When I visit resorts for reviews, I love to see resorts that really focus on the family. While many resorts are family-friendly, not all specifically cater to kids. So I was really excited to check out Family Selection at the Grand Palladium Select Bavaro in Punta Cana. Family Selection provides guests with a VIP, family-friendly experience, complete with private spaces, butler service, and more.
Family Selection at Grand Palladium Select Bavaro is like a resort within a resort. The Grand Palladium property includes five different resorts:
- Grand Palladium Punta Cana
- Grand Palladium Select Bavaro
- Grand Palladium TRS Turquesa
- Grand Palladium Palace
- Family Selection at the Grand Palladium Select Bavaro
The resorts are adjacent to each other and are walkable. While they are all-inclusive, the specific venues that are included will depend on where you stay.
I visited the Family Selection at Grand Palladium Select Bavaro for three nights and spent all of my time exploring the resort and its options. Read my review of the resort and all of my tips for visiting.
Disclosure: My trip to the Family Selection at the Grand Palladium Select Bavaro was complimentary for the purposes of review. All opinions are my own. This post may contain affiliate links and a purchase through one of these links may result in a commission paid to us.
Review of Family Selection at Grand Palladium Select Bávaro Punta Cana
What is Family Selection?
Family Selection is a specific resort concept at the Grand Palladium Select Bávaro Punta Cana. Guests who want this experience will need to book a room at Family Selection. It isn't an add-on - it's a specific resort.
Family Selection guests have access to most of the restaurants and amenities throughout the Grand Palladium resort complex, with some exceptions, including venues reserved for Travel Club members. Adult Family Selection guests can also visit eligible restaurants and amenities at TRS Turquesa, the adults-only resort within the complex. However, children cannot access the TRS Turquesa venues.
At Family Selection, kids are considered the "Family Boss". This starts at check-in, where there is a dedicated check-in room with a kids' play area. There's also a candy wall and a snack/beverage section.
Guests in Family Selection also have access to a dedicated buffet restaurant, The Nest, and a dedicated pool area. They can also choose to visit many of the other restaurants and pools throughout the property, subject to age and membership restrictions.
Where is the Grand Palladium Select Bavaro Punta Cana Located?
The resort is conveniently located about 20-30 minutes away from the Punta Cana Airport, along Bavaro Beach. Shared transfers are available if you are staying in Family Selection, but there are some requirements (including booking directly with the resort). Check with them for specific rules.
The Punta Cana airport is home to many popular airlines. I was able to fly direct from Boston's Logan Airport, and my flight took about 4 ½ hours.
eFamily Host/Butler
As a Family Selection guest, you'll be introduced to your butler upon arrival. You'll be provided with a QR code to access a WhatsApp chat with your butler, and can request things like golf cart rides, restaurant and spa reservations, and make any room requests.
Who is this Resort Best For?
While the Family Selection section is fantastic for families, the entire resort complex really has an option for everyone. It's a great choice for multigenerational families because everyone will find something perfect for their trip.
Family Selection at Grand Palladium Select Bávaro is the best option at the resort for families. Because Family Selection includes access to the widest range of restaurants and amenities across the Grand Palladium resort complex, it offers families the most flexibility. The butler and other deluxe amenities really make it a VIP experience.
It's a great option if you want a smaller experience within a larger resort, want assistance planning activities and reserving restaurants, and want upgraded service and amenities. It's also a great option for families with adults who'd like to access the TRS Turquesa amenities and restaurants.
As an all-inclusive resort, this resort is best for families who want to stay on property for most of their vacation. Because everything is included in the cost of your stay, you'll want to spend most of your days and eat your meals on site.
This is a large, sprawling resort, offering tram and golf cart service. When I was there, it was lively but not loud. I was especially impressed with all of the gorgeous greenery and shade at the resort. Walkways are covered for the most part, and there are some quiet, beautiful areas.
Rooms at Family Selection at Grand Palladium Select Bávaro Punta Cana
There are 1,986 rooms across the entire resort, and 160 of these are Family Selection rooms. These villas are in a dedicated area.
