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Located along the northern coast of the Dominican Republic, Samana is a relatively quiet destination, appealing to nature lovers, adventures, and those in need of some time alone. Whale watching is one of the original attractions driving visitors to Samana, in addition to its beautiful sandy beaches and calm, clear waters. Perfect for older families, couples, and those who don’t want the company of local vendors, there is much to appreciate on a Samana vacation. Explore the lush, mountains landscape with its winding roads and revel in the gorgeous temperatures and sunshine that accompany your holiday. If you’re not lounging by the beach or swimming in the pools, take a jeep safari, snorkeling excursion, or golfing adventure. In the evenings, enjoy a romantic sunset, stroll along the beach, or watch a live performance at your hotel. You’re sure to experience rest and relaxation at on your Samana vacation, you’ll be dreaming of returning to the Dominican Republic in no time.
Getting Around: A trip from the airport (AZS) to the all-inclusive Samana resort area takes approximately 40 minutes by shuttle. A taxi is the best way to cover the relatively widespread distances between attractions.
Where to Stay: The all-inclusive hotels in Samana are good quality and feature a variety of amenities such as kids’ clubs, fitness centres, spas, restaurants, pools, and more. From 3-star to 5-star, Samana has hotels for every budget. Choose a hotel based on your preferences, whether you fancy the Balcones del Atlantico, catered to families, or the lavish adult-only Luxury Bahia Principe Cayo Levantado.
Weather: The weather in Samana is generally warm and sunny, with relatively little seasonal fluctuation in temperatures. Temperatures average 27C but can climb to 32C on hot, summer days. During the winter season, average temperatures drop by a few degrees.
Escape to the secluded island setting of Samana to immerse yourself in its natural wonders. Call 1-800-665-4981 or book online to experience this wonderful destination for yourself.
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Verified Tripcentral Customer Reviews
Rating4.3★★★★+(1066)
★★★★Private -
Verified PurchaserThe Eurostars Grand Cayacoa: Beautiful location
Gorgeous views. Very clean hotel and friendly staff. Gigi and Caramelo made things fun from pool exercise, bingo and night time shows and games. Enjoyed the whole week surrounded by nature and bay views.
Location5/5
Value4/5
Food5/5
Beach4/5
Rooms4/5
Service4/5
★★★★★Private -
Verified PurchaserThe Eurostars Grand Cayacoa: nice quiet hotel
Very quiet, not much entertainment in evening and all gone to bed by 11pm. Beach is tiny and not too much to shop for in Samana. Now on the upside if all your looking for is nice clean hotel,good food and staff are all amazing this is the place to go. Read a book great rest and relaxation.
Location3/5
Value4/5
Food5/5
Beach2/5
Rooms5/5
Service5/5
★★Cindy -
Verified PurchaserViva V Samana by Wyndham: Not so amazing resort
Boring... Nobody understood english.. Hard to find something to eat... Food was not so great... Wine was even worse...
Will not recommend this resort!
There was very little shade by the pool...my shower leaked all over ...
Location4/5
Value2/5
Food1/5
Beach4/5
Rooms4/5
Service1/5
★★★Larabee Jones -
Verified PurchaserThe Eurostars Grand Cayacoa: Forgettable Vacay
Hotel has panoramic beautiful veiws of Samana Bay. Hotel rooms are clean but definitely need decent pillows
Our room was suppose to be pool veiw but we were put on the 4th floor directly above the main terrace outside of the lobby bar. Entertaining started nightly around 9pm and was so loud you could not sleep. Some nights it went on until midnight. The pool was in need of repairs as tiles were missing and the water was disgusting, needed to be skimmed daily but we only saw it happen once. Breakfast, lunch and supper buffet was very average. We enjoyed the 2 a la cartes as suppers were very good. Apparently we were there during low season as you could not walk much of the grounds. Beach area was very small. The beach snack bar was very good. Staff were very helpful. Only issue was the check in as rooms were not ready and people continually complained. We are not people who like to venture on excursions so we stayed poolside or in the lobby area.
★★★★★Private -
Verified PurchaserThe Eurostars Grand Cayacoa: Overall 'Great Trip'
We recently stayed at the Eurostars in Samaná and had a wonderful trip. The hospitality and staff were fantastic—always friendly, attentive, and welcoming. Our room and the amenities were kept spotless. Getting into the local town was very easy and convenient.
The setting and views were spectacular. The beach was clean, beautifully maintained, and completely free of seaweed, with great ocean views and good food throughout our stay (except for the Italian / Greek restaurant). The entertainment was on the quieter side, but good enough to have a fun evenings. My only wish was the night dancing on the terrace went a bit longer at a minimal 11:30 PM, midnight would have been ideal.
I would have loved to use the spa, but the prices felt quite steep compared to Canadian rates and didn’t seem worth the extra spend, though high spa pricing is typical for resorts.
Tip: Try to book a room in the main building if you can—it saves quite a bit of walking.
Overall, a great stay and I would definitely recommend it!
★★★D&T retired -
Verified PurchaserThe Eurostars Grand Cayacoa: Relaxing holiday
We enjoyed our vacation despite a few issues.
Our check in took until 5:30...room not ready. More discipline action needed by staff for improperly supervised children by negligent parents in pool and dining areas.
Our upgraded room was large and comfortable with balcony and awesome ocean view.
Our bath and shower needed attention (mold) which they took care of immediately. Housekeeping did a good job making up the room and keeping the fridge stocked.
Pool area was relaxing, lots of chairs and pleasant bartenders. Pool staff could be more assertive enforcing Pool etiquette at the swim-up bar (babies in diapers sitting on Pool countertop). Most people enjoyed spending their day at the beach along with the burger/chicken wing BBQ daily.
Buffet was average ... always something to eat but geared to adult diet. The 2 a la carte restaurants were delicious. Limited entertainment but staff kept us amused all day.
★★★★★Rest and relax -
Verified PurchaserBahia Principe Escape Samana: Setting of serenity
This was an amazing resort to just get away from it all. The beach is quiet, with a sweet little dog that greets you everyday.
