Went to Barcelo Bavarro Punta Cana on Boxing Day about 10 years ago. Loud, crowded and run down. Likely been renovated since. Beach was awesome otherwise a hard pass.
Avoid fishing excursions in that area unless you like being a cork in a washing machine.
Fished for 15 years off shore in Ucluelet, so I was not concerned at all, but this was another level of pain