Guests will receive up to $600 in Resort Credits (in the form of credits). Credits are valid towards Star Prestige Package, specialized dining, spa and much more. Detailed specifics of the resort credit will be provided upon check in.
Important information: Redemption instruction will be given at check-in. Restrictions may apply. Resort Credit must be presented at time of service. Services and amenities are subject to availability and must be booked/requested upon arrival. All services and amenities purchased with resort credits must be purchased at full price. Credit is per room, per stay. Credits have no cash value and are non-refundable, non-transferable and must be used during guest stay and may not be used in future bookings. Credits may not be transferred to another property. Resort credits do not apply to contracted group bookings. The credit only covers part of the total amount of each service or amenity. Refunds will not be issued for unused Resort Credits.
Guests will receive up to $800 in Resort Credits (in the form of credits). Credits are valid towards Star Prestige Package, specialized dining, spa and much more. Detailed specifics of the resort credit will be provided upon check in.
Important information: Redemption instruction will be given at check-in. Restrictions may apply. Resort Credit must be presented at time of service. Services and amenities are subject to availability and must be booked/requested upon arrival. All services and amenities purchased with resort credits must be purchased at full price. Credit is per room, per stay. Credits have no cash value and are non-refundable, non-transferable and must be used during guest stay and may not be used in future bookings. Credits may not be transferred to another property. Resort credits do not apply to contracted group bookings. The credit only covers part of the total amount of each service or amenity. Refunds will not be issued for unused Resort Credits.
Resort Details
- Bella Vista
Buffet
- Casa de la Playa
Mediterranean
Dinner reservations are subject to availability for dinner reservations prior to arrival, please contact customer service desk at the respective hotel.
- El Galeón
Steakhouse
Dinner reservations are subject to availability for dinner reservations prior to arrival, please contact customer service desk at the respective hotel.
- Hashira
Japanese
Dinner reservations are subject to availability for dinner reservations prior to arrival, please contact customer service desk at the respective hotel.
- La Perla
Lunch Buffet
- La Tentazione
Italian
Dinner reservations are subject to availability for dinner reservations prior to arrival, please contact customer service desk at the respective hotel.
- Le Tourbillon
Gourmet
Dinner reservations are subject to availability for dinner reservations prior to arrival, please contact customer service desk at the respective hotel.
- The Grand Cellaran exclusive cellar with more than 200 wines importedfrom the most prestigious world wine regions
- Various Lounges/Bars- Robusto- Perla- Mirador- Larimar- La Escala- Cala Esmeralda
- 24-hour front desk
- Accessible facilities
- Accessible rooms
- Baggage hold
- Bell staff/porter
- Business services†
- Children not allowed
- Complimentary wireless internet
- Concierge desk
- Disco
- 24-hour front desk
- Accessible rooms
- Baggage hold
- Bell staff/porter
- Business services†
- Children not allowed
- Complimentary wireless internet
- Concierge desk
- Disco
- Elevators
- Exercise gym
- Free parking
- Golf†
- Housekeeping - daily
- Laundry/Valet service†
- Library/Reading Room
- Liquor store†
- Meal Plan Type: All Inclusive
- Nightclub†
- Non-smoking rooms available
- Pool
- Poolside snack bar
- Safe deposit box
- Sauna
- Shops and commercial services†
- Spa†
- Tennis court
- Tour/sightseeing desk
- Wakeup service
- Water sports†
- Star Wedding Package, Silver Star Wedding Package, Gold Star Wedding Package. Please contact wedding coordinator for complete information, locations and to reserve a date.
† Fees may apply
- Billiards
- Direct access to a beach
- Fitness center on-siteFit & Fun Fitness Program
- GeneralOther activities include:
- Aerobics- Yoga- Shooting tournaments- Archery- Basketball- Cycling- Billiards- Bocce- Gymnastics- Table tennis
- Golf †18 hole P.B. Dye golf course
Green fees, carts are at an additional charge. ($) - Motorized Water Sports †
For an additional fee take diving lessons at a CDC PADI GOLD PALM RESORT diving center, run by DRESSEL DIVERS INTERNATIONAL. This center organizes numerous boat trips and scuba diving and snorkeling excursions, as well as diving lessons.
- Nightclubs
- Non-Motorized Water SportsKayaking, windsurfing, beach volleyball, catamarans, aqua gym, the scuba clinic and snorkeling.
