Amanera

We came here for our anniversary and it is one of the best decisions we’ve made. We’ve stayed at luxury hotels before but this is its own level- everything is so well thought out, the service was very friendly, the cleanliness spectacular, the food out of this world. We had a complimentary casita upgrade, beach dinner, little gifts and treats every night. We felt like celebrities. It’s worth every penny. I’d like to return here with our kids next time. I’ve no negatives except one that is not in the hotel staff’s control- the beach here is beautiful but kind of violent- full disclosure I can’t swim but even my husband who does- the sound and view of it is spectacular though.

If you’re looking for the perfect mix of adventure, relaxation, and luxury, Amanera in October is it. We were so excited to visit this Caribbean gem in the Dominican Republic. We really lucked out with weather since we went the first week of October, which is well into hurricane season in DR. We had rain in the evening for 1 night out of 3! Amanera is perched on a cliffside overlooking Playa Grande, with stunning ocean views and lush tropical surroundings. It is about 1.5 hours away from POP airport. I highly recommend you DO NOT drive. The roads are not developed for a majority of the initial ride. October was an amazing time to visit because the weather was warm but not too hot, and the crowds were minimal. We stayed in a Casita with a private pool; the design was sleek and modern, yet blended perfectly with the natural surroundings. Waking up to the sound of the waves and stepping out onto our terrace with that view? Unreal. The bed was insanely comfortable, the bathroom was huge, and the private pool was perfect for cooling off in the afternoons. I highly recommend taking bug spray, as you are literally in the jungle. October was a great time for both adventure and relaxation. We spent time lounging on the gorgeous Playa Grande beach, swam in the infinity pool, and took a guided hike through the jungle. Amanera’s staff were amazing. They made everything so effortless, from arranging private experiences to surprising us with little treats in our casita. It felt like they truly cared about making our trip special without ever being intrusive. The whole resort had a peaceful, intimate vibe, making it the perfect romantic escape. Amanera in October is pure paradise. Whether you want to relax, explore, or just enjoy the most beautiful beach views, this place has it all. The combination of stunning nature, incredible food, and world-class service made it one of our favorite trips ever.

We always wanted to stay at an Aman resort to see what all the buzz was about - well now we know...The experience -- and that is the word....-- was amazing from beginning to end. Everything is wonderful... we cannot think of a single negative to say only glowing positives. First of all the staff -- everyone is so professional and so focused on "getting it right" for us. Every thing is geared to ensure maximal comfort for the guests. I have to say, it took a bit of time for us to get used to the concept of being shuttled around and pampered.... but we did get used to it and boy did we love it. EVERY part of the experience was amazing... where do I begin. The SPA - what a treat.... the GOLF ... every comfort you can want. Meals - everything we ate was wonderful and all the drinks as well. Yes... this is not an inexpensive excursion but boy is it worth it.... I am sold on the Aman brand...

We just love the entire experience ! There is no signage for the property and as such you have a feeling of a remote, lush property. The chic , open air architecture, the fabulous suites.. the drama of wild windswept ocean all contribute to an amazing sense of place… The staff is congenial and top notch. Lionel the GM is omnipresent. Service outstanding. I love the little gifts they leave in your room when you return from dinner! We love to swim so we would walk to the public beach where the water is less challenging. It’s a lovely daily hike. I love to shop so I wish the gift shop was more varied. There are some Dominican products but mostly the Aman line of clothes and products which are not interesting. Had great massages at the spa!

The area is rugged and natural, definitely feel like away from everything. The lobby building is very big, lots of space, tall and open air, minimalist. There is a lot of staff who are all very friendly. The casitas are as expected for Aman, clean, unobtrusive aesthetics, very big. The outdoor spaces are very big too and a nice place to relax and enjoy the surroundings and oceanview. Beach club is awesome aerying. Quiet beach, big tall ceiling, open space. Breakfast at lobby building is good, beach club food is ok. Main reason for coming this way was to play golf at Playa Grande. The relationship b/w Aman and Playa Grande is confusing but hotel provides transpo to golf. Meals at Playa Grande venues were very good and contrast to quieter, elegant setting at the hotel. The gym at hotel has regular weights and cardio stuff and battle ropes, tires, TRX , rower on the patio. There is a yoga stretching platform out on the field. Nice place to chill out but not a lot to do around the area, a couple days visit was good for a weekend golf trip.

We picked amanera as our honeymoon destination… emailed them in advance to let them know and to inquire if we could have a specific casita. While the property wasn’t even at 50% capacity they didn’t attempt at all. We loved the property and the friendly staff. The food was okay in the main restaurant and much better at the beach club. I am disappointed at the management for not even doing anything special even tho they knew it was a honeymoon and a special celebration. There was no extraordinary welcome or at turndown anything special. What really bothered me is that we did a lot of the excursions and they really nickel and dime you …. A ceviche class gets 18% service fee and the gratuity added to it since it was hosted at the beach club kitchen. I would definitely not recommend doing their excursions as I feel like that’s where they really just stack it on. Also the package included all meals and they also don’t take into consideration the concept of not nickel and dimming there… when guests stay 5 nights have some common sense and definitely don’t make them feel they are okay getting taken advantage of... I would love to see if any of the other Aman resorts are similar or not?