Staying at Barceló Bávaro Beach Resort in the Dominican Republic • The Blonde Abroad

Earlier this summer, the Barceló Bávaro Beach Resort in the Dominican Republic invited me to come to Punta Cana and film a unique visual project. Along with other bloggers and vloggers from Spain and Brazil, I helped film and create an immersive video gallery of the resort experience.

Check out the full film gallery here!

Barceló Bávaro Beach Resort is a 5-star, all-inclusive resort situated on the pristine coastline of Punta Cana. It was my first time staying at an all-inclusive resort and it was an amazing experience!

Here are some of the highlights from Barceló Bávaro Beach Resort in the Dominican Replublic!

Beaches

Barceló Bávaro is located on the beautiful seafront of Bávaro Beach. It is on the top 10 list of the best beaches in the world and is the best one in Punta Cana! The beach is protected by a coral reef so there isn’t a wave break making it perfect for swimming!

I also had a chance to go diving through the onsite PADI diving center. I highly recommend making time to dive during your stay. The reef is beautiful!

Check out my video of the Barceló Bávaro beaches!

Food

Barceló Bávaro is a TOTAL foodie experience! To have lobster, fresh seafood AND free room service included in my stay was unbelievable!

The resort features 11 specialty restaurants- each a gourmet experience from around the world!

There were Japanese, Mexican, Spanish, French and Italian restaurants, a steak house, a seafood restaurant (right on the beach), and even a traditional Dominican-style buffet. Barceló Bávaro literally has something for everyone!

Rooms

I was equally impressed with the comfort of the rooms. My room featured a jacuzzi tub on the balcony with an ocean view, the beds were soft and cozy, and the bathroom had a unique modern design with a waterfall walk-in shower.

I even got the chance to tour the penthouse suite and the private infinity pool is out of this world!

Check out my video of the Barceló Bávaro rooms!

Sports

The is SO much to do at the resort and I did my best to try everything! Between sailing in a hobie cat, beach volleyball, parasailing, scuba diving and kayaking, there’s no shortage of fun in the sun!

Check out my video of the Barceló Bávaro sports!

Barceló Bávaro Beach Resort is the ultimate all-inclusive experience in Punta Cana! Whether you come for the food, the pristine beaches, or a relaxing getaway it will be an experience you won’t forget!

More Information

Hotel: Barceló Bávaro Beach Resort

Location: Punta Cana, Dominican Republic

Accommodation: All-Inclusive, Resort

Price Range: $$-$$$

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Some places are worth coming back to 🐧

Boulders Beach, Cape Town with Oliver
9 months → 21 months → 3.5 years

I blinked and my baby become a toddler…
and my toddler become a little boy. 😭

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Some places are worth coming back to 🐧

Boulders Beach, Cape Town with Oliver
9 months → 21 months → 3.5 years

I blinked and my baby become a toddler…
and my toddler become a little boy. 😭

January Wrapped 🗓️
••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
We landed in Cape Town mid-January and hit the ground running.

Oliver and I packed up our life and moved abroad for a year — chasing a simple question: what’s the best that could happen?

My parents joined us for the first month — which meant extra hands, loving support, and the sweetest way to begin this chapter.

Between toddler sickness (IYKYK) and playing full-time tour guide, we somehow managed to squeeze in so much life.

A long weekend in Paternoster.
Glamping under the stars at Camp Canoe.
Summertime in the city.
Oliver starting at his new preschool.
Adventures through the Cape Winelands.
Slow weekends at the farmer’s market.
Afternoons stretched long at the beach.

It’s been messy and magical.
Exhausting and energizing.

Somewhere between pharmacy runs and beach swims, it started to feel less like a move…

and more like the start of our biggest adventure yet! 🌍
••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
#capetown

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January Wrapped 🗓️
••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
We landed in Cape Town mid-January and hit the ground running.

Oliver and I packed up our life and moved abroad for a year — chasing a simple question: what’s the best that could happen?

My parents joined us for the first month — which meant extra hands, loving support, and the sweetest way to begin this chapter.

Between toddler sickness (IYKYK) and playing full-time tour guide, we somehow managed to squeeze in so much life.

A long weekend in Paternoster.
Glamping under the stars at Camp Canoe.
Summertime in the city.
Oliver starting at his new preschool.
Adventures through the Cape Winelands.
Slow weekends at the farmer’s market.
Afternoons stretched long at the beach.

It’s been messy and magical.
Exhausting and energizing.

Somewhere between pharmacy runs and beach swims, it started to feel less like a move…

and more like the start of our biggest adventure yet! 🌍
••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
#capetown

Sun-drenched mornings, salty air, and the kind of place that makes you instantly exhale @waldorfastoriacostarica ✌️
••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Our stay at this brand-new property was truly a dream — sweeping ocean views, elevated design, and more pools than I’ve ever seen at a hotel in my entire life.

From award-winning wellness to coconuts by the pool, every detail felt thoughtful and intentional.

🧖‍♀️ The Spa
Recently named Costa Rica’s Best Resort Spa, this sanctuary blends modern wellness with local healing traditions — volcanic mud rituals, rainforest-inspired therapies, and grounding treatments that leave you floating.

🛎️ Amenities
World-class service, beachfront access, a stunning collection of pools (truly — endless), curated experiences, and those sweet elevated touches everywhere you turn. Newly opened, yet already operating like a seasoned 5-star icon.

