See the Good and the Bad of the LOPESAN COSTA BAVARO in Punta Cana

Join us at the Lopesan Costa Bavaro in Punta Cana for our fourth and final episode of our Lopesan series. In this episode, we'll tell you all of our favorite and least favorite things about the Lopesan Costa Bavaro. We'll explain why we loved (or didn't love) certain aspects of this Property and will provide some comparisons to our prior Punta Cana all-inclusive experience. Stay tuned to the end where we'll also provide you with 5 tips if you're considering visiting the Lopesan.
This tour is the fourth of four videos documenting our five-day stay at the Lopesan Costa Bavaro in May of 2022. Be sure to check out the other three Lopesan episodes, along with our other Punta Cana content, in our Punta Cana resort playlist.
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Other Recommended Videos:
*Punta Cana Resorts Playlist - kzbin.info/aero/PLOT_jgQ5dAKzHPb0fjf6mmQm43lVMnhKg
*Lopesan Drinks & Dining Guide - kzbin.info/www/bejne/mXu4noR4gdaDe6c
*Lopesan Ultimate Resort & Room Tour -kzbin.info/www/bejne/f6WVlIOvostlj7c
*Lopesan Unique Experiences -kzbin.info/www/bejne/bHzbaIyEbbqBbMk
*Caribbean Beach Playlist -kzbin.info/aero/PLOT_jgQ5dAKzid1JxOb7GGhPL90VRrboX
*Best Florida Beaches Playlist -kzbin.info/aero/PLOT_jgQ5dAKzvBN1bjx7NQYqme_8vKSBF
For more Florida travel ideas check out our playlist:
- kzbin.info/aero/PLOT_jgQ5dAKzNkBvqS83b6taklWlf0e1q
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#lopesan #explorcation #puntacana
Timeline:
00:00 - #1 Intro
00:44 - #2 What we LOVED #1
01:58 - #3 What we LOVED #2
03:12 - #4 What we DIDN'T LOVE #1
03:43 - #5 What we DIDN'T LOVE #2
04:58 - #6 What we LOVED #3
05:40 - #7 What we LOVED #4
06:30 - #8 What we DIDN'T LOVE #3
06:53 - #9 What we LOVED #5
07:37 - #10 What we LOVED #6
08:37 - #11 What we LOVED #7
09:20 - #12 What we DIDN'T LOVE #4
09:56 - #13 What we LOVED #8
10:56 - #14 What we DIDN'T LOVE #5
11:49 - #15 What we LOVED #9
12:33 - #16 Tips for Before You Visit
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Websites from Video:
www.lopesancostabavaro.com/en/
KZbin Audio Library
- Sixteen Twenty Five by Text Me Records
- Where am I by Text Me Records
Free-stock-music.com
-Sol by Scandinavianz | soundcloud.com/scandinavianz
Music promoted by www.free-stock-music.com
Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License
creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US
-El Guiso by Dubaquinho | soundcloud.com/dubaquinho
Music promoted by www.free-stock-music.com
Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License
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Explorcation consists of Jamie and Skylar, a couple who typically shares their travels and adventures via blogs and travel videos.
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Explorcation can be contacted at [e-mail]

[@Explorcation]

Thank you so much for joining us on our vacation at the Lopesan Costa Bavaro. Overall we really enjoyed our experience 😁 If you are considering booking at the Lopesan we would recommend watching our whole Lopesan series to help you decide if this resort is right for you: kzbin.info/aero/PLOT_jgQ5dAKzHPb0fjf6mmQm43lVMnhKg We also recommend doing additional research to make the best decision for your vacation.

[@shelleydennis6097]

There right now!!

[@Explorcation]

@@shelleydennis6097 we hope you are having a wonderful time ❤

[@wendyalfaro4447]

Hola..les escribo desde Costa Rica. Voy por primera vez a Punta caba si Dios quiere en diciembre..cual me recomienda entre Lopesan y Luxury Ambar ? Gracias..saludos

[@Explorcation]

@@wendyalfaro4447 hola, eso es dificil! Depende del tipo de experiencia que estés buscando. Disfrutamos bastante de ambos resorts, pero Lopesan fue más una experiencia tranquila y relajante y Ambar fue un ambiente más alegre y de fiesta. Espero que esto ayude :) ¡Muchas gracias por mirar!

