A Grand Time at Grand Palladium

It would be hard to run out of things to do at the Grand Palladium Bávaro Suites Resort & Spa in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic.

Part of a large all-inclusive complex of 2,000 rooms that includes three additional hotels—the Grand Palladium Punta Cana, Grand Palladium Palace and the adults-only The Royal Suites Turquesa—the property boasts restaurants, pools and activities galore (including a casino at the Grand Palladium Palace), with guests hopping on and off a steady stream of shuttles traversing the resort.

The palm-studded property occupies acres of lushly landscaped grounds on the site of a former coconut plantation, fronting a generous stretch of wide Caribbean beach.

Families will be especially entertained at the resort, which features the largest kids’ club in the Caribbean—the Castillo del Pirata—designed to resemble a colonial pirate’s fort.

Both the Baby Club (for ages 1 to 3) and the Mini Club (for ages 4 to 12) are based at the fort-themed complex, which also contains a theater, dining room, play kitchen, dress-up area and nap room. Teenagers have a separate building devoted to their interests—the Black & White Junior Club—with pool and ping pong tables, foosball, darts and video games.

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Exclusive to Grand Palladium properties, the five colorful canine characters known as the Raggs—stars of a TV series aimed at preschoolers—roam the property, delighting kids at every turn. Even if they weren’t familiar with the Raggs before visiting Grand Palladium, children are drawn to these lovable dogs, who lead kids in weekly surf-themed dance parties, entertain them in a pirate-themed show and make appearances throughout the resort.

Fanciest and Most Common Accommodations

With eight different suite categories, the resort offers a range of rates. At the high end, the six Loft Suite Ocean View suites feature a king or two full-size beds and a sofa bed in the loft; a terrace with a Jacuzzi and Balinese bed; a direct view of the pool and the sea; an in-room whirlpool bath; and two flat-screen TVs.

The most common room type is the Master Junior Suite (309), with a king or two full-size beds, a large entry area with sofa bed and a round Jacuzzi tub in the bathroom. (Note that in some room types, such as the Deluxe Junior Suite, the whirlpool tub is within the guestroom, so families may want to choose a different room type with more privacy.)

What’s Included

All meals, snacks and beverages (alcoholic and non-alcoholic); room service (11 a.m. to 11 p.m.); minibar stocked with non-alcoholic beverages and beer; basic Wi-Fi; all non-motorized water sports; activities including volleyball, soccer, mini-golf and tennis; and kids’ clubs for ages 1 to 18.

Entertainment

Activities and games take place at the main pools and the beach throughout the day, with nightly entertainment including shows and games at the theater, a discotheque, the casino and live music at various venues.

Children have their own roster of entertainment and activities throughout the day, with nighttime options including shows and a mini-disco.

What’s for Dinner?

Perhaps the biggest benefit of staying at such a large complex—with the ability to resort-hop—is the abundance of dining options.

The sprawling buffets offer a smorgasbord of choices, while the à la carte restaurants specialize in a variety of cuisines, including Mexican, Spanish tapas, Brazilian, Asian and Italian. Standouts include the Sumptuori Restaurant, where teppanyaki chefs entertain diners; and the excellent new Bhjogali Restaurant, with fresh, delectable Indian cuisine utilizing ingredients grown in the on-site nursery and garden.

The newly redecorated 24-hour Sports Bar—with a pool table, foosball and large-screen TVs broadcasting sporting events—is another highlight and serves as a perfect spot for kicking back with a cool drink. All restaurants have kids’ menus.

If you have any clients with food concerns, let them know about Palladium’s Food Allergy Card Program, which covers eight different food allergies and special diets. Guests who request it will be given a brightly colored card to display at meals that shows their food allergy.

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Who Books This Resort?

Families, couples and destination wedding guests, with the bulk of guests hailing from the U.S. and Canada.

Insider Booking Tips

For a large family, consider a Connected Family Suite couples a Junior Suite and a Master Junior Suite with an interior door. If you have clients booking multiple rooms, make sure to verify that all are close to one another within the sprawling complex.

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Key Selling Points

The property provides a laidback, tropical getaway for clients who want the ease and abundance of an all-inclusive, all on an exceptionally wide and soft Blue Flag-certified white-sand beach. Kid-friendly facilities and programming make it a good choice for families with children.

Just the Facts

Name: Grand Palladium Bávaro Suites Resort & Spa

Size: 672 suites in 66 villas

Year Opened: 1992; renovated in 2013

Facilities: Eight à la carte restaurants, five buffet restaurants, 22 bars, five swimming pools with built-in Jacuzzis, kilometer-long beach, three kids’ clubs (Baby Club for ages 1-3, Mini Club for ages 4-12, Junior Club for teens), Zentro-pia Spa, gym, six tennis courts, two beach volleyball courts, basketball court, two soccer fields, archery field, badminton courts, mini-golf, business center

Price: Rates in low season (September-November) range from $200 to $400 per room. High-season rates range from $400 to $600 per room.