Amanera

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.

If I could give aman 0 starts I would. A few months ago I booked a beautiful and expensive casita. Did all the things in my life (as well as my fiends) to get everything covered for work and childcare. I’m an attorney. I had 3 other attorneys making courts appearances for me PLUS I rescheduled and entire mediation for this trip. Well. A few days ago I get an email saying they over booked us and we have three options; Change dates (impossible) Go to sister property in Turks and Caicos ( we’ve already been and it looks like that aman isn’t even close to the ocean or… Refund plus two night free. Now who’s gonna use two travel days to go stay at aman for 2 day?! And no word back on non refundable plane tickets. I am appalled such a high end place wouldn’t have made such a monumental mistake. Now we can’t find any comparable Places with comparable fight times during our original dates. I’m disgusted. And yes we were the first to book I’m saying this because those of us who desperately need a relaxing vacation have to work out ALOT odd and ends to make this happen. Beware. This could happen to you. Easily. Hope this creates second thoughts in as many people as possible because this really was messed up.

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!

Pros: Exotic Location Privacy : Few guests Beautiful Beach Friendly staff Beautiful Architecture of hotel Well maintained villas Cons: Limited Food Variety [ Just 1 full time restaurant. 2nd Restaurant is open for limited time and days ] Low quality hotel toiletries Ambiguous billing. No Cabanas on the Beach. Spa-Massage staff cut short the promised duration of the Massage. Even though there were no other next scheduled appointment. Wild ferocious dogs on other side of beach - very unsafe. Conclusion: Compared to the other similar Luxury High-end hotels we have stayed in, Amanera did not deliver the expected standard of service and experience.

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?

I've been here for a week with my adult daughter. This property is exquisite in every way. Within just a couple of days we were so relaxed - when elsewhere that process takes much longer. The people that work here are the happiest and most accommodating I've every experienced. The service is beyond your expectations. My daughter had her 25th birthday here and they made it so special in so many ways. I'm so grateful. I've been to many tropical beaches in my life but this is by far the most peaceful and beautiful. We rarely saw another person on a beach that is a mile long. The water is the most beautiful different colors of blue. We did several excursions while here: hike to nearby mountain top, snorkeling/cave tour, tour of the local cenote called Lagoon Dudu which was really fun, and deep sea fishing. We did not catch a fish that day but the staff on board was very professional and we enjoyed being out on the water. The rooms here are spectacular and beyond spacious to say the least, and very private. The main infinity pool over looks the ocean and is one of the most beautiful pools I've ever been in. We usually had it to ourselves. The food at the main restaurant and at the one by the beach is delicious. Ask for the in room dining menu if you want something simple. But it's Aman so you can just ask for what you want whether it's on the menu or not. And as usual for Aman properties there are no individual meal checks which I ADORE. Plus, we never had to make a reservation for any meal. Amangiri will remain my favorite Aman property but this one is a close second. Clearly the part of the island this property is on was specially selected for it's seclusion. It's very special! Thank you everyone at Amanera for a wonderful vacation!