Ambar Beach Resort & Spa
, Playa De Jandia
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Ambar Beach Resort & Spa reviews
- Holiday Date:Sep 2011
- Advice: Excellent for watersports and game fishing
- Good For: Beach
- Board Basis:All Inclusive
- Tour Operator:Booked Independently
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The hotel name is ‘Ambar Beach hotel and Spa’ but there is no spa at this location. We specifically chose this hotel so if the weather was bad we would be able to use the spa facilities.
Due to the rain during our holiday (not the hotel’s fault) the paths were treacherous and due to the fact that all walkways were very steep and it was dark it was very difficult to find our room due to very poor lighting. We had a huge ‘water fall’ outside our room which caused a flood in the walkway which we had to wade through every time we went anywhere.
We understand that comfort is a personal opinion, but in addition to the beds being uncomfortable there was no where at all to sit. Very little communal seating areas when weather is bad. The beds were incredibly uncomfortable.
There is one English TV Channel. The hotel clearly tries to cater for other nationalities more effectively than the English.
The food was unrecognisable! It was inedible, undercooked, cold and very limited on choice. There was not a variety of snacks during the day and you are not even allowed to take water back to your room.
We stayed over Christmas and on Christmas Eve the bar shut at 10pm and there was no entertainment at all.
The distance to the beach is more than 300 metres and a hike up hill on the way back.
All in all this holiday was such a disaster we paid extra for an earlier flight home.
- Holiday Date:Dec 2009
- Advice: Don't go to this hotel!
- Board Basis:All Inclusive
- Tour Operator:Purple Holidays
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we just got back from christmas holiday and we would not use this hotel again .
the drinks where weak the food cold.
we found the Germans take over the hotel and use the sauna and pool in the nude where young children playing in the children pool area
we told management about this he did not want to no about this as the Germans are his main priority
we would not rate this hotel a 4 star hotel its more like a 3 star hotel.
the beach path is very steep and not good for young children and elderly with bad legs
- Board Basis:All Inclusive
- Tour Operator:Sunshine.co.uk
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my husband and i have just spent 10 days at this resort we was the only english people there we had no one to speak to. the food was cold and the drinks was so weak and we found that for the money we payed its not very good for all inclusive no ice creams no peanuts drinks weak, beer all froffy out side bar only opend for one hour only chips and bugers when gone no more ,tea coffee taste funny we have been to other hotels all inclusive and they have been graet there is nothing for children or youn people.
- Board Basis:All Inclusive
- Tour Operator:Booked Independently
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Want to go back!!
After hiring a car at the airport and driving the 70km to jandia,the Ambar beach was very easy to find j79 of the fv2 signposted butihondo. The staff on reception when we arrived were very helpful and ignoring other views you may read about this hotel they do speak english and are very friendly. The Hotel is very well kept,everywhere is spotlessly clean,especially the rooms. The only down side is the tv in the room. the only english speaking channel you can get is cnn news, but this is very distorted and hard to watch. The pool area is beautiful, plenty of sunbeds for everybody. The pool itself is a bit fresh!! but once you are in it is lovely. The food is very good, lots of choice of hot or cold, you will definetly find something there you will like. you will not go hungry! The entertainment at night is a bit poor. Get yourself a beer or two (help youself) and sit out on the veranda over looking the pools and out to see. Overall if you are planning on staying at amber beach i'm sure you will enjoy your stay. There are not many places i have stayed were i would go back home and book to stay straight away again, but ambar beech is on of them. hope this review is of some help.
- Board Basis:All Inclusive
- Tour Operator:Thomson
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We recently got home from a week spent in the Ambar Beach Hotel and feel quite dissapointed with our stay there.
The hotel itself was beautiful and our room was amazingly clean,the maids came 5 days out of 7,cant fault that at all,however,we had read many reviews but wern't prepared for exactly how rude the germans were to us.
We were stared at eveytime we left our room and were made to feel very uncomfortable.
