Gran Bahia Principe Esmeralda in Punta Cana

claudinemercier · August 30, 2012

Hi ladies! I just returned from the Esmeralda to visit the resort for my wedding in summer 2013... the resort is gorgeous. i'm quite picky...

The terrace on the beach (there is 2, one a la carte bbq with the papayas that don't cover everywhere so if the rain, disaster) is a buffet style get your own food. 3000$ to rent privately, free if you don't mind sharing with the guests and serving yourselves. The other one, pisces, seats up to 60 on one side (1500$) or 120 if you get both sides (3000$). The menu you can choose from is mediterrenian - el pescador, garden grill (our experience wasn't great there though) and the mexican (awesome but a wedding type meal? not sure...). We have allergies as well and was told a special menu would be provided for these people and vegetarians. I know that the mediterrenian also has a steak...There are both located near the beach and main pool witch is very beautiful at night (pisce right next to it) and that pool closes at 6 or 6:30, so does the bar... this mean you are far far away from a bar. the Esmeralda lobby. witch serve international drink (punta cana and bavaro sides you need to pay for them) has a nice rectangular shape. If you come in there with a group, you can pretty much rule over and have a party there with the bartender. Maximo is an awesome one by the way!!! You'll have to plan for an ipod and speakers for a little music cause its very low there but i think it's your best bet if you don't wanna pay for an open bar. They charge 10$ per hour per person for national and 18$ per hour per person for internationnal drinks! ouch.... be careful though, if you have guest that stay at the punta cana or bavaro, they can attend ceremony and reception but not enter the Esmeralda lobby bar!

Also the disco is quite big for a resort one and jams from 12 to 2 am at the other end of the resort, national drinks are included

Hope this helps!

If you have any questions, i will be happy to help, i took a lot of pictures of the wedding areas and the resort!

Claudine

sosodj · August 30, 2012

Originally Posted by claudinemercier

Hi ladies! I just returned from the Esmeralda to visit the resort for my wedding in summer 2013... the resort is gorgeous. i'm quite picky...

The terrace on the beach (there is 2, one a la carte bbq with the papayas that don't cover everywhere so if the rain, disaster) is a buffet style get your own food. 3000$ to rent privately, free if you don't mind sharing with the guests and serving yourselves. The other one, pisces, seats up to 60 on one side (1500$) or 120 if you get both sides (3000$). The menu you can choose from is mediterrenian - el pescador, garden grill (our experience wasn't great there though) and the mexican (awesome but a wedding type meal? not sure...). We have allergies as well and was told a special menu would be provided for these people and vegetarians. I know that the mediterrenian also has a steak...There are both located near the beach and main pool witch is very beautiful at night (pisce right next to it) and that pool closes at 6 or 6:30, so does the bar... this mean you are far far away from a bar. the Esmeralda lobby. witch serve international drink (punta cana and bavaro sides you need to pay for them) has a nice rectangular shape. If you come in there with a group, you can pretty much rule over and have a party there with the bartender. Maximo is an awesome one by the way!!! You'll have to plan for an ipod and speakers for a little music cause its very low there but i think it's your best bet if you don't wanna pay for an open bar. They charge 10$ per hour per person for national and 18$ per hour per person for internationnal drinks! ouch.... be careful though, if you have guest that stay at the punta cana or bavaro, they can attend ceremony and reception but not enter the Esmeralda lobby bar!

Also the disco is quite big for a resort one and jams from 12 to 2 am at the other end of the resort, national drinks are included

Hope this helps!

If you have any questions, i will be happy to help, i took a lot of pictures of the wedding areas and the resort!

Claudine

Thanks so much for the update, i was going to chose the garden grill as i have a few picky eaters and this seemed like the best basic meal (steak) what did you have at the garden grill. Could you post some pictures of pisces and the lobby and the rooms if you have some. What times does the lobby bar close at? I heard that the hotel is currently under construction, is that right? Do you know when it's scheduled to be complete?

thanks

claudinemercier · August 31, 2012

Hi there!

I did have the steak actually... It definately wasn't terrible, just not your uscale steak. I didn't try the el pescador restaurant but reviews says their steak is very good... not sure if it's the same or not... but overall, the meal just wasn't great. We like the italian (friends stuffed chicken breast) don pablo (steak and duck) santa fee (mexican) and los olivos (chicken supreme). Garden grill is not bad, we just didnt enjoy this one like the others

As for construction, it is there and i believe it supposed to be completed in december. Its not in the actual section were you stay, it accross a fence as they are expending the esmeralda (new rooms yay!!!!). To be honest, i didnt hear one person complain and never heard it really! You pretty much see it if you take the trolley down to the lobby and look to the side. If you take the 2 other trolleys(there are 3 lines), you dont see it.

the looby bar at the esmeralda closes at 12, then you have the disco from 12 to 2 unsure about other lobbys as the esmeralda serve top brands free so we drank there!

I'm new to this site, were to i post my pictures??

claudinemercier · August 31, 2012

sorry about the typos, i wrote to fast... im sure you can make it up though!

sosodj · August 31, 2012

to be honest, i've never posted anything here before, can any one help?

claudinemercier · August 31, 2012

Figured it out...

here's the room

the beach gazebo...the only issue here is that other guest are litteraly sitting in their bathing suits a few meters away

400

the other gazebo, even though its next to the main avenue, others guest are accross it to watch (where i took the picture) and other side is beautiful grass and vegatation...

400 400

the lobby outside... there is actually this section plus in the loundge area and also deep inside with a roof but open air as the side are open... didn't take a picture inside sorry

the side-entrance of lobby... can't see much here though...

one side of the pisces (you can rent one or 2 sides)

the middle entrance

the inside

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inside as they started to set up a wedding, there was the head table at back and 7 round tables... (the chairs get covered in white)

400

the bbq a la carte (the one that sits up to 120 i believe, buffet style, share with other guests or 3000$ private) papayas are lower and not attached so rain can be an issue!

the inside air conditionned one, up to 40 guests (i think 1000$ unsure as we have too many guest for this one) there is 2, the lady said they look the same...