T


ravel Weekly heads to the Caribbean to test three refurbished resorts at Spanish-owned all-inclusive brands


Luxury Bahia Principe Ambar, Dominican Republic


Luxury Bahia Principe Ambar, Dominican Republic T


ested by: Rachel Roberts


Riu Palace Tropical Bay Hotel, Jamaica


Grand Palladium Costa Mujeres, Mexico


The Piñero family knew they were taking a risk when they closed the doors of the Luxury Bahia Principe Ambar resort in the Dominican Republic for six months last year, to carry out extensive renovations. It’s something Pablo, founder of the Bahia Principe


brand and late father of the family which now runs the business, always vetoed because of the effect on repeat bookings. However, the gamble – by sisters Encarna, Isabel and Lydia, board directors in the Grupo Piñero portfolio – has certainly paid off. The property’s $26 million refurbishment dovetails


with a rebrand of the Bahia Principe portfolio. Its hotels and resorts are now segmented into collections called Treasure, adult-only Escape, and Family and Friends. As part of the Escape brand, the Luxury Bahia Principe Ambar – part of the seven-resort Bahia Principe complex – is a standout example of a five-star all-inclusive.


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27 JUNE 2019


travelweekly.co.uk


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