[@Flex5472]

When did you go in May? We are looking to go this end of may, but the seaweed scares us. We stopped vacationing in the caribbean a few years ago because of it. We're are looking to try again. Thank you

[@gauchorojas]

Great content! So much details, is almost like we were at the property with you. Amazing and useful videos series of Lopesan!

[@Explorcation]

Thanks so much for watching. We're glad you enjoyed it!

[@doseofzan]

I really enjoyed this review! very detailed and informative and I enjoyed listening to you guys. Thank you!

[@Explorcation]

Thank you so much! We're really glad you enjoyed the review and we appreciate you taking the time to comment!

[@rhondalyn100]

What a fabulous conclusion to your Lopesan vacation! Very thorough and extremely helpful to those of us who are not savvy travelers. I appreciate the work that went into laying it all out for us. You two should be honored as Florida's ambassadors to the tourist industry there. Thanks, again, for helpful insight and the beauty of your videography and commentary. I appreciate you both! Rhonda, from middle Tennessee

[@Explorcation]

Thanks so much for this incredibly kind comment, Rhonda! I'm not sure if we'll ever be honored by Florida, but we are confident that as long as we keep providing valuable information to people and keep finding ways to make our videos better, then the channel will continue to grow! We probably would have quit long ago if it wasn't for great supporters like you though, so thank you again!

[@chantalofori5396]

Thank you guys!! Your videos are so helpful

[@Explorcation]

Our pleasure, Chantal. We're so happy to hear that you've found them to be beneficial! Thanks for watching.

[@thomashorgan6291]

I'm not doing anymore research, 100% going by this video. Thank you!! I hope you're right....

[@Explorcation]

We really hope the resort is still every bit as awesome as it was when we visited! Thanks so much for watching.

[@JustinBrehm]

What a great video thank you for taking us on your travel

[@Explorcation]

Thanks so much for watching and taking the time to comment, Justin. We're so glad to hear you enjoyed the video!

[@DavidandSarah]

The food looked so good! This video was very informative and well done.

[@Explorcation]

Thanks, guys! There were many things we loved about this resort, and the food was definitely one of them!

[@bobbyheath2474]

Thank you for the review. Thinking about coming here

[@Explorcation]

Our pleasure, Bobby! Wherever you decide to go, we hope you enjoy it as much as we enjoyed the Lopesan!

[@TheAverageTourist]

I love seeing the good and the bad of the resorts to understand what they are really like. I think a lot of things can be very subjective and based on peoples' travel expectations - and as a travel planner it's good to get both sides of the experience. It seems like it's a beautiful resort overall and I think we have very similar travel preferences as I was agreeing with you both throughout the whole video as you explained each like/dislike.

[@Explorcation]

Yeah, we're definitely not the type of people who go to a resort looking for things to complain about, but we haven't been to a perfect resort yet.... and if there was one, we could never afford it 😅. You are right though that so much of it is subjective. It really was a great resort overall and I'm sure we would have a great time on a resort vaca together... hopefully someday!

[@gameterra1994]

Enjoyed all the Lopesan videos. Heading there next week based on the series.

[@Explorcation]

We're so happy that you enjoyed the series, and we hope the resort is even more amazing during your visit than it was during ours!

[@ladygodiva8256]

This series was exactly what I needed to decide on this hotel! I’m booked and ready to celebrate my one year anniversary of marriage! 🙌🏾… Thanks so kindly guys!

[@Explorcation]

We are so glad that the series was able to help you make your decision! Congrats on a year of marriage, and we hope you have as great of a time celebrating as we did!

[@fiordeliznunez4772]

@Lady Godiva, did you already go to the resort and if so how was the beach? Was there sargassum (seed weed)

[@ramunegaizutis1286]

Great series! I really enjoyed it. Beautiful beach, great food and drinks, coffee shop....what more could anyone want?? 😃 You've given my husband and I a new place to consider for our next vacation....other than our beloved Florida of course 🙂

[@Explorcation]

This place really did have it all covered (other than a few minor things we listed in the video). Our favorite resort experience is still the Valentin Imperial Maya in Riviera Maya Mexico, but the Lopesan was a close second. Plus the Valentin costs almost twice as much right now, so when price is considered we'd definitely recommend the Lopesan!

[@rafaellea]

thanks so much after watching your videos WE ACTUALLY BOCKED. We are so excited to go. The food looks so amazing and I loved the rooms I just hope the beach will be clean thanks again.

[@Explorcation]

Oh wow that's so great to hear! We hope you get beautiful weather with clean beaches on your vacation, and that you love the Lopesan every bit as much as we did.

