Bahia Principe Luxury Ambar - All Inclusive - Adults Only

Customer Ratings & Reviews

TripAdvisor Traveler Rating

14322 reviews

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  Fantastic Holiday

  My husband and I had the best 2 week holiday. Everything we experienced was wonderful. All the staff we encountered were wonderful people. When we had forgotten something my husband needed they had a pharmacy off site delivery it to the hotel security. This was done mid evening and we got it about 1 hour later. The food buffet had so many choices, we had a lot of different things over the 2 weeks.

  Jan 28, 2026
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  January in Punt Cana

  Room - we were in the middle block (64 i think) near the pool, second floor about midway down the corridor. Room was spacious, clean, fridge fully stocked and bathroom as described. Don't worry about the open plan shower as there is a wall between the bathroom and the bedroom so you are only visible really if you are looking in the wardrobes. The toilet is in a separate cubicle with a frosted door, again, nothing to see here. Big sink area with lots of towels underneath and a small magnifying mirror which is a bonus. They have a towel hook, if you don't need your towels changing hang them up, otherwise leave them on the floor and they will be replaced. Plenty of wardrobe space and there is an area above the fridge with a coffee machine. We never had any issues with the maids or housekeeping, our room was cleaned everyday with turndown on a night time. Fridge was always stocked and room was always ready when we got back from the beach. Air conditioning worked, balcony had the usual 2 chairs and a table and we saw no bugs or roaches anywhere - All good. Pool - not for us, too noisy so didn't spend any time there. Beach - beautiful beach, lots of chairs but you need to get up and out with your towels before 9am if you want a palapa or any kind of shade. Beach vendors didn't really bother us, and they all seemed pretty friendly. They are not offended if you don't want to buy anything. There is a small beach bar but service was a bit slow, they also did bar service on the beach but this was a bit hit and miss, seemed to get better the second week. My only boo with the beach was that you can still hear the noise from the pool unless you are close to the sea. That was nigh on impossible as all those beds were covered in towels even at 8am. Lobby - nice and clean, staff were lovely, beer was awful, wine was good. Food & Drink: Libra - liked this one, and there is a bar in there if you just want to go and sit and have a drink. Portofino - not great MEAT - Ok Palmyra - this is the buffet restaurant and the food was fantastic, cannot fault it at all, lots of choice at breakfast, lunch and evening meals. There is another buffet on the beach but the choice is limited here. Sports Bar - Loved this place, they do burgers and chicken wings in a basket and they are amazing, ate here quite a few times. Room Service - All good, limited choice but was delivered quickly and if you want them to come and take your plates away just tick the button on the app - no mice. Coffee Shop - good idea this, coffee is good and the cakes and pastries were amazing, excellent cheesecake. Staff - Brilliant, all of them, from the guy on the beach who brushed the sand from your beds and flip-flops, to the check in staff and everyone in between. There was always someone to help if you needed anything. Can't say there was an issue with the language barrier at all, and if there is, you can figure it out with any translation app on your phone. We were there the first 2 weeks in January and the weather was perfect. Would we go back, yes probably, it was a bit loud sometimes during the day but we did really enjoy it, apart from the beer. All in all a positive 8.5 / 10.

  Jan 27, 2026
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  Food poisoning from the buffet..BEWARE!!

  My brother got food poisoning from the buffet the first night we arrived. He proceeded to get very ill and had to go to the hospital. It was determined that this was bacterial only caused by food or drink. He had a $2000.00 medical bill for the day he spent there, plus taxi rides to and from. He missed out on 4 days of the vacation due to this. Upon check out I informed the manager who did apologize but offered no other resolution. This made me think that it is a common occurrence. I would never return or recommend this resort.

  Jan 26, 2026
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  Second Visit: Still Very Good, but Not the Same Experience as Before

