JOIA Bavaro by Iberostar

We have had a great week! The weather has been perfect! All of the restaurants are good; we liked Japanese best. Some issues with our room but they were taken care of immediately. The mini fridge was kept full all week. Houston is a great butler! He went above and...

We have had a great week! The weather has been perfect! All of the restaurants are good; we liked Japanese best. Some issues with our room but they were taken care of immediately. The mini fridge was kept full all week. Houston is a great butler! He went above and beyond for service.

Houston was a very nice butler. The Joia was a great place for our 30th anniversary. The Japanese restaurant was very good. The food overall was good. The weather, pool, and beach were perfect. The golf was nice and similar to what you would see at “resort” courses.

This is our third time staying at this resort in Punta Cana. This property is the Adults Only part of the the resort. It's a beautiful resort and only 272 suites which is perfect as we prefer smaller resorts. The food is great, plenty of daily activities, shows in the...

This is our third time staying at this resort in Punta Cana. This property is the Adults Only part of the the resort. It's a beautiful resort and only 272 suites which is perfect as we prefer smaller resorts. The food is great, plenty of daily activities, shows in the evening and has a great Fitness Club and many fitness classes to choose from. Shout outs to: Our butlers: Reynaldo and Cofe Front desk: Cristian Entertainment/Spanish teacher: Yeli Pool bar service: Dionis and Julianna Breakfast buffet: Henry Zumba instructors: Braulio and Divi Yoga instructor: Edison And many more that unfortunately I don't have their names. We had an amazing time and look forward to returning in 2026!

We stay in the JOIA in March of 2025. In general the experience was great. The food was unbelievable, grounds were beautiful and hotel itself is maintained well although it shows some signs of aging. We liked it so much that thought coming back in a future. That said there...

We stay in the JOIA in March of 2025. In general the experience was great. The food was unbelievable, grounds were beautiful and hotel itself is maintained well although it shows some signs of aging. We liked it so much that thought coming back in a future. That said there were something that we were disappointed with. At our arrival and registration we were introduced to our butler. This person supposed to help with accommodation and navigate through any issues that we might have. As an example, helping reserve a cabana in the morning or make a reservation to the restaurant, if needed. Our butler introduced herself as Julianne Martinez . We had a rather brief conversation with Julianne , where she explained he function and start offering us to buy some long term contract with the hotel chain. We did not express particular interest in the offer and after that Julianne completely ignored us. She did nothing of the functions she supposed to do. We saw her walking by, but she never approached us or talked to us. No restaurant or cabana reservation, nothing. Hopefully, if we come back, we will have a better service.

We just finished 7 nights at JOIA Bavaro in Dominican Republic. This was our first trip to this property after multiple trips to JOIA Paraiso (Mexico) and JOIA Rose Hall (Jamaica). To be transparent, we are Iberostar members. This is our new home away from home. Overall, I’d put this...