[@sylvaindastous9822]

Wow, great reviews, like resort like that ( look like trs coral) , #1 choice for this may, thank you😀

[@Explorcation]

We're happy to hear that you enjoyed the video! We hope you get a chance to visit the Lopesan and love it as much as we did!

[@ScullyPopASMR]

Best Travel Channel.

[@Explorcation]

We definitely have some stiff competition on their and a lot of room for improvement, but it sure is nice to know you think that we're up there with the best! Thanks so much, Scully!

[@jadeheart911]

I do believe I spotted Jayme wearing some new Larimar !!??? I am addicted to Larimar !!! I would go there just to find some special pieces !!!! Thanks for taking us on your travels !

[@Explorcation]

You sure did! 😁😍 So many vendors were selling Larimar, it really is so beautiful. You wouldn't have any trouble finding some nice pieces!

[@EOMFD94]

This series was very helpful! Planning a destination wedding here in 2024 for a multi-generational families.

[@Explorcation]

We're happy to hear you found the series to be helpful in your planning, Roni! I'm sure 2024 will be here before you know it, and we hope you have an amazing wedding experience at the Lopesan!

[@asher0078]

Had to subscribe great content thank you love from London 🙌🏾💜✨I just booked a unique 1 bedroom suite for 12 days ✨✨

[@Explorcation]

Thanks so much for the sub, Asher. 12 days in a Unique suite sounds like heaven right now! We hope you enjoy your time at the Lopesan as much as we did!

[@LucasWorldTravel]

Your dislikes were so minor, so it sounds like this resort is a dream. Glad you had such a great stay! Congrats again on your anniversary!

[@Explorcation]

We agree. You are going to be able to find imperfections with any resort, but we really did struggle to come up things we didn't like at this one. It was just an overall good experience. Thank you for the anniversary wishes!

[@Monica-gc8de]

All your videos about Lopesan were extremely helpful!! Thank you!! How is the night life. We’re thinking of going on April of next year. We are not looking for crazy. Just lively nightly activities.

[@Explorcation]

Thanks so much, Monica. We're really glad you found the series to be helpful. Nightlife was minimal when we visited, but we also visited during the height of COVID so our experience was probably not the norm. If you haven't already, we'd recommend joining the "Fans of the Lopesan" FB group. It's an active community with many members who have visited much more recently than us who will likely be happy to answer your questions.

[@Monica-gc8de]

@@Explorcation thank you so much!!

[@OurTravelPlace]

Not having to play the towel game - that's a good pro! Shame about the English pub, we do have some good beers over here :) That was a very useful summary and tips at the end. I think learning a few key phrases (or types of food you want to eat, lol) ahead of visiting somewhere is always the way to go. I had no idea about that sargussum monitoring website. We are about to book a DR resort for our birthdays and, even though it isn't this one, watching these videos has gotten me excited anyway for those beautiful beaches (seaweed or not!)

[@Explorcation]

Yeah, I was really excited to drink some English beers and figured they would at least have Newcastle (a common English beer found here in the states). But they did of course have plenty of English Gin. We weren't aware of that website until recently either, but will definitely monitor it before booking a Dominican vaca in the future. We hope you have an amazing time on your trip and hope the sargussum stays far away!

[@OurTravelPlace]

@@Explorcation Ohhh Newcastle, yeah here it's often called Newkie Brown!

[@Explorcation]

@@OurTravelPlace first have heard of that!

[@BransonFamVlog]

We love the honesty- thanks for sharing your likes AND dislikes. Which Spanish phrases served you best to know and speak?

[@Explorcation]

Thank you! As far as phrases to know, make sure you know your greetings.... hello, goodbye, good morning, good afternoon, good evening, I'm well, how are you? Also phrases associated with ordering... can I have, I would like, please and thank you. If you know those you'll do pretty good.

[@BeingBedingfield]

It seems like the good definitely out ways the negatives 🤗 but we agree…we would also have expected some special drinks at each bar 🍺 and yes, beer has to be ice cold!! Craig would’ve ordered ice every day too 😅 and I would’ve been annoyed with the small coffee cups for the machine in the room too 😂 But they are all minor issues like you said 🤗 The fact that the resort was quiet and you didn’t have to ‘towel’ sunbeds in the early hours of the morning is amazing 😅 and also, the food 🤤🤗

[@Explorcation]

The coffee cup issue was annoying and hilarious at the same time. We're still not sure if the cup was too small or if there was just something a little off with the machine. Glad to know that when we finally get around to visiting South Africa we won't have any problem finding ice cold beers! 😃

[@skiman3911]

Did you try iberostar grand hotel bavaro? Been there 2 times and want to know if i will book loposan for Christmas! Tanks for your great video!❤

[@Explorcation]

We have not stayed at the Iberostar Grand Bavaro yet, but we sure hope to give it a try someday. We're glad to hear you enjoyed the video. Thanks for watching!

