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Reviews of JOIA Bavaro by Iberostar - Adults Only All Inclusive Resort 5 stars

Carretera Arena Gorda, Bavaro, 11517 Punta Cana, Dominican Republic

#11 of 127 hotels in Punta Cana

Guests' Choice

Review score

Based on 28 hotel reviews

9.0

Score breakdown

  • Cleanliness

    9.5

  • Comfort

    9.4

  • Location

    9.3

  • Facilities

    9.3

  • Staff

    9.6

  • Value for money

    8.9

  • Free WiFi

    9.2

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Showing 1 – 25

  • Reviewed: 18 August 2025

    9.0
    Superb
    • Leisure trip
    • Couple
    • Suite
    • Stayed 3 nights
    • Submitted via mobile

    Pool hours 7 pm closed

    Stayed in August 2025

  • Reviewed: 20 October 2024

    9.0
    Best AI experience.
    • Leisure trip
    • Couple
    • Ocean View Suite (2 Adults)
    • Stayed 4 nights
    • Submitted via mobile

    Food could be slightly better in desert and meat categories.

    Beautiful property. Great staff.

    Stayed in October 2024

  • Reviewed: 27 August 2024

    10
    A perfect one for US
    • Leisure trip
    • Couple
    • Suite (2 Adults)
    • Stayed 5 nights
    • Submitted via mobile

    At soon I came in was a girl with name INGRID, to trying to sell membership, but she’s a complete liar she offered $300 on gifts and never was provided to us. We didn’t go for a seminar or conference we went only to relax and enjoy our time on vacation. This lady is the only one that not belong in the staff, the remaining staff are the BEST I have see in a long time this resorts it beyond 5 start

    The staff are awesome a humble people an always looking the best to help and provide the good for their guests

    Stayed in August 2024

  • Reviewed: 3 August 2024

    10
    It was a relaxing beautiful place ! The staff was amazing .
    • Leisure trip
    • Family with young children
    • Suite (2 Adults)
    • Stayed 5 nights
    • Submitted via mobile

    Nothing

    Clean and beautiful!

    Stayed in July 2024

  • Reviewed: 21 May 2024

    9.0
    Superb
    • Leisure trip
    • Couple
    • Suite Superior (2 Adults)
    • Stayed 7 nights
    • Submitted via mobile

    The room has all glassware and ceramic with TILE floors. Drop a glass which we did not and there would be glass everywhere. Pool temp this week was very warm. Our room was spacious but only 2 drawers and 1 lounger for tv viewing. Not a comfy layout for us. Jacuzzi tub in bath we never used. Balcony was only usable in the am. Too hot the rest of the day. We upgraded to have a butler and beachview. Really a waste of .it was a slight view.

    Service here is Fabulous. Everyone was friendly and always helpful. Especially our butler Armando. Beach is beautiful. Loads of tiki huts to sit under at the beach. Pool is huge. Towels are huge. There is a beach tote in your room to use. Food is good. Lunch was the best. Great Wifi and lots of tv channels. Celebrated my birthday and they did some really nice surprises .

    Stayed in May 2024

  • Reviewed: 19 May 2024

    8.0
    Very good hotel in Punta Cana
    • Leisure trip
    • Couple
    • Ocean View Suite (2 Adults)
    • Stayed 5 nights

    I book an ocean view suite and the room we received first was on the 3rd floor and there was no ocean view. The air con smelled like mold and we couldn't keep the air con during the night because of the smell. After the first night I asked for another room and they didn't had one, we had to stay another night in this room which wasn't good. Once we received a new room, the view was amazing, it smelled fresh, even some of the equipment in the room was better than on the old room. The old room was 7247 (no ocean view) the new room was 7314 which was as we expected. I think I should have received a refund for the first 2 night as the standard was below what I paid. If you get a nice room than you will have a very nice stay at this hotel.

    It is a very nice hotel, amazing food, amazing people, pool area is nice and the breach is breathtaking. I was there for my birthday and the hotel prepared a very nice surprise for me which was very much appreciated.

