Bahia Principe Luxury Ambar Review: The Ultimate Guide to This Adults-Only Punta Cana Resort
Honest Bahia Principe Luxury Ambar review: best buildings to request, restaurant tips, beach info & everything you need to know before booking this Punta Cana resort. Complete with FAQs.
1/25/2026
Looking for an adults-only escape in Punta Cana that won't break the bank but still feels luxurious? I just spent 5 nights at Bahia Principe Luxury Ambar, and I'm sharing everything you need to know—from which buildings to request to the one restaurant you absolutely can't miss.
The short version? If you want unlimited à la carte dining, a stunning beach, and the option to explore multiple resort areas without feeling overwhelmed, Luxury Ambar is a solid pick. But if you're looking for a lively party scene or pristine, wave-free waters, keep reading because this might not be your vibe.
Here's my completely honest breakdown of what to expect.
QUICK VERDICT
Best For: Couples seeking a relaxed adults-only atmosphere, unlimited dining, and beach access
Skip If: You want a party vibe or a perfectly calm ocean
Standout Perks: Unlimited à la carte dinner reservations, 24/7 room service, access to 3 other resorts
Watch Out For: Sargassum season, glitchy app, massive resort size
My Rating: 4/5 stars
Bahia Principe in Punta Cana is massive. There are 5 resorts: 2 luxury - Luxury Ambar (adults only), and Esmeralda (family friendly). Aquamarine is adults only (non-luxury), Fantasia and Grand Punta Cana are both family friendly (non-luxury). Each comes with specific rules on areas you can and cannot go to so make sure you read up on this.
We stayed at Luxury Ambar because we wanted the adults only and a luxury stay.
Transportation Tips
We booked private transportation through Mike Fisher Tours (shout out to Wagner for amazing service!). For short trips, skip the shared shuttles—private transfer gets you to the resort 30-45 minutes faster.
Transportation drops you off and picks you up at the Adults only Aquamarine but it’s a quick golf cart ride away to Ambar. Check in was very quick and they easily accommodated a request to change rooms as we were initially assigned a King and needed two beds. We had lunch and by the time we were done, the room was ready.
Where to Stay: Best Buildings at Luxury Ambar
We were assigned to building 60, which is close to the beach and our balcony overlooked the pool. It was perfect, until it wasn’t. On the third day we spotted a mini gecko that slipped behind the bed, but we were promptly moved to building 66, which was equally close to the beach and pool but this balcony overlooked gardens. If you want to be by the beach my recommendation is to request buildings 60, 64 or 67. If you want to be closer to the buffet, lobby, gym, sports bar ask for buildings 63, 66 or 67. But honestly, everything is pretty close at Ambar, just a few minutes walking distance.
What's Included at Bahia Principe Luxury Ambar?
Again, the resort is massive so each hotel has it’s own lobby bars, pools, restaurants, and activities. I mostly review the Ambar but because staying at the Ambar you are allowed to go to any other property (except Fantasia), I mention some of these spaces as well.
All food and top shelf alcohol is included so leave your wallets at home (except if you want to tip- which is much appreciated by the staff)!
Rooms:
Specifically for the Ambar because it's considered Luxury those rooms include a butler (or what they now call concierge/guest services, robes and slippers in the room, pillow menus, stocked mini fridge, 24 X7 room service, 24 hr free wifi around the whole resort and unlimited al a carte dining reservations.
Public Spaces:
There is a nice spacious lounge area with plenty of seating and a beautiful bar. It is relatively quiet but they do have entertainment in the lounge at times (nightly entertainment options are posted throughout the resort and on the app)- more about that later. After entertainment though, this lounge area is relatively quiet, especially compared to some of the other resort lounges. The great thing about staying at Ambar is you can easily get to most other lounge or bar or area of the other resorts pretty easily by either a short walk or golf cart.
The highlights of the Ambar resort itself are the Coffee shop and Sports bar. The sports bar is a legitimate sports bar with plenty of tvs (American football was on at the time), air conditioning, and lots of seating. They also had pool tables, foosball, air hockey and other games. Food is served after 6pm and you can take it to go. I hear the wings are great (I don’t eat wings so I didn’t try them). The coffee bar was also nice and had made to order coffees as well as some pastries and cute seating area inside and outside.