💦 Kids’ Club
One of the coolest spaces for littles — crafts, games, toys, and outdoor play areas that made traveling with Oliver feel easy (and fun for him, too).

🥥 The Food & Coffee
Fresh, locally sourced Costa Rican flavors with elevated execution. Oceanfront bites, poolside snacks, handcrafted coffee experiences, and yes… plenty of coconuts.

🌿 Sustainability
Proud holders of the Bandera Azul Ecológica for conservation and environmental efforts — luxury and responsibility beautifully intertwined.

We truly cannot wait to come back. ✨

If you’re looking for a luxury, family-friendly escape in Costa Rica — this is your spot.

A huge thank you to @waldorfastoriacostarica for hosting us on this sunshine-soaked getaway.
••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
#costarica #waldorfastoria #luxuryfamilytravel #familytravel

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A little late sharing this — but I needed time to sit with 2025. It was so much more than what made it to Instagram.
••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
This was the year I stopped measuring life in miles traveled… and started measuring it in the days we weren’t promised.

Not in passport stamps.
Not in hotel check-ins.
Not in how far we could go.

But in the quiet relief of “clear.”
In small hands squeezing mine tighter.
In birthday candles and quiet camping mornings.
In laughter that came back after fear.

2025 was the plot twist year.

The year I learned strength doesn’t look like control —
it looks like surrender.
It looks like showing up anyway.
It looks like choosing joy even when you know how fragile it is.

And it looks like being surrounded by the people who love us most.

We traveled the world.
But more importantly —
we celebrated what we almost lost.

And at the end of it all?
We packed up our life and chose a new continent. 🇿🇦

2025, you were heavy.
You were also beautiful.
You changed me.

2026 — I’m ready.
••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
#2025wrapped

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Open post by theblondeabroad with ID 18380851606081524

A little late sharing this — but I needed time to sit with 2025. It was so much more than what made it to Instagram.
••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
This was the year I stopped measuring life in miles traveled… and started measuring it in the days we weren’t promised.

Not in passport stamps.
Not in hotel check-ins.
Not in how far we could go.

But in the quiet relief of “clear.”
In small hands squeezing mine tighter.
In birthday candles and quiet camping mornings.
In laughter that came back after fear.

2025 was the plot twist year.

The year I learned strength doesn’t look like control —
it looks like surrender.
It looks like showing up anyway.
It looks like choosing joy even when you know how fragile it is.

And it looks like being surrounded by the people who love us most.

We traveled the world.
But more importantly —
we celebrated what we almost lost.

And at the end of it all?
We packed up our life and chose a new continent. 🇿🇦

2025, you were heavy.
You were also beautiful.
You changed me.

2026 — I’m ready.
••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
#2025wrapped

My favorite smart features of my old home! 🏠
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••⁠
I put a lot of thought and design into my home, so I knew I had to get curated, high-tech window shades to match.

Enter @rollishades — sleek, custom motorized shades that actually elevate the space while solving the very real sunlight problem. From light-filtering to blackout options, everything is tailored to fit perfectly and controlled with the touch of a button (or app). It’s the kind of smart, intentional design that makes a home feel finished. 🪟🤍

I easily installed these in my guest bedroom and let me just say, when guests come over, they’re getting what feels like a hotel experience in my home (minus the room service).
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••⁠
#gifted #homedesign #interiorinspo #smarthome #rollishades

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Open post by theblondeabroad with ID 18083248064243187

My favorite smart features of my old home! 🏠
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••⁠
I put a lot of thought and design into my home, so I knew I had to get curated, high-tech window shades to match.

Enter @rollishades — sleek, custom motorized shades that actually elevate the space while solving the very real sunlight problem. From light-filtering to blackout options, everything is tailored to fit perfectly and controlled with the touch of a button (or app). It’s the kind of smart, intentional design that makes a home feel finished. 🪟🤍

I easily installed these in my guest bedroom and let me just say, when guests come over, they’re getting what feels like a hotel experience in my home (minus the room service).
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••⁠
#gifted #homedesign #interiorinspo #smarthome #rollishades

Cancel reply

Allison

This looks amazing! I visited Punta Cana several years ago, and unfortunately didn’t have the best time. This looks better all around. I would definitely love to give the DR another try!

October 10, 2015 at 4:28 pm · Reply

The Blonde Abroad

You totally should! Your second experience might be much better than your first 🙂

October 16, 2015 at 5:09 am · Reply

Hammo

This place looks totally awesome. It seems like you were having a great time. Not a big fan of seaweed though ;-(

I had to look up the location of this place up on Goggle so was thinking a map would be useful in your posts. We aren’t all seasoned travellers, yet.

Happy Travels!

October 10, 2015 at 8:39 pm · Reply

Kiersten Rich

Thanks for the suggestion for a map! Great idea.

Pesky nature and her seaweed! No way around it sometimes, but I know a lot of beaches get it washed up during different seasons. It’s usually clear of it!

October 15, 2015 at 8:00 pm · Reply

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Beaches

Check out my video of the Barceló Bávaro beaches!

Food

Rooms

Check out my video of the Barceló Bávaro rooms!

Sports

Check out my video of the Barceló Bávaro sports!

More Information

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