    Stayed in May 2024

  • Reviewed: 6 March 2024

    8.0
    Generally great, but don't count on good quality drinks.
    • Leisure trip
    • Couple
    • Ocean View Suite (2 Adults)
    • Stayed 5 nights

    Wine and bourbon were not up to Grand Bavaro standards.

    Staff were great; location is superb.

    Stayed in March 2024

  • Reviewed: 1 February 2024

    8.0
    Overall great experience would return.
    • Leisure trip
    • Couple
    • Suite (2 Adults)
    • Stayed 8 nights
    • Submitted via mobile

    Dinner reservation system can be aggravating. A la carte restaurants were a solid good but not great except for the French venue which very hard to get a reservation in.

    Pools were spacious with ample cabanas included. The beach was beautiful with sand easy to walk on and warm aqua water. Grounds nicely manicured. Easy walk or shuttle to on site golf course.

    Stayed in January 2024

  • Reviewed: 4 January 2024

    9.0
    Very good, better service would bring value
    • Leisure trip
    • Family with young children
    • Suite (2 Adults)
    • Stayed 13 nights
    • Submitted via mobile

    Average service, lazy and less English understanding

    Good food, big rooms, nice beach and swimming pools

    Stayed in January 2024

  • Reviewed: 15 December 2023

    8.0
    Very good
    • Leisure trip
    • Couple
    • Suite with Lake View
    • Stayed 7 nights

    Great job on the food in the various restaurants but the deserts were not good. And that is the last impression when you leave. Make only one or two good deserts per restaurant. Get a french pastry chef.

    Great job on the food in the various restaurants but the deserts were not good. And that is the last impression when you leave. Make only one or two good deserts per restaurant. Get a french pastry chef.

    Stayed in November 2023

  • Reviewed: 7 October 2023

    9.0
    very nice
    • Leisure trip
    • Couple
    • Ocean View Suite (2 Adults)
    • Stayed 4 nights

    not all restaurant is tasty

    like the service

    Stayed in September 2023

  • Reviewed: 19 September 2023

    10
    Our stay was amazing we had a wonderful time
    • Leisure trip
    • Couple
    • Suite Swim Out (2 Adults)
    • Stayed 6 nights
    • Submitted via mobile

    We didn't like the fact that we were offered a spa day if we had breakfast with the concierge no strings attached when it came time for breakfast with the concierge it ended up being a sales pitch we almost missed breakfast we had 5 mins to grab some food it was completely rushed and we DIDNT EVEN HAVE BREAKFAST WITH THE CONCIERGE!! NOT COOL

    Our butlers Edward and Salvador we're amazing very helpful and checking up on us. We like the room service throughout the day and the house keeping were amazing making sure we had everything we needed in the room even thinking ahead and asking if we needed any water or extra towels toilet paper

    Stayed in September 2023

  • Reviewed: 23 April 2023

    8.0
    lovely stay restaurants were good and weather was amazing.
    • Leisure trip
    • Couple
    • Suite with Lake View
    • Stayed 9 nights
    • Submitted via mobile

    the butler and mini bar was very hit and miss which was a shame

    the space not too crowded

    Stayed in April 2023

  • Reviewed: 11 January 2023

    8.0
    We had a fabulous and look forward to returning in the near future!
    • Leisure trip
    • Family with young children
    • Suite with Lake View
    • Stayed 7 nights
    • Submitted via mobile

    I put in and paid for a water-view room and received a lake-view. I spoke with the butler and the front reception and was told it was a request not a guarantee - none of those rooms were available and had 2 beds when I purchased a room with a king.

    Location and hospitality! Great vibe

    Stayed in January 2023

  • Reviewed: 10 December 2022

    9.0
    Relaxing stay with an amazing staff in all areas!
    • Leisure trip
    • Couple
    • Ocean View Suite (2 Adults)
    • Stayed 7 nights
    • Submitted via mobile

    no

    Extremely clean and well maintained. Not too big to navigate. Great layout. On the Ocean,nice pool.

