Travel Agent recently returned from the 10th Dominican Annual Tourism Exchange (DATE) and used the opportunity to tour some new and renovated properties, all of which make great pitches for your all-inclusive fans.

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A suite at the Barcelo Bavaro Palace Deluxe features a Jacuzzi on the terrace

Here’s the skinny on The Reserve at Paridisus Resorts, the Barceló Bávaro Palace Junior Suites Deluxe and the Iberostar Grand Hotel Bávaro.

Reserve a Room at The Reserve

The Reserve at Paridisus Resort is the latest resort-within-a-resort at the Paridisus complex and may very well be the best. We didn’t see all the properties there, but after touring the new 190-room addition that launched in December, we can confidently tell you which is the best. We saw room No. 5201, a One-Bedroom Swim-Up Suite, and No. 5202, a One-Bedroom Master Swim-Up Suite and, like most rooms at the resort, we’d recommend these for families. The One-Bedroom Swim-Up Suite features 807 square feet of space, a Jacuzzi for two on the terrace and a private Bali bed and canopy. The One-Bedroom Master Swim-Up Suite has 1,077 square feet of space, a Jacuzzi for two in the bathroom and another on the terrace, as well as a 915-square-foot private outdoor patio and garden area. Both of these rooms allow for a maximum of three adults each and can also be connected.

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Swim-Up Suite at The Reserve at Paradisus Resort

The lighting, colors and general vibe at the hotel projected an Asian feel, a haven for meditation. The occupancy was low (about 60 percent) when we visited, but we still sensed that it would have felt the same even if it were more populated.

The lobby also shouldn’t be ignored. Shortly beyond the check-in area is a dimly lit lounge with couches and a 50-plus-inch high-definition TV with one of the best pictures we’ve ever seen. The 24,401-square-foot YHI Spa has 10 treatment rooms, including two couples rooms. Agents should contact Reservations Manager Hipolito Marrero at 809-221-1111 or [email protected].

Barceló Bávaro Beach Resort’s Fresh Look

The all-inclusive, premium-level Barceló Bávaro Palace Deluxe opened in November and offers 488 junior suites on one of the best beaches in the Dominican Republic. This was our host hotel, so we were able to get a pretty good look at room No. 1404. The best feature of the room is the Jacuzzi on the balcony that offers partial views of the ocean. The second-best part? The flat-screen television on the wall facing the twin beds can be seen from the shower. As the new luxury wing of the resort, Barceló Bávaro Palace Deluxe also brings with it a new concierge-style check-in as well as a new buffet restaurant, Las Brisas. The new addition is part of the Barceló Bávaro Beach Resort complex. This was the first phase of an overall renovation. The next stage, Barceló Bávaro Caribe Beach Deluxe, is scheduled for completion in December. This new offering will feature 180 family suites, each with one king-size bed, two full-size beds and one twin-size sofa bed, allowing for a maximum capacity of seven people, with separate rooms for parents and children.

After the completion of the resort-wide overhaul, which will be undertaken in a series of stages over the next several years, a total of 1,850 guest rooms and suites will be fully renovated.
Contact Reservations Manager Jennifer Sanchez at 809-686-5797, ext. 1654.

The New Iberostar Grand

During the DATE opening ceremony, Travel Agent toured the Iberostar Grand Hotel Bávaro, the newest addition to Iberostar’s luxury adults-only line, the Grand Collection. Located just 35 minutes from Punta Cana International Airport, Grand Hotel Bávaro has 260 suites, 13 oceanfront Grand Suites and one Presidential Suite. All suites feature a whirlpool overlooking the balcony for a great view of the ocean or gardens. The resort also offers a two-story oceanfront spa, offering couples-oriented treatments.

Clients can enjoy unlimited fine dining at the five-star buffet restaurant and four à la carte restaurants offering different cuisines: Japanese teppanyaki; classic American steakhouse; international gourmet; and Italian. Additionally, guests enjoy dine-around privileges throughout the entire Iberostar Bávaro Golf & Spa Resort (reservations required).

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Luxury suite at the adults-only Iberostar Grand Hotel Bavaro

The resort features one lake pool with swim-up bar and one activity pool. The PADI Dive Center located at the complex offers catamarans, kayaks, windsurfing, snorkeling and diving lessons in the pool. Guests can also enjoy a variety of outdoor activities and a schedule of nightly entertainment hosted by the Star Friends team. They also have access to the Iberostar Bávaro Golf Club, which features an 18-hole, par-72 championship golf course designed by P.B. Dye, who has also designed courses at the new Iberostar Bahía (Brazil), Iberostar Playa Paraíso (Mexico) and the Iberostar resort in Marrakesh. Agents should contact Reservations Manager Joel Garcia at  809-221-6500, ext. 705, or [email protected].