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Worst Resort in Punta Cana: A Nightmare Vacation at Bahia Principe
- Santeka Grigley
- Mar 11
- 5 min read
Updated: Mar 29
When we booked our family trip to Bahia Principe Hotels & Resorts in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, we had high expectations. As a family who has stayed at various Bahia Principe resorts in other countries, we were confident that we'd have an incredible experience once again. In fact, many of our family members even have the coveted Black Membership, a highest-tier membership that signifies loyalty and frequent visits. Unfortunately, our stay at this resort turned out to be the worst vacation we've ever experienced in Punta Cana. Here’s why.
Skip to the section you're most interested in: Arrival at Bahia Principe - Room Two - Room Three - Racism at the Dining Hall - Food Poisoning - Meeting with the Manager - Lack of Follow-up and Additional Issues - A Vacation Ruined
Worst Resort in Punta Cana - Trip Recap
Arrival at Bahia Principe: A Disappointing Start
Upon arrival, our excitement quickly faded when we checked into our first room. To our shock, the room was filthy. There were stains and hair on the sheets, and the bathroom looked like it hadn’t been cleaned in weeks. The floors were unkempt, with debris scattered around, and the furniture had dried-up stains on its surface. As if that weren’t bad enough, the television didn’t work, and we couldn’t access the Wi-Fi in our room.
We immediately went to the front desk to request a new room. The manager, along with the head of housekeeping, came to inspect our room. They were just as surprised as we were by the state of the room and apologized for the inconvenience. They moved us to a second room, but the damage had already been done.
Room Two: More Issues, Less Comfort
After dinner with our family, we returned to our second room late that evening. By this time, we had already endured a stressful start to our trip, but we hoped that things would improve. Sadly, that was not the case. The air conditioner in our second room wasn’t functioning properly, and when we flushed the toilet, it backed up. To make matters worse, the television and Wi-Fi still were not working.
Frustrated, I called the front desk, only to be met with a nonchalant attitude. The staff member I spoke with didn’t seem to care about the issues we were facing and, to my disbelief, hung up on me. I tried calling back multiple times, but no one answered. We had no choice but to walk over to the late-night restaurant to request that a manager be contacted.
When the night manager finally arrived, he called maintenance, but unfortunately, they couldn’t resolve the issues. He informed us that we would have to move rooms once again. By the time we were moved to our third room, it was after 2 a.m. and we were both exhausted and frustrated.
Room Three: A New Set of Problems
Our third room was no better than the previous two. In addition to the ongoing issues with the television and internet, we were now placed in a room where miscellaneous items, like a pack and play and cot had been left behind by the cleaning staff. It felt as though no one had even bothered to properly prepare the room for us.
At this point, we requested a meeting with the head manager to discuss our grievances, but things continued to spiral downhill from there.
Racism at the Dining Hall: An Unacceptable Incident
One of the most upsetting aspects of our stay was the racist treatment my boyfriend experienced at the dining hall. The resort has a dress code for their a la carte restaurants, which requires men to wear a sleeved shirt and nice pants. My boyfriend was dressed in nice shorts and a sleeveless tank top, which, according to the rules, should have been fine for the more casual buffet area.
However, when he attempted to enter the dining room, a staff member told him he wasn’t allowed to come in because of his attire. He went back to our room to change his shirt, but as I waited at the entrance for him, I witnessed several white men with similar sleeveless shirts being allowed to enter the buffet without question. I took pictures as proof of this blatant discrimination.
Food Poisoning: A Vacation Ruined
As if the room issues and racial discrimination weren’t enough, my boyfriend ended up getting food poisoning during our stay. He spent the majority of the trip confined to the room, unable to fully participate in any of the planned family activities. This made what should have been a fun family trip even more disheartening for both of us.
Meeting with the Manager: A Failed Resolution
I finally had the opportunity to meet with the head/lead manager to address the numerous issues we had encountered, including the room changes, racism, food poisoning, and the overall lack of quality and service. When we met, the manager seemed taken aback by the fact that he was speaking with me alone and appeared uncomfortable discussing the matter with a woman rather than a man. He insisted that we reschedule the meeting to a time when my boyfriend could attend, which gave me the impression that he wasn’t used to being addressed so directly by a woman. It’s important to note that we were in an open reception area with other guests around during this interaction, so the setting wasn’t the issue.
During our meeting, I shared all of our experiences and explained how unacceptable everything had been. The manager offered us a few services, like a massage package and an excursion, which felt completely insignificant given the gravity of the issues we had faced. Plus, we had already paid for massages and used the services, and the offer of a “free” excursion seemed like a poor attempt at appeasing us.
I felt that the only fair solution would have been a partial refund, given the numerous inconveniences we had faced. The manager mentioned that he doubted they could offer that, but would need to consult with his boss to determine what could be done to rectify the situation. Unfortunately, I never heard back from him.
Lack of Follow-up and Additional Issues
When I went to the front desk to follow up about our situation, I was continually told that the manager was unavailable or not on-site. This continued lack of customer service left us feeling completely disregarded and disrespected.
Additionally, the resort had a major mosquito issue, with one staff member revealing that the property had not been adequately treated or sprayed regularly to control the mosquitos. As if that weren’t enough, ongoing construction projects created an atmosphere that felt more like a worksite than a peaceful vacation spot, making it even harder for us to relax and enjoy our stay.
A Vacation Ruined: Our Family’s Disappointment
As a family, we spent a significant amount of money on this trip, hoping for an unforgettable vacation at Bahia Principe. However, the lack of care, poor customer service, and the state of the property turned what should have been a special occasion into a complete disaster. Many of our family members had similar issues during their stay, and our experience has completely soured our view of Bahia Principe brand.
We will never stay at this resort again, and we have yet to plan another family vacation with any Bahia Principe property. The entire experience was unacceptable, and the resort's failure to resolve our concerns only compounded our frustration. A vacation meant to bring our family together ended up being a complete letdown.
If you are considering booking a stay at Bahia Principe, I highly recommend you reconsider. The lack of professionalism, care, and hospitality left us feeling more stressed than relaxed, and we will not be returning.
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