The food was amazing, and the staff are very kind and attentive.
The grounds are stunning, lots of trees and a beautiful view of the ocean.
This is not a resort for people who want late night events, or a big social sceen, it's a place to just relax and disconnect by connecting to nature and calm.
Location3/5
Value5/5
Food5/5
Beach4/5
Rooms5/5
Service5/5
★★★★★Private -
Verified PurchaserViva V Samana by Wyndham: Amazing resort
Excellent resort better then Punta Cana. Food, Beaches were great.
The service was good.
The few bad things were the workers were very poor in English.
The shows were terrible.
But overall excellent resort.
Location4/5
Value4/5
Food4/5
Beach5/5
Rooms4/5
Service4/5
★★★★Ezee3512 -
Verified PurchaserThe Eurostars Grand Cayacoa: Exceptional!
The hotel is a good place to be for a getaway vacation. Everything worked well. Staffs are very courteous. Room service well beyond expectations. The only cons, is about too much salt in the foods. I would definitely recommend Eurostars Grand Cayacoa to everyone looking for all inclusive vacations
Location4/5
Value5/5
Food4/5
Beach5/5
Rooms5/5
Service5/5
★★★Private -
Verified PurchaserThe Eurostars Grand Cayacoa: Was, a good resort
This was our 5th visit. Nine months ago this resort changed owners, What a huge difference. We booked 2 weeks.Five days in we wanted to go home. Westjet said we would lose our second week and we would have to pay a further $900. to fly back to Toronto. Pathetic. They had a toilet paper shortage, Our balcony door failed to lock until repaired. Three days in our safe needed to be fixed. An employee told us the resort was at a 20% occupancy. We always tipped employee as a local business owner said employees earn $10. or $11.a day. Twice we walked 2 kilometres in to town. About 150 oil burning 35 year old 150 cc motor bikes flying around the small town.ONE OF THOSE DRIVERS HELD THE HANDLEBARS WITH ONE HAND and a 18 month old child with the other. A business owner said if you don't fit in as a resident you pay triple to buy anything. Inside of the resort is a tiny store. To buy a dollar store.88 cent chocolate bar is $9. American, $12. Canadian. Now let's get to the bar. No name booze. If you want a vodka and orange juice you give you TANG or some watered down sugared substitute. Or a 4% no name tap draft. On the beach they don't have time to wash the plastic cups, but usually rince them. The food is also a treat. When they serve their small cooked chicken they chop them into small pieces and you end up with splinters of bones. I became satisfied with any form of potatoes and any meat. The guests complain about every day the meals are the same.Twice in 2 weeks they made about 2 litres or less of rice pudding. when it's gone it's gone It was common to lose out on mango and why. There are hundreds of mango trees. Speciality restaurants, there are 2. When we ate there they only permitted 6 couples in all night. Wifi was spotty and we had issues watching Fifa. There is no sports bar. Getting towels was an issue. Some employees try to be nice ,others put their back to you when you walk near them.
★★★★★Margarita -
Verified PurchaserThe Eurostars Grand Cayacoa: Beautiful view and memorable service
I really enjoyed the cliffside view. It was so beautiful in the morning. The resort is very well organized, great food at buffet with variety. One day it was not so good, but the rest of the week it kept getting better and tastier. May be a shipment was delayed when we arrived?
The staff were friendly and warm. Amazing and thanks to staff my experience was so much more special. They genuinely cared about my experiences at the resort and helped promptly. I would recommend to 40+ if you're looking for a quiet escape.
Rooms looked dated but bed was incredibly comfortable.
Although there is good entertainment, it is the typical one hour show, so bring some dancing shoes if you want to stay after and dance with your special someone. There is a fairly large entertainment area with a raised audience deck for viewing comfort, tons of lounge space around as well.
I also liked the beach. It is small but that's what I liked about it. It felt like a hidden spot away from the business of most Samana beaches.
I'd recommend going on an excursion or several, to enjoy the many beautiful scenic spots available. I'll probably go back sometime but I will book several excursions to see more of Samana.
Shout out to Vanessa, Felix, Alexander, Carolina, and many more for such an amazing experience. You are truly appreciated ❤️
★★★★★Private -
Verified PurchaserBahia Principe Explore El Portillo: Excellent resort
Fantastic Beach - protected by corral from large waves...sandy beach no need for shoes in water. Can walk for kms either way safely. lots of sun protection on beach. Buffet large and ample choices. restaurants are a pleasant surprise and provide nice treat. Staff friendly. Rides to further rooms constantly available. No close neighbouring resorts so feels secluded. Loved it.
Location5/5
Value5/5
Food5/5
Beach5/5
Rooms5/5
Service5/5
★★★Private -
Verified PurchaserWyndham Alltra Samana: Great resort
Would not go back because of medical issues. Otherwise great. Food and drinks were fun.. beach is not accessible. Pool is somewhat accessible. Not to many toursbpr r versions for people with limited ability.
Location1/5
Value3/5
Food5/5
Beach2/5
Rooms5/5
Service5/5
★★★★★Bradley -
Verified PurchaserBahia Principe Escape Samana: Bahia Principe Samana
Well…this was exactly what I wanted and needed….a place to relax …
This is not a party place…or someone who has walking issues even though it is not horrible if placed in the proper room.
Food was good but repetitive…beach was small…not a beautiful Cuban beach..
I really enjoyed my stay at the resort the staff were very attentive to keeping the grounds, rooms, the buffet etc. very clean. The beach is amazing and the KAA pool bar was a great place to hangout especially the evenings that they allowed the fans from Canada to watch the hockey games very accommodating.
If you love quiet and peace this is the resort.
The only draw back is the long bus ride to and from the airport but it was agreat way to see the different villages along the way.
Location5/5
Value5/5
Food5/5
Beach5/5
Rooms5/5
Service5/5
★★★★Private -
Verified PurchaserViva V Samana by Wyndham: Beautiful Beach Experience!!