[@vixoncakes]

Love the videos ! Do you mind telling me when in May did you go? We were going last week of May I’m worried it’ll be scorching hot and a ton of seaweed

[@Explorcation]

We were there during the middle of the month (I believe we arrived on the 17th). From what we hear the seaweed can really be hit or miss. We've been lucky enough to never have it to be too bad on any of our Punta Cana trips. We you don't have to deal with much of it either!

[@joansidor3409]

Visit Amangiri in southern Utah? Near Page, AZ! Joan

[@Explorcation]

We had never heard of this place and had to Google it, but wow does it look amazing. We've been wanting to visit Utah for a long time and I'm sure we'll get there before too long. I'm not sure that Amangiri will fit in the budget, but you never know!

[@sikorka7006]

Hey guys, for next time if you use nesspresso machine and u think the cup is to small ,u can adjust cooffee pouring by pressing and cold button till cup is full,:) thanks!

[@Explorcation]

That will be great info to know for next time. Thanks so much for sharing!

[@user-xo7er9qr3i]

Very helpful videos! I was wondering about your experience with transportation to and from the airport. Did you book that through the hotel or though a separate service? TIA

[@Explorcation]

Thank you so much. Our AirBNB host (where we stayed a couple of nights prior to the Lopesan) took us to/from the resort, so we do not have a recommendation on transportation. But if you haven't already joined the Fans of the Lopesan Facebook group, I would recommend doing so and asking the group about transportation. They are normally very helpful!

[@BenjaminRuest]

Great series! My wife and I booked for mid-jan upon recommendations from our friend. Will be 1st vacation without our 3yr old daughter (yay!). We have booked in the adult section. I have 2 questions for you: Would you return and would you upgrade from adult section to Unique? Thank you!

[@Explorcation]

That's great to hear that you and your wife will be visiting the Lopesan in less than a couple months! We hope you enjoy it every bit as much as we did! We would definitely book the Lopesan again. If we did, we would book either and Adults Only or a Unique Room. There is no doubt that the Unique is a step up from Adults Only (the Unique Restaurant and Beach Bar being the main perks). It all depends on what the price difference is and what your priorities are. If you prefer dining in air-conditioning and don't think you'd spend much time at the beach-front (but open air) Unique Restaurant, I'd go with the Adults Only, which still gives you access to the Adults Only pool area and what we thought was the best bar on the entire resort!

[@BobCarlson]

The likes are so far ahead of the dislikes at this resort. And I love getting in my 10,000 steps every day.

[@Explorcation]

Exactly! You'll definitely have no problem getting in your 10k steps at this resort. And if you're like us, you'll probably end up walking a bunch more just to build up a little more of an appetite for dinner!

[@frbb20]

The cups they gave you were not too small. That's the correct size for nespresso cups. What happens is that every nespresso machine can have it's factory setting overridden (you just press the button to start the coffee, either the small one or the long one - it doesn't matter - and you hold it instead of releasing it - it will keep making coffee until you release and memorize that setting from that point onwards). So what happened is a previous guest probably messed with the factory setting. Also, at any time you want to stop the coffee from pouring, just press the button once again and it will stop right away.

[@Explorcation]

Thank you for watching and explaining the nespresso machine, we were not familiar with these types of espresso machines before this trip and did not know that we needed to manually stop it.

[@BrassiXXL]

Hi there! Just finished watching your Lopesan video series and thought it was great and informative! I’m considering this resort for a vacation next year and was wondering what the smoking situation is like on the resort. I know the DR is a very cigar friendly country; as it’s a big part of their culture and economy. I’m a cigar smoker and that’s one of the big reasons I’m considering the DR; to not only smoke but acquire some cigars while on vacation. I fully understand in 2024, tobacco smoking is very unpopular and probly seems absurd to many but premium cigars is a hobby and past time I enjoy nonetheless. What can you tell me about the smoking situation on property? I noticed what looked like little ashtrays/butt receptacles attached to the garbages scattered through the resort in your videos, which was encouraging. Were ppl smoking in the pools, at outdoor bars, on the beach, in outdoor seating areas, walking about the resort, etc…? Was anyone, including guests or staff harassing smokers? Any insight you can provide would be very helpful. Thanks in advance.

