Bahia Principe Escape Ambar

Unfortunately, this holiday fell far below the standard I expected, particularly considering the price we paid and the fact that the hotel is advertised as a 5-star all-inclusive resort. The problems started from the moment we arrived. We got to the hotel at around 4:30 p.m. and were told at check-in that our room was not ready and that we should wait 15 minutes. We waited, but nobody came back to update us. Eventually, I had to go back to reception myself and ask whether the room was ready, only to be told that it was. Had I not gone back to ask, I have no idea how long we would have been left sitting there. There was also very little organisation when guests were dropped off and no proper welcome or direction. We were not told where to collect towels, given no welcome pack, no useful information about the hotel, and no clear Wi-Fi information. In general, finding out where things were or how things worked felt like guesswork. Nobody really took the time to explain the facilities or direct us properly. The room itself also had issues. Some of the sockets in the bedroom did not work properly, and due to the voltage, bringing your own hairdryer, straighteners or curling appliances may be pointless depending on what you have. There were also steps leading up to our room with inadequate lighting at night. My partner actually missed his footing one evening and fell, which could have resulted in a much more serious injury. The minibar was also inconsistent. It was not restocked every day, and on one occasion we returned to the room to find there was no beer. We contacted reception and were told some would be brought up, but nothing ever arrived. The so-called all-inclusive offering was one of my biggest frustrations. There seemed to be so many extras that had to be paid for. The spa costs extra, the pool table in the sports bar costs extra, certain drinks cost extra, pineapples at the beach bar cost extra and some steaks in the restaurants also carry an additional charge. The draft beer was, in my opinion, awful, and if you wanted an alternative beer it was around €5 per bottle. When you have already paid thousands for an all-inclusive holiday, these constant extra charges are very disappointing. The cocktail offering was another let-down. There were no cocktail menus readily available, straws were often unavailable, and drinks were regularly served in plastic cups or unsuitable glasses because they appeared to have run out of the correct glassware. Many of the frozen cocktails also tasted almost identical, with a very strong lime flavour. Even something such as a strawberry daiquiri somehow ended up tasting of lime. Service at some of the bars was poor. We regularly ordered drinks and were either forgotten about or given the wrong drink. I also found several members of staff at the lobby bar and pool bar unfriendly and unwelcoming. At times, it felt as though Spanish-speaking and American guests were being prioritised over English guests, which left us feeling overlooked. There also seemed to be a strong tipping culture, even though we had already paid a significant amount for an all-inclusive holiday. There were other smaller frustrations that added up over the two weeks. There were no ashtrays in many areas, and despite the beach bar being outside, smoking was not permitted there. Almost every table I sat at seemed to have a wobbly leg, and there were no coasters, so condensation from drinks regularly ended up dripping over the tables and onto you. Some parts of the hotel also looked tired and in need of maintenance. There were broken umbrellas around the pool, and certain areas did not resemble the glossy photographs used to advertise the resort. Les Brisas in particular was disappointing. Not all of the fans were working and also some of the seating was badly stained with food, and the kickboards and areas around the buffet looked worn and dirty. One of the most frustrating things was the restaurant booking system. We were not told before travelling that certain restaurants needed to be booked well in advance. By the time we arrived and realised this, we were unable to get into several of them and therefore missed out on a large part of what we had supposedly paid for. I have never experienced an all-inclusive holiday where restaurant bookings needed to be planned so far in advance without this being made extremely clear beforehand. I also had concerns about hygiene around the pool area. I observed glasses being placed together into a large container of water for washing, which did not give me much confidence in how thoroughly they were being cleaned. I unfortunately developed strep throat during the holiday. I cannot say what caused it, but seeing the way some of the glasses appeared to be handled certainly made me question the hygiene standards. There were also individual examples of poor customer service. Adony, who was cooking fresh pasta dishes in the main buffet, came across as extremely rude during our interactions. That said, there were a small number of staff members who genuinely stood out and deserve recognition. Miguel, who made omelettes at breakfast in the main buffet, was always pleasant. Bianca, who worked on the drinks trolley around the pool, was lovely and made an effort. Emmanuel and the other staff behind the bar at Limbo provided excellent customer service, and Luis Angel from the entertainment team was always smiling, friendly and making an effort with guests. In fact, Limbo showed what the rest of the hotel could have been. The food was good, the drinks were served properly in the correct glasses, and the staff were polite and friendly. If the whole resort operated to that same standard, I would have had a completely different opinion of the hotel. And on a slightly lighter note, you may just about work out which light switch controls which light in your room by the end of a two-week stay! One final shock was the gift shop, where two lighters cost us around £28, which I found absolutely extortionate. Overall, I found the hotel run-down in places, poorly organised and nowhere near the 5-star experience I expected. There were simply too many issues, too many extra charges and too little consistency in both service and standards. For the amount we paid, I expected significantly better. I have stayed in 4-star hotels in the Canary Islands that, in my experience, offered a much higher standard of service, food, facilities and overall hospitality. Sadly, I would not return here.