We stayed at this resort the week of May 9 to the 16th. The resort grounds were very well kept clean. The beach is one of the best I’ve experienced the convenience of the beach bar restaurant and washroom facilities close by made it much easier to enjoy the beach as much as possible
I also appreciated the Butler style beach service we received for drinks
The pool was kept clean. The fact that there was no pool bar was a plus in my eyes.
There were many activities to try during the day without pressure, which made it even more inviting
The food in general was good. A lot of selection croissants were to die for the 24 seven bar at the lobby was well stocked with snacks, coffee tea, and the bar staff were very friendly.
Entertainment was music themed all week long and quite enjoyable fantastic service was given at the three à la carts food was well presented and fresh
Steak was by far the best I’ve had on the island
We travelled with Sunwing overall our representative Maria was very friendly and helpful. We were able to contact her using WhatsApp, which was convenient. overall I would return to this resort. But would also like to see improvement on the following.
Service in general, especially at the buffet was lacking we had to make eye contact and ask for service most of the time, but when we did get it, it was good that went for all the staff in general. Also, there was a timeshare component that we agreed to explore I appreciate and understand wanting to draw up business, your asked to join a session for an hour and then it ends up extending to close to three I think maybe the approach could be different and after the first hour and if the answer is no then the answer is no
Spent two weeks ,resort is smal but has own vibe .Staff was frendly room was very clean ,food was very good.only was too close to to the road.beach was clean every day,no beach bar and line in a pool bar
Beautiful resort with stunning beach in a cove and 3 different pools. Our room was very clean with comfortable beds, spacious bathroom and hot showers. We also had a beautiful 3rd floor garden view. Food was plentiful and delicious! Excellent choices for breakfast including eggs, bacon, fresh breads, pancakes, French toast, cold cuts, fruits, pastries and smoothies. Buffet also had a great selection for lunch and dinner as well. Japanese, Italian and beach restaurant were also excellent. There is also a great little coffee/pastry shop! (24 hrs)
Many activities and nightly entertainment. Several bars on the resort, in the buffet, near pools and on the beach. Lobby area is lovely and breezy, great place to relax! No bugs during our stay!???
My first time in the DR, such a beautiful place , amazing people and hotel staff that go over and beyond.
Now considering we are in the DR, there was minimal night entertainment and pretty much everyone was in their rooms by 10-11 pm , lobby was cleared out and quiet . This type of guest entertainment was essential on several nights it down-poured rain. Unfortunately and unlike other resorts previously experienced throughout the Caribbean, this is the first time I did not experience local culture of dancing and /or lessons , music etc.
As well, no alcoholic beverages provided in the room fridge nor was room service food available as advertised with the exception of a sandwiches which had to be ordered in the lobby as phones were down.
Apparently there was a transfer of ownership at the time of my stay which was only announced 1 week before departure.Even though I was looking for a more relaxed & adult location , myself and alot and even older of the older other guests felt like it was more a senior home , sadly I agree. Considering it’s such a beautiful resort with gorgeous ocean views and great staff that had to hear the guests complain.
I found myself bored most nights talking to the staff walking by.
The food, rooms, beach, grounds were all great. I would suggest more entertainment for the adults. The cafe being opened between meals was great. The beverages were good. Need diet coke or diet pepsi
Location5/5
Value4/5
Food4/5
Beach5/5
Rooms3/5
Service5/5
★★★★Private -
Verified PurchaserBahia Principe Explore El Portillo: Great Resort but beware of the bus rides
This resort was great overall. The room was clean, the food was good (although the "alcohol" in drinks is watered down significantly), and the beach was nice. As with other resorts, though, the "reserving" of chairs is a pain to deal with. We had to be on the beach by 7 to get a chair. Resorts have to come up with a different system. They either have to increase the number of chairs significantly or remove everything left on sets of chairs that are left empty for a while. If no one reserved their chairs, there would be ample places to sit for everyone as people come and go.
The bus ride there was scary, the driver repeatedly passed in bends in the pouring rain near cliffs. The bus on the way back had transmission issues to the point that it could barely make it up a small elevation and took twice as long to arrive at the airport as it should have.
★★★Private -
Verified PurchaserViva V Samana by Wyndham: Disappointed
Just returned from this well manicured property.
The beach is beautiful and the pool area is nice. The food quality and service was lacking attention and organization in the buffet, especially in the morning. We waited 45 minutes one morning for coffee. The service in the buffet in the evening was much better. The snack bar food was good if you managed to get there when the food was prepared otherwise it was left there for hours. The bar tenders provided great service and drinks. The daily activities were great , but the nightly entertainment was lacking. There was diffently a language barrier in just about all areas, except for the viva club recruiters. They had no problem speaking English and would constantly harass you.
★★★★★Darryn, Angie & Patti -
Verified PurchaserViva V Samana by Wyndham: Relaxing and Intimate
We are regulars at this resort and love the feeling of coming home every time we visit. From Edwin and Adonis and Henry in reception to David & Patricia in lobby bar - you are treated like family. Of course you have Gabriel and Carlos and Alexander in the Fusion to make every meal special. Ariel and Michael and Raphael in the Animation team are always there to entertain.
Rooms are great - food is amazing and drinks are perfect.
Location5/5
Value5/5
Food5/5
Beach5/5
Rooms5/5
Service5/5
★★★★Mark -
Verified PurchaserBahia Principe Explore El Portillo: Amazing resort.
Third time visiting this resort in the past 8 years. First visit (2018)as a couple. Second visit (2023)as a family of 20. Third visit (2026) with a group of friend (15). Pool area is excellent and located adjacent to the beach, resort grounds are well kept along with the common areas. Buffet and restaurants are very good. Rooms were kept clean by the maids and never short of room amenities.
