Bahia Principe Luxury Ambar - All Inclusive - Adults Only

Customer Ratings & Reviews

TripAdvisor Traveler Rating

14315 reviews

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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
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  Beautiful Resort, Unforgettable Mouse Issue

  I hosted my wedding at Bahia Principe Grand Punta Cana on 1/17/26 with 70 guests. We had 23 rooms at Ambar, including myself and my husband, so this review reflects my personal experience during our stay. Grounds: The grounds are very well maintained and beautiful. There are adorable kittens throughout the property (guests are asked not to feed them, which we respected). The coffee shop was excellent—we enjoyed lattes and espresso regularly. The gym was clean, well kept, and had all the equipment we needed. The pool is on the smaller side but never felt overly crowded. We had no issues getting chairs in the morning, though I could see it becoming difficult later in the day since they go quickly. Food: The buffet was very good overall, and I enjoyed my meals there. I personally dined at Meat and Yurta. At Meat, the ribeye and churrasco were delicious and worth trying. Other guests in our group also visited Yurta and Portofino and had nothing but positive things to say. Tuesday is the buffet’s big seafood night, which I unfortunately missed—we stopped in briefly after dinner at Meat and everything looked excellent. Drinks: I found the drinks to be subpar unless you specifically request premium liquors. After reading other reviews, I learned that if you don’t specify, you’re typically served non-premium options, which I personally found difficult to drink (especially the vodka and tequila). The frozen drinks were great—hard to go wrong with a piña colada or strawberry daiquiri. My recommendation is to be very specific when ordering drinks. If you’re a prosecco drinker like I am, I’d also suggest purchasing bottles at Duty Free, as the champagne provided tasted more like sparkling cider. This is, of course, a personal preference. Rooms: Unfortunately, this is where I experienced the biggest issue of our stay. Because we were there for our wedding, we had many items in the room, including my dress and décor. On the wedding day, we got ready in the room and room service brought a large amount of food, which was appreciated. Our wedding package included turndown service, so I expected to return to a semi-clean room or at least have the food removed. However, the room was exactly as we had left it, with food still out. The following evening, while spending time in the room, we heard tapping on a plate and discovered a mouse eating bacon off a plate. We could hear more than one mouse moving inside the couch cushions. I immediately contacted the front desk and requested assistance and a room change. It appears the mice had likely been present since the wedding night due to the food being left out. We later noticed crumbs on the floor, which we had initially assumed were from someone grabbing a snack earlier. We had to quickly pack all five of our bags and move to a new room for the night. Unfortunately, this experience overshadowed the positives of our stay. Another couple in our group, staying just three doors down, experienced the same mouse issue and also had to change rooms on their first night. I do not believe anyone should have to worry about rodents in their hotel room, especially at a resort of this caliber. For transparency, this occurred in Building 64 (rooms 64309 and 64307). The front desk response lacked empathy; they simply thanked us for “letting them know.” For anyone staying in these buildings, I strongly recommend being extremely cautious about having food in your room (possibly even avoiding room service altogether) and asking staff to thoroughly inspect the couch cushions, as that is where the mice were hiding in our room. Because of this experience, I will not be returning.

  Jan 23, 2026
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  Great winter getaway

  The food is great and the people can't do enough for you. This resort is absolutely gorgeous. The pool and the beach are wonderful. One piece of advice bring repellent for the mosquitoes.

  Jan 23, 2026
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  Wonderful

  Loved the rooms. All updated . The resort is always cleaning the beach , when other resorts dont. Beach is beautiful. The A la carte has excellent choices. Nice you can attend all entertainment venues at all the resorts but you have to download the app and look at each resort for what is happening. A paper version with a summary would be nice. Great resort for those NOT wanting to stay up much past 11pm.

  Jan 21, 2026