- Pool
Three pools, including an activity pool and lake pool.
- Sauna
- Shopping †
- Spa †
- Steam bath
- Tennis court
- Gambling †Spend an entertaining evening enjoying popular casino games like Blackjack, Poker, Roulette and Slot Machines (bar is included)
- On-Site Entertainment
Live nightly shows in theater/disco/casino
† Fees may apply
Customer Ratings & Reviews
TripAdvisor Traveler Rating
16019 reviews
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Jan 18, 2026Friendly, exceptional service mixed with beautiful tranquil surroundings.
This review is LONG overdue! Hands down the best all-inclusive, if not the best overall Caribbean resort we have been to period! Why? Mostly because of the staff and the overall resort experience. We brought out adult children and their significant others over Christmas (12/24-30/2025). Note to those considering this. You will need reservations for dinner on Christmas Eve and New Years Eve as only the buffet and one restaurant are open. We did not know this and the first day was a bit tense. The staff tried to accommodate us as best they could but eating dinner at 930pm after a very long (12 hours) travel day was less than ideal. First let me tell you about the staff. We booked 4 rooms and the butler service was amazing. Our butlers Edward and Donilo went out of their way every day to greet all of us, ask if we needed anything, and their response time was immediate. Need something special in your room...it was there. Need to make a reservation at the Japanese restaurant...done. Need to book an excursion...they were on it. They even decorated my room and drew us a bubble bath for my 60th birthday and then did the same for our "kids." They spoiled all of us. The staff at the restaurants and the pool were also top notch. Shout out to Brulio (pool waiter)...never waited for a drink, he was always there when we needed something, and he was always smiling and happy. Samuel (waiter) always greeted us with a smile, anticipated our needs and brought us additional dishes to try at the restaurants. Poche (sommelier) assisted us at every restaurant to select the best wine to pair with our dinner based on our budget and preferences. Yes we could have ordered a "house" wine but the recommended wines were not too pricy and tasted great! Finally Lisandra and Elizabeth at the lobby bar made our pre and post dinner experiences fun and carefree. We never waited for a drink, they were both pleasant, entertaining, and extremely attentive and were a lot of fun to be around. The restaurants for an all inclusive were also wonderful. Ranked in order top to "bottom" (there really isn't a bottom as they were all tasty): Le Tourbillon (French), La Tentazion (Italian), El Galeon (Surf and Turf), Hashita (Japanese - reservations always required)Casa de la Playa (Caribbean). We went to the Bella Vista Buffet every morning for breakfast and most afternoons for lunch. There was a wide assortment of fresh food of high quality which mad dining with our party of 7 very easy to accommodate all palates. Finally, the Pool Grill snack bar poolside had a good variety of lunch options (hamburger, chicken, lamb, nachos, salsa, snacks) if you wanted something poolside. We did not attend many shows but the Fire Show outside the Lobby was fantastic. We did hit the casino at the Dominica and had a lot of fun. The table games were the best part as the slots were not great. It was very easy to jump in a golf cart and have someone bring us back and forth. This resort is top notch, however it is showing subtle signs of wear and will need a refresh soon. Many areas needed fresh paint or minor repairs (eg, a hole in the elevator wall). Compared to a resort with children, it was not that bad but areas in need of improvement were evident. The beach had a significant amount of seaweed as the wind was blowing inland, but they did a good job of removing it every day. The water was pretty rough for the most of our stay, but we were able to get in on a few occasions. We will definitely go back to the Joia Bavaro as we do feel the staff became "friends" and our experience was that great!
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Jan 17, 2026
Terrific Stay
Terrific experience. Combination of business and pleasure on this trip worked great at this fantastic resort. From being greeted by our concierge butler Birnvenido who assisted us through out the trip to the friendly staff, superb service, very good accomodations and a wonderful tennis pro named Jose, our stay was great. Business was made easier by a good internet connection, smooth transportation and fantastic weather. Highly recommend JOIA and will certainly be back as our offices launch.
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Jan 16, 2026
Another fantastic stay at JOIA Bavaro!
