Unique by Lopesan Costa Bávaro - All Inclusive

Unique by Lopesan Costa Bávaro - All Inclusive is a large resort for divers who want the hotel side of the holiday to be properly organised as well. The all-inclusive formula keeps meals, drinks and the various resort facilities close at hand, while direct access to the beach gives you somewhere to walk when sitting still has become harder than expected.

English is spoken by the hotel team, alongside Spanish, so you can deal with the practical details without resorting to underwater sign language. The atmosphere is broad rather than boutique: restaurants, bars, pools, a casino, a nightclub, a spa and family facilities all sit within the same resort operation.

You can make the stay as active or as lazy as the day demands. There is enough here for a full day away from the sea, but also enough space to disappear with a drink and let somebody else worry about dinner.

The resort is in Punta Cana, on the Bávaro Beach seafront, with direct access to a private stretch of white sand. Sun loungers and parasols are available on the beach, so the journey from breakfast to the Caribbean is refreshingly uncomplicated.

Punta Cana city centre is 8 miles away. Palma Real Shopping Village, Cocotal Golf and Country Club and Cortecito Beach are among the nearby places to explore, while a golf course is 2 miles from the resort.

The setting is useful if you want the sea on the doorstep but still like having shops, golf and excursions within reach. It is a resort base rather than a town-centre hotel, which is worth keeping in mind when planning evenings away from the property.

The accommodation is built around junior suites and suites, with the choice turning mainly on the view, the position and how much room you want around the bed. Ocean-view options suit couples who would rather wake up to the Caribbean side of the address, while pool-view categories keep the resort’s freshwater life in sight. The Swim Up categories are the obvious choice if access to the pool matters more than a view from above.

Most of the listed double options are intended for two people and have a double bed. For more separation, the one-bedroom suites give you a distinct living arrangement, while the two-bedroom Tropical Resort Suite is the practical option for a larger party or a stay where people do not all want to sleep in the same room.

The basics are sensible after a long day: air conditioning, a shower, toiletries, a wardrobe, a flat-screen television and a bathrobe. Selected categories also include a safe, telephone, mirror and towels. A private bathroom is standard across the listed accommodation, and room service is available for the nights when leaving the room feels like an unnecessary expedition.

There are accessible resort suites, with lift access to the upper floors and wheelchair-accessible facilities in the resort. The hotel is non-smoking, and Wi-Fi is free throughout the property.

The all-inclusive formula gives you plenty of room to change direction at dinner. The eight named restaurants cover American food at The Valley American Food, Italian dishes at Góndola, Japanese cooking at Inari, Mexican plates at El Charro, grilled cuts at El Asador, seafood at Mareas, French food at La Boheme and quick options at Yolo Fast Food.

The menus are easy to picture after a day in the water: burgers, BBQ ribs and salads; fresh pasta, pizzas and risotto; sushi, sashimi, tempura and ramen; or tacos, enchiladas and guacamole. El Asador concentrates on dinner, while La Boheme also keeps its French menu for the evening. Several other restaurants serve both lunch and dinner, giving you alternatives to the main meal routine.

Drinks are spread across a serious number of addresses rather than one lonely bar in the corner. Coralino Lobby Bar focuses on premium cocktails, Sports Bar on international beers, Bavaro Coffee on local and international coffee, Baco Vinoteca on selected wines and English Pub on beers, whiskies and classic cocktails. There are also beach bars, cocktail lounges, a tequila bar, a juice bar, an ice-cream counter and the Teatro Bar for drinks alongside the evening programme.

Breakfast is available as a buffet, with a café and snack bar for smaller appetites. The resort also has an all-inclusive dining formula, so you can keep the logistics pleasantly simple even when the choice is not.

Seven freshwater pools give you several ways to spend a surface interval, including an infinity pool. Add the water park, pool equipment and beach facilities, and the resort can occupy a full non-diving day without requiring a timetable or a taxi. The private beach brings white sand, turquoise water, loungers and parasols into the same plan.

For a slower reset, OM Spa by Lopesan covers 2,900 square metres and offers massages and facials, with a sauna and solarium also available. The fitness room gives you somewhere to stretch the legs or use muscles that have spent the morning doing very little beyond finning.

There are lighter diversions too: table tennis, billiards, windsurfing and snorkelling. A casino and nightclub cover the later hours, while the garden, terrace and outdoor furniture give you less energetic places to sit. Travelling with children adds a games room, children’s play area, kids’ club, children’s pool and babysitting service to the list.

Check-in runs from 3 pm to 6 pm, and check-out is at noon. Reception operates around the clock, which is useful when flights and dive schedules refuse to cooperate. Contactless check-in and check-out are available, and cashless payments can be used for transactions at the property.

Airport transfers are available through the hotel, either as a private service or a shared shuttle, and should be arranged with the property. Shuttle services, car hire and parking are also available. If you are driving, the resort is in Punta Cana rather than in the city centre, with the latter 8 miles away.

The practical kit includes free Wi-Fi, luggage storage, a concierge, an ATM, currency exchange, a souvenir shop, laundry and dry-cleaning services. Excursion assistance and ticketing support are available when you want to leave the resort for a change of scenery. A doctor is also available on site.

The property provides lift access and wheelchair-accessible facilities, including an accessible restaurant. Rooms include air conditioning, and the listed categories have private bathrooms with showers. The hotel accepts Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Maestro, Visa Electron and cash.