There are a few different room options. I had a junior king suite garden view, which includes a whirlpool bathtub, a separate shower stall, a sofa bed, a patio, and a king bed. These rooms include deluxe bath amenities, a robe, a mini bar (with beer, soda, and water), an espresso maker, and slippers.
I found the bed to be much larger than a standard king, and extremely comfortable. The room was quiet at night, and I slept so well.
When visiting with kids, you'll have some kids' amenities in your room upon arrival. The entire hotel offers complimentary WiFi.
Other room types within Family Selection include:
- Family Selection Superior Junior Suite Garden View: Similar configuration, but larger.
- Family Selection Superior Junior Suite Private Pool: These rooms have a small private outdoor plunge pool.
- Family Selection Family Suite Garden View: An even larger room, offering an ideal location near the pool
- Family Selection Family Suite Private Pool: This suite is ideal for a family with older kids, because it has a separate kids' bedroom and a private plunge pool.
Some of the rooms at the resort, including the one I was in, have a secondary door/hall with a second room. These can be booked together to combine for a connecting room. This is a great option if you want to have two bathrooms.
Amenities and Activities at the Family Selection at Grand Palladium Select Bávaro Punta Cana
Kids’ club
The Grand Palladium in Punta Cana offers three kids' clubs for different ages. These clubs are offered for ages 1-17 and have organized activities. There is no additional cost for the kids' clubs.
- The baby club is for ages 1-3 and includes a play area and a nap time area.
- The mini club is for ages 4-12 and offers a kids' pool, a craft area, and a kid-friendly pirate castle.
- The junior club is for older kids, with a game room for kids to have fun independently.
Shopping
If you forgot something at home, or just want a souvenir of your trip, the resort offers a selection of stores. You'll find a pharmacy, clothing stores, beachwear stores, a spa shop, and sundries shops.
Pool Areas at the Resort
The resort includes nine separate pools across all of the resorts. While Family Selection guests can use all of the pools (except the Travel Club, unless you are a member, and the adult section, if you are under 18), there is a dedicated Family Selection pool.
That zero-entry pool has a separate smaller kiddie pool. There are Bali beds and beach loungers, including some really cute smaller beach loungers. In addition, there's a cart with complimentary sunscreen to use and books to borrow. Drinks and food can be ordered from servers or at the Es Niu pool bar.
The different pools offer a variety of activities throughout the day. These can include water bikes, paddleboard yoga, cookie-making, music, and pool Olympics. One day, they had little inflatable boats that kids could ride. You can get a schedule of activities each morning from your butler. I thought the activities were the perfect mix to keep kids busy without making the whole pool feel overwhelming.
I found the Family Selection pool to be quieter than the adjacent Boca Chica pool. That's probably because Boca Chica has more activities and a beautiful, shaded, swim-up bar. So, during my pool day, I visited both pools.
Beach at the Family Selection at Grand Palladium Select Bávaro Punta Cana
The entire resort is located at Bavaro Beach, and the Family Selection resort has its own section. During my stay, the area was dealing with sargassum (seaweed), so most people chose to stay at the pools rather than the beach. This is seasonal, and conditions can change daily.
The beach offers many loungers in the Family Selection area, with plenty of shade. It's a really nice beach if you'd prefer the sea rather than the pool.
Fitness Center and Activities
The resort offers a full fitness center near the spa. In addition, there are many fitness activities scheduled throughout the day, including pool fitness, mat Pilates, stretching, and spinning.
In addition, there's a full sports complex offering many activities including padel, tennis, pickleball, volleyball, and basketball.
Zentropia Palladium Spa
On my first full day at the resort, I was treated to an 80-minute massage along with time in the hydrotherapy area. This was easily one of the best massages I've received, and the hydrotherapy area is really world-class.
The atmosphere at the spa is nice and relaxing. When I first entered, I was provided with a robe and a locker. These lock with your wristband, so you don't have to worry about a key or a passcode. Slippers are also provided.
The spa rooms are quiet and relaxing, and my treatment was highly effective at releasing muscle tension. After the massage, I changed into my swimsuit and headed to the hydrotherapy circuit.
This beautiful, partially outdoor area includes everything you'd expect: a hot tub, cold plunge, cold room, steam room, sauna, outdoor pool, showers, and a mud treatment. You can spend as little time there as you want, but I spent about an hour. There's also a health bar with some snacks and drinks. You can book your treatment with the spa or with your eFamily Host.
