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Excellence Punta CanavsRiu Palace Bavaro

Excellence Punta Cana
Excellence Punta Cana
Five-Star·★ 4.9·Adults Only
Riu Palace Bavaro
Riu Palace Bavaro
Five-Star·★ 4.4

Scores at a Glance

Excellence Punta CanaRiu Palace Bavaro
Overall
8.8
8.2
Beach
7.8
8.1
Food
8.0
7.3
Service
9.0
8.0
Rooms
8.2
8.5
Luxury
8.6
8.0
Value
8.1
8.1
Romance
9.1
·
Scores out of 10 · higher is better

Quick Stats

Excellence Punta CanaMeasureRiu Palace Bavaro
(better)8.8Overall Score8.2
5-starStar Rating5-star
(better)4.9 (24,303)Google Rating4.4 (6,782)
From $182Price / Night (pp)From $130 (better)
YesAdults OnlyNo
Not applicableKids' ClubListed
Near coastBeachfrontNear coast
Mid-sizeResort SizeMid-size
45 minAirport Transfer–

Excellence Punta Cana

Kids' club & childcare
Not applicable: adults only
Room service
Included. 24-hour room service
Dining reservations
Confirmed walk-in: Agave, Chez Isabelle, Oregano, The Lobster House, The Grill. Other reservation rules are unverified; confirm before booking.
Single accommodation capacity
Largest confirmed capacity: 2 people in one accommodation. Junior Suite; Junior Suite with Private Pool. Adult limit unverified.
See supplier details at Excellence Punta Cana

Riu Palace Bavaro

Kids' club & childcare
Kids’ club listed: 4–12. Official RIU page states daily kids’ entertainment and activities for children ages 4 to 12; waterpark access is a major family feature. Confirm supervision and drop-off rules.
Room service
Included. Expedia lists 24-hour room service.
Dining reservations
Restaurant reservation rules are unverified; confirm before booking.
Single accommodation capacity
Capacity unverified; confirm the exact category before booking.
See supplier details at Riu Palace Bavaro

Excellence Punta Cana

Highlights

  • Adults-only all-inclusive
  • 4 pools
  • 10 places to eat
  • Full-service spa
  • Swim-up suites
  • 45 min from PUJ

Why choose it

  • Strong adults-only romantic atmosphere.
  • Large tropical grounds with four pools and direct beach access.
  • Broad dining plan with ten restaurants, included room service, and premium drinks.
  • Service and staff receive consistently strong guest feedback.

Keep in mind

  • Ocean conditions can be rough, with seaweed and red-flag days.
  • Food is liked by many guests but can feel uneven for a premium adults-only resort.
  • Recent feedback includes some inconsistency in room condition and housekeeping.
  • Nightlife is more relaxed than party-oriented.

Riu Palace Bavaro

Highlights

  • 9 pools
  • 10 places to eat
  • Full-service spa

Why choose it

  • True 24-hour all-inclusive with large dining and bar inventory.
  • Strong family setup with kids club and Splash Water World access.
  • Majorly renovated, modernized resort product.
  • Large pool complex with swim-up bars and adults-only options.

Keep in mind

  • Very large resort footprint and family-heavy atmosphere.
  • Food reviews are mixed for a Palace-branded property.
  • Not ideal for travelers seeking quiet luxury.
  • Pool count and some post-renovation details need manual reconciliation across sources.

All Scores

Excellence Punta CanaMeasureRiu Palace Bavaro
7.8Beach8.1 (better)
(better)8.0Food7.3
(better)9.0Service8.0
8.2Rooms8.5 (better)
8.8Pools8.9 (better)
(better)8.6Luxury8.0
8.1Value8.1
–Family9.0
9.1Romance–
6.8Nightlife8.0 (better)
(better)8.3Quiet6.6
7.5Adventure–
8.7Wellness–
7.5Accessibility–

Of the 11 measures we call, Excellence Punta Cana leads on 6 and Riu Palace Bavaro leads on 5.

Vibes

Excellence Punta CanaMeasureRiu Palace Bavaro
YesRomance–
YesQuiet–
YesAdventure–
–LivelyYes

Activities

Excellence Punta CanaMeasureRiu Palace Bavaro
YesSpaYes
YesWater sportsYes
–NightlifeYes
–KidsYes
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