We just finished 7 nights at JOIA Bavaro in Dominican Republic. This was our first trip to this property after multiple trips to JOIA Paraiso (Mexico) and JOIA Rose Hall (Jamaica). To be transparent, we are Iberostar members. This is our new home away from home. Overall, I’d put this resort above any other we have been to and it really isn’t very close. Paraiso is second place, and always will have a place in our heart since it was our first Iberostar experience and Rose Hall is third. Here are my thoughts: Property - Beautiful and well manicured. This is a hallmark of Iberostar and Bavaro was no different. The grounds crew were out all day every day making sure the lawn, shrubs, trees and flowers were all beautifully taken care of. Room - We stayed in a basic suite, which is usually what we pick. It was ground floor and facing the JOIA property. It was a few steps from the theater and close to everything. While a little smaller than Paraiso and Rose Hall, it was just as nice. Some people say it’s outdated and I just don’t see it. It is clean and there is nothing outdated about it. There is no large dedicated sitting area like the other resorts, but there was a chair and lamp. The bathroom only has a single vanity, but we made it work. The bed was extremely comfortable. The only downside was it has less places to store your clothing. All other amenities are nearly identical. It stayed cold, just how we like it and with the curtains closed, it was blackout dark. All perfect for us. Staff - This is one of the areas that the resort shines and is a cut above anywhere else. Every staff member was no less than outgoing and friendly and the vast majority were engaging and wonderful to interact with. The buffet and restaurant wait staffs were amazing and remembered us every day. The Star Prestige crew were all friendly and helpful. The pool bartenders were funny, loud and there to keep the good time going. The cleaning crews were excellent. Lastly, our butlers Armando and Houston were an absolute joy to be around. I really enjoyed getting to talk to them each day. They took care of every need we had. Food - I’m not exaggerating when I say, hands down, JOIA Bavaro has the best food of any Iberostar we’ve visited or any cruise line we’ve been on (Carnival and Virgin Voyages). Breakfast buffet, lunch buffets (2 of them), a lunch grill with burgers and nachos and speciality restaurants for dinner. All food was kept at proper temperature, was fresh, offered choices for every taste and we were pleasantly surprised as how delicious it all was. Sushi was fresh, desserts were plentiful and varied, breakfasts were awesome, steaks were cooked to perfection every time. I don’t know how they do it, but if this is the only reason you go, you won’t be disappointed. Pools and beach - Whether you prefer a quiet pool, a more boisterous swim up bar pool, or an activity pool, you’ll find it here. There are plenty of places to sit and relax. Chairs, with or without umbrellas, large thatched umbrellas that don’t allow any sun through, cabanas, Bali beds and everything in between. You may need to play the towel game if you want to be in a particular spot. Get out there early and stake your claim. The beach is one of the nicest I’ve seen anywhere. Minimal seaweed, beautiful white sand and turquoise waters. You can get drinks delivered to wherever you plan to be. Spa - My favorite massages of all properties. My wife gets daily massages and I get them every other day. The girls were all incredible and so friendly. Go for the hot stone massage if that is your thing. It’s my new go-to. Entertainment - There is something for everyone. Nightly music, singing, dancing and shows. We went to the Vegas show in the theater and it was really good. There is a disco open late for the younger crowd. I cannot recommend JOIA Bavaro enough. Go there now, bring some treats for the resort kitties, enjoy a relaxing vacation and tip everyone. They deserve it for the amount of effort they put in to make our vacations wonderful.

The best resort with great service, food and entertainment. Houston and Armando were the greatest butlers. Friendly and attentive. They were always asking what you needed and would do their best to make sure you had everything you needed.

I registered my room online as I was promissed quicker check in process. This is our 4th time here, fifth week all together. We love this resort especially in March as there is no seaweed in the water. When we arrived the receptionist was trying to help me but the...

I registered my room online as I was promissed quicker check in process. This is our 4th time here, fifth week all together. We love this resort especially in March as there is no seaweed in the water. When we arrived the receptionist was trying to help me but the room was jot ready. This is the first time this happened. Then I was explained by a female receptionist "Our check in is at 3pm, you didn't know" I didn't because every time I was here I got my room right away (same flight). So when we got our room and our vacation started I realized some changes and most of them great. I love our room location 7227, no buttler. I saw all the buttlers we had before and they recognized us and we're really kind especially Armando. Restaurants are much better as the offer is amazing now comparing to before. The only bad side is no booking, you have to come early. I don't like that. The only one you can book is Japanese restaurant and that is great. But honestly the offer in the restaurants is much better. The beach is great, lots of beds and parasols. The coffee shop is the addition. Great place for the afternoon coffee. Onr little thing as well is that the wrist room key is not working every time..... Otherwise great resort, beautiful setting, flowers and birds.

This was our eighth or ninth trip here. Although the overall experience was great as always, the resort stopped having free nightly entertainment in the theater. They now charge for nightly shows there even though the resort is advertised as all-inclusive. They still have free nightly entertainment, but it pales...

This was our eighth or ninth trip here. Although the overall experience was great as always, the resort stopped having free nightly entertainment in the theater. They now charge for nightly shows there even though the resort is advertised as all-inclusive. They still have free nightly entertainment, but it pales in comparison to being able to sit in the theater. Now with that being said, the staff is still amazing, everyone there from the maintenance staff to the butlers. Our Butlers were Edward and Danillo, we've known them both for years and they helped make our stay wonderful. The Star friends were all fun and had great personalities. The place is still one of the best resorts that I have visited, but the theater put them over the top.

A Journey of Faith, Family, and Unforgettable Memories Rewind to December 2014: Iberostar Grand Paraiso A line drawn in the sand around empty beach cabanas. A glass-doored room near the lobby, once forgotten, now buzzing with VIP experiences. That’s where it all began for us with Iberostar The Club ......