[@Explorcation]

It's been a couple of years since we visited now, and even if we did recall the details of the smoking situation, there's a good chance it may have changed since then. What we can recommend is that you join the "Fans of the Lopesan" FB group. It's a very active and helpful group, with many members (who've been there more recently than us) who would likely be happy to answer your smoking question as well as any others you may have.

[@estobanpena7983]

Hi awesome video. Just quick question. My wife and i looking for a great winter getaway One thing i dont know or if i missed. Is there a breakfast restaurant or are all breakfast just breakfast buffets? Is their anywhere that has Omelletes? Or even an omellete station in buffet spots? Thanks for such a great video.

[@Explorcation]

Thanks so much! If you book Unique, you will have your own breakfast buffet on the beach, and it's very good. Otherwise you'll have to eat breakfast in the main buffet (also quite good). As far as we are aware, there are no a-la-carte spots for breakfast with the exception of some sandwiches being sold in the coffee shop.

[@courtneyhubert8515]

Hello! Thank you for your videos. Did you have any issue with drinking the water in DR? We appreciate all of your input!

[@Explorcation]

Our pleasure, Courtney We only drank bottled water, with which we never had any issues.

[@jerryvince2917]

Hi there. Love your videos. I am planning to take my wife here on the Unique package. Can you tell me the Unique still allows you to access all of the adults only areas as well? Thank you in advance

[@Explorcation]

Yes, the Unique package does allow you to access the Adults Only areas. One of our favorite spots on the whole resort was the Adults Only Bar (La Pearla) and pool area. We hope you have a great time at the Lopesan!

[@evang2496]

Thanks for your video. I was wondering if you encounter any wild life while walking through the resort. We kinda dont mond walking around and trying to decide betwwen Hard Rock or Lopesan. Also, about how big is the waterpark?

[@Explorcation]

Thanks for watching! I don't recall any wildlife, I know when we visited Cancun it was typically to see large iguanas and coatis, but we didn't experience anything like that at the Lopesan. As far as the waterpark, we thought it was a good size, if you haven't watched our tour of Lopesan episode we would recommend checking that out as we do include footage of the waterpark.

[@loseto61]

Hi thanks for the video it was great just wondering do you think teenagers would like it on that Resort going there in June and how's the seaweed situation on the beach

[@Explorcation]

Seaweed situation was great during our stay until the final day when it was really bad. If you want to know what the current situation is like, we'd recommend joining the "Fans of the Lopesan" Facebook group and asking there. Someone who has been there most recently will likely be happy to answer. Regarding teens, we think that younger teens would love the waterpark, the ice cream place, the fast food, and the pools. Older teens might find it a little bit boring, but we both think we would have enjoyed this resort at any age.

[@user-il8gi5uc9p]

Hi! This video was super helpful. I am planning my wedding and Lopesan is one of my top contenders at the moment. Would you recommend this resort for weddings?

[@Explorcation]

Thank you so much for watching and taking the time to comment, and congrats on your upcoming wedding. We would think that the Lopesan would be a great place for a wedding. We actually saw some workers setting up for a wedding during our stay and the location was absolutely stunning!

[@user-il8gi5uc9p]

Thank you so much!!!!! ❤️❤️❤️

[@Explorcation]

@@user-il8gi5uc9p YW!

[@tavakelianthierry5567]

Hi Jamie and Skilar, Thanks for your videos. We’d like to book a journey at Lopesan Bavaro, in February. Could you please answer some questions in private messages? Best regards. Thierry… from France

[@Explorcation]

Hi Thierry, thanks for your email, we received your questions and will respond soon!

[@elvisminaya9069]

One question, was the drink with the real coconut part of the exclusive guest or for everyone?

[@Explorcation]

During our visit they had coconuts available at the Unique breakfast buffet and the normal breakfast buffet, but what I do recall is they would run out pretty quickly as they were a popular item.

[@teezworld4161]

Did you reserve transportation with a company before going to DR, or did the resort help with transportation? Thank you for sharing your experience. I will be going there in June

[@Explorcation]

On this trip our AirBNB hosts actually picked us up from the Airport and then took us to the resort after our AirBNB stay concluded, so we did not have to reserve transportation. We would recommend joining the "Fans of the Lopesan" Facebook Group if you haven't already. It's a very active and helpful group, and they will likely be more than happy to answer any questions you have, including those relating to transportation.