We felt pushed out and unwelcome.
If you are looking for friendly staff and holiday makers alike then this is not the place for you!
There was a huge buffet at meal times but the food really wasn't up to much(unless all you like is cold meats) so be prepared to eat out alot.
The evening entertainment was diabloical and even after a few drinks we still couldn't bare it!!
Luckily Jandia is only a short bus ride away and to be truthful we would have been better off staying there.
To get to the fantastic beach you have to walk down a hill which wasn't anywhere near as bad as some reviews say,and when you reach the bottom,it is well worth it anyway.
The actual area Esqinzo is a really strange place that seemed to consist of loads of unfinished paths/roads and not much else
I really wouldn't recommend staying here to anyone, let alone my nearest and dearest,so unless its all booked and you havn't much choice,don't come here......ever
- Board Basis:All Inclusive
- Tour Operator:Thomas Cook
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Just returned from spending one of the best Christmas’s abroad all thanks to the Ambar Beach hotel.
Our family could not fault anything about the hotel. Even though the hotel was 80% german what refreshing change from some loud mouth disrespectful British hotels.
If you’re looking for good food clean environment and a nice calm atmosphere then this would be the perfect holiday for you. Thank you Ambar Beach.
- Board Basis:All Inclusive
- Tour Operator:Onthebeach
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Just got back from Fuerteventura and the Ambar Beach Hotel was fantastic. Not sure what others are going on about on their reviews on this site and other sites. The path down to the beach has a tarmac surface (looks like it has been there a few years) so walking down is fine however walking back is up hill.
The food well we never had a bad meal all the food was good, yes there was fish every day but other meats were on offer. The pools are a bit chilly but you soon get used to that and as for the Germans what a nice bunch of people if you make an effort to join in. I would say when we went it was about 85% Germans to us Brits.
The rooms are very nice, good size with tv and small fridge they do have air con as well. The saunas could do with being on longer they put them on about 5ish then off about 6.30ish, yes you use them nude unless you want to stand out from the rest, no plunge pool but no one minds you taking a shower after the sauna then swimming nude either in the inside pool or the outside pool but remember this hotel has no dedicated naturist area so just go with the flow. Would I go back? just booked up for Feb 2008.
- Board Basis:All Inclusive
- Tour Operator:Booked Independently
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We just wanted a break away in the sun & booked this as a last minute trip before the kids broke up. The hotel was very clean & pools were spotless. 10 minute walk to the beach down a self-made dirt track (no high heels). Beach was breathtaking with white sand & turquoise warm water. Nudists are quite commonplace along the beach, however, most were very discreet and nothing embarrassing!
The food was rather bland although lots of it & mainly German/Spanish dishes. The Hotel is German owned & they were very hospitable.
You can hire sun loungers for your terrace for 2 euros a day. We used to sit by the pool in the morning & lie outside on our terrace, which was not overlooked all afternoon - heavenly!!!!
Evening entertainment was rather dire, we used to have a drink & play cards.
Nothing outside of the Hotel but you can catch the half hourly bus into Jandia for 1 euro each way for watersports, shops, bars, market, etc.
For Adults this is a wonderful, peaceful break - not suitable for teenagers or anyone looking for night life. I would certainly go back!
- Board Basis:All Inclusive
- Tour Operator:First Choice
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Arrived at the hotel by rental car and was easy to find as well sign posted. The hotel is located in a small village called Butihondo, less than a 5 minute drive to Morro Jable. (Be aware that if you do hire a car instead of going for transfers, the drivers are nutters!). On arrival we were offered cocktails already waiting for us and a cold buffet (It was 11pm). The hotel does have a bus service that stops outside but I would recommend hiring a car if you want to see/go places as there are no shops/restaurants in the resort other than those within the hotel. The closet shops are at Morro Jable.
If you have seen photos of the hotel that actually just holds the restaurants, indoor pool, amenities etc. The accommodation is situated just outside and in rows down hill. The rooms are very clean and the maid comes every day apart from Wednesdays and Sundays. There is a TV but the only English channels are Sky News, BBC News and CNN.