Unfortunately, the service was one of the biggest disappointments of our stay. The resort is marketed as a 5-star property, and the price certainly reflects that, but the level of service we experienced did not. Throughout the stay, it often felt like staff were expecting tips for basic service. When a tip was not given, the attitude sometimes changed noticeably, and on more than one occasion, service seemed to become even slower. There were countless examples of this. Ordering a drink at lunch? It could arrive after we had already finished eating. We requested a bottle of water for our room and had to ask three times before it arrived, more than two hours later. We left the room and specifically requested housekeeping, only to return and find that the bed had not been made because the clean linens were supposedly still at the laundry. This is simply not what I would expect from a 5-star resort. Even small things became unnecessarily frustrating. At the main restaurant, I had to repeatedly ask for salt during almost every meal. Why isn't there a salt shaker at every table? And even when there were salt shakers available, many of them were empty. More than once, we also had to ask for cutlery because it wasn't provided at the table. Another issue is the Sports Bar. I honestly don't understand why guests at an all-inclusive resort have to pay to use the pool table. Charging extra for such a basic recreational activity feels completely out of place in an all-inclusive concept. The gym also needs attention, as one of the treadmills was not working properly during our stay. The à la carte restaurants were another frustrating experience. It was extremely difficult to get reservations, yet when we actually went to dinner, we noticed that the restaurants were only partially occupied. If there is availability, the reservation system should make it accessible to guests instead of making it unnecessarily difficult to book. Overall, there were many small service issues that, individually, might seem minor. But when they happen repeatedly throughout your stay, they significantly affect the experience. The service level simply does not match what I would expect from a 5-star resort. The price, however, certainly does. We paid a premium for what was ultimately a mediocre service experience, and that was disappointing.

Be prepared to tip every time in order to get served at the bars, to get mini bar filled again, room serviced without being asked, gets expensive especially when its supposed to be an all-inclusive, friendliness to the British especially noticeably poor and different to the other guests. entertainment team are great and give 100%. Evening shows are a hit and miss, some great and some poor. Food and service are poor at some of the booking restaurants, downright rude at the Hindu Thali, the only exception was Limbo which was perfect. Cafe staff rude, buffet restaurants were good. Wont return as I don't think English are particularly welcome at this hotel. Not a 5 star hotel.

I am so, incredibly impressed with this hotel. I’ve travelled around a decent portion of the world and can say with confidence that the staff here provide the warmest, bubbliest service I’ve ever experienced. From all departments, everyone is always happy to see you, happy to chat and happy to help. Secondly, the food at the Palmyra restaurant is fantastic, the beach restaurant is lovely also but Palmyra stole the show. The trip was worth the money for the food alone!😂 The entertainment staff are fantastic. Special shoutout to Jaime, Freily and Luis who were around for the majority of our trip. Always buzzing with energy, making friends with all the guests and encouraging participation in games. They made the days so fun! If you’re planning a trip to Punta Cana, Bahia Ambar is the place to stay. I already plan to return within the next few months

Hotel was between average and poor in our opinion, pool allocated beach front was full of seaweed and stank so you couldn’t enjoy it, most Resturant’s food was poor apart from one, fizzy drinks were constantly flat, hot buffet food was mostly like warm or cold the positives were : good clean room and the pool was good too. We met and spoke to people that had been returning to this hotel for multiple years but they all individually advised they would not be returning and it’s felt that due to this hotel being recently taken over that the experience has fallen very short from what it once was. We will not be returning or recommending.