Bahia Principe Explore Esmeralda

Our first time in DR and we had a really nice week despite a couple issues with our room and the beach. The staff were so welcoming and we were very impressed with the service level here. Food was also very good. Really enjoyed being able to book an alacartes every night. You can book on an app up to 10 days prior to your vacation I believe. If you don’t have kids try MEAT and Limbo on Ambar side. Loved the morning coffee in the sports bar. Entertainment staff do a good job too, really enjoyed the daily aerobics in the pool and the nightly shows. The downsides were that our room had a mold smell which was very unpleasant and the room in general could have gone with a deeper clean. The shower gel was empty the whole time and never refilled so be sure to bring your own soap. The biggest issue for us was the beach situation. Management needs to do something about the reserving of beach chairs. You needed to get up really early to reserve a spot and we were very crammed together. Also the front row on the legend and Esmeralda side was reserved for Bali bed rentals with everyone else forced behind those. Walking up and down the beach no other resort seemed to have done this (force their patrons to pay if they wanted front row to the ocean). Also the constant barrage of vendors circulating asking if we wanted to buy cigars, parasailing, braids etc made it difficult to really relax into a book. Is it really necessary to allow that many vendors constant access to your clientele? Again compared to nearby resorts, the Bahia property seemed to have the most vendors on their section of the beach. Possibly because the Bahia property also seems the most densely packed in on the beach. Overall the resort experience was very good but the beach situation would likely have us looking at another option next time.

Our visit to Esmeralda was very enjoyable. The resort is beautiful, well maintained and the staff hard working. We particularly enjoyed our time at the pool bar, Amana . Our server Katheryn was attentive and friendly. I wish I had more Spanish so we could have shared more. One of Katheryn’s assistants Johanna was also very friendly and helpful. We also were treated very well at the beach bar, Atbey. By Orlando and Marienus. My only negative about the resort is the lack of communication about what activities and entertainment are available. We did come upon various activities but a printed daily sheet would have been helpful. The app information was not accurate and very limited. Overall a good relaxing resort.

We recently enjoyed a wonderful stay at the Bahia Principe Esmeralda. This was our third vacation at a Bahia property—previously visiting La Romana and Punta Cana, and staying at Ambar ten years ago before returning to Esmeralda in March 2026. The influence of Hyatt’s management is becoming evident. While the full transition will take time, noticeable improvements are already in place, and the staff clearly appreciate the positive changes in leadership and workplace culture. The property itself is expansive, and staying at a Luxury-level Bahia Principe resort allows access to all adjoining properties. For an all inclusive hotel, the overall food quality is very good, and the à la carte restaurants compare favorably—if not better—than those at other brands we have experienced. The beach is excellent, and our swim out room was a great feature, giving the kids extra space and time to enjoy the water. Service at the main pool bar was exceptional. Our servers, Eladio and Gregorio, stood out with their excellent English, quick service, and consistently high quality drinks. Their professionalism and genuine friendliness made a strong impression. Hyatt would be wise to further invest in their talent. Service at the à la carte restaurants was also good. At the buffets, Breneida made our visits memorable through her evident work ethic, efficiency, and warm, welcoming smile. It was clear that many guests sought out her section specifically. The trolley carts, operated primarily by the bell staff, help guests navigate the large property. Rodrigo was especially helpful—friendly, knowledgeable, and proactive in offering suggestions to enhance our stay. Down at the beach, if you’re considering a massage and are fortunate enough to meet Kathia (#21, “Healing Hands”), she is exceptional. Her skill and attentiveness made a noticeable difference. Overall, this is a very good property for families and groups. With plenty to do, quality food and beverages, a beautiful beach, and competitive pricing for an all inclusive resort, it made for a truly enjoyable trip.