The pools were very clean although a bit cold but I thought it was quite refreshing in the heat! (My girlfriend thought otherwise). The beach and sea were very clean, however be warned to see a fair few people stripping off to nothing! There are deck chairs available but you have to pay for them. The beach is about a 5 minute walk downhill on rough terrain and in some spots there is a brief smell of sewage but nothing major. To access the beach you need to walk to the bottom section of the apartments and take your room card to open the gate.
The food was very good, with something different every day with quite a lot of different things to choose from. The bar offered quite a few different drinks all included such as cocktails, a self service beer pump, fruit juices and wine etc. There is entertainment every night (magic shows, dancing, singing, bingo, traditional flamenco) at 21.30. There is a good mix of people German, English and Spanish. It is a German run hotel so expect a good few Germans there.
We took a visit to Correlejo and were glad we chose this resort. Although there was less to do in the resort it was so much nicer!
- Board Basis:All Inclusive
- Tour Operator:Do It Yourself Via otbeach.com
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We have recently just got back from this lovely Hotel but wanted to give you all an idea of what to expect when you get there:
The Hotel itself is lovely and very inviting and clean. The rooms are of a good size and always clean and tidy.
The food I found was of a good variety and had foods such as salads, cold meats, fish, and meats such as pork, chicken, and beef etc for dinners and evening meals. Though the food was not always steaming hot it was warm and always very tasty. (I myself am a really fussy eater and enjoyed all meals I had)
Breakfast consisted of either continental or hot foods such as Eggs, bacon etc, though I did feel that the Hotel catered mostly for the Germans rather than the English with what was on offer.
The Hotel staff were always really friendly, though most of the staff didn’t speak English which I found most frustrating as we experienced a few issues that took so much time trying to explain, as they didn’t understand us and vice versa.
The Hotel is situated in a really quiet part of Fuerteventura in the South called Esquinzo. If you are wanting a Holiday where you just sit around the Hotel all day and don’t really like to venture, then this Hotel is for you.
If like myself and the other 4 ladies that I went with, want a bit of lively nightlife then I wouldn’t recommend this to you at all as the resort is very quiet.
You can however get a bus into the town of Jandia for 1 euro and these buses run every 30 mins, but be aware that they can get very full at times and it may just be easier to get a Taxi for approx 5 Euros. (again due to lack of English speaking staff and the rep only being in the Hotel on certain days at certain times, you may struggle to know what bus goes where)
The entertainment in the Hotel is "well let’s just say, the more alcohol you consume the better it is" but I wouldn’t stay in for it, as you will be bitterly disappointed!
The Hotel like the food is mostly catered for the Germans who are very Rude and arrogant so be prepared to be pushed out & stared at 24/7! And I would advise that you either learn some stern words in German or take a German Language book!
On the whole we really enjoyed the Holiday and even though we had a freak bout of winds (it is so windy up at the top of the island) we loved the experience and came back chilled...which is what we went away for.
Just be prepared to take a bus to get around and have your patience tested!
Hope this helps you make up your mind whether to go or not.
Happy Holidays!
- Board Basis:All Inclusive
- Tour Operator:Med Hotels
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My girlfriend and I have just come back from a week's break at this hotel.
The hotel itself is clean and tidy, if a little tired, but a nice looking building. The staff are very friendly and helpful. The manager was really nice. Most don't speak English as well as they do German or Italian, so bear that in mind. I'm English but I speak a little German and it was no issue whatsoever. If you only speak English, it might be worth making the effort to take a Spanish phrase book, eh?
The guests at the hotel are roughly 80% German, 10% Italian, and 10% other, mainly English. You don't get your room cleaned on Wednesday or Sunday which I thought a little odd, but whatever, no problem really. The maid did make swans and fish "sculptures" out of the towels from time to time, which I thought was weird but amusing.
