Iberostar Selection Bávaro Suites, an All-inclusive Hotel in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic [In-Depth Review]

Finding the right all-inclusive property in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, is an overwhelming task.

Given the dozens of properties that line the white sands of this tropical paradise, there are almost too many options. I spent hours researching properties, consulting my points and miles balances, and reading online reviews. After much deliberation (and recently opening an IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card), I decided to stay one week at the Iberostar Selection Bávaro Suites, followed by 3 additional nights at the Dreams Onyx Resort & Spa, which is part of the Hyatt portfolio (stay tuned for that review).

I enjoyed every moment of my stay here — read on to find out more about my experience and if this hotel is right for you. (Hint: It’s one of the top family-friendly, all-inclusive hotels in Punta Cana.)

Booking Iberostar Selection Bávaro Suites

I was surprised to see that even during the rainy low season, rates were high at many of the all-inclusive hotels in Punta Cana. During the busy Fourth of July holiday week, most were between $400 and $500 per night for 2 adults and a child.

I booked a Junior Suite Tropical View (the second-highest room category of about 8 different ones) at Iberostar Selection Bávaro Suites for $408 per night for 7 nights. I earned 26x points per dollar spent at IHG properties thanks to using my IHG Premier card (10x), the stay itself (10x), and my elite bonus as a Platinum Elite member (6x), plus an additional 4,000 points thanks to an IHG promo for staying 4 nights before August 31, 2024. My stay earned nearly 80,000 points in total.

IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

The perfect card for IHG fans, offering a free night every year, automatic Platinum Elite status, and your fourth night free on award stays.

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IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card

The perfect card for IHG fans, offering a free night every year, automatic Platinum Elite status, and your fourth night free on award stays.

Welcome Offer

Earn 140,000 Bonus Points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

140,000 points

UP's Bonus Valuation*:

$700

Annual Fee

$99

APR

20.74% - 27.74% Variable

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.

Good to Excellent (670-850)

Why We Like This Card

If you regularly visit IHG hotels throughout the year, then the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card is probably a perfect card to have in your wallet.

The IHG Premier card offers a great bundle of perks and benefits, including automatic Platinum elite status, an annual free night certificate, and travel protections.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Up to 26x points per $1 on IHG stays
• 5x points per $1 spent on purchases on travel, at gas stations, and restaurants
• 3x points per $1 on all other purchases

Cons

• $99 annual fee
• Does not earn transferable points

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Card Highlights

• Earn 140,000 Bonus Points
• Enjoy an Anniversary Free Night at IHG Hotels & Resorts. Plus, enjoy a fourth reward night free when you redeem points for a consecutive four-night IHG^® hotel stay.
• Earn up to 26 total points per $1 spent when you stay at IHG Hotels & Resorts
• Earn 5 points per $1 spent on purchases on travel, at gas stations, and restaurants. Earn 3 points per $1 spent on all other purchases
• Automatic Platinum Elite status as long as you remain a Premier cardmember
• Global Entry, TSA PreCheck^® or NEXUS Statement Credit of up to $100 ($120 starting 10/1/24) every 4 years as reimbursement for the application fee charged to your card
• IHG One Rewards Bonus points are redeemable at Hotels & Resorts such as InterContinental^®, Crowne Plaza^®, Kimpton^®, EVEN^® Hotels, Indigo^® Hotels & Holiday Inn^®
• Member FDIC

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 20.74% - 27.74% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

The lowest award rate I found was 69,000 points per night, and I couldn’t find any Iberostar properties in Punta Cana where I could use my free night awards (although IHG says you can use them for some resorts), so I paid in cash.

All-Inclusive Rate

As Iberostar Selection Bávaro Suites is an all-inclusive property, the rate included:

• Access to a buffet at breakfast, lunch, and dinner
• Meals at 7 specialty restaurants
• Snack bar
• Room service (11 a.m. to 11 p.m.)
• Bar service with alcoholic options
• Daily activities, recreation, and Star Camp for kids
• 1 hour per day of nonmotorized aquatic activities (Hobie Cat, kayaking, snorkeling, windsurfing)
• Live nightly entertainment and music
• Bellhop and valet service 24/7
• Beach towels
• Access to facilities and restaurants at Iberostar Waves Dominicana and Iberostar Waves Punta Cana

Hot Tip:

Check out our guides to the best Punta Cana hotels to book with points and the most popular Iberostar resorts to book with IHG One Rewards points.