We have recently come back from a lovely holiday in Esmeralda resort, part of a large complex of Bahia Principe in Punta Cana. This idyllic place with long sandy beaches fringed by palm trees on one side and turquoise water on the other– once again, did not disappoint. In our opinion Esmeralda hotel, is one of the nicest in the huge complex of Bahia Principe in Punta Cana and one of the closest to the beach. A nice mix of families with kids, couples, seniors. Lively, yet not too rowdy. One could always find something exciting to do or a total peace, depending on the mood or need. We are a family of four adults, and here’s our review. THE BEACH is long, beautiful with soft, powdery sand. Regularly cleaned and maintained. During our stay the first week of April, the weather was sunny and not too hot, with a pleasant cool breeze. The ocean, however, was fairly rough, and the waves could knock you over. There were lifeguards on duty during the day and they kept changing the flags from yellow to red in the evening. The locals admit that this is uncommon at this time of year, but, considering the climate change all over the world- its not surprising. Lots of shade on the beach under the palm trees and umbrellas, with many rows of chairs. Those, wanting to be near the water, have to get up early to reserve their spots. Otherwise, no problem finding available lounge chairs. The bar service, on the beach and around the pool, was always very friendly and fast. WATERSPORTS were hard to access due to the wind. There were catamarans and the kayaks, but they rarely went out during our stay. Our daughter did the banana boat one day but had to go down the beach to another provider, and it was very rough. THE GROUNDS of the resort are beautifully landscaped and kept immaculate. It is important to underline that the resort has excellent accessibility provisions for handicapped individuals. There are ramps everywhere to avoid having to use stairs; the pool has railings in the center of the steps (very practical for people with mobility issues). And best of all – there is a boardwalk to the beach with reserved spots for wheelchair access. THE ROOMS were spacious, clean and modern. All featured a fold-out sofa, in addition to either a king bed or two queens. A lovely balcony (or terrace on the ground floor) had a clothes line for hanging wet bathing suits or towels. Esmeralda has two buffet RESTAURANTS, one enclosed and more formal for breakfast, lunch and dinner, and a more casual, open air one by the beach, open for breakfast and lunch. Both had an abundance of fresh fruits and vegetables, variety of salads, lots of meat, fish and pasta/pizza choices, grilling station as well as dishes for vegetarians. Each night had a theme, such as Mexican, Dominican, Italian, Asian, etc. which gave still more variety to the menu. Esmeralda guests have unlimited access to the “a la carte” dining, but reservations are required. It is best to reserve in advance (online) or upon arrival. We selected 5 restaurants, and all were very good, with fast and professional service. All meals include an appetizer, starter and main course. There were fish/seafood or vegetarian options for the non-meat eaters in the restaurants we tried with the exception of the Brazilian one, which we enjoyed the least of the five. Mongolian restaurant was a lot of fun, with chefs preparing your selected meats, seafood and/or veggies on the open fire pit right before your eyes. The high flames were quiet a spectacle. The Dominican Resto was also very good and had a delicious goat stew. The other two restaurants we chose were at the Amber resort where we went by a shuttle. Both of them – The Steakhouse and the Fisherman’s market were excellent. The resort offers ACTIVITIES /animation throughout the day on the beach and in the pool. There is Zumba, beach games; daily yoga and aquafit in the pool, as well as water polo and water volleyball. Various crafts included pottery and jewellery making and painting on canvas bags. Bikes were advertised, but unfortunately, not available. The indoor GYM was very nice. NIGHTLY ENTERTAINMENT was offered but the schedule often changed and it was hard to keep track. It's possible, that the mix up was due to weather and Easter Holidays. One night we saw an excellent Fire show and another night there was a very engaging singing/dancing show. Another important note: the staff at the desk was most helpful in every situation we approached them. In fact, we had a small medical emergency and they promptly arranged for us to see a doctor in the Amber resort, and afterward – helped with getting us to the private hospital. They even offered to provide a translator if we needed one. Both professional and thoughtful! Overall we enjoyed our holiday and would recommend it to anyone who wants to visit Dominican Republic. Esmeralda resort is definitely one of the best on Bavaro beach, and we’ve been to many.

We visited Bahia Principe Esmeralda during the last week of March. The grounds were very green and lush, plenty of space at all the pools and since I am an early riser, we did not have any problem getting beach chairs overlooking the beautiful water. The food was good with a lot of selection. This hotel is directly on the beach so we had a short walk to the beach. The pools were beautiful and the pool bars had good service. The transportation was very convenient as we needed to go to other resorts for some of our meals at a la carte restaurants. The beach is clean and the early morning clean-up of seaweed, does the job to keep the beach beautiful and usable. The robes, slippers and 24 hour room service were wonderful! Overall, it makes for a wonderful location for an all-inclusive resort. Some of the areas of improvement you may consider are: -seemed to be too many smoking areas. We were bothered by smokers at the small pool and in some of the outdoor eating areas -there is no Diet Coke or Coke Zero at any of the restaurants of at any of the small stores on the entire site. -the service is not what I expected for a 'Luxury' resort. The servers at the buffets would not acknowledge you. It took a very long time to receive a cup of coffee. There were always circles of servers chatting away, ignoring visitors at the buffets and restaurants. They did not seem to be engaged in their jobs. -while most of the a la carte restaurants were good, the Flame steakhouse was terrible. Neither my husband or I could find an edible piece of meat on our gigantic steaks. Both steaks were entirely fat. I would avoid reserving the Flame.