The beach is amazing and so scenic with very little visitor traffic if you choose to walk the beach. If you are energetic and have a 1-1/2 half , you can walk to the town of Las Terrenas for lunch or shopping , Done this a few times during our stays. Don’t know of any other place that can offer this. Love the resort layout. Everything is so central or just a couple minute of walking.
This visit was the first time we experienced room issues. Friends on ground floor had their room flooded and a second couple water also leaked down the walls in villa 23. Both were relocated after a persistence request.
Rooms could sure use some renovations or à face lift.This seems to be a common complaint by many visitors that would make the stay even a better experience.
★★★★★Private -
Verified PurchaserViva V Samana by Wyndham: Great place to stay!
Short ride from the airport! Which is great in the heat. Except for the small bus! Too cramped.
Very clean and comfortable rooms. A couple of power outages but they only lasted few seconds.
Friendly, hard working staff. Big thank you to Yocairy!! She rocks!
Food was excellent with a wide variety. Resort is the perfect size! Easy to get around. Pool is clean, and well maintained. Beautiful beach and view of the ocean. Will definitely go back.
Location5/5
Value5/5
Food5/5
Beach5/5
Rooms5/5
Service5/5
★★★★★Meaganb -
Verified PurchaserViva V Samana by Wyndham: Great experience!
We are so happy we chose Viva V Samana by Wyndham for our vacation and would absolutely return. The resort is only a few years old and very up to date. The beach was gorgeous and well maintained by staff. Our room was new and felt clean and fresh after housekeeping. We were also pleasantly surprised by the little lounge pool in our patio. We had read some negative reviews about the resort food, but we were honestly pleasantly surprised at how much we enjoyed it all. The restaurants were good too, but you had to book them quickly. We didn't do any excursions, but we took a taxi to Las Terrenas one morning and shopped and wandered and it's absolutely worth doing. We loved this resort and met several people who had returned many times (one couple said it was their 7th visit!). We can see why and would absolutely come back again if we come back to the Dominican.
★★★★Anna -
Verified PurchaserThe Eurostars Grand Cayacoa: Very interesting location
This hotel has it's uniqueness: there is an elevator with glass wall to enter the beach, very nice views from hotel windows, balconies, and terraces. Also there is a bridge nearby, where someone can walk for a long distance, going from one little island to another.
Location5/5
Value4/5
Food3/5
Beach4/5
Rooms4/5
Service5/5
★★★★★Brenda -
Verified PurchaserThe Eurostars Grand Cayacoa: Great Discovery
What a great hotel! So many walkways and places to see. The view from our Junior Suite was Ocean view and it was spectacular. Pretty cool to take an elevator to get to the beach. Food was good. Coffee was hot. Drinks were cold. All were served with a smile and a “Hola”.
No issues at all and would definitely go back.
Location5/5
Value5/5
Food4/5
Beach5/5
Rooms5/5
Service5/5
★★★★★BevMac -
Verified PurchaserViva V Samana by Wyndham: lovely resort to vacation at
A very clean resort, food was good and fresh, drinks were typical sweet sugary fruity with alcohol. worth the upgrade for the premium alcohol selection and the fresh fruit juices. the beach and ocean are nice; there is a sandbar and while I stayed the red flag was up for 5 days, due to the ocean undertow, its rough water to swim in. There is one large pool- clean but extremely busy for a smaller resort. Theme nights and entertainment were great. 3 a la carte restaurants were also good. Friendly staff and there is an Excellent medical facility on site. I had to use due to an allergic reaction I suffered mid week.
★★★Private -
Verified PurchaserBahia Principe Escape Samana: Good enough but not 5 stars
As officially in our senior years, we chose this resort because of its size (149 rooms), being adults only and 5 star rating. However, this is not a 5 star resort, more likely a 4 star. While the whole experience was quite satisfactory, there are a couple of things because of which we will not be back:
We chose a room without a balcony, as it was a bit cheaper. The hotel has three floors with elevator access. The fourth level is attic, accessible by two flights of stairs only. The hotel gave us a room in the attic, at the very end of the last building (room 429). Every day we had to walk to the end of the world and use these stairs at least a couple of times. The hotel was clearly not at its full capacity, and they do have rooms without balcony on other floors which have elevator access. The fact that they gave such room to two women 65 years old just shows a blatant lack of care and respect. While the room itself was generally clean and comfortable, there was constantly a trace of some chemical smell, which was absorbed by all our clothing and even luggage and followed us back home.
The second thing is that the lobby bar opens at 4:00 pm only. During the day, there is no place on the beach or by the pool where you can have an espresso or cappuccino, and there is no place on the beach to get drinks or even water.
However, the grounds are beautiful, and the staff was very pleasant.
★★★★★Private -
Verified PurchaserCayo Levantado Resort: A very amazing resort
Everything was perfect. No complaints at all. Very clean hotel and the employees were very polite and friendly. Choices of food and portions were perfect. It was a very relaxing holiday. Hope to do a family vacation next year.
Location5/5
Value5/5
Food5/5
Beach5/5
Rooms5/5
Service5/5
★★★★Private -
Verified PurchaserThe Eurostars Grand Cayacoa: Eurostars in Samana
Great resort, breathtaking views, food was amazing and authentically Dominican. Staff was friendly and helpful. I would go back in a heartbeat. Beach was small but very nice and can always find some shade. Thank you to super Manbo, very entertaining and funny.
Location4/5
Value4/5
Food5/5
Beach4/5
Rooms5/5
Service5/5
★★★★★None -
Verified PurchaserThe Eurostars Grand Cayacoa: Great Hotel - Fantastic Views
Hotel was great. It is worth the extra money for a Deluxe Ocean View Room. The views are extra ordinary. The beach was nice, maybe small for some, but for me great. Being in the bay, the water was calm while we were there. The food was fine.
Location5/5
Value5/5
Food5/5
Beach5/5
Rooms5/5
Service5/5
★★★★Private -
Verified PurchaserViva V Samana by Wyndham: Small, beautiful resort
Grounds are well maintained, a lot of plants and flowers. Room was big, with large balcony.
