Bahia Principe Luxury Ambar vs Sandals Royal Barbados
Bahia Principe Hotels & Resorts vs Sandals Resorts — Side-by-side resort comparison
Key Metrics
| Metric | Bahia Principe Luxury Ambar | Sandals Royal Barbados |
|---|---|---|
| Our Rating | 8.2 | 8.2 |
| Star Rating | 5.0 | 5.0 |
| Room Count | 528 | 222 |
| Restaurants | 6 | 21 |
| Pools | 2 | 11 |
| Year Opened | 2007 | 2017 |
| Year Renovated | 2018 | 2021 |
Features
| Metric | Bahia Principe Luxury Ambar | Sandals Royal Barbados |
|---|---|---|
| All-Inclusive | Yes | Yes |
| Adults Only | Yes | Yes |
| Beach Access | Yes | Yes |
| Spa | Yes | Yes |
| Kids Club | No | No |
Dining Comparison
| Metric | Bahia Principe Luxury Ambar | Sandals Royal Barbados |
|---|---|---|
| Total Venues | 25 | 26 |
| Included | 25 | 26 |
| Extra Charge | 0 | 0 |
Room Comparison
| Metric | Bahia Principe Luxury Ambar | Sandals Royal Barbados |
|---|---|---|
| Room Categories | 4 | 12 |
| Suite Categories | 4 | 12 |
Activities Comparison
| Metric | Bahia Principe Luxury Ambar | Sandals Royal Barbados |
|---|---|---|
| Total Activities | 23 | 24 |
| Included | 17 | 18 |
| Extra Charge | 6 | 6 |
Pros & Cons
Bahia Principe Luxury Ambar
Pros
- Limbo restaurant and M.E.A.T. Steakhouse are standout specialty dining experiences — better than the equivalent at the Grand hotels.
- The Coffee Shop at Luxury Ambar is the best coffee on the entire Bahia Principe Bavaro complex — seek it out on your first morning.
- 2018 renovation means more consistent room condition than older properties in the complex.
- Swim-Up Corner suite category provides the most premium room experience without paying for a separate villa-style property.
Cons
- Specialty restaurant reservation access is the most common complaint — the system is limited and slots fill quickly.
- Arena Gorda Beach seaweed (June–September) can significantly impact beach usability.
- The adults-only atmosphere is partly diluted by sharing facilities with the family Grand hotels.
Sandals Royal Barbados
Pros
- The rooftop infinity pool is the Caribbean's first — an evening pool experience with ocean views that's unavailable at other Sandals properties
- All-suite property means no standard rooms — every guest has suite-level accommodations
- 'Stay at One, Play at Two' with adjacent Sandals Barbados effectively doubles dining to 20+ restaurants and 10+ bars
- 15-minute transfer from Grantley Adams International Airport — one of the shortest Sandals arrivals in the Caribbean
- Lovers Lanes bowling alley and craft beer bar are genuine novelties within the all-inclusive format
Cons
- Maxwell Beach is a public beach — other hotel guests and persistent local vendors are present and regularly cited by guests
- Lounge chair competition is consistent: early morning positioning is required for both the main pool and beachfront spots
- Service at restaurants and bars is noted as slower than expected given the pricing — allow extra time for meals
- The scale of the combined Royal Barbados and Sandals Barbados property means it's a larger, more crowded operation than quieter Sandals resorts
Summary
Sandals Royal Barbados has more restaurants, while Bahia Principe Luxury Ambar is the larger property, while Sandals Royal Barbados has more dining venues, while Sandals Royal Barbados offers more activities.