Barcelo Bavaro Palace

With over 1,4000 rooms, the Barcelo Bavaro Palace could feel overwhelming -- but plenty of space, an open, airy design, and a well-organized restaurant scene help minimize crowding issues. One downside, however, is that while guests from the adjacent 400-room, adults-only Barcelo Bavaro Beach can access the facilities here, the reverse is not true; guests in search of a slightly more intimate atmosphere should consider the resort's sister property.

With size comes broad appeal, and the resort draws couples, partiers, and families: There are a high-end spa, an adults-only pool, a disco, a swim-up bar (that is more dignified than your average Punta Cana pool scene), a kids' club, and tons of other on-site features.

The resort is part of the Spanish Barcelo chain, and attracts numerous European travelers as well as Americans. Pool and beachside activities such as volleyball and dancing take place daily, but unlike at some resorts that line the beach, the music isn't too loud here and the hotel staff doesn't pressure guests to join. Those who do participate did seem to having a good time, however, and the pool bar scene is lively.

The resort is extremely well-maintained, and has lots of greenery. The beach here is a real highlight and is considered one of the nicest in the area.

The Barcelo complex is in Bavaro, the tourist-centric area north of Punta Cana International Airport. It is about a 25-minute drive from the airport. The beaches along this northern stretch of the coast generally see much stronger waves and have steeper drop off than those to the south in central Punta Cana. Bavaro is also home to a limited smattering of restaurants and nightclubs, mostly in and around the town of Friusa, that offer locals and tourists a change of pace from the dominant presence of resorts. However, most guests choose to stay within the resort grounds.

The Palace Deluxe is a massive resort and has 1,400 rooms grouped in sections. Most are in the main resort area by the beach, restaurants, and pools, but some are clustered around the Pete Dye golf course. The color scheme varies depending on the section of the hotel the room is located in, but all rooms are spacious and modern, and have furnished balconies or terraces. The majority of rooms provide ocean views and whirlpools.

Open floor plans keep the rooms feeling airy and beachy. While the rainfall shower and toilet are behind frosted glass doors, the vanity in all rooms is open to the rest of the room. All but the Superior Rooms and Family Duplex Rooms feature large jetted tubs on the balconies. Standard amenities consist of iPod docks, large flat-screen TVs, free daily restocked minibars, laptop-sized safes, and closets with ironing facilities and bathrobes. Wi-Fi is available but it requires an additional fee except in Club Premium rooms.

Upgrading to a Premium Level Room means receiving extra perks such as free Wi-Fi, free 24-hour room service, champagne, fruits, and chocolates upon arrival, access to the Premium Level Lounge (with a private check-in and check-out area), and access to La Comedie French restaurant, the nicest restaurant on the property.