Bahia Principe Explore Esmeralda - Hyatt Inclusive Collection - All Inclusive

Customer Ratings & Reviews

TripAdvisor Traveler Rating

9766 reviews

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  Very enjoyable vacation

  This was our 3rd stay at this specific Bahia Principe hotel. (We have stayed at multiple Bahia Principe hotels since 2005) Our most recent stay was from October 17th to 27th 2026. We have always appreciated Esmeralda’s layout. We appreciate how the hotel looks at night all lit up, looks so beautiful! The reception staff always checks us in or out quickly. Staff have always helped us connect our 3 electronics to the free wifi which works well even when you are on the beach. There is a large canopy covered open air theatre with lots of seating. Guests can look at the activity board, have a drink, sit and play a game (bring cards/games), let the young children run off some energy, or meet up with family as it’s always accessible. Attached to it there is a sports bar (with food/bar/coffee shop attached to the lobby. We were in building 90 on the ground floor with a swim out which I always enjoy late afternoon. (There are always a few cats on the look out for small lizards or bugs though they NEVER come near you in case you don’t like cats or are allergic.) As always after a breakfast in the buffet we would take our freshly made morning cappuccino from the sports bar “to go” and then enjoy them while sitting on the beach loungers. Since it was low season the beach buffet was closed except for weekends when it becomes busier with locals. Eating in the main buffet you do get a chance to cool down with air conditioning. Once again we enjoyed the main buffet food, and the à la carte restaurants. Sadly the menu at Tequila has changed since April and fajitas are no longer an option. Casa Bella took their spinach lasagna off the menu, though the spaghetti Bolognese was a good substitution with chunks of ground beef. (They do change the menu from time to time so on the plus side you do get to try something new!) On this trip our best meal was at the Fish Market which we had never tried. For a while it had been closed during our previous vacation dates. All the small issues we had were taken care of right away. On arrival we discovered that the 4 safe batteries had to be replaced and that was done immediately. No body wash in the shower so we just used the small round soap in the bathroom and the body wash container was refilled the next morning. We were missing belts for both robes and that situation was corrected. We also ran out of tissues one morning toward the end of our 10 nights so I just went in the hallway with the empty box to show the first room attendant I saw and she gave me a new box. Many of the room attendants do not speak English so you can use a translation app to communicate if need be. None of these missing items bothered us much as we also have everyday issues like that at home. I mainly dealt with Manuel (Manny) who worked nights as the guest service representative for our room. He is great with guests, and he clearly loves his job. If you don’t see the soda you want in your fridge he will arrange for that to be taken care of. (Coke verses Coke Zero) I very much enjoyed the 2 free souvenir workshops (both males and females participated) which were new additions since our previous stay 1 year ago. All supplies were provided, and the number of participants is limited so make sure to sign up.Look on the app for the day and time and then sign up with one of the animators at the pool holding a clipboard. One workshop was using a polishing machine on a piece larimar to make a necklace, and the other was to paint a hat. They had set up an inflatable obstacle course on the beach one afternoon. Loved that they had also set up a small beverage table for the participants and guests watching! Guests were leaving their finished books on the ground floor hallway tables. Would be more guest friendly if they could set up one permanent “lending library” like there is at the Ambar hotel, but it should be waterproof or located indoors. Wet books take far too long to dry out. The only negatives that I can think of is that some pool/beach towels definitely need to be taken out of service due to rips or holes. Also, the ping pong table disappeared from beside the pool which was a small disappointment for us who always play a few games. I think more people would have used it if it wasn’t fully exposed to the sun. Maybe it could be put in the theatre so rain or shine it could be used. Special recognition to animator Wadingson, Felix and Greily at reception, Manuel Guest Experience for our room, and last but not least hotel director Alberto Figueroa Ceballos. We had a GREAT vacation and of course we plan to return next year. Hasta luego!

  Nov 12, 2026
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  Huge resort, loud and full with fresh food

  If you like a huge resort experience with very loud music at the pool And beach with lots of fresh food at the buffet , lotsnof people around you then book this place. It's not for the people looking for a relaxing boutique and individualised holiday. You can't walk to any other attractions, not hotel related shops or cafes. Staff was very friendly and trying hard. Food choices - lots of fresh food . Sadly the Japanese restaurant was not open yet even though advertised in their website. Drinks - the better ones available to purchase, The AI included not great.