Iberostar Selection Bávaro Suites Location

The Iberostar Selection Bávaro Suites sits along Playa de Arena Gorda in the Bávaro area of Punta Cana. Punta Cana International Airport (PUJ) is about a 30-minute drive from the hotel. The hotel is about a 2-hour and 15-minute drive from Las Américas International Airport (SDQ) in Santo Domingo or a 3-hour drive from central Santo Domingo.

The hotel is one of a few Iberostar resorts that are all next to one another and between the sea and the Iberostar Golf Course. Although the resort has pretty much everything you need, you can reach spots like supermarkets or pharmacies within a quick drive. It would be too far to walk, but Uber is safe and easy to use if you need or want to get off the resort.

Hot Tip:

There are many all-inclusive properties in Punta Cana, but for the most beautiful beaches, hotels in the Bávaro area are set on the beaches with some of the whitest sands.

Checking In

After a picturesque 3-hour drive from Santo Domingo, we arrived at the private entrance for the group of Iberostar resorts.

As with many hotels in Punta Cana, I had to speak with a security guard, telling him my name and hotel before driving in so they could check I had a reservation. Iberostar has a handful of resorts all next to one another, but we followed the signs to Bávaro.

Upon arrival, staff immediately unloaded our suitcases onto a golf cart while I headed to the check-in desk and my husband parked the rental car (parking was free). I could feel the relaxation right off the bat as I strolled through the breezy, open-air lobby, complete with tropical plants, fountains, and plenty of comfortable seating.

Beyond, I could see a small bridge and pond, palm trees, and colorful villas.

The reception staff welcomed me as an IHG One Rewards member and upgraded me to a poolside room from my original tropical view room. The front desk staff explained the hours of the buffet, everything that was included, and that the restaurants were reservation-free except for the Japanese restaurant, Kabuki. I studied the map to get the lay of the land, and the staff gave us all bracelets, which also doubled as our room keys.

Hot Tip:

Guests also have access to the neighboring Iberostar Waves Punta Cana and the Iberostar Waves Dominicana. This means we could use the pools, eat at the buffets or restaurants, and participate in activities at these hotels.

Room Change

Staff drove us in golf carts drove us to our room, but when we pulled up and heard the music blasting from the pool, I knew the room wasn’t the right fit.

I headed right back to the lobby and declined this room, as I had specifically booked a Tropical View room, touted as being in one of the most peaceful areas of the resort. While I love the fun and energy of an all-inclusive, which offers activities happening day and night, I was exhausted, jet-lagged, and traveling with a toddler who still naps, so we needed a calmer space, which is why I had booked a room in a calmer area of the resort in the first place.

After speaking again with the front desk staff, they then assigned me room 2566 in villa 56, which was about equidistant from the lobby, the main buffet, and the pool and beach area. Staff moved our baggage via golf cart so we could get settled.

Elite Benefits

IHG One Rewards Platinum Elite benefits are available at Iberostar properties. This is what I was eligible for as a Platinum Elite member:

• Free internet
• Guaranteed room availability (72 hours)
• Complimentary upgrades (subject to availability)
• Welcome amenity at check-in (I chose the 500 points)
• Early check-in
• Late checkout (2 p.m.)

I got all of these perks, except I left the hotel around 10:30 a.m., so I’m not sure if I would have gotten late checkout. I arrived at the hotel at 2 p.m., and my normal check-in time was at 3 p.m., so the staff let me check in early.

Hot Tip:

Wondering how to get late checkout from a hotel? Having elite status is an easy way, and certain credit cards offer this benefit, too.

Tropical View Room

This particular hotel felt massive, with endless weaving sidewalks of brightly colored villas. Each villa had 8 guestrooms, 4 on the ground floor and 4 on the top floor.

The hotel had water stations throughout the property, where you could fill up your water bottle (each room had 2 large glass bottles, or you could refill your own). Some stations also had ice makers.

Bedroom

I walked into room 2566, a ground-floor room, and was happy.

Although some of the furniture, like the desk, ceiling fan, and chair, felt dated, the high ceilings and sunken seating area made the space feel inviting.

Staff brought in an extra twin bed for my 3-year-old, and I got a great rest every night in the king bed.

The small outdoor balcony was nice for a sunset cocktail, overlooking tropical foliage. It also had a small rack to hang wet swimsuits, which I appreciated.

The balcony and the window had sheer curtains and blackout curtains, and it was helpful to have both. During the day, I used the sheer curtains to keep the hot sun out and for privacy but still have daylight streaming in. At night, we used the blackout curtains.

Our room didn’t feature any overhead lighting, which usually bothers me, but I didn’t mind during this stay. Instead, I utilized the bedside and sofaside lamps. The room had a large TV that I never turned on, a coffee maker that I never used (the resort’s coffee shop was open 24/7, so I preferred to get iced lattes there), and a small workspace, which I also, being on vacation, never used.

