Punta Cana resorts - bad reviews ruining every place!

flappingflapper · 2025-08-07T14:08:43+00:00

I’m having a nightmare trying to book PC, I find reviews that look amazing, have loads of videos on TikTok about how good they are, and then I go on trip advisor and see them being annihilated. I went to book Catalonia Bavaro and it happened so I started looking again Then I was looking at Impressive Punta Cana same happened Then I found Royalton Bavaro which looked AMAZING and I thought finally, done it! But every recent review on trip advisor is terrible

ducksfizz · 07/08/2025 15:09

We’ve booked CB as above. I’m excited!

ForMerryMauveDreamer · 07/08/2025 15:12

We have booked Melia adults only Punta Cana, I can’t wait! There are always bad reviews but as long as the majority are good then you just have to take a risk sometimes.

Original poster

flappingflapper · 07/08/2025 15:14

I really liked the look of the Royalton Bavaro, it’s got a 4.4 on trip advisor so I’m like it can’t be that bad?! But recent ones are shockers!

OP posts:

MrsTerryPratchett · 07/08/2025 15:15

You have to read them properly. Read the 5 stars and read the 1 stars. See if the things they care about are the things you care about. It also depends what you care about. It REALLY matters if you don't leave the resort. But we go out all the time and think of the resort as somewhere to park. Which in Mexico, with some of the best food in the world for cheap beside the road, why would you eat at a buffet?

PhilippaGeorgiou · 07/08/2025 15:24

MrsTerryPratchett · 07/08/2025 15:15

You have to read them properly. Read the 5 stars and read the 1 stars. See if the things they care about are the things you care about. It also depends what you care about. It REALLY matters if you don't leave the resort. But we go out all the time and think of the resort as somewhere to park. Which in Mexico, with some of the best food in the world for cheap beside the road, why would you eat at a buffet?

Which in Mexico, with some of the best food in the world for cheap beside the road, why would you eat at a buffet?

It's quite a long way to travel from the Dominican Republic though - which is where Punta Cana is! Unless there's one in Mexico that has all the same hotels as the one in DR.

That said I agree with you, although I think if you are going to eat DR street food (which is delicious and in plentiful supply on the main road down to Punta Cana) I wouldn't be staying in PC - I think it's overpriced.

If you are looking for some vacation reading, try to find a copy of "In the Time of the Butterflies" by Julia Alvarez.

MrsTerryPratchett · 07/08/2025 15:26

PhilippaGeorgiou · 07/08/2025 15:24

Which in Mexico, with some of the best food in the world for cheap beside the road, why would you eat at a buffet?

It's quite a long way to travel from the Dominican Republic though - which is where Punta Cana is! Unless there's one in Mexico that has all the same hotels as the one in DR.

That said I agree with you, although I think if you are going to eat DR street food (which is delicious and in plentiful supply on the main road down to Punta Cana) I wouldn't be staying in PC - I think it's overpriced.

If you are looking for some vacation reading, try to find a copy of "In the Time of the Butterflies" by Julia Alvarez.

Show quote history

Fucks sake, that'll teach me to read properly. I'll get my coat.

Drivingthevengabus · 07/08/2025 15:27

MrsTerryPratchett · 07/08/2025 15:26

Fucks sake, that'll teach me to read properly. I'll get my coat.

Show quote history

😁 Before you go - I would say I totally agree with the premise. I read the negative reviews and think about whether the things the person was upset about would bother me or not. Also remember most people don't leave a review at all because they had a perfectly nice time but can't be bothered. People who are fed up about something are more likely to leave a review.

TeenLifeMum · 07/08/2025 15:30

You have to read between the lines to assess whether the reviewer has the same expectations as you. I’ve read one for where we’re going (in Greece) where they complain the garden rooms are a 10 minute walk to the restaurant and entertainment and they felt this was horrendous… we think that’ll be a nice stroll after dinner back to our room but means our room would be quiet. I also don’t care about a small chip on a bathroom tile. Food wise, people are odd about food.

MrsTerryPratchett · 07/08/2025 15:34

Drivingthevengabus · 07/08/2025 15:27

😁 Before you go - I would say I totally agree with the premise. I read the negative reviews and think about whether the things the person was upset about would bother me or not. Also remember most people don't leave a review at all because they had a perfectly nice time but can't be bothered. People who are fed up about something are more likely to leave a review.

Show quote history

Thanks for the save

PhilippaGeorgiou · 07/08/2025 15:36

TeenLifeMum · 07/08/2025 15:30

You have to read between the lines to assess whether the reviewer has the same expectations as you. I’ve read one for where we’re going (in Greece) where they complain the garden rooms are a 10 minute walk to the restaurant and entertainment and they felt this was horrendous… we think that’ll be a nice stroll after dinner back to our room but means our room would be quiet. I also don’t care about a small chip on a bathroom tile. Food wise, people are odd about food.

I do agree. I have been places with great food reviews where I considered the food barely edible if that; and places where the food reviews are awful and the food was great. One complicating factor may be the diversity of food - I have heard people complain about "foreign food" when they really just wanted fish and chips or whatever. Some travellers hate "local food" which makes me wonder why they travel!

Personally I go by the "local people test" because I have travelled all over for many decades. If the local people eat there, it'll be good. That said, I did pass up the insects in China...

TeenLifeMum · 07/08/2025 17:48

PhilippaGeorgiou · 07/08/2025 15:36

I do agree. I have been places with great food reviews where I considered the food barely edible if that; and places where the food reviews are awful and the food was great. One complicating factor may be the diversity of food - I have heard people complain about "foreign food" when they really just wanted fish and chips or whatever. Some travellers hate "local food" which makes me wonder why they travel!

Personally I go by the "local people test" because I have travelled all over for many decades. If the local people eat there, it'll be good. That said, I did pass up the insects in China...

Show quote history

My in laws complained because the menu was in French (in France) and they didn’t have pizza - it wasn’t an Italian restaurant.

samarrange · 07/08/2025 18:07

Drivingthevengabus · 07/08/2025 15:27

😁 Before you go - I would say I totally agree with the premise. I read the negative reviews and think about whether the things the person was upset about would bother me or not. Also remember most people don't leave a review at all because they had a perfectly nice time but can't be bothered. People who are fed up about something are more likely to leave a review.

Show quote history

People who are fed up about something are more likely to leave a review.

It also depends on the topic. At hotels and restaurants, people often have an unforgettable time, the place turns out better than they expected, so they will write a 5-star review. With things like car hire or airport transfers, there's not much that the company can do to exceed expectations, and it's a pretty dull area anyway. I would avoid a hotel with a 3.2-star average review like the plague, but the same rating on a car hire place would make me think it's probably pretty good.