This was our second time visiting the JOIA Bavaro. Like our first in 2024 with a swim out butler suite, it did not disappoint...it was great again! The entire stay was excellent, starting with a welcoming cold drink upon arrival and a quick, pleasant, and informative check-in process. The front desk continued outstanding service during our stay and check out was no different. The highlight for us during our stay was being welcomed at our room by our two incredible butlers, Reynaldo and Cofe. Their warm welcome, information provided, and questions answered was very comforting. The continual service Reynaldo and Cofe provided throughout our stay was exceptional! Anything at all we needed or had questions about were addressed immediately by these two. In addition, they made this an even more special celebration for our 37th wedding anniversary by decorating the room and providing a special beverage and and snack for us. These guys are the best of the best! Housekeeping was on point. The room was always made up and cleaned to a very high standard. It didn't just feel tidied up, but like a brand new room everyday upon returning after they did their thing. The beach and water were first-rate to us as we spent 4-6 hours there daily. The staff roaming the beaches for drink and snack orders were really good. Very enjoyable. The consistent sunny skies and 78-82 degrees F temps with a slight breeze also elevated our experience here. The experiences at the specialty restaurants were noteworthy. The Casa de la Playa Dominican, Le Tourbillon French, La Tentazione Italian, and the Hashira Japanese Restaurants really stood out to us as above average and enjoyable in options, service, and taste. The meal choices were fresh and tasty (although the options were similar to unchanging during our stay) at the breakfast and lunch buffets for a quick drop in. We'll be back here and/or at another location they provide in Mexico or Jamaica. Overall, another great memory and celebration in the books thanks to Iberostar!
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Jan 16, 2026
Sunshine, relaxation and good food.
We came down here for warm weather and relaxation. Eduardo and Cesar took very good care of us. We have sat under cabanas and read and relaxed. Dave went parasailing and Cathy had a wonderful foot massage. We are grateful for all the fantastic and courteous staff. It has been an awesome 5 days!
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Jan 15, 2026
Simply The Best❤️🇩🇴❤️
We love this resort and have been at least eleven times. The location is gorgeous and the resort is immaculate. The beach is pristine this time of year. The food here is excellent. The Dominican and French have become our favorites. The authentic Dominican food is delicious. Make room for chocolate cake. The French restaurant serves delicious Beef Wellington. Drinks at this resort are also very good, using premium liquor. All that said, what makes this resort EXCEPTIONAL are the staff. Everyone is amazing. Edward our butler this time, (and this past summer) went above and beyond to make our stay extremely comfortable. He arranged room service with coffee and fruit daily, reserved the spa, provided us with champagne, wine and other special treats. Thank you Edward for all your kindness. Other noteworthy staff include Yary, Melissa, Johnny, Kofe, (my Dominican son) Reynaldo, Armando, Victor, Ery, Brauilo, Tobias, Lely, and so many others, including the very sweet lady making the omelets every morning in the front of the buffet. I loved my daily Spanish lesson with her! If you are considering this resort, don’t wait another moment. Book this fantastic resort now. Until next time Joia…
- Advisory*Important Information* The Dominican Republic imposes various restrictions each year for Easter. They usually begin the Thursday prior to Good Friday and run a few days past Easter Sunday. The following regulations may be enforced: -Motorized water sports may be banned -Non-motorized water sports may be limited or banned -Alcohol consumption may be restricted (most resorts get a permit enabling them to serve alcohol to nonnative people during the ban) -Music may be limited or silenced
- Check In: 3:00 PM
- Check Out: 11:00 AM
- Minimum Check-In Age: 18
- Minimum Guest Age: 18
- General Policies:
Check-in Policy - Hotel requires a credit/debit card authorization or cash deposit upon check-in for incidentals; this will place a hold on your funds.
Convention Policy - Individuals attending a convention cannot book this property for their stay. If found attending a convention, guests may be subject to higher room rates upon arrival.
Transfer Policy - A price may display when children stay free, if your vacation includes transfer to your hotel.
General Information - Room taxes and service fees are included in vacation price. Minimum night stay restrictions may apply. Reservation changes may not be permitted unless authorized by the hotel.
Spring Break Policy - Bookings in the months of March and April will be subject to the following conditions:
- The minimum age requirement for check-in is 18. One parent or chaperone at least 25 years of age will be required per room for check-in.
- Students/youth between 16 and 23 years of age. Adults accompanying are responsible for the students’ behaviour. of the remaining nights.
- In the event that any guests engage in inappropriate behaviour or cause physical damages to the facilities, the Hotel Management reserves the right to expel the said guest without reimbursement or refund of the remaining nights.
- Pet Policy : Pets Not Allowed