Coffee House
The Ambar also has a spa and a gym. The gym is small with about 4 treadmills, a few ellipticals, spin bikes, weights, and a separate room for stretching, yoga and more.
The newly renovated Grand Punta Cana has a beautiful lobby, with the Palma Bar, and definitely had more buzz than the Ambar lounge. Also located at the Grand Punta Cana is the Bahia Principe village, which has multiple shops selling souvenirs, gifts, and local products. There is also a sports bar located at Grand Bahia, although it doesn’t have AC or a lot of TVS but there is karaoke. The sports bar at Ambar is much superior. In addition, there is a casino and disco-tech at the Grand.
Grand Punta Cana Palma Lounge Bar
Pool:
The pool area at the Ambar is more reserved but has a swim up bar and activities throughout the day. We heard the pool at the adults only Aquamarine was more lively. Also, there is a wave rider at the Grand Punta Cana pool and there are kids water parks at the Bahia Grand, Bahia Luxury Esmeralda and Fantasia. Important to note that the Ambar pool has top shelf alcohol.
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Dining at Luxury Ambar: Best Restaurants & Reservation Tips
À La Carte Restaurants We Tried
One huge perk of staying at Bahia Principe Luxury resorts? Unlimited à la carte restaurant reservations! At the non-luxury resorts, you're limited to just three reservations per week, so this is a game-changer if you love variety. General feedback that I received is for better service and quality stick to the luxury restaurants if you are eligible. However, we had great meals and service at the non luxury restaurants as well. We tried Maiko (hibachi), Meat (steakhouse), Taino (Dominican), Thali (Indian), and Yurta (Mongolian grill). They were all good and as expected the food quality (especially the desserts) were better than the buffet. My favorite for both food and service was the Hibachi- make sure you get the fried ice cream!
Breakfast & Lunch: Buffet Options
For breakfast and lunch you have buffet options at the Luxury Ambar and at Las Brisas by the beach. It is rumored the food quality is better at the Ambar and Esmeralda (other Luxury property), but I can’t verify since you are only allowed to eat at your own buffet. I will say the breakfast options at the main Ambar buffet were amazing! They not only had the standard omelets and eggs fresh cooked to order (and there were always three of them!) but also someone making fresh crepes, waffles, pancakes and French toast. They also had someone making fresh customized smoothies. There is a second buffet on the property (Las Brisas) near the beach, but I didn’t care for it. The options were limited and the cleanliness and server attentiveness was not the same as in the main buffet.
Reservation Tips
Well of course, some of this is preference, but if you want to schedule it around evening entertainment I would make reservations for around 7pm. Some of the pool activities were at 5pm and the evening entertainment was typically 9 pm or later so 7pm reservations gave you time to get showered and changed before dinner and time to get to the show after dinner. I also liked that they didn't have pre-set seating (for example only 6:30pm or 8:00pm so this meant we didn't feel rushed and could take our time at dinner).
Tip- Book in advance. Generally, you are able to book dining on line or in the app about 10 days prior. The app is extremely glitchy though so try on a desktop. You might not be able to book for the full week all at once but keep trying daily until you get all your reservations.
Exploring Beyond the Resort: Punta Cana Excursions
While we didn't book any excursions on this trip (honestly, there was so much to do at the resort!), Punta Cana has amazing day trips if you want to explore. Popular options include catamaran cruises, ziplining, and swimming in cenotes. Check out Punta Cana excursions on Get Your Guide to see what catches your eye!
Luxury Ambar Insider Tips: What They Don't Tell You
Golf Cart- This resort is massive and you will most likely need to use their golf cart transportation system to get around. It was relatively easy and fast to flag down a driver. The easiest way is to ask the bellmen at the lobby. There were also some designated “bus stops” throughout the resort.
Outlets- They use US electrical outlets and there is one USB port. However, the first room we were in, the USB port didn’t work, so bring a charging block just in case.
Butlers-For luxury guests, what used to be called butlers is now called concierge guest services. There is usually one stationed at each of the buildings, and I believe in the lobby, although they are not there all the time. My experience was that they do not come around and introduce themselves but are there if you need them. I’m told you can ask for things like mattress toppers, different pillows, and assistance unpacking your luggage. We did not use them except for requesting items for the mini bar and they were helpful when we had an issue with our room and needed to change.