Other treatments at the Zentropia Spa include:
- Facials
- Body Treatments
- Salon services
- Manicures and pedicures
Dining at the Grand Palladium Select Bávaro Punta Cana
The entire Grand Palladium complex offers 15 restaurants and many bars. Family Selection guests have access to most of the restaurants across the property, including options located within the adjacent Grand Palladium resorts. Some restaurants have age, membership, or additional-fee restrictions. There are many different cuisine types as well as both buffet and à la carte options.
It's really nice to see an all-inclusive resort with such a wide variety of dining options. If you stayed there for a full week, you'd be able to choose a different place for each meal.
They also offer a nice selection of quick snacks, including gelato, nachos, and pastries. I especially loved the coffee shop, tucked in the corner of the lobby. Room service is also offered.
Here's where I ate during my three-night trip:
- Arrecife: a beachfront buffet offering a wide variety of food options, including fish. I really enjoyed lunch here as a break from the hot sun.
- First, Wine: this intimate restaurant offers Mediterranean cuisine. To dine there, you need to first purchase a bottle of wine from their section.
- The Nest: This kid-friendly buffet restaurant is exclusive for Family Selection guests. It even has a candy wall and a climbing tunnel running outside of the restaurant. It's open for breakfast and dinner.
- El Dorado: An à la carte restaurant offering steak, fish, and other American specialties. I really loved my fish there, and the mushroom sauce was a delicious added touch.
- Helios: A buffet restaurant in the TRS Turquesa resort. I really enjoyed breakfast and a BBQ lunch there. Note that this resort is adult-only.
We also had dinner at the Chic Cabaret, which is a 2 ½ hour show/5 course dinner. While this is offered at an added fee ($60, but varies based on time of year), I think it's absolutely worth it. The performers were phenomenal, and the food was excellent.
You'll start out with a complimentary welcome cocktail as you sit outside and enjoy the 30-minute pre-show. Then, you are seated at the table and are served your meal as you enjoy the show. After the cabaret, there's an afterparty outside until 1 am. We were all exhausted and skipped the afterparty, but loved the pre-show and the actual cabaret.
Other restaurants at the Grand Palladium include (I did not try these):
- La Paisana: Argentinian steakhouse in the Grand Palladium Select Bavaro
- La Catedral: Breakfast and dinner buffet in a beautiful venue adjacent to the Nest
- Xtra Time Sports Bar: All-night sports bar offering classic sports bar fare
- Behique: International buffet
- Sumptuori: Japanese cuisine including a teppanyaki option
- Tentazione: Italian à la carte restaurant
- Las Torres: International buffet focused on Dominican cuisine
- La Bohème: French cuisine
- Bhogali: Indian restaurant
- Portofino: Beachfront Italian restaurant
- Poseidón: Buffet restaurant offering lunch
- Bamboo: Japanese restaurant offering sushi and other Japanese entrees
- La Lola: Spanish tapas
- Kusko: Nikkei (Japanese-Peruvian fusion) cuisine
- La Adelita: Mexican cuisine
- Capricho: International buffet
- The Pizza Shop: Offering to-go pizza for your beach or pool day. Order early to avoid a longer wait time.
There are also bars scattered throughout the property, including in the hotel lobbies and at the pool areas. Some of the pools have swim-up bars as well.
The Bottom Line: Why Stay Here
Family Selection at Grand Palladium Select Bávaro is a fantastic family-friendly resort, offering so many things for families to do. Combined with the other Grand Palladium resorts on the property, it's one of the larger all-inclusive resorts that I've stayed at. That means you'll have even more amenities and restaurants to enjoy during your stay.
Things to Know and Tips
- Download the Palladium app and WhatsApp (to communicate with the butlers) before you go.
- Make restaurant reservations for the à la carte restaurants when you arrive
- You'll be given a wristband that serves as your room key
- The resort is large, but you can use the tram or call for a golf cart.
- Almost everything is included, with a few exceptions
- Babysitting is available for an additional fee, and you can book with your butler
To learn more about Family Selection at Grand Palladium Select Bávaro, visit their website.
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