  Nov 05, 2026
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  Dominican Paradise

  well what a place. I've been to the Dom Rep years ago and the loved it so wanted to go back with the family. upon arrival we where checked in and given directions to our room, our cases where collected and taken to our room, there are no lifts in the apartment blocks and we where on the top floor. that morning before our flight i managed to get gout in by big toe and it was painful, when waiter walked passed and noticed it he brought back a very cold towel with ice, perfect!! the drink and food were great. There a loads of waiters but the guy who stood out was Aderlon, he was always there and ready to take orders for drinks, he was very polite and when busy he would aways take a look over to see if we needed a top up and he would be there with a tray of drinks, he made our stay feel extra special and he needs some recognition or a pay rise, look after your people and they will look after you. the beach was a paradise with a perfect breeze, lovely to just sit there and watch the world go by. We visited all the different restaurants and our favourite was Yurta and our least favourite was the Mexican. The sea did have seaweed but it never bothered me and swam in the sea very day. This place is a paradise and will defiantly return one day.

  Oct 29, 2026
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  Sister trip to Bahia Esmeralda

  Emeliana, Michael and Wanderson from the pool entertainment team were absolutely amazing! We met several other families from Canada and America during our stay, and we all agreed that the entertainment team really makes Esmeralda memorable. They created such a great atmosphere and played a huge part in making our holiday so enjoyable. They deserve real recognition for the effort they put into making everyone’s experience special! Juan and Oscar at reception were also incredibly helpful when dealing with our requests. We don’t speak much Spanish, and although we never expect everyone to speak perfect English, they made a real effort to understand us and help with anything we needed. We always felt welcomed, listened to and well looked after. Staff like these really make a difference to a holiday, and Esmeralda is lucky to have them!

  Oct 28, 2026
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  🇩🇴 Bahia Principe Luxury Esmeralda, Punta Cana — Paradise by Day, tumbleweed by Night! 🌴😂

  My stay at Bahia Principe Luxury Esmeralda started in Villa 91, where I had a lovely refurbished room for the first week. I then moved to a swim-up room, as my family are Privilege Club members and I was also offered the opportunity to upgrade. And let me tell you, the swim-up rooms are an absolute game changer! If you have the chance to book one, do it. The difference in experience is huge, and it really takes the holiday to another level. The resort itself is lovely, beautifully maintained and full of colonial-style charm, with pretty villas and well-kept grounds. Visually, it ticks all the boxes for a Caribbean getaway. Unfortunately, once the sun goes down, the magic starts to fade. The evening entertainment was so dull that I half expected tumbleweed to roll past in the background, just like in a Western film. 😂 There was very little to do, no particularly interesting entertainment and not much atmosphere. For a resort of this standard, the evenings were a serious let-down. You can only admire the beautiful surroundings for so long before wondering whether everyone has gone to bed at 7 pm. Food arrangements during the low season were another disappointment. The main buffet, Caney, was serving breakfast and dinner only, with lunch moved to Caicu, the open-air beach buffet. Now, eating by the beach sounds idyllic in theory. In reality, sitting in the Caribbean heat with no air conditioning was far from comfortable. Add an extortionate wait to get a table for a group of five, and lunchtime quickly became less of a pleasure and more of a logistical operation. We often ended up visiting other resorts for lunch or skipping it altogether and eating in our room. A real shame, because the only convenient alternative seemed to be the usual selection of fast food and snacks. Not exactly what you hope for when paying for a luxury all-inclusive holiday. And now, the staff. Unfortunately, this was another area where my experience fell short. Some of the staff, particularly at the bars, came across as rude or dismissive, and I often felt ignored. There also seemed to be a strong expectation of tips for even the smallest things. Of course, tipping for good service is absolutely fine, but it should feel like a gesture of appreciation rather than an unofficial entrance fee to receive basic courtesy. The attitude of some of the bar staff genuinely affected my experience, which is disappointing because good service can make an otherwise average holiday memorable — and poor service can do exactly the opposite. My verdict ⭐ Bahia Principe Luxury Esmeralda has beautiful grounds, a lovely colonial-style setting and absolutely fabulous swim-up rooms. The resort itself is well maintained, and the accommodation can make for a wonderful stay. However, the lack of evening entertainment, inconvenient low-season lunch arrangements and inconsistent service took away from the overall experience. Would I return? Possibly, but with realistic expectations. I would definitely choose a swim-up room again, but I would also hope for better service and a little more life after sunset. Because let’s face it: paradise should come with more than a beautiful room and a cocktail. It should also come with something to do once you’ve finished admiring the palm trees! 😂🌴🍹

  Oct 17, 2026