My husband is a flooring professional.
Bamboo is beautiful, but considerably softer than, say, an oak floor. Dog paws and furniture can scratch the floor quite easily. The upside to bamboo is that it’s a renewable resource, so if you’re into earth-friendly, Bamboo or Cork are the way to go. But you must consider that the resale value of bamboo will be lower, mostly because it won’t be an asset for anyone with animals or small children.
Also, I wouldn’t recommend installing the floor yourself, unless you know what you’re doing. A professional will know how to lay out the floor to avoid “stair-stepping”, which can take away from the attractive flowing of the grain. Also, it’s important to work with the wood to allow for the natural swelling and contracting of the material throughout the year, in order to prevent cracks and separation.
If you’re shopping for hardwood, the longest-lasting way to go would be to purchase raw hardwood, than have it sanded and finished. That way, if the floor becomes damaged it can be easily buffed and recoated. Downside is this often costs more up front.
Engineered Finished hardwoods have the finish baked directly on to the wood. This is a little cheaper than sand-and-finish raw wood, but if the finish becomes chipped or damaged, it’s hard to repair. And then if a replacement is needed, you might find the company no longer makes a matching board.