Entertainment- The Bahia Principe app is glitchy, to say the least! It is not helpful at all and the more you can do online prior (like booking dining, the better). However, when you arrive they have QR codes posted on the entertainment boards for activities, dining, and more. There is always so much going on so make sure you check the activities as different resorts have different entertainment and as a luxury guest you are allowed to use the other properties (except Fantasia). A few of the entertainment activities I recommend at Ambar are the white party on the beach and the fire show.
Check out- Check out itself was fast and easy. However, if you aren’t leaving immediately, watch your luggage. Ours was missing but we found out it was mistakenly put on an Amstar van and sent to the airport. Thankfully, the hotel, Amstar staff, and our driver assisted us in getting it back.
Beach- Depending on the time of year you travel, the sargassum could be bad. However, the staff did their best to keep on top of it and clean it. In late November-early December, it wasn't an issue. The water is a gorgeous shade of turquoise with beautiful palm trees and plenty of palapas and umbrellas. The ocean, however, it is not that calm to just float, but the waves are manageable. The sand is super fine and is the kind that sticks to you and doesn’t come off. There are approved vendors selling everything from cigars to jewelry, souvenirs, excursions and massages. There is a designated Luxury Ambar area of the beach with plenty of chairs and some shaed areas and palpas. They also have staff that can assist you finding chairs. There is also an area off the main walkway with covered cabanas on wooden platforms.
Christmas- If you go after Thanksgiving and before New Years you will find Christmas decorations, trees, and lights at every corner. It really is spectacular seeing the decorations with that beautiful beach and palm tree back ground.
Tip: Make sure you find the Ice Cream Man! One of my favorite things was the ice cream man. They had a staff roll out an ice cream cart right up to the beach on the Ambar side (usually around 3pm when we were there).
Frequently Asked Questions About Bahia Principe Luxury Ambar
Is Bahia Principe Luxury Ambar adults-only?
Yes! Luxury Ambar is exclusively for guests 18+. If you're traveling with kids, check out Luxury Esmeralda (the family-friendly luxury option), Grand Punta Cana or Fantasia.
How is the beach at Luxury Ambar?
Gorgeous turquoise water and powder-fine sand, but the ocean has waves (not ideal for calm floating). Depending on season, sargassum seaweed can be present, though staff clean it regularly. There's a designated Luxury Ambar beach area with palapas and umbrellas.
What's the food like at Bahia Principe Luxury Ambar?
Better than expected! The breakfast buffet is amazing (fresh crepes, custom smoothies, multiple omelet stations). À la carte restaurants range from good to excellent—the hibachi was my favorite. MEAT at Ambar is also a crowd winner. Luxury guests get unlimited reservations, which is a huge perk.
Is entertainment good at Luxury Ambar?
There's nightly entertainment resort-wide (check the app or posted schedules). The Ambar lounge is quieter, but you can access livelier areas at other resorts. Don't miss the white party on the beach and the fire show!
Do I need to take golf carts to get around?
Yes, the resort is massive. Golf carts are easy to flag down—just ask the bellmen at the lobby or wait at designated stops.
What's included with Luxury rooms?
Butler style (Concierge service), robes/slippers, pillow menu, stocked mini fridge, 24/7 room service, free WiFi resort-wide, and unlimited à la carte dining reservations.
How far is Bahia Principe Luxury Ambar from the airport?
Luxury Ambar is about 25-30 minutes from Punta Cana International Airport (PUJ) with private transportation. Shared shuttles take longer due to multiple resort stops, which is why we recommend booking private transfer through Mike Fisher
Final Thoughts: Should You Book Bahia Principe Luxury Ambar?
Here's the bottom line: I'd absolutely recommend Bahia Principe Luxury Ambar and would happily return. The staff were incredibly friendly and accommodating, the food ranged from decent to genuinely impressive, the beach is beautiful (despite some waves and seasonal seaweed), and there's never a shortage of things to do.
Book this resort if:
You value flexibility (unlimited dining reservations = gold)
You want adults-only but like having options to explore other areas
You're okay with a large resort that requires golf carts
You appreciate friendly service and a chill vibe
Skip this resort if:
You prefer boutique, intimate properties
You want a party atmosphere (check out Aquamarine instead)
You need perfectly calm, crystal-clear water for snorkeling or just lounging in a float (the waves and seaweed make this tricky)
One thing that really stood out? The number of repeat guests. We met so many people who return every year, and it's clear the resort has built a loyal following. That says something.
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