TripAdvisor Traveler Rating

Stayed in mid May 2025 with friends. Short version: 8.5 - 9.0 out of 10. Highly recommend and would go back without hesitation. The good: Rooms are modern, spacious, clean, and the A/C was great. We did NOT have a swim-out room. Housekeeping does a good job, even though sometimes you don't get a full complement of towels or whatever. Food is very good and fresh, whether at the buffet or one of the restaurants. I've stayed at other places in the DR where the food was not to my liking. It never felt crowded and if you stay here, you can go to any of the other resorts on property either by walking or taking various golf cart types of shuttles. Staff was always pleasant and helpful. Tipping is definitely appreciated, but going big with tips doesn't get you any extra attention, which I guess is good because they're treating everyone equally. This is NOT a high energy party resort. While there were quite a few 20-30 somethings there, the majority of the crowd was 40+. The bad: There wasn't anything "bad", more of just the typical Caribbean resort experience, so any negatives are really just nit-picking. Yeah, the vendors on the beach are a constant annoyance, but that's anywhere in Punta Cana since the beaches are public. Resort staff is always hitting you up for massages, boat trips, etc, but if you say no they don't push. I did avoid the main lobby during business hours because the membership sales guys are pretty resilient. The wi-fi can be spotty at the pool and even less so on the beach. If you stay here, you can only see events at Ambar or the Esmeralda on the app since they are the "luxury" resorts, and you'd better make dinner reservations as soon as you can (you can check in 10 days prior to arrival through the app, which allows you to make reservations), although during our dinners, each place was 50% full AT BEST. Not sure if that's by design or what. You can add up to 6 people on a single reservation, but you need to know their hotel booking number (which is different from anything you get through Expedia, Cheap Caribbean, etc.). And if you REALLY want a specific spot at the beach or pool, you'd best get your stuff out there by 6am, if not earlier. By 6:30-645am the prime spots under huts/umbrellas are pretty much taken up. Don't take the negatives as deal breakers - I'm just nitpicking. That stuff should barely register with a reasonable person.

We recently returned from a spectacular two-week stay at Bahia Principe Ambar in May 2025, and while the entire resort experience was outstanding, the dining at the specialty restaurants – Portofino (Italian cuisine) and Meat (steakhouse) – stood out as the absolute highlight of our vacation, thanks to the exceptional leadership of Chef Christian. From the moment we arrived at either restaurant, Chef Christian personally welcomed us with genuine warmth and care, making us feel like honored guests each evening. His deep passion for culinary excellence and hospitality elevated every meal into a luxurious and memorable experience. At Portofino, we were transported to the heart of Italy. The menu featured a delectable range of traditional Italian dishes, including Napolitana, Paricina and Romana pizzas – all baked to perfection with rich, authentic flavors. Alongside these, we enjoyed delicious entradas and homemade pastas that were as comforting as they were refined. Over at Meat, the experience was bold and indulgent. The Churrasco Steak, slow-cooked and charcoal-smoked, delivered deep, smoky flavor and melt-in-your-mouth tenderness – a standout dish we looked forward to every time. Another favorite was the Mixed Meat Skewer, offering a beautifully grilled combination of cuts with just the right seasoning and char. What made the evenings even more special were the signature cocktails crafted just for us by Chef Christian – a delightful fusion of pineapple, exotic spices, premium rum, and aged tequila. Served with flair and offered generously, these unique drinks became a ritual we eagerly anticipated each night. Chef Christian’s attention to detail, his gracious presence, and his passion for delivering ultra-premium service and cuisine made each dinner feel like a night out at a Michelin-starred restaurant. We highly recommend both restaurants for anyone staying at the Ambar resort. And if you’re lucky enough to be greeted by Chef Christian, prepare for a truly world-class culinary adventure you won't soon forget. Sincerely, Victor and Larissa Black members of My Bahia Principe loyalty program

ur stay at Luxury Ambar by Bahia Principe was marred by serious issues that no guest should have to endure—most notably, bedbugs in our room. Even worse, our friends who paid for the resort’s most expensive swim-up corner suite were forced to change rooms three times. The situation was made more frustrating by the lack of professionalism from some of the staff. When we reported the bedbugs, the front desk employee appeared to have been sleeping and responded not with concern, but exasperation—literally exclaiming “OH MY GOD” before dismissively telling us “it is what it is.” That level of disregard after spending thousands of dollars is unacceptable. Additionally, the sports bar manager asked how many tips I would give him when I simply requested a song to celebrate a friend’s birthday. Completely inappropriate and unprofessional. What saved our trip from being a total disaster was the outstanding service from a few incredible staff members. Kelvin at the lobby bar, Desiree at the pool, and Nairobi and Brien from the entertainment team went above and beyond every day. Their kindness, professionalism, and positive energy made a world of difference and helped us salvage some joy out of an otherwise disappointing experience. While the pool, lobby bar, and entertainment were top-notch, the lack of basic hospitality and serious cleanliness issues make it hard to recommend this resort without major improvements.

Restaurants are slow and food is average at best. Maintenance of property is not great and trash needs to be picked up. Not enough lounges and palapas on the beach because everyone reserves at 5 am and then doesn't come down until afternoon. Staff is rude and front desk wanted me to pay them extra to get me in my room at check in time. His name was Yefry. But he's not the only one. I heard from many guests that they all do it. And the staff at the bars are only nice to you if you tip them. Pool bar drinks are horrible.

Just spending our last few hours at this hotel after a lovely two week stay. This is our 3rd visit to this hotel and again we are not disappointed. We only had one negative which was we found the waiter staff in the beach restaurant to be very rude on the few occasions so we simply stopped using it and after talking to a couple in the next room they also said they had, had the same experience. My husband did speak to someone in charge and explained we were totally ignored and had been waiting 15 minutes for cutlery and told to sit down when I approached the member of staff to ask for some needless to say not what you want on your holiday but this is my only negative. On the other hand the restaurant in the main lobby was fantastic. We were made very welcome every morning by Miguel and Kinguel (apologies if I’ve spelt your names wrong). We usually sat in the same place and everything was served promptly and with a smile which goes a long way with us. They work so hard every day so well done to all of you and thank you. As I said we have been to this hotel 3 times and have ventured out a little more this time after dinner each night and never realised just how big this complex actually is but everything is easily accessible by the land train which takes you all over. We spent most of our time on the beach during the daytime because after all that’s what we come to Dominican for absolutely beautiful. We would highly recommend this hotel as it’s got everything and as we stayed in a swim up room made it even better. A massive thank you to the luxury Amber perfect holiday again see you all next time. ??