However, I did occasionally grab a drink or 2 from the minifridge, which staff stocked daily with beers and sodas.

The closet had 2 umbrellas, which came in handy during the bursts of tropical rain during my July stay. It also had a safe, ironing board, shelving, and a large, full-length mirror.

I was happy with the room, as I never heard my neighbors, loved the tropical views, and got restful slumber in the large bed. I also liked that there were USB and regular, U.S.-style outlets by each bedside table.

My only qualm with the room was that the air conditioning wasn’t quite strong enough to really cool the whole room. For us, it was fine — my husband is European and sensitive to air conditioning, but for some visitors, specifically from the U.S., the rooms might not be cool enough.

Bathroom

The bathroom was spacious and airy, complete with a toilet, a huge sink, and a massive rainfall shower.

Amenities weren’t single-use, another nod to the resort’s sustainability initiatives. Instead, there were larger bottles of Be-Therapy. I hadn’t heard of the brand, but it smelled floral and nice, and the soap and shampoo were gentle enough for my toddler, who has sensitive skin.

During my search for the best all-inclusive hotel in Punta Cana, I found a number of reviews for various hotels that said the bathrooms smelled mildewy. I suppose this is understandable, given that there was 90% humidity during my stay. But this bathroom had no such smell, which was a relief.

Amenities

This hotel is an excellent all-inclusive resort in Punta Cana for families. The amenities and activities were geared toward families with children, and it was a wonderful place to stay with my toddler, whom staff frequently fawned over. In general, the vibe of the hotel was fun, happy, and enjoyable. Here are some of the things to do on the property.

Pools

This resort had a massive pool that was separated into 3 sections.

The largest section was heated, and the other 2 sections were colder. One featured a swim-up bar, and the other had a volleyball net and was deeper.

The kiddie pool was next to this pool. It featured a giant pirate ship complete with slides and other kid-friendly, splash-pad-style elements.

Chairs were scattered throughout and around the pool area, which also featured 2 bars, a restaurant, an all-day pool dining space, and an ice cream bar. You could also get towels by saying your room number at the towel shack. One thing I liked about the hotel was that the staff wasn’t strict about returning the towels. Each day, you could ask for new towels regardless of whether they had marked yours as returned from the day before.

However, 1 downside that seems to plague many resorts is the dreaded chair reserving. Each day, when I sauntered down to the pool around 9:30 a.m. or so, almost every single pool chair was taken. And I could never find any in the shade.

The first 5 days, I rose above the nonsense. But thanks to thanks to lumbar pain from sitting for ages on the edge of the pool, a crispy sunburn from no shade, and my general crankiness, the last 2 mornings of my trip, I marched down at 7:45 a.m. to mark my territory (i.e., set towels down and “reserve” 2 beach loungers) with the masses. If you can’t beat ’em, join ’em — this mantra was made for all-inclusive resort-goers.

The pool area was beautiful and kept very clean. At 7 p.m. sharp, the pool closed daily for cleaning and maintenance, which was why the area was probably so well-maintained.

Beach

The white Caribbean sands of Playa Arena Gorda were just as glorious as I had hoped. The hotel worked hard to keep the sargassum from taking over, but after walking down the beach, it didn’t seem like the algae problem was too bad in general. The water was warm and clear, and I never had an issue getting a beach chair (unlike the pool), though I only managed to get 1 first line chair in the late afternoon.

The hotel offered service at the beach, and when I went there in the mornings, I was promptly approached and asked what I wanted to drink.

Fitness Center

The fitness center was one of the best I’ve seen at a resort. The Fit & Fun Center had a fully equipped weight and cardio room and several spaces for group classes, including a spinning room with bikes, a room perfect for yoga and Pilates, and a CrossFit box with large windows that overlooked the jungle foliage, where I did daily boot camp at 8 a.m., which was killer.

The boot camp instructors were knowledgeable and friendly, and I already miss the intensity of these classes and the jungle views I enjoyed while working out.

The fitness center also put on daily beach yoga, which I didn’t get a chance to try, but I’m sure it would have been lovely. There was also an outdoor gym where you could work out on your own or take a class at 7 a.m. (it got too hot later in the day).

Star Camp

My 3-year-old absolutely loved the Star Camp. This was unfortunate, because he wasn’t old enough to attend on his own (it started at age 4).

The main center had family hours and an incredible indoor and outdoor space that featured several rooms, an indoor play gym, outdoor toys, a TV room with beanbag chairs, a snack area, and more.