  Overall Experience at the Bahia Principe Luxury Ambar We stayed in January 2026 in a corner swim-out, and this was our second visit to the resort. Overall, it was a very good stay and our entire group had a great time. That said, while we were eager to return after our first visit, this time we left feeling less certain about coming back again. Staff & Service We stayed in Building 69, and the staff there were outstanding. The concierge, bar refill attendant, and our room maid were all incredibly friendly and attentive. A special shout-out to Rosa and Leedy at the Sports Bar, who were great fun, and the bartenders at Limbo Bar, who were excellent. Service at the bars was consistently fast, even during busy periods, and we rarely had to wait too long to be served. Beach & Grounds The beach itself is very nice, though it was quite windy during our stay, with mostly yellow flags and a couple of red-flag days. Restaurants Portofino Our group was split on this, half thinking it was pretty good, the other thinking it was underwhelming. My meal was pretty good, but it did not really match the description. A recurring issue involved the wine service. When asking for red wine by saying “vino tinto,” we were repeatedly served white wine, and when asking for white wine using “vino blanco,” we were given red. It was amusing the first couple of times, but quickly became frustrating. Eventually, we gave up asking verbally and simply pointed at the bottle we wanted. Yurta I simply found that the selections to fill your bowl were minimal. Most of our group were satisfied enough. MEAT One of the best steaks I have had at a resort in the Caribbean. Yes, it was quite thin, but they managed to get a decent crust without overcooking it. I like medium rare. This was my favorite restaurant. The Greek Those in our group who ordered the meat on the hanging skewers were quite satisfied. I ordered the shawarma and was not satisfied. A staff member came to our table to get feedback and asked for a score out of 10. I gave it a 5 and explained why: the chicken was a bit dry, under-seasoned, and the sauce should be in the wrap rather than served as a dip. He mentioned they had recently updated the menu and were gathering feedback. Tequila The biggest disappointment of the entire trip. This was my absolute favorite restaurant during our first visit. I first learned it was no longer in the same building, which was fine, but the experience was completely different. It was very noisy, sound carried badly, and there was a constant beeping coming from the kitchen area. My wife had to leave after about 10 minutes as it was too much for her. The rest of the group stayed, and an appetizer arrived which was good. After about 30 minutes without our food or drink orders being taken, I left as well. I caught my wife on her way to the buffet and we ate there together. The rest of the group said the food was alright, with the appetizer being the best part of the meal. Drinks were ordered, but no one received them before they left. Brazilian (Rodizio, not Los Olas) It was just okay. The pork was decent, but most of the beef was overcooked and under-seasoned. The Changes Over the Years We had stayed here once before in a corner swim-out shortly after the resort was newly renovated in 2018. That trip was the best resort experience we have ever had as a couple. We have been to dozens of resorts and typically do not return to the same one, but we liked this resort enough to come back, this time bringing a group of nine. Notable differences this time: The vegetation has grown significantly. It looks incredible, but there are now fewer swim-out rooms that receive all-day sun. There are still rooms with great sun exposure, but the growth was surprising. The speakers throughout the resort used to provide a consistent, relaxed atmosphere. They are still present, but you now have to be very close to hear them. The pool used to be quieter with fewer organized games and a more relaxed feel. Now there are games throughout the day, and at times the music can be heard all the way to the lobby. We did not mind this, but it was noticeably different. Lighting along the pathways to the rooms is very limited. Combined with uneven walkways that now have dips, rises, and curves, it can be difficult to see where you are stepping at night. The rooms are no longer in the pristine condition they were in during our first visit. There are visible signs of wear and tear, and some rooms in our group had a musty smell. Several people mentioned that the air conditioning was weak, and the mini-fridges did not keep drinks cold enough on their own, so we had to cool the beer using ice. Overall, the resort appears to be making an effort to maintain the rooms, but there is room for improvement. Overall, it feels like the resort is moving away from the upscale, quiet, and relaxing luxury experience we remember toward a more typical party-style resort, though still with a higher-end feel. Communication & Email Requests I sent emails to the resort months prior to arrival regarding room preferences and group dining. I fully understand that rooms are subject to availability. However, I felt our requests were broad and reasonable, limiting the selection to 14 of the 36 available swim-out rooms. Aside from general “subject to availability” responses, nothing was actioned, and our assigned room was not one of the requested options. We were able to move after a couple of days, but having to pack up and relocate mid-trip was inconvenient. The group dining requests were even more frustrating. I initially emailed in November asking for help with group restaurant reservations, as the app limits bookings to six people and we had nine. I was told this would not be a problem and to send our dining preferences. In December, I sent our preferences and was told reservations could only be made 10 days prior to arrival. Ten days before arrival, I emailed again, but it took four days to receive a response, which advised that online check-in needed to be completed first. I completed the check-in immediately and followed up, but after another four days with no response and restaurants filling up, we made the reservations ourselves by splitting into two groups of six and three. We have never had an issue being seated together this way. Despite multiple emails and reassurances that they were “at our disposal,” none of our requests were actually actioned.

  Jan 25, 2026
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  EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTED!!! NEVER HERE AGAIN!!!

  Changed room 3 times because of a/c not working! Then last room, the a/c DOES NOT GO BELOW 19! Plus cannot feel it at all in bathroom! Food in buffet always cold! Restaurants not even average! Many employees confused on information! This is NOT a 5 star, 3.5-4 at best! Some train drivers drive like maniacs at night with minimal headlights where people walk! One day someone will get hit seriously! We are very used to traveling and NEVER AGAIN WE’LL SET FOOT HERE AGAIN! Cannot believe we booked this place for 9 days and we are STUCKED here another 4 days before going back home!

  Jan 24, 2026