[@teezworld4161]

@@Explorcation thank you so much

[@scottgray4008]

Hello, thank you so much for the information in your video's, my wife and I are visiting lopesan in a few weeks and we heard that the A/C in the rooms shuts off leaving your room very hot when you return to it, did you experience this and if so was there any way to have it stay on. Thank you again

[@Explorcation]

I don't remember this specifically being a problem for us. That being said, we've stayed at resorts/hotels that automatically shut off the air either when (a) the patio doors is open, or (b) there is no key card in the key card slot. If either of those are the case, then the way around it would bed to (a) keep your patio door closed when you leave, or (b) always keep a key card in the slot when you leave (this may mean than one member of your group would not have there card on them when out and about, but you could always just try putting another similarly sized card in the slot as well). Hope this helps!

[@kimd1456]

Hi thanks for sharing :) I’m wondering if there’s lots of bugs / mosquitoes at this resort?

[@Explorcation]

We don't recall seeing many bugs or having any bug bites at all during our stay. Thanks for watching!

[@NaidkaUSA]

Hi! Thank you for your video! I’m travelling with a two year old kid and the priority for me is always the quality of the food so my question is - how good the food is? We went to Cancun last year and the food was so bad that it totally ruined our vacation… I hate to complain about the food because it was so much there, but when you actually tasted, it tasted like nothing and it develops such a big fear for me to go on a vacation, pay so much money and then just have a terrible food that taste like paper..😮😮

[@Explorcation]

We are definitely not picky eaters, but overall we thought the food was overall quite good. There was always a good selection on the buffet and we could always find something that we enjoyed. Thanks for watching!

[@nickgritai3248]

Thank you for the video, I have question is this resort have some day activities with fun games? How is animation team there, they involved people to participate in all kind of activities? Do they have foam or beach party? This resort consider as a quiet or active?

[@Explorcation]

When we visited the resort I believe they said it was only around 60% occupied. It definitely seemed like a "quieter" resort on our visit, but if you are there when it's 100% occupied it probably feels more active. They definitely do have an activity staff and lots of daytime activities in the main pool. I believe they do a foam party but not sure about a beach party. We would definitely recommend getting on the "Friends of the Lopesan" facebook page if you haven't already. It's a very active and helpful group that will probably be able to answer any questions you may have!

[@nickgritai3248]

@@Explorcation Thank you so much!

[@jorgeluiscastelli8536]

Hello, I am traveling as a couple in March 2023. Would you recommend Bahia Principe Luxury Ambar? or lopesan costa bavaro? Thank you !!

[@Explorcation]

Price not considered, Lopesan is the superior property. That being said, we had a great time at Bahia Principe and think it delivers a lot for the money. We would gladly return to either, but which one would depend on how much we are willing to spend at the time!

[@gingerriebe1557]

Did you get any feedback from others staying in the swim out rooms ? Did they like them ?

[@Explorcation]

We've heard mostly positive things from the people who've booked he swim out rooms. One resource I'd highly recommend is the "Fans of the Lopesan" Facebook group. It's a very active and helpful group with many members who are happy to answer your questions. We would expect that you would get a lot of responses if you were to ask the group whether or not a swim out room was worth it!

[@fadimassweettreats2656]

How did u book all the restaraunts before hand because im trying to book its omly letting me book for the first night

[@Explorcation]

A week out from our arrival we received an email from the Lopesan which included links to check into the resort and also to reserve our dinners. We were able to reserve a restaurant for each night right on our phone. The only one we couldn't reserve for some reason was the Japanese restaurant, but there were still some openings for it that we could have booked at the guest services counter when we arrived.

[@savannalewis5830]

How did you guys get the unique? Is that something you gave to ask for once you check in?

[@Explorcation]

We booked Unique up front on the website. Unique guests have their own area of rooms, it's not just a status that you upgrade to. Although I have heard some people say that they were able to upgrade to have the "Unique Perks" at check-in while staying in the same non-Unique room that they booked. I hope this helps!

[@alessia8652]

how many hours before your flight home did they pick you up from the resort to go to the airport?

[@Explorcation]

It as only around 2.5 hours before our flight I believe, as the drive to the airport was pretty quick.

[@Lee-lv5tr]

Do u recommend going to this resort last week in July? I know the seaweed in high in those months?