We took our son there to burn off energy when we were tired of the pool during family hours, which occurred at 3 different times each day.

The Star Camp also organized activities for kids in the evenings, which our son joined in on. These included games and talent shows on the main stage near the lobby. We were able to relax with a pre-dinner drink while our toddler watched and played with the other children, singing and dancing along or watching kid-friendly shows.

He was also able to participate in some of the pool games (under our supervision), which were usually the Iberostar Punta Cana pool (we headed over one day specifically so he could run on the water carpet, which he loved). At the breakfast buffet, the resort also had giant characters roaming around so the kids could hug and take photos with them. It also hosted cooking and craft workshops for kids.

The Star Camp staff was attentive, friendly, and welcoming, and our son loved every second of it. I hope to come back when he’s older so he can enjoy this particular kids club even more.

Hot Tip:

The Star Camp can be far from some of the villas. If you have a smaller child, make sure to bring your stroller if they aren’t up for a long walk in the hot sun.

Spa

The spa was in a large building next to Fit & Fun and offered services such as massages, facials, and body treatments. There was also a small beachfront tent for massages.

Although I didn’t go into the spa, I was able to see the spa pool from the fitness center, which looked tranquil and relaxing. Massages started at $140 and facials at $160.

Other Activities

The animation team made sure to offer something for everyone.

This included daily aqua gym fitness classes, live music at the pool, dance classes, foam parties, paella beachfront lunches, and more. You could play ping-pong, get hair braids at the pool, learn bachata, or play beach soccer.

The theater showed the Euro Cup soccer games by day and provided entertainment by night.

There were nightly family-friendly shows, karaoke nights, beach parties with fire shows, dancing, live music, talent shows, and more.

I could easily see what was on for the day via a board with all the activities or on the Iberostar app.

It’s worth noting that even the adult-oriented activities felt family-friendly. I appreciated that I could participate in an aqua gym class with my toddler dangling off my hip or that a member of the animation team would dance with him while my husband and I salsa-danced for a few moments to a live band.

Guests also had access to a doctor, nightclub, casino, and pharmacy on the premises.

Tennis, Pickleball, and Golf

The Iberostar has pickleball and tennis courts, as well as a P.B. Dye-designed golf course shared with the other Iberostar hotels here.

Shopping

There was a small boutique off the lobby that sold souvenirs, drugstore items, and beachwear.

Wi-Fi

Wi-Fi was free and fast. I also had no issue connecting anywhere on the resort, from my room to the pool area to the lobby. According to my Ookla app, the download speed was 167 Mbps, and the upload speed was 129 Mbps.

Parking

Parking, as I previously mentioned, was free at the resort in an uncovered lot.

Accessibility

This hotel was ideal for anyone with mobility issues. There were barely any stairs around the property (the lobby had a few, but there were ramps). Some ground-floor villas were wheelchair-accessible, too.

I liked that the beach area had special seating for anyone in a wheelchair, with a ramp along the sand to roll down.

Food and Beverage

Guests could choose from several different specialty restaurants (only one of which required reservations, the Japanese one), as well as a buffet, ice cream shop, coffee shop, and in-room dining. There were also several bars by the pool, including a swim-up bar, for drinks.

Do know that the buffet seating areas weren’t air-conditioned, but the other indoor sit-down restaurants were.

I’d like to start off by saying that the food at the resort was generally fantastic. It was high quality and tasty, and there was a massive variety to choose from. Food hygiene was high, and the buffet areas were kept impeccably clean. The house white and red wines (the winery was Anoranza), which were served at all the restaurants, were surprisingly pretty decent. Below, I’ll dig into each of the restaurants.

Brave

While Brave steakhouse didn’t require a reservation, I strongly suggest getting there at 6 p.m. (or slightly earlier to get in line) to secure a spot on the waiting list. Doing this, I was able to come back around 7:45 p.m. for dinner. My steak was perfectly cooked, and the space seemed slightly more elevated than some of the other eateries and was dimly lit and overlooking the pond.

Kabuki

We spoke to the concierge to get a reservation at this restaurant. Kabuki had 3 seatings per night, and we got the 9 p.m. seating. As with a typical hibachi restaurant, the chef, Felipe, flipped his knives and tossed the eggs, and made delicious fried rice with seafood, meat, and chicken. The ambiance was pleasant, though guests were at shared tables, so it was not very private.

Los Haitises Buffet

This is where we ate breakfast (and lunch most days). Do note that the buffet was open-air, and even if you were lucky enough to get seated beneath a ceiling fan, it was hot, especially during the rainy season.

The buffet itself was one of the best I’ve experienced at an all-inclusive, with a large and inviting selection of food that was well-maintained and hygienic.

