or including it in the price of the room.

Another thing we recommend specifically for Bavaro is breakfast room service! The other hotels had that option, and we didnt, which was tough for us because we aren't early risers and typically enjoy eating breakfast in our room! So we would definitely recommend making that an option, as well.

Other than that, we loved staying here and would definitely...

Service was not good as other hotels in the area. Is a big Hotel Complex, but you cant access all of them. We just could access two. There are a lot of mosquitoes. Pool bar was good but no service around the pool, Ypu have to get drinks by yourself. Air conditioner at the rooms are just to maintain temperature so no necesity to get under the sheets. Feelling diassapointed. For the same amount of money you can get a better service in...

Good over all attention, drinks are heavy with spirit but limited in stock options. Some breaks in communication due to preference and customers. Over all good old service and environment. Many other locations to pick from. Lobby also has desk service after dinner. It will take a bit longer. Good over all enjoyment if you just want to enjoy the moment with...