[@Explorcation]

We've only been to the Dominican in the spring and the fall, so unfortunately we can't really provide a recommendation on whether or not we'd visit in July. The seaweed can certainly be unpredictable, and we hope that whenever you do decide to visit that it doesn't affect your vacation. Thanks for watching.

[@jaysaan]

Hi, Was the restaurant booking a week before your trip only available for unique guests or for everyone?

[@Explorcation]

Hi Jason. As far as we were aware, it was for everyone.

[@jaysaan]

@@Explorcation we emailed lopesan and they said we can email them the booking. There might be an issue with the login atm. Thanks for your reply! Love your videos!

[@Explorcation]

@@jaysaan ahh thanks for the update, hopefully they got the issue resolved and you are able to book all of the restaurants you were wanting to try. Thanks so much for your comments. Have a great trip!

[@ryanrattray3199]

Hello have you ever stayed at Royalton bavaro trying to figure if we should book here or Royalton with our family we have two young boys

[@Explorcation]

We have not stayed there, but we have heard some really great things!

[@vickymiller6527]

If you may. Please name resorts when comparing.

[@Explorcation]

We appreciate the feedback!

[@vickymiller6527]

What are the names of the resorts where restaurants are near the beach?

[@Explorcation]

Thanks, Vicky!

[@user-tv5nj8nr2e]

Hey can you smoke anywhere on the property at all? Thanks.

[@Explorcation]

From what I remember, the English pub allowed smoking, and there is a Cigar Bar as well.

[@jacquelineagosto6807]

Does the resort offer transportation to & from the airport?

[@Explorcation]

At the time we booked they did not. We had our AirBNB host from the night before take us to the resort, and we paid for a private van to take us back to the airport. That said, the resort may run different promotions at different times that may include free shuttle rides. I'd recommend checking the Lopesan website or the "Fans of the Lopesan" Facebook group to find out.

[@jacquelineagosto6807]

Thank you! Your reviews are super informative.

[@Explorcation]

@@jacquelineagosto6807 thank you so much for the feedback, we really appreciate it!

[@upandbeyondtravel1773]

So , what time of the year did you go and what was the cost 💲

[@Explorcation]

We visited in May of 2022. We don't remember the exact price, but believe it came out to somewhere around $400 per day for 5 days.

[@sialee5926]

@@Explorcationis this per person?

[@Explorcation]

@@sialee5926 i believe that was per room, no per person.

[@jenniferclements7564]

Did the beach bars serve any foods?

[@Explorcation]

No, but two of the beach bars were located right next door to a buffet. Thanks for watching!

[@claudiaoterohernandez920]

Did u see the poor quality merchandise at the shops?

[@Explorcation]

We didn't actually do much shopping, but many of the shops are name brand and we imagine the quality would be similar to that of any of the brands' other stores. Thanks for watching.

[@Yamann1996]

How’s the beach was is crystal clear?

[@Explorcation]

During most of our stay the beach was GORGEOUS, the water was so blue. I wouldn't say the water was crystal clear but it was very pretty. On the day we left a whole bunch of seaweed washed up but we were checking out.

[@jillmcmeans4393]

We must have stayed at a different resort (12/30-1/6/24). The grounds, room and pools are gorgeous! Your review of the grounds doesn't begin to capture the beauty of the resort. The food on the other hand was horrible compared to several all-inclusive resorts we have stayed at. We actually lost weight at an all-inclusive resort! The most concerning issue was the staff and management. Luis the general manager should lose his employment. The culture of the staff was less than inviting. After traveling to numerous resorts throughout the Caribbean there was NO hospitality, but rather hostile behavior from the front desk to the service desk. Communication prior to the vacation should have set off red flags because there is NO communication... Emails and telephone calls went unanswered. This was a family vacation and we wanted to confirm our rooms were adjoining since we booked through Expedia. We upgraded to Ocean view at a significant cost and given garden view. Luis the manager was notified and promised to move us the second day of our stay. Several texts went back and forth and then he ghosted us! Housekeeping was sporadic and not every day. We would grab extra towels and toiletries from a housekeeping cart to stay supplied. The water pressure in the shower was poor and hard to get the shampoo out of my hair. Room service took hours, we would have to leave the room to go get a bottle of water or to the American cafe to grab a quick snack. Diner reservations had to be done from an app on our phones that was not working. I walked down to customer service the second day after arriving to make dinner reservations for the week and told they could not make those reservations, I had to use the app. The app was not working!!! Upon checking out I asked to be refunded for the room snafu the difference ($1,750) and he said he did not have the authority to do so!!! We arrived home to dispute with Expedia, and they said the manager would NOT issue a refund. We then disputed the charges with our credit card provider and told it was out of their hands due to Expedia's policies. This was a real eye opener about Expedia. We have booked through them for many years and ever a complaint. We will now use a travel agent for future excursions. I would rate the entire experience a 3. The grounds and ocean are breath taking! It is unfortunate that the management and culture of the staff is so poor. I predict a Sandals, Hilton or other 4-5 star resort will acquire this resort in the future. The AI bots writing reviews can't fool all interested travelers forever.