Food was very good, different every day. Nice concerts were every evening. They have clean water stations on the first floor.
Don't forget to bring diarrhea medicine.
Location5/5
Value3/5
Food5/5
Beach5/5
Rooms5/5
Service5/5
★★★★Private -
Verified PurchaserViva V Samana by Wyndham: Great resort and the best beach!
If you are looking for the best beach this is it. The water and surf are safe and fun to boogie board. No sharp coral or yucky seaweed anywhere, just pure sand. The amount of palm trees at the beach allow for shade with dappled sunlight so you don’t feel like you are baking in the sun. The pleasant breeze and view of the ocean was the highlight. The food is ok and has a variety. We all did get sick with some food bug for one day.
Location5/5
Value5/5
Food3/5
Beach5/5
Rooms3/5
Service4/5
★★★★★Private -
Verified PurchaserBahia Principe Explore El Portillo: Just plain amazing !
We just spent another wonderful week at this amazing resort. We have been back many times all due to the excellent staff. From the welcome of Samuel to the general manager Albis to the friendly efficient housekeeping staff and great attention service of the dining staff. Deomedes,Omar,Omero,lewin and Ariel just to mention a few. The food is excellent. Always fresh and plentiful. Trays are replaced promptly and kept clean and beautifully displayed.
The alacarte staff excel at making dining a beautiful special experience. The grounds are very well maintained along with the pools and lobby.
Always chairs available whether at the beach or pool.
Overall a beautiful resort if you are looking for a relaxing vacation at a great price.
★★★★Private -
Verified PurchaserViva V Samana by Wyndham: We enjoyed this resort
This is a smaller resort, but the beach is completely amazing. You can walk for hours!
We had a room on the main floor and were happy to note that it had a very nice patio with a lounge bed and 2 chairs as well as a small plunge pool.
The food was ok. There are 3 a la cartes but I did not enjoy any of them and would have preferred to just go to the buffet. The staff was great but be prepared to not get what your ordered.
There is also a wood fired pizza oven so pizza is always available for lunch or dinner.
Unfortunately, both of us contracted Norovirus and were quite sick for 2 days. There were more people at the resort who were also sick.
This hotel is just the right size! The grounds are so clean and tidy, ample chairs by the beach, the rooms are clean and well stocked and most importantly the staff… kind, helpful and attentive!
Food allergies are top of mind and handled professionally. Chef Apolinar (not sure I spelled it properly) was very attentive and aware of my daughter’s Celiac needs and was always there for us! Can’t thank him enough!
Location5/5
Value5/5
Food5/5
Beach5/5
Rooms5/5
Service5/5
★★★Hockey Fan 28 -
Verified PurchaserBahia Principe Escape Samana: Peaceful
The campus was small but peaceful if that is what you seek. Not a busy or eventful place. If you seek solitude over a busy resort, this is a great spot. Small beach but decent. Limited to one bar open at a time regardless of time of day. Super friendly staff. Clean and spacious rooms. Beware when booking excursions. The Transat rep let us down more than once.
Location2/5
Value3/5
Food4/5
Beach3/5
Rooms4/5
Service4/5
★★★★Private -
Verified PurchaserViva V Samana by Wyndham: Beautiful property but....
This is obviously my own personal observations and thoughts:
Viva V is a beautiful resort on a wonderful stretch of beach where you can walk either direction for hours and a lovely 25 minutes (bus) drive from Samana (AZS) Airport (a still quaint and small airport).
The layout of the resort is easy to navigate and the low rise buildings have rooms that are clean with comfortable bed and clean, decent bedsheets. The rooms that have the pools, these pools are very rarely used and they are really cold. Bungalow area (across the drive from main building) are nestled nicely in gardens with a small sitting are with bar of their own.
Amenities for shower in the rooms are minimal, so bring your own and the bathrobes are ready to be used more as rags than as robes. The towels are good but housekeeping tend to limit the numbers and which towels they will provide (very inconsistent)...and that's where it ends!
Our biggest concern was the food / buffet. Although the al la carte restaurants were decent it could be hard to get a reservation at an early time so the buffet was a good alternative for many meals. The service at the specialized restaurants was good and efficient however, beware the beef (throughout the resort actually), ensure it is cooked.!
The Buffet; the floor was deadly slippery, didn't look like they cleaned it, food was not kept at correct temperatures and left out longer than what IMO, would be considered safe, also repetitive and a bit dull. Granted, I think they try.
There never seemed to be enough dinnerware / glassware and what was being used was often cracked, chipped or dirty looking. There was a constant battle for locating tables that were set (unless you line up when buffet first opens for the meal), and then the tables were often not set in their entirety. I actually saw staff reusing some table sets that didn't look like they had been used ?♀️. There does not seem to be enough staff, training, supervision etc. or hygienic practices in general (even with the availability of hand sanitizer).
Drinks were good as was the coffee. I even found the wine rather pleasant! As for the water; this resort does NOT use plastic bottle so make sure you bring your own. They use a system called Vevo throughout the resort that allows you access to filtered and good water. I did not find this an issue... except when the system lost power and there was no water to be had. They do have cartons of water should you require.
We did lose power off and on throughout the week, electrics, water, WIFI etc. but the generators would pick up the slack fairly quickly.
The pool would be considered small by many but IMO it was not an issue. It was kept clean and there were no real issues in finding loungers unless you wished a pad for the lounger, then that was an issue. The loungers are not comfortable so the pad was extremely beneficial (more of these would help the situation). The outside towels were always available.
In general; I would not classify this as a 4 star resort. ? This resort has great potential but with not enough resources and IMO poor hygiene practices I would not be returning. That said, I would recommend this location but be prepared, and if you have a sensitive stomach / gut, I would not recommend. While we were there my self and many others fell prone to gastroenteritis. This is NOT pleasant albeit the onsite Doctor and Nurse were great and were being worked off their feet with these illnesses.?♀️
The whole resort seemed to be a bit disorganized and at times felt chaotic (again could be lack of staff)
The staff in general were very pleasant and helpful however, this is a very TIP based resort, more so than many others I have been to even though we do tip. Here, without the tips, one didn't receive consistent quality of service.
