You'll Want To Avoid This All-Inclusive Resort For Your Spring Break Trip To The Caribbean
If you're planning a spring break trip to the Dominican Republic, you might want to avoid staying at whala!báravo in Punta Cana. The Dominican Republic is a breathtakingly beautiful island nation in the Caribbean. Each year millions of tourists flock to the island for unforgettable vacations. Stunning white sand beaches, sparkling Caribbean waters, and a vibrant local culture are just a few factors that make the Dominican Republic an ideal spring break destination. It's definitely a Caribbean destination worth visiting in 2026, as long as you choose your lodgings carefully.
The country, which shares the island of Hispaniola with the nation of Haiti, is full of amazing all-inclusive resorts that make planning the perfect vacation easy and stress-free. It's totally possible to have a wonderful time dining on local cuisine, sunning yourself on the beach surrounded by palm trees swaying in the breeze, and enjoying fun entertainment without ever leaving the comfort of your resort. That being said, there are a few resorts that tourists should avoid. A resort called whala!báravo is one such place, according to reviews left by guests.
Just because a resort is advertised as being all-inclusive doesn't mean that it will be up to the standards of some tourists. It's crucial that you do your research and read plenty of customer reviews before booking your room. Multiple guests who stayed at whala!báravo have warned other travelers against staying there due to rundown rooms and a variety of other problems they encountered during their stays. While some guests enjoyed their experience, it's probably a good idea to book your accommodations elsewhere when you plan your trip to the Dominican Republic.
Some travelers have warned that you should avoid whala!báravo at all costs
The whala!báravo all-inclusive resort is located in Punta Cana, which is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the Dominican Republic. The city is known for having lovely resorts, but according to people who have stayed there, whala!báravo is not one of them.
"Avoid this hotel at all costs. The rooms are run down and in a dreadful state, sometimes hot water if you're lucky, sometimes no water at all, sometimes brown, a constant smell of sewage, doors that don't lock, windows that fall out if you use them, etc. The staff can't be bothered and ignore you, the service in the restaurants is truly shocking, I do not have anything positive to say about this disgraceful hotel," a guest named Gary Winkworth wrote in a review posted on Tripadvisor in 2025.
Other reviews echo similar complaints. "The room was in terrible condition: very old furniture, smell of mold, TV that did not work and really poor cleaning. The bathroom was a mess: unventilated, dirty, with water dripping from the ceiling and rusting taps. In addition, the room was extremely noisy, both for being located on a busy street and for the continuous coming and going of people in the hallway, screaming at any time of day and night," a tourist named Laura M wrote on Tripadvisor in early 2026. Multiple reviews complained about serious issues like mold, lack of hot water, and smells of sewage in the rooms. Some even reported that they didn't have running water at all. Multiple reviews also mention that the food served at the resort wasn't of good quality, with one reviewer named Christina going so far as to call it "slop" in her Tripadvisor review.
Choosing the right resort can make or break your vacation
It's important to note that hundreds of travelers who have stayed at whala!báravo did enjoy their experience. On Tripadvisor, the overall rating is 3.8 stars based on over 1,300 reviews. Over 500 travelers have left 5-star reviews, but others have clearly warned that the positive reviews and photos should not be trusted.
Rooms at whala!báravo start at around $186 per night, but if the negative reviews are accurate, it's probably a resort that's not worth your money. After all — a room that smells like sewage might ruin the mood if you're looking for a relaxing romantic getaway, and terrible food might devastate travelers hoping to enjoy delicious Caribbean cuisine.
In the Dominican Republic there are some excellent places to stay along with some atrocious all-inclusive resorts — as is the case almost anywhere you might choose to travel. As long as you spend a little extra time planning your trip and researching accommodations, you're sure to have a fantastic time. Check out our list of Punta Cana's best all-inclusive resorts so that you can make the most of your spring break getaway and don't end up feeling disappointed when you arrive at your resort hotel.