Catalonia Royal Bavaro - All Inclusive - Adults Only Hotel

Our stay at Catalonia Royal was a major disappointment and did not meet our expectations. The hotel staff were often unfriendly and distant towards European guests. We felt that people of a different background were treated with noticeably more warmth and attention, while our service was cold and sometimes even reluctant. We often had to wait for basic things, such as water, which was provided without a smile or a sense of hospitality. Additionally, a significant portion of the staff either didn’t speak English or didn’t want to, which made communication difficult.

The food quality was mediocre, and the selection was very limited. On several occasions, the plates were chipped, and once, we were served water with ants in it, raising concerns about the restaurant’s cleanliness. Furthermore, some of the restaurants and one of the pools were closed without prior notice, forcing us to use the buffet in the family area despite having booked the adults-only section.

While the beach was cleaned daily, it was still full of seaweed, making it difficult to enjoy the surroundings. Additionally, we were frequently approached by vendors selling tours and souvenirs, which disrupted the tranquility of the beach. One persistent vendor repeatedly pretended to be a car, approaching us with “beep beep” sounds, making relaxation nearly impossible.

The room conditions also fell short of expectations. Our fridge didn’t cool properly, so drinks were not cold, and the water pressure in the bathtub was so low that filling it would take hours, which was very inconvenient. There were also no power outlets near the bed, which was uncomfortable.

In the à la carte restaurants, we encountered a peculiar situation – we were encouraged to write a positive review on Google under the supervision of the staff, who sometimes attempted to enter the comment themselves. This made us suspect that many of the high ratings, especially those mentioning staff names, might be coerced, reflecting a controlled review policy.

The entertainment offered by the hotel was also limited – there were no activities targeted at guests aged 20-40, like silent discos or themed nights, which are common in other hotels. The activities were repetitive, mostly limited to bingo, and didn’t meet our expectations.

Additionally, when we requested a late check-out, we were ignored while the front desk attendant chatted with someone else in Spanish, then quickly told us it wasn’t possible without checking availability.

On the plus side, the room cleaning service was of a high standard, and the hotel’s grounds were beautifully maintained with lush greenery. We also appreciated the quiet reading areas with books available for guests. The staff responsible for cleaning the beach, pools, and gardens genuinely cared for the hotel environment.

Despite our high hopes for a special holiday celebrating my husband’s 30th birthday, this stay turned out to be one of our worst hotel experiences.