IFA Villas Bavaro, SALVALEóN de HIGüEY

The hotel is beutiful and looks amazing, pool is beutiful but the food is horrible. I was sooooo disapointed with the food. I litteraly came home hungry it was horrible. No taste at all. I thought only my family and I thought this way until I met another family who complained about the same thing. I would not return. To me the food is the most important thing about an all exclusive hotel .

I would not recommend this resort to anyone especially newlyweds! Check in was a 2 hr wait and the staff wasnt very nice about it either, and this continued througout the trip. We luckily met a mother and daughter that spoke english and were from where we were. The first room we got had an inch of water on the floor and took the maintence crew almost an hr to come and take us to another room. Well yeah the next room wasnt any better, this one had pounding on the roof for construction and also ants in the bathroom sink and ants on the nightstands! Food, well that was nasty, nothing had any taste to it and made me and my husband very sickly. 3 days into the trip we had to go to the hospital. The hospital was very dirty, not sterile, uncomfortable and very costly for having kidney stones. As we were ready to leave the staff wasnt helpful at all getting our luggage or telling us what bus to get on to get to the airport. The only nice thing was the beach and swimming with dolphins. My husband I would not recommend this place to anyone!

This was a very nice and clean resort. Nice people, friendly, everything you want to do is there. Room was very comfortable,friendly maids (Maria and Gladys.Very clean restaurants,if you don't like location,ask David to change your room, you need a good reason. TIP:bring some clothes,food from rest(croissant,etc..)and put on pillow, you will get the best service, also $1. I had a full photo session by their own photographer in garden, beach, around pool. for $140, I got 18 photos 6X8 and frame and photos on CD. Ask for Ricco. Shuttle to go to beach every 3 mins.,you can walk also. Beach is clean,small fleamarket right side of beach,you want clothes, ask for Big Johnny, Gina, Wilson shops. You want jewelrey, ask for Justo. On your left to other small shops, if you want massage,manicure,pedicure, ask for Rosita,she will do the 3 for $50., her sister also Amanda. By the way tell them, I sent you Daniela from Ottawa Canada........ Overall, everything is great,,, I was there Feb. 16 to March 1, 2008

This was our first Vacation,, So we really have no comparison to others,, Great staff at the Picalo, ( pizza bar) Lots of Music and activities going on, the food was all right, Lots of lounges to choose from to sit back in the shade or in the sun..

MY WIFE AND ME WENT TO THIS HOTEL FOR ONLY 3 DAYS, NO TV REMOTE CONTROL THE FIRST DAY, CABLE TV BOX NEVER WORK, I REQUEST A IRON, CAME ALMOST 24 HOURS AND THEY SAID TO ME "I CAN USE ONLY FOR 3 HOURS". HOTEL HAS 3 RESTAURANTS, NOTHING NEW, "THE COLONIAL, THE FOOD IS LIKE WENDY'S, SECOND RESTAURANT "MEXICAN", LIKE TACO BELL, AND THE THIRD ONE "CHINESE" I DON'T WANT TO GO. THE REST OF BUFFETTE RESTAURANTS FROM 1 TO 10 IS 5,I DON'T COME BACK TO THAT HOTEL FOR THE PRICE I PAID, IS EXPENSIVE. PEOPLE WORKS FOR THE RESTAURANTS EXCELLENT.

I am 19, and I just returned from the IFA villas. The resort was great. I had read some of the reviews, and was a little worried. Actually, we did have two slight room problems, but we resolved both. Everyday they had aerobics in the pool, contests, music at the pool and on the beach, dancing on the beach, all inclusive deals get snorkeling, kayaking, and windsurfing. We reserved dinner reservations at the three places a day ahead of time. The buffet for breakfast and dinner was great, and the pizzeria was the best there. Everyone was super nice. The mosquitoes were a slight problem, because they were in your room. The beach disco at night was more for young people. Everyday on the resort somebody walks around with a monkey, an iguana, or parrots, and you can take a picture with them which you can buy later on the resort for $8 a picture. You can also make reservations to get professional pictures. Every night by the Margarita Pool/Bar, they have a show, they play bingo, or they play games. People walk around on the resort taking reservations for massages, and braids for your hair. If you have the all-inclusive package, you can do the scuba diving in the pools. To go out in the ocean costs. However, I would recommend doing the snorkeling over the reef! It's only fifteen dollars. It's worth it. We were a little worried about the Spanish speaking, but everyone knows English. There are many shops on the beach with whom you can bargain the workers. They are poor, so don't settle for some outrageous price. For a decoration sale boat, and a pretty glass ashtray with a parrot on it for a total of $16. They wanted to charge me $25. For a small ten by ten painting, do not pay more then ten per painting. Believe me! They charged my friend $35 for two. Keep in mind they sell these in many stores and when we got to the airport to leave they were ten each! I would recommend many things.. Take bug repellent for at night and for the room! Take a lot of sun block. I used 45 everyday, and I’m still dark. They charge a lot for sun stuff. Get the key for the safe. You pay when you get there for the whole week. It's five dollars a day. It's worth it! It's popular and beautiful spot. If you have verizon, your phone will work but it’s expensive. The have an international phone that works in the lobby. Otherwise, the serivice was great, the air condition was lovely, and they all say Bavaro Beach is the beach to be on.

I loved this resort. The beach honestly couldnt be better. The food is good but not great. The restaurant food is amazing though the buffet food is only good. They have many activities for kids and adults. At night they still had activities. Till 3 in the morning they had a disco type thing. It was like a club on the beach. It was like a dream. Beer, food, dancing.... AMAZING!!!! They have snorkle gear you can rent and water stuff. Even kayaks!

The beach was beautiful, and the atmosphere was nice. The rooms were very clean. It was so peaceful. The people in the restaurant were very friendly, but the house keepers were very cold they seem so down.

I love everything. The pools are great, the beach is gorgeous and the food is excellent. The treatment receive from the employees is awesome. Great place to stay.

The Service was awful, the hotel employees are not skillful enough to deal with tourists, they give you attitudes and even treat you like one more of them, not thinking that you are there to have fun and enjoy the facilities and the activities offered. The rooms were messy and many of them did not have Air-conditioning, not to mention that lamps bulb lights were missing too and the ceiling fan were so noisy and loose that we were afraid they would fall on our heads while sleeping. We were moved from room to room for the three days we were there, until we decided to finish the hassle and call the travel agency thru which we booked the package. Thanks God they listened to us and transfer over to a different hotel. Then, things began to get better and we were able to enjoy our stay at the Caribbean sea, the name of this hotel is the Ocean Blue, I would recommend it as a good one for any one willing to spend quality time with family and friend and not to be dealing with a bunch of beginners in the hotel industry as they are in IFA Villas Bavaro.