The actual food itself was in an air-conditioned area, away from the pesky birds and ducks that sometimes wandered or flew into the seating area to steal food from unsuspecting diners.

The food itself was fantastic. Breakfast offered a broad selection of pastries, bread, tropical fruit (I ate my body weight in mango each day), and hot items. Each day, I would immediately head to the omelet station (there were 2), where Carmen whipped up delicious egg dishes with a smile.

Lunch also had a wonderful variety of meat, chicken, seafood, veggies, legumes, and, of course, that fantastic tropical fruit, as well as an array of desserts. I only popped in 1 night for dinner, and I saw that there was a lot of tasty-looking seafood, such as lobster, mussels, and shrimp, as well as an entire leg of Iberian ham, which my Spanish husband was overjoyed to see.

Il Forno

Il Forno was the other restaurant that required diners to line up at 6 p.m. and put their name on the waiting list. I did this, and a staff member sent me a WhatsApp around 8 p.m. to tell me my table was ready. The restaurant had the usual “Italian” suspects: salads, pasta, bruschetta, pizza, lasagna, and tiramisu. It wasn’t the greatest meal I had at the resort, but it was good. However, this is one of the most popular restaurants in the hotel and was always packed.

La Dorada

This underrated Greek gem was one of my top spots — we went twice because I had to have the salted, flambeed mahi mahi a second time (it was prepared right in front of you).

You could also get various types of souvlaki here, so if you love seafood, La Dorada is an excellent spot. Plus, it was never full, so it was very easy to get a table. This was the most underrated restaurant on the resort.

Bistro La Coupole

I had originally written this spot off, as the app mentioned it was only for ages 13 and up. However, when I happened to walk by and see a baby in a high chair, I asked, and they said we were welcome to dine there, even with our toddler in tow.

This spot, which we were able to just walk into, ended up serving my favorite meal of the entire stay: duck confit, which was perfectly cooked and tender, falling off the bone.

Star Cafe

I visited Star Cafe daily in the afternoon for a latte or frappe and a snack. It was a coffee shop that was open 24 hours a day, providing a nice air-conditioned respite on a muggy afternoon.

I’m not sure where I’d be today if it weren’t for those daily iced lattes that gave me the energy to chase after my toddler in the pool.

El Botey Ice Cream

A favorite of my son’s, this poolside ice cream shop served up several flavors of ice cream in cones and also offered milkshakes.

El Tamarindo

El Tamarindo was a poolside lunch buffet by day and an outdoor Mexican restaurant by night. During the day, it was a smaller version of the other buffet, and you needed to be “dressed” (e.g., no swimsuits) to enter.

Nearby, there was a small outdoor pool snack bar in case you wanted burgers and snacks without having to change.

At night, Tamarindo became a Mexican restaurant, which was a casual spot for tacos and ceviche.

The freshly prepared guacamole was delicious, and my son loved the lime chicken soup from the kids menu.

Star Rock Cafe

This American-themed hamburger joint had a limited menu, mainly just burgers, so we never ended up eating here. However, we did pop in one day so my son could see the vintage car, which he was able to sit in.

Service

The Iberostar Selection Bávaro Suites is a massive hotel and property, and staff are everywhere. We didn’t have any negative issues whatsoever with service. Obviously, when you’re dealing with dozens, possibly more than a hundred people working on a resort during your stay, some are nicer than others. But, in general, the service was friendly and prompt. Housekeeping was excellent and even left little flowers on the bed each day. The animation team was a hoot, always dancing, telling jokes, and interacting with guests, both kids and adults. And the Star Camp team was amazing, and my son enjoyed his interaction with them.

In the restaurants, the staff always took our drink orders right away and were prompt and friendly, especially at the buffet. One day, someone called our room just to check in and see how our stay was going and if we needed anything. Another day, a staff member approached me at the pool to ask if I had any comments on my stay or needed anything.

Final Thoughts

Families should definitely consider a stay at the Iberostar Selection Bávaro Suites. The hotel is large and welcoming, with an endless activities calendar and lots of space for families to relax and enjoy. I wouldn’t recommend this hotel for honeymooners or anyone wanting quiet romance — it was really geared toward families and making sure adults and kids had plenty to do.

I would also recommend the hotel to anyone looking for a more “Caribbean” hotel experience. Staff were always dancing bachata and merengue, and a large portion of the guests were from Spanish-speaking countries (Iberostar is a Spanish chain that’s only recently become part of IHG). This made a more immersive travel experience for a family that wants an all-inclusive experience with a little extra Caribbean and Latin flavor.