If you wish to exchange USD, they will for pesos, and they won't even give smaller USD in exchange for a larger denomination of USD?♀️(hotel policy)!!
Also, there is a high percentage of French Canadian who visit this resort compared to English speaking. This was a a first for me. So, be prepared to try and speak more than just Spanish. ?
An issue I do have are the smokers. Most were very courteous however, please stop butting out in the grass, beach ground etc. The remnants are not biodegradable and it is filthy making the resort look nasty! ?
We thoroughly enjoyed our travel to Samana and our stay at the Eurostars Grand Cayacoa. Staff was very helpful and gracious, food was good, bathrooms and plumbing had more to be desired (we lost water one day, sometimes it would be cold), but it was quickly resolved. It was a smaller hotel with two restaurants, a spa, one pool and a lovely small beach. We spent most of our time at the beach and had a fantastic time. There is an elevator that goes down to the beach which was out of service for a few days, so the staff set up a shuttle service for those who needed it. The alternative was a scenic staircase (great for steps!). On a particularly calm day on the water, we had many tropical fish come right up to the beach and it was the most amazing experience.
A bridge over the water also allowed us to watch the wildlife below and many people saw manta rays! We only saw fish and starfish on the day we went, but it was fantastic. If you get lucky, you may even see whales from that bridge in the bay of Samana. Overall, I highly recommend this location, hotel and Samana. Would love to return.
Frantz from the front desk was very helpful. Jennifer, Mambo and Madeline from the entertainment crew + the dance troupe were all amazing. They work hard all day to entertain, and they do a great job of it!
★★★★Weneedthesun -
Verified PurchaserWyndham Alltra Samana: Good enough
Review of Wyndham Alltra Samana
Location - It is a long way from the airport. Expect close to 2 hours depending on how many other resorts the bus stops at (our’s only stopped at one other). The flights leaving Toronto 2:30 will get to the resort by about 10 . We were told by others we would get a ham sandwich upon arrival since all the restaurants are closed at 10. However, we were able to grab a few leftovers from the buffet. Tip – go to the washroom before you leave the airport.
• Rooms – quite lovely, modern, well laid out, shower is huge with rainhead shower head plus a hand held. Can’t comment on their shampoo/conditioner since I brought my own. They do give you lots of nice fluffy towels, including facecloths and toilet paper. To the point where they rarely had to restock. I liked that. AC works well. Sliding door actually is newish and works well. Enough storage. Room (premium) had no hairdryer,robe or umbrella. Front desk gave us a hairdryer. We were in building 7, close to beach and premium pool. 10 minute walk to buffet & restaurants.
• Staff – nice but very little English.
• Beach – lovely, random few rocks in first couple feet but don’t really need water shoes. Very little shade; if you must have, purchase and bring shade umbrellas from Amazon. Grassy area is nice if you don’t want sand in everything and much more personal space. On the sandy part, you may find others plunking down in your personal space. That was unpleasant and rude.
• Pool – we only went in Premium pool twice – it is nice. The main pool looked nice too.
• Drinks/bars – mixed drinks were awful – made with syrups which were gross. Skip them if you can. For us, the main drawback of the resort is no nice bar to relax after dinner. All evening activities, such as they were, are held at a brightly lit open bar by the main pool with plastic chairs. Entertainment is basically zero, with a DJ playing music backed up with the sound of plastic chairs scraping on the floor.
• Snack bar on beach – great hamburgers, pizzas etc but expect 45 minutes to 1 hour wait. Quite disorganized. And really busy – usually few available tables.
• Las Galeras -nice enough little town but not touristy at all. Small grocery stores etc.
• Bonus – horses on property next door. Lovely.
• Overall, nice but not enough to do the long transfers to/from airport and the food not great.
★★★★Dean -
Verified PurchaserThe Eurostars Grand Cayacoa: Pretty resort for a chill vacation
We had been here 6 years ago when it was owned by GrBajPrpe so were interested to see the changes. Still remains one of the most pictuesque resorts I have been. Very concise layout allows easy settle in. Recommend Seaview room.Sunrises are amazing as you look out from the raised peninsula setting. Activities are scarce. You need to instigate your own fun as it is a smaller resort. Food and drinks were decent though a bit diminished from the GrBajPrpe standard. An example is Expresso Martini were an extra charge. We did enjoy the Brandy Alexanders every night though.I walked to the town alone and went to a pharmacy to get Sunscreen. Only 1km away. Felt quite comfortable. If I was with a buddy I likely would explore Samana more. Seems like a nice little town.
★★Private -
Verified PurchaserThe Eurostars Grand Cayacoa: WestJet trip to Eurostars Grand Cayacoa
It is a very old hotel while the entrance is majestic the rooms need some renovations. Their septic system is not quite functional had a wrenching odour for a few days. Toilet paper must be put in a garbage can and the tub/shower needs to be clean and modernized. The elevator was not functioning intermittently . Every floor should be numbered outside the elevator so we know which floor we are on, cant trust the elevator. The food was good but very repetitive, lots of pork. Gravy is not gluten free and few GF choices other than salads or fruit.
You definitely have to have good Spanish as almost everywhere not much English or French spoken. Need to use you hands a lot.
WestJet was yet another experience. Packed like sardines, toilets not functioning properly and the food sucks. Mostly senior citizens were on our flight couldn’t pass each other in the isles very cramped and no business class available.
★★★★Private -
Verified PurchaserThe Eurostars Grand Cayacoa: Still learning
Great food and views of the sea and town are awesome… staff in common areas is lacking and some training required…/ they’ll get there I’m sure with additional staff and training. Kudos to Daniel and Evelyn… as well as the staff at the lobby!! Room 512 cleaning staff gets best service kudos??. Despite an unwell night, enjoyed our time! Gracias Amigas!!