We didn't see any naked people at the hotel, but we didn't use the sauna. There were some folks with no clothes on, down at the beach. It was very windy on the beach. We didn't want to go sailing or windsurfing so we only went once. If you do like those sports you'll be well catered for. I've heard people complaining about the steep dangerous path down to the beach but it's nothing like that. It's a slope of about 300m.
Food: It's OK - uninspiring at best. Not 4* however. When we arrived, they informed us that on Saturday and Sunday they ran a "Spanish Restaurant" for which we'd have to book beforehand. Sounded good, and after nearly a week of eating in the main restaurant, we thought we'd book. Turns out that it's identical to the main restaurant, just in another room. Still self service, but slightly different food, so a complete waste of time and effort I thought. If you say "restaurant" to me, I imagine a la carte, not help yourself buffet. Oh well. Don't get your hopes up on that one.
They need to change the way they run the bar upstairs to be a little more like the restaurant (pour your own drinks), rather than having to queue up for 15 minutes or so to get 2 small beers. (2 drinks per person max). It would save a lot of hassle for the barstaff too.
Entertainment: Considering that there's not really anything to do other than go back to your room or drink in the bar, I would have thought that the entertainment would have been considerably better. An example evening goes something like this so you can decide -
Early evening: 45 minutes of a clown, a bloke dressed as a tomato, a couple of random punters (or members of the animation team) and some children (if there are any, there were generally very few when we were there), dancing on the stage to hugely loud and distorted Mario style children's music and doing animal dances (crocodile, bunny rabbit, bird, etc). Unbearably bad.
Once that's finished, mp3 player on shuffle was put on (misture of bad euro and 80's pop), whilst the "main act" gets ready.
For us, the main acts consisted of the following:
Circus family - "comedy" magician dad, contortionist mum, juggling sons, hula hooping daughters.
Falconry. Yep, falconry. A man and a woman with an Eagle owl, flying it about the room, talking about it loudly and distortedly over the PA. poor thing.
Pop quiz followed by Karaoke.
A covers singer (who could actually sing well, I just wished she hadn't)
Bingo.
The night we got there (fairly late on) The stage was full of blokes dancing in their pants. I kid you not.
It also seemed to break out randomly into congas whilst the Benny Hill theme music played (loudly and distortedly) This happened about 3 times we were there. Weird.
Consider yourself warned, it's truly awful.
To be fair, the "animation team" work very hard. Expect calls to be invited to aquagym, water polo, archery, basketball, table tennis, etc, at random times throughout the day, if you are near the pools. There's no pressure to join in however, so we didn't. We took our own towels, so we didn't have to hire them. The pools are lovely, I didn't think they were cold at all.
There's a shop at the hotel, but does close for siesta in the afternoon, reopens again later.
To get a taxi to the nearest town (Morro Jable) it's about 9 euro for 2 people, takes about 10 minutes. We tried to get the bus one day, but it took over an hour to turn up. it's 1.20 euro, and takes about 1/2 hour to get there. Morro Jable is particularly boring. Restaurants, bars, etc, and shops selling the usual tourist rubbish, but a long and lovely beach.
General notes about the island: I'm fairly well travelled and it's the least scenic place I've ever been. Imagine the surface of the moon and you're halfway there. No indigenous life it seems. basically a black rock with hotels around the edge and a road in the middle. But we didn't go for the scenery, or the history or culture. We went to relax and read some books in the sunshine so it was perfect for us. It was about 32 degrees all week. The sea and beaches are lovely however.
I would definitely consider staying at this hotel again if I were planning to go back to Fuerteventura. We had a lovely, relaxing time, and it was perfect for us. I read lots of reviews before we went, I guess you're doing the same. The only bad reviews I've read are from the English, and they were the only people who complained at all at the hotel. "There's only one English TV channel", etc. If you want a hotel full of English people and English TV channels then go somewhere else. We wanted a week away from it all, with some sunshine, to read a book. The lack of Brits was a bonus for us.