[@Explorcation]

Sorry to hear about your experience. The good during our stay in the Unique club was amazing and we found staff to be very friendly and accommodating for the most part. That being said, we know a lot can change in almost two years.

[@Willstangv6]

I know your post is from 4 months ago but I just wanted to say I completely agree. We just got home today and I wanted to do some research to make sure I wasn’t crazy but I think this place sucked. We were there for a wedding and everyone said I complained the whole time but for what I’m paying per night I expect some good food and good drinks and both were terrible. The staff seemed annoyed that I was even there in the first place, tipping was useless because my drinks were still made bad. Of the three days I was there I never got drunk and I ate less than usual because the food was so bad.

[@user-oh4rj9xm8l]

Would this resort be good to travel with a 4 year old

[@Explorcation]

I think it would be a great resort for a 4 year old. We saw a lot of young kids in the waterpark area and they seemed to love it.

[@Dms111784]

is the sauna included?

[@Explorcation]

We got a free message for booking Unique, but we do not recall whether or not there was a sauna within the spa area. If there was, I do not believe it was included.

[@crazylove1977]

Please tell me if their casino was open?

[@Explorcation]

We do believe that it was open, although we never went inside during our stay at the resort.

[@crazylove1977]

Thank you for replying!

[@Explorcation]

@@crazylove1977 YW, thanks for watching!

[@TideKnotTravellers]

Wow, no wonder the cabanas were always empty, that’s crazy to charge so much per day especially when guests have already paid to be there. Hmm… as Europeans we can safely say we also like a nice cold beer! 🍻

[@Explorcation]

Right that is too pricey 💰🤑 I guess all four of us would be ordering ice buckets for our beers 🍻😁

[@mikejake6360]

Are reservations required for the dinner restaurants?

[@Explorcation]

Yes, they are.

[@mikejake6360]

Thanks for the reply

[@lyssamoura9583]

Are the pools heated?

[@Explorcation]

We're not sure if they are heated (or just stay warm due to the warm weather), but we found all the pools to be a very comfortable temperature. Thanks for watching, Lyssa.

[@ricoalvarado3209]

So it’s not a party hotel 😕

[@Explorcation]

We would definitely not describe it that way.

[@sylvaindastous9822]

So lopesan why better than ambar??

[@Explorcation]

More options for pools. Less crowded beach. Beautiful grounds. Higher quality buffet food and mixed drinks (especially if you book the Unique Class).

[@sylvaindastous9822]

​@@Explorcation thank you...more expensive but , yes its worth it.

[@denmorin]

Warm beer in a hot climate, eww lol

[@Explorcation]

Yeah, not ideal!

[@joansidor3409]

How do you stay so thin? J lol

[@Explorcation]

That actually might be the most common question we get from our viewers 😂. And in a couple of weeks were are going to post a Q&A video where we'll answer it (along with many others). We hope you don't mind waiting a couple of weeks to get your answer!

[@jerseykid5319]

Anytime I see 👀 ppl make resort experience videos and they claim staff was ignoring them, I dare ask the question. But did you ever 🤔 tip them?? You see, these folks live in developing countries. Tips help them a great deal with basic necessities at home. So if you don't like to be ignored, learn to get in the habit of taking your privileged ass to a bank before vacation and grab atleast $250 in singles and $5 dollar bills and you will be well taken care of.

[@Explorcation]

It seems you are making the assumption vs actually asking the question here. The answer is yes, we did tip the staff. During our experience the level of service and happiness of staff varied significantly from person to person. We also pointed out that we received excellent service as well from some staff during our stay.

[@sialee5926]

This place was empty when you guys went, due to COVID NOW THE BEACHES ARE FULL. Yes! You shouldn’t have to pay for CABANAS, BOWLING ARCADE etc..