A Journey of Faith, Family, and Unforgettable Memories Rewind to December 2014: Iberostar Grand Paraiso A line drawn in the sand around empty beach cabanas. A glass-doored room near the lobby, once forgotten, now buzzing with VIP experiences. That’s where it all began for us with Iberostar The Club ... a vision shared by passionate Directors who saw what we couldn’t yet imagine: the best AI vacation club in the world. Back then, it was pure trust. Our “contract”? Scrawled on napkins and scraps of paper (oh, how we wish we’d kept those!). A leap of faith, handshakes, and dreams. By January 2015, at Grand Bavaro, those dreams took shape: the first printed contracts, the birth of “Iberostar The Club” plan, and the humble beginnings of a sales team where “Black” level was the pinnacle. Fast forward, and what a journey! Through pre-pandemic adventures of 4-5 trips a year ...we reclaimed our investment, fueled by 25% savings and endless luxury perks . But the true reward? Watching this vision evolve. New destinations. Richer perks. And now, the joy of sharing it all with our sons, their wives, and soon… a new generation of tiny travelers. Iberostar The Club isn’t just vacations. It’s legacy. It’s lazy , luxe beach days turning into lifelong memories, proposals , weddings, new Club family, laughter echoing across generations, and the quiet pride of knowing we bet on the right dream. Here’s to the Directors who drew that first line in the sand—and to every sunset yet to come. 🌅 Grateful doesn’t begin to cover it. Ultimately, I believe that our Club journey is an ongoing process of growth and discovery. While there are moments when things don’t unfold as we hope, our Club family has embraced the power of collaboration, learning to support one another as we navigate this path , our " Journey of Joy " ... together. #IberostarFamily #LeapOfFaith #GenerationsOfJoy #IberostarTheClub #CanYouSayHeavenOnEarth #heavenonearth #appreciationpost

Second trip here it’s not the same resort I rated it as a 5 back in 2013, it’s still nice and clean but it doesn’t have the same charm or feel about it. More like a corporate checklist vibe. Day 3 now and the buffet still has yet to satisfy...

Second trip here it’s not the same resort I rated it as a 5 back in 2013, it’s still nice and clean but it doesn’t have the same charm or feel about it. More like a corporate checklist vibe. Day 3 now and the buffet still has yet to satisfy me. Seafood options are very limited as compared to in the past.

Perfection The grounds, the food, the facilities and the service met every expectation I had Every staff member was excellent and professional including each bartender, the folks at the towel hut, and every server we encountered Our stay was more memorable because of Smilie from the entertainment team, Miguel, our...

Perfection The grounds, the food, the facilities and the service met every expectation I had Every staff member was excellent and professional including each bartender, the folks at the towel hut, and every server we encountered Our stay was more memorable because of Smilie from the entertainment team, Miguel, our waiter, and our two butlers Cesar and Eduardo. I would recommend this resort to everyone who is looking for a relaxing low key getaway and am already looking at other JOIA resorts for our next adventure

Jose and Alex were amazing! They made our experience even better than perfect. The resort is beautiful and the service is unmatched. The cleaning staff did a wonderful job keeping our room spotless. Smiley, pool staff member was wonderful as well. We will be back for sure!

We had a wonderful time, the stay exceeded my expectations. The service was excellent with standouts being Smilie from the entertainment team, Miguel as a waiter, and our two butlers Cesar and Eduardo. I would recommend this resort to everyone and look forward to coming back.

We have been vacationing at Iberostar Grand Bavaro (now known as Joia Bavaro by Iberostar) since it opened in 2009. We became members of The Club (Black) in 2016. There is no better Hotel chain than Iberostar. We currently visit the Grand in Punta Cana 2 times a year which...