Location4/5
Value4/5
Food4/5
Beach4/5
Rooms4/5
Service4/5
★★★★Private -
Verified PurchaserThe Eurostars Grand Cayacoa: Still learning
Great food and views of the sea and town are awesome… staff in common areas is lacking and some training required…/ they’ll get there I’m sure with additional staff and training. Kudos to Daniel and Evelyn… as well as the staff at the lobby!! Room 512 cleaning staff gets best service kudos??. Despite an unwell night, enjoyed our time! Gracias Amigas!!
Amazing location, great service, very good food, friendly staff, beautiful beach! We will come back one day and bring our friends. A great place to unwind and enjoy nature away from crowded tourist spots. Take excursions.
Location5/5
Value4/5
Food5/5
Beach5/5
Rooms4/5
Service5/5
★★★★Private -
Verified PurchaserBahia Principe Explore El Portillo: Lovely Resort
The size of the resort is perfect! Everything is within a comfortable walking distance and the beach, pool and entertainment and main dining area are all centrally located. Our Junior Suite Superior was well-maintained and clean. The food was good, everything was kept very clean, and the resort staff were friendly and helpful. Our WestJet rep, Maria, was a gem. The long stretch of beach was very walkable, however less swim-able due to the crashing waves and sharp coral. The weather was quite windy and rainy but there were many sunny breaks. We highly recommend the whale watching excursion to Samana Bay - it was an amazing experience. Overall we enjoyed our stay but would probably not go back due to the weather patterns in that area - no fault due to the actual resort.
★★Superfruitfly -
Verified PurchaserBahia Principe Escape Samana: Definitely Not 5 Star
Upon check in, we were told that our mini fridge would only contain 1 bottle of water. No pop or complimentary beer. We were also told that only 2 of the advertised restaurants were open, both of which served shellfish mostly that I am extremely allergic to. There was no poolside service (no one to offer drinks or pick up our empty glasses). Same with the buffet...I would sit down but wouldn't be offered water or coffee until I was almost done with my meal. A few nights i was served RAW chicken breast and fish. Not just undercooked, but raw. No beach bar. No daytime entertainment of any kind or any sports. Night time entertainment was usually just a live local singer for a couple hours only. No dancers or anything. Resort is 18+ but it was really 70+. Our room had a nice view but it was right next to the main road so we could see cars and constant exhaust and racing. Very hard to nap. Beach is stunning, water is crystal clear with no seaweed or rocks. That was probably the best part.
★★★★Private -
Verified PurchaserWyndham Alltra Samana: Good value
Lobby should have a bar and nightly entertainment. Hard to get change made in lobby. Very loud by the pool at night. Rooms were good and clean. Very nice beach and pool. Overall good value for money. Long bus ride to resort.
The grounds are beautifully maintained very pretty. No faults with our room, very clean, mattress is comfortable.Food good,drinks good.
Good beach,safe swimming.
I would have liked to have some Palapas for shade.
The only fault I had was that no one could speak English or French or German. The main reception desk were able to speak English.
Be aware of long bus ride ( over an hr)
Location4/5
Value4/5
Food4/5
Beach4/5
Rooms4/5
Service4/5
★★★★★Private -
Verified PurchaserBahia Principe Explore El Portillo: Great resort
Just returned from a week at El Portillo, a fantastic resort. From the moment we arrived the staff was friendly and welcoming. Our room in building 25 was great and very convenient to all amenities, cleaning was done daily to a high standard.
The staff at the Sports and Beach bars were all very good, too numerous to name individually.
The buffet staff was likewise friendly and hardworking.
We dined at the Greek, Italian and French restaurants, all very good.
The entertainment staff was very lively and engaging, with a special shoutout to Gerson, one of the friendliest and lively staff members we have ever encountered.
The beach is very nice and overall a fantastic resort.
★★★★★AJ Hamilton -
Verified PurchaserBahia Principe Explore El Portillo: Trilingual Staff- Hotel Gem "Hidden In Plain Sight"
I was surprised by the gorgeous solitude of the beaches while walking a half hour in each direction ~Beyond- the East and West edges of the Bahia Principe. Where is everyone, this place is gorgeous! Buffets and A-La-Carte were amazing, specifically the Brazillian giant BBQ red meat skewers [3 feet?] the waitstaff walk around with and slice fresh to your plate. Pool was a good size but we prefer the Ocean, and they provided afternoon and evening entertainment including fire performers, mixed dance troops, and singers. Nearby EcoTours highly recommend LimonWaterfall [horseback through the muddy trail then you climb down 800-900Meters of big stairs] please bring $25USD cash tip, we were not told ahead and it's awkward offering "volunteers" who look after the horses a payment via CreditCard. Also I suggest to tip the Bahia bar staff 50DRP or $1USD for each 2 drinks [small cups] you order or your Margarita will be sugar and salt with a splash of booze. Alternatively order beer on tap. They work really hard and "All Inclusive" doesn't mean they see much of your nightly fee. Vibe is relaxed, good mix of ages for guests, hotel wasn't overrun by screaming running children but there also weren't the loaded and loud party crews. Put your hands over your ears during the jingle at the beginning of the entertainment or it will get stuck in your head and you'll be singing it on your Excursions. Literally when I Googled it, the A.I. said guests noted singing it years after being on the trip. :]
★★★★B and K -
Verified PurchaserViva V Samana by Wyndham: Judge for yourself
We almost cancelled based on the reviews. We were there January 24-31, 2026. The one and only complaint we have is that the food was never warm enough. It wouldn’t matter what restaurant you went to the food was cold. As for people saying they were sick, you’re in a different country eating and drinking differently so yes you may have an upset stomach. We all ate the food and no one was ill. Take what you read with a grain of salt. After being there we are glad we didn’t cancel. We will return.
★Private -
Verified PurchaserThe Eurostars Grand Cayacoa: Nice resort but….
The beach is public. And it is nice but too small for the amount of people.
I had 2 nights of no sleep as the ceiling in my bathroom was leaking a substantial amount of water.
