Can anyone compare IB Bavaro to Majestic Colonial?

[joebo]

Lust looking for comparison between the two.  Majestic is #1 on tripadvisor, but would like to hear from someone whose maybe been to both or that has just been to majestic.

[joebo]

No one??

[BeckyL]

   What co. owns the Majestic?
BeckyL

[sunny]

My husband and I just returned from the Iberostar Costa Dorada. Last year we stayed at the Majestic-a month or two after it had opened. I will attribute some of the shortcomings to that fact.
The grounds were beautiful. I still like the jungle feel to the Iberostars, however. Must keep in mind that the plantings were new last year at the Majestic.
Here are some good-bad points.

Food - Not very good.  Iberostar food FAR superior (we are very adventurous eaters- I try everything, even goat!)

Pool - The most incredible one I have ever seen!! We travel quite a bit, have been to 3 Iberostar, Sandals, Couples, etc.

Beach - Really nice, but choppy surf

Rooms - Beautiful, all rooms have 2 person jacuzzi

Just to wrap up - Even thought the resort is beautiful, it lacked something I cannot put my finger on. Iberostar vacations are so much better. The service is second to none. I will return to Iberostars, probably not the Majestic.
If you choose to go to the Majestic, you will have a good time, their rating is fairly accurate. They are just missing that special someting.

[CoralReef]

I hate to say this, because I've always counted on Iberostar for reliability, quality, and value... but we are thinking about a DR vacation in May, and we are seriously considering the Majestic or the Royal Catalonia instead of Iberostar Bavaro. It's important to us to have an A/C gym, A/C dining, and a lot of dining choices (especially in the DR, where there aren't many non-resort restaurants). Fancy room amenities and a good price are nice, too. For the prices we're seeing, Iberostar Bavaro is looking like less of a value to us than some of the newer resorts in the area.

[joebo]

I hate to say this, because I've always counted on Iberostar for reliability, quality, and value... but we are thinking about a DR vacation in May, and we are seriously considering the Majestic or the Royal Catalonia instead of Iberostar Bavaro. It's important to us to have an A/C gym, A/C dining, and a lot of dining choices (especially in the DR, where there aren't many non-resort restaurants). Fancy room amenities and a good price are nice, too. For the prices we're seeing, Iberostar Bavaro is looking like less of a value to us than some of the newer resorts in the area.

I think i'm actually not going to stay at the Majestic due to the non private toilet.  As romantic as your partner hearing use the bathroom after a day of drinking and eating, just doesn't go well with me.  We are now looking at the Grand Palladium Palace Royal Suites(Adults Only).  Jacuzzi in room.  Four poster bed.  Own private beach and about 250 pp less than the Bavaro.  I think the Bavaro needs to come down in price to compete with the competition.  I would stay at the IB's in mexico without thinking twice, but i donn't think they have the same footing in the DR as in mexico.  Prices just are too high.

[BeckyL]

  What do you mean by private toilet at the Majestic?
BeckyL

[joebo]

This may not be a big deal to some, but its just not my cup of tea.  All rooms at majestic have a jacuzzi tub.  The jacuzzi tub is out in the room, which is typical.  There is a double vanity also open to the room, no big deal.  There is a frosted glass door, like a public restroom stall,  open at the bottom or the door and open at the top of the door, with a little stall for the toilet and one for the shower.  If your working on a #2, anyone in the room can see your feet, hear your business, and smell your business since its open basically to the whole room.  I personally enjoy privacy when it comes to that type of thing.  So far, Grand Palladium Palace Royal Suites seems like the best bang for my money....  Majestic would have been it except for the dumb bathroom situation.

[CoralReef]

I think the Bavaro needs to come down in price to compete with the competition. I would stay at the IB's in mexico without thinking twice, but i donn't think they have the same footing in the DR as in mexico. Prices just are too high.

After doing a lot more research, I absolutely agree.

I think we might go with the Majestic if we do the DR in May. I see where the toilet might be a deal-breaker for some. Not such an issue for us, and the other amenities help compensate.

BeckyL, here's a pic of the Majestic toilet that shows the issue. It's such a dumb design; if they would replace the frosted glass with a real door, it would be 100% better.

[joebo]

Just booked the Grand Pallladium Palace Royal Suites for the week of December 9th!  The Royal Suites have the same bathroom issue, but I find it to be a much better resort for food, entertainment, adults only, etc than the majestic plus the grounds are mature.  I've been reading lots of complaints about majestics food and rooms leaking etc..

[CoralReef]

Sounds like a great choice! We finally decided that if we were going to Punta Cana, we'd go with the Majestic... but we really, really wanted the south side of the island this time. The choice came down to Iberostar Hacienda Dominicus vs. Sunscape Casa del Mar, and I'm sorry to say that Sunscape offered more for the money.

Congrats on your booking! GPP looks lovely.

[joebo]

Sounds like a great choice! We finally decided that if we were going to Punta Cana, we'd go with the Majestic... but we really, really wanted the south side of the island this time. The choice came down to Iberostar Hacienda Dominicus vs. Sunscape Casa del Mar, and I'm sorry to say that Sunscape offered more for the money.

Congrats on your booking! GPP looks lovely.

Our secretary just went to the Casa del Mar in January and said they wouldn't go back there.  She said the food wasn't very good.  She had things stolen from her room on their last day.  They had everything packed up and a maid for whatever reason must have went in their room just to steal stuff.  La Romana beaches are nice, but from what i gather the Bavaro beach in Punta Cana is much nicer.  I know you can get good deals with apple to SCDM as they own the resort, but I would def consider elsewhere after hearing what i have.  I think i would go to the IB unless its that much more expensive.  Either way its what you make of it.  I wish the IB's would realize they either need to update to compete with other new resorts in the area or lower their prices.  I unfortunately won't stay at the lower resorts like the dominicana or punta cana because i know theres something i'm missing at the bavaro.  The bavaro would have cost us about 150-175 more pp than the Royal Suites section at GPP.  GPP we're getting adults only, jacuzzi in room, bottled beer 24hr thats help yourself, pool/beach service, no towel game, 12 restaurants, lots more bars, etc....  Would have loved to stick with IB, but the price just doesn't justify it.

[CoralReef]

Sorry your secretary had a bad experience.

I've actually seen both beaches, and we prefer the Caribbean side. It's calmer/shallower/more turquoise water, and the sand is just as nice. (Bavaro is beautiful, though!) We are looking for good snorkeling off the beach, and CDM has reefs just offshore. 

The IBHD was $500 more for 8 days. Their gym is not AC, and CDM's new one is. CDM now has 4 a la cartes, a pizzeria, and a creperie in addition to the buffet-- and you don't have to get reservations! IBHD has only 3 a la cartes, and you have a limited # of reservations. IBHD is a prettier property, and I bet the food is a better, but it just wasn't competitive with Sunscape. Neither resort compares to the upper-tier Bavaro resorts for amenities, but the pricing takes that into account.

I would have liked to go with Iberostar, but not at that price difference. And we've had good experiences with Amstar resorts, too. I think we're going to have a great time!

[joebo]

I can't believe the IB is $500 more.  I wander why their pricing in the DR seems so far off compared to other resorts.  I'm sure you will have a good time as well.  Just wanted to let you know what i heard.  When are you planning on going

[CoralReef]

May 22-30. Yep, I was disappointed with the pricing. I would actually gladly pay the extra money to be at Iberostar-- but only if they had an air-conditioned gym and unlimited a la carte dining like Sunscape.