We have been vacationing at Iberostar Grand Bavaro (now known as Joia Bavaro by Iberostar) since it opened in 2009. We became members of The Club (Black) in 2016. There is no better Hotel chain than Iberostar. We currently visit the Grand in Punta Cana 2 times a year which I suppose is approx. 30 times. This hotel never changes...the food is fantastic, the staff is outstanding, and it is one of the most beautiful hotels that we have ever seen. We have also stayed at the Paraiso in Mexico, Barcelona, Lisbon, and the Algarve - all excellent! Everytime you enter the hotel for the first time it feels like home. The highest regard are the staff. They are friendly, happy, helpful, polished, professional, intelligent, and we could go on and on. Obviously we know quite a few of the staff and rely on them as we have done over the years. This year we met a number of new staff and they looked after us immensely. We are sure we have missed a number of people but please be assured we are speaking of all the staff that we have come in touch with during our stay. We will mention a few people that stood out, however, all of them were great. In Prestige: Juliana Aquino who arranged our golf tee times for every day of our stay and we golfed 13 rounds. She also changed our room to a more scenic room facing inside. Rosa, Darlene and a lovely lady (didn't get her name but all 4 of these ladies we have never met and they were excellent) with curly hair continued to answer all our questions, delivering our wine and checked in with us daily. Butlers: Thanks to Eduardo and Caesar. Everytime you opened your door they were there for us. Housekeeping was always wonderful. Restaurants: The food and service is exemplary. Juan Pablo and Melissa (we love these 2) Johnny the Somalia (so glad you came back!) , Iris who serves us a La Perla for lunch and again for dinner some nights (you always remember the ice), Ana M and Naomi (thank you for the wine at lunch). Thanks to Oscar and Alexandra as well. Thanks to David in the Italian restaurant. Golf: A huge thanks and hugs for the Golf Team that stores our clubs, washes them, cleans up our shoes, gets our cart ready for us. Thanks to Juan for rescuing Mark's 8 iron, and to Marvin for backing him up! And of course the ladies in the pro shop who always have our paperwork done before we venture out! Beach: Augusto who seems like our son, we have known him so long....always there to please! Mey his assistant is a great side kick for him. She is hilarious We congratulate "Obama" who has a new job on the beach that he seems to love. Management: You obviously know what you are doing. Thanks to Darlyn and the rest of the team. Thanks to Garcia at the front desk who was always ready to help No doubt you will see us again soon! We see no reason not to and don't want to go somewhere else when you know how perfect this resort is. Lori and Mark Miller - Ajax Ontario Canada

As a haven’t written a review in a while, and I already did write one about this hotel 9 year ago. I have no choice but to write another review as the entertainment was spectacular and the activities for once were fun. It’s my ninth time at this hotel and...

As a haven’t written a review in a while, and I already did write one about this hotel 9 year ago. I have no choice but to write another review as the entertainment was spectacular and the activities for once were fun. It’s my ninth time at this hotel and the third time 1 year. This is truly and a real 5* hotel. I would give it a 6* unfortunately it doesn't exist. The food as always is spectacular and I’m so picky on food, as food is my life. If someone says the food is ok, don’t believe it, trust me. Where can you eat crab legs, lobster tail for lunch. Nowhere else but here. They serve the best quality in any drinks. The staff is always smiling, and the start prestige team is perfect. The perfect hotel since you have everything on the first floor. That is why I keep going back. Don’t get me wrong, all the JOIA (use to be The Grands) are perfect as I have tried them all. This one is my favorite. They make you feel like you a part of the family. There is also another reason why I’m writing another review about this hotel. The entertainment staff. I never did any activities before, never enjoyed the shows, I only love dancing. In 9 years in any JOIA, I never had so much fun. I was there in October 2024, again this February 2025 and I got home yesterday, I have no choice but to say Bravo Bravo Bravo to the entertainment team. I don’t know what happen in 3 months, but I never had so much fun dancing and doing activities. The Team was perfect and contagious. Thanks, Endry for making me dance every night you are an amazing dancer. Endry and Smily you are both one hell of a team on a dance floor, thanks for making all the ladies feel special. They are all super dancers. Dai, Alex, and the rest of the team are so much fun to hang out with and they are making us enjoy all the daily activities. Dai you are so contagious. I miss you all so much. I must give it a 5* plus now. It’s a must see for everyone and I know it won’t be your last time at this hotel or any of the JOIA. Thank you again for an amazing vacation and see you in October

Overall we had a wonderful week, place is gorgeous, very clean, food outstanding, staff are friendly and helpful at all times. Our butlers Cesar and Eduardo were particularly attentive and helpful. The alcoholic drinks were not diluted at all. There is a cigar lounge which was a lovely place to...

Overall we had a wonderful week, place is gorgeous, very clean, food outstanding, staff are friendly and helpful at all times. Our butlers Cesar and Eduardo were particularly attentive and helpful. The alcoholic drinks were not diluted at all. There is a cigar lounge which was a lovely place to enjoy a cigar. I have one gripe only. It's all inclusive, it's not cheap, yet tipping is pervasive and encouraged. To be fair, staff NEVER showed any expectation of a tip, and were always gracious and grateful for any small gratuity, and the front desk was able to provide lots of small bills to make it easy. In the end we tipped frequently and the total cost was not a concern to me in any way, but I resent having to carry money with me and think about which of the myriad interactions are tip worthy or not. I pay for an all inclusive partly to avoid all that stress. Again, to put it in context, everything else was terrific. Tennis courts immaculate, golf course lovely and nearby. Beach is gorgeous and goes on forever. Despite the tipping we'd go back....

We had an amazing time at the Joia Bavaro! Valentin and Shester took such good care of us! We never wanted for anything. The room was comfortable, everything was clean, and the staff were friendly and attentive. We felt safe at all times and were able to relax! Highly recommend...