    Stayed in December 2022

  • Reviewed: 2 November 2022

    10
    Exceptional
    • Leisure trip
    • Family with young children
    • Suite (2 Adults)
    • Stayed 4 nights
    • Submitted via mobile

    Armando was great! He made all dreams and wishes came true and made my vocation excellent. The sea was clean, wavy and warm! I will come back next year! Thanks!

    Stayed in November 2022

  • Reviewed: 3 October 2023

    5.0
    Paid way too much for what we got
    • Leisure trip
    • Family with young children
    • Suite with Lake View
    • Stayed 7 nights
    • Submitted via mobile

    service of front desk and security were not good

    Beach dinners

    Stayed in September 2023

  • Reviewed: 12 March 2023

    4.0
    Not good for vegans, non-smokers, and those who enjoy quiet.
    • Leisure trip
    • Couple
    • Ocean View Suite (2 Adults)
    • Stayed 7 nights

    Food options were disappointing. We are vegan. There were very limited options for us to eat. Not even one item on the room service menu either. We spoke with staff multiple times about this, but they couldn’t get it right. A couple of times they served us meat or dairy and they thought that was OK for us to eat. Each and every dinner of our eight day stay was very stressful as the staff didn’t seem to know we were coming despite our daily dinner reservations and promises that they’d be ready for us. It was always a spectacle and we didn't appreciate it. We came to dread dinner time. It was an awful experience. While the other guests were getting gourmet meals, we were supposed to be impressed with vegan mac and cheese! Thanks to the buffet, we did not go hungry, but even that was limited to cereal, salad bar, rice and beans, buns, and occasionally French fries. They did have an amazing amount of fresh fruit, but that did not balance out the poor eating experience we had here. Aside from the food, it was often very loud at the resort. Unsolicited beach vendors would bug us multiple times per day. Staff did nothing to discourage this. There was also no non-smoking section and there were a ton of smokers. We had to keep moving around to avoid smoke, but could never find a spot that was peaceful. A guest repeatedly exposed himself at the pool, changing into his bathing suit in public several times each day. The management was dismissive of us and we were gaslighted. No one ever said simply "I'm sorry."

    Weather, beach, no bugs, no kids, clean, safe/secure, lots of attentive staff, all inclusive, pools, cabanas, ducks and koi. Transport to the airport was on time, but not free. Spa (overpriced) and fitness center (free). Lots of fruit.

    Stayed in March 2023

  • Reviewed: 25 June 2025

    9.0
    Superb
    • Leisure trip
    • People with friends
    • Suite
    • Stayed 5 nights
    • Submitted via mobile

    There are no comments available for this review

    Stayed in June 2025

  • Reviewed: 17 June 2025

    9.0
    Superb
    • Leisure trip
    • Couple
    • Suite
    • Stayed 7 nights
    • Submitted via mobile

    There are no comments available for this review

    Stayed in June 2025

  • Reviewed: 20 July 2024

    10
    Excellent
    • Leisure trip
    • Group
    • Suite Superior (2 Adults)
    • Stayed 4 nights
    • Submitted via mobile

    There are no comments available for this review

    Stayed in July 2024

  • Reviewed: 18 November 2023

    10
    Exceptional
    • Leisure trip
    • Couple
    • Suite with Lake View
    • Stayed 7 nights

    There are no comments available for this review

    Stayed in November 2023

  • Reviewed: 10 February 2023

    10
    Exceptional
    • Leisure trip
    • Couple
    • Ocean View Suite (2 Adults)
    • Stayed 3 nights

    There are no comments available for this review

    Stayed in November 2022

  • Reviewed: 2 January 2023

    10
    Exceptional
    • Leisure trip
    • Couple
    • Suite (2 Adults)
    • Stayed 9 nights
    • Submitted via mobile

    There are no comments available for this review

    Stayed in January 2023

Showing 1 – 25

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