We had an amazing time at the Joia Bavaro! Valentin and Shester took such good care of us! We never wanted for anything. The room was comfortable, everything was clean, and the staff were friendly and attentive. We felt safe at all times and were able to relax! Highly recommend the Japanese restaurant and Bingo at the pool!

We are just back from our weeklong stay at JOIA Bavaro. We had a great week and will definitely return some day! The resort is beautiful and spacious. We had no trouble getting a cabana by the pool as long as we were down there by 9:00 a.m. All of...

We are just back from our weeklong stay at JOIA Bavaro. We had a great week and will definitely return some day! The resort is beautiful and spacious. We had no trouble getting a cabana by the pool as long as we were down there by 9:00 a.m. All of the restaurants are good, we liked the Dominican restaurant the best followed by the Japanese and Steakhouse. We actually liked the buffet a lot for both breakfast and dinner. Servers in all the restaurants were very nice; some better than others but all friendly. Our butler was HOUSTON. He is great and responded quickly to all our requests. It was our anniversary and Houston went above and beyond to make sure we had a special experience. He decorated our room and had a bubble bath waiting for us one day. We also had an evening butler, Armando. We met him once. Was very nice and did answer a text one night but I can't say that he was involved with our stay. We never quite figured out housekeeping. During the day, the bed was made and towels were refreshed. We never knew when evening housekeeping was coming. One night it was close to 10 pm and we were already in bed. One night the room was refreshed early - close to 7 pm. Our second to last night there, the nighttime housekeepers really cleaned the room - moved around/organized all of our cosmetics in the bathroom and put our random shoes back in the closet. That was nice but unexpected. We never met any of the housekeepers but did leave them a tip when we left. Not sure who was in charge of the mini-fridge. We weren't in the room enough to really use much from the fridge. We snacked on the chips and nuts and those were refreshed once. We asked for Diet Coke and got one but never got another - which was fine because we got all we needed by the pool or in a restaurant. We staying in a swim-out room and it was fine. For our anniversary it was a special splurge but I would not stay in that level room again - not worth the extra expense when were weren't in the room very much. The rooms are showing a little wear and tear - the light switch cover fell off a couple of times. The TV never really worked well and Houston had to replace our coffee maker. The AC didn't work exactly right. However, when we reported any issue, Houston was quick to try to make it right. The STAR FRIENDS are awesome! They make sure that everyone is having fun. A special shout out to Dia and Yelisa (I hope that is the right name!) They gave us a special dance lesson and were so sweet to us. Thanks for the hat, Dia! I highly recommend AquaFit in the pool every day and Bingo by the pool in the afternoon. There is a language barrier with a lot of the staff, but everyone tries their best and can communicate well. We would recommend that you take a yeti or some type of insulated cup and a straw. They only have paper straws and they wither quickly. We took a small blow up float and loved having that, but you can barrow one from the towel hut. We also were happy to have an extension cord with extra plugs as plugs are limited: 2 on the desk and only 2 plugs in the bathroom. The plugs next to the bed didn't work for us but there were slots for a usb charger and those did work. We were never sure how to tip. Many people say it is not required, but the pool side servers and bartenders were very aware of who had dollar bills and who did not. We gave our butler, Houston, a tip the last time we saw him and left tips for Armando and housekeeping in our room. We usually left a dollar or two on the table when we left the restaurants and gave a little extra in the Japanese restaurant for the "show" at the hibachi table. They do try to talk with you about buying a membership. Not too aggressive and took no thank you for an answer, but did try several times to get us to come to a breakfast meeting. Overall, we had a great time! The weather was perfect and the resort is lovely!

This resort is 5 star ⭐️ Armando was our butler, HE IS 5 STAR ⭐️ Yanibel at Concierge desk was amazing This resort is adults only and very quiet. Relaxation is a requirement. All staff was very friendly and very accommodating Would recommend staying

My wife and I traveled with 3 other couples. The rooms were very clean and neat with a nice balcony overlooking the pools and gardens. Cofe was our butler that took care of us for the week. He greeted us warmly each day and was eager to accommodate us in...

My wife and I traveled with 3 other couples. The rooms were very clean and neat with a nice balcony overlooking the pools and gardens. Cofe was our butler that took care of us for the week. He greeted us warmly each day and was eager to accommodate us in any way we needed. After a long day at the pool we came back to the room to be surprised with a rose petal laced bubble bath arranged by Cofe. We were very happy with our stay.