No compensation was offered to me.
Location1/5
Value1/5
Food2/5
Beach2/5
Rooms3/5
Service3/5
★★★★★Private -
Verified PurchaserBahia Principe Explore El Portillo: Nice surprise
This resort was more than we expected. The front desk staff were outstanding and went beyond their regular responsibilities. Special shout-out to Danny, the general manager. He bent over backwards to help with resolving a reservation issue that we had. The entertainment staff was top notch and Victor was the best. Lots of fun.
Location4/5
Value4/5
Food5/5
Beach5/5
Rooms3/5
Service5/5
★★★Private -
Verified PurchaserThe Eurostars Grand Cayacoa: Nice, but not what advertised....
The hotel sat empty for the last 2 years and just re-opened in November, and you could tell. Our toilet never worked the first day, they fixed it same day though. We lost all water 3 times in our 2 weeks. Inconvenient when its out for hours at a time before dinner. Our sliding glass door didn't close properly. Rooms facing the town and the hotel entertainment court had to put up with loud music until 3am. First from the hotel entertainment until 11pm, then from the town disco/bar?? continued until 3am?? we moved rooms to the poolside and it was quiter there. Management told me they were trying to get town council to deal with the late music. Also got undercooked hamburgers at the beach bbq, they should use a meat themometer.
All that aside, the staff and all the food everywhere else is awesome. The buffet is good, the 2 a la carte restaurants are nice, great food. Awesome people work there.
We went there for the location.
Samana Bay is a great whale watching bay from Jan to March.
We went to the Eurostar Grand Caycao thinking it was a 5 star and payed for a 5 star.
But its at best a 4 star.
★★★★★Eddie -
Verified PurchaserThe Eurostars Grand Cayacoa: Place to appreciate life!
14 days of peace, Amazing food, Fantastic atmosphere, Perfect service. Considering the world is upside down, this place let you forget about everything.
Food and fruits so fresh daily.
Location fenomenal!
I would recommend a separate location for smoking. The beach is small, but you can walk in the small town. Our room was , ocean view. Fantastic. The place is still under reno. Let's not forget Covid caused financial damage everywhere. I really enjoyed!
Location5/5
Value5/5
Food5/5
Beach3/5
Rooms5/5
Service5/5
★★★★★Eddie -
Verified PurchaserThe Eurostars Grand Cayacoa: Place to appreciate life!
14 days of peace, Amazing food, Fantastic atmosphere, Perfect service. Considering the world is upside down, this place let you forget about everything.
Food and fruits so fresh daily.
Location fenomenal!
I would recommend a separate location for smoking. The beach is small, but you can walk in the small town. Our room was , ocean view. Fantastic. The place is still under reno. Let's not forget Covid caused financial damage everywhere. I really enjoyed!
Location5/5
Value5/5
Food5/5
Beach3/5
Rooms5/5
Service5/5
★★★★★Private -
Verified PurchaserBahia Principe Explore El Portillo: Excellent Resort
This resort is spotless. The staff are amazing. The grounds are beautiful. But the best part is the beach - the miles and miles of beach you have access to and can walk freely, explore the reefs, enjoy the palm trees.
Location5/5
Value4/5
Food4/5
Beach5/5
Rooms4/5
Service5/5
★★★★★Private -
Verified PurchaserViva V Samana by Wyndham: Amazing resort
Just returned from Viva V Wyndham in Dominican
Resort is the perfect size for a quiet couples vacation.
Beach was great, Hotel clean and well maintained.
Food was great
Close proximity to the airport.
Great vacation.
Location5/5
Value5/5
Food5/5
Beach5/5
Rooms4/5
Service5/5
★★★Skipd -
Verified PurchaserThe Eurostars Grand Cayacoa: A work in progress
The hotel has only been open since November so it needs time. Only some of the resort is open. The description suggest a newly remodelled resort but that isnt the case. Only two restaurants are open and one rather small pool for the number of guests. The staff is friendly but many dont speak English so be prepared to practise your Spanish.
The location is spectacular. It sits on a cliff overrlooking the ocean on one side and the town of Samana on the other. If you go get an ocean view room.
Another issue is what I might call crowd control. Smokers are everywhere. They need to establish smoking areas and enforce them. The same goes for noise after midnight. The activites staff are entusiastic but everything around the pool activities is very loud. This is very much a resort for young people and there is no quiet area or pool to go to.
In general I hope this resort makes it and in time they might get the resort completley finished and bring it up to a 4 or 5 star resort.
★★★★Ernesto -
Verified PurchaserWyndham Alltra Samana: Wonderful experience but few things to fix
The hotel is nice, clean, well maintained in the outdoors, beach and pools are pretty good, chairs in the beach are available in good quantities, enjoyable place to stay. And the personnel was fantastic, front desk, doorbell, housekeeping, buffet service, all personnel was so kind.
However, the hotel management needs to take care of few services, some rooms have the shower manifold inverted and the hot water is difficult to come out. Also, and this is critical, after 10:30pm there is not a single option opened for food, this is a big issue, they need to create an option for food that last longer, it is not acceptable to have a food blackout from 10:30pm until next morning at 7:30am!!!
Same for coffee and hot tea, they can set a coffee machine as the one around the hotel, in the lobby that works all fay around, or at least during the blackout period.
Another big issue, the a la carte restaurants need to improve, it is not acceptable to wait 2hrs plus to eat in a restaurant that does not accept reservations, lack of personnel was evident, just 4 workers to attend all the floor, there was tables waiting to be set for more than an hour and a big group of customers waiting in the lobby to be sit inside.
We had an amazing stay at Bahia Principe Grand Samaná and couldn’t have chosen a better resort for a peaceful getaway. A special thanks to Colleen, who helped us pick this resort — it was absolutely the perfect choice for what we were looking for.
The resort is quiet, relaxing, and very well maintained, ideal for couples or anyone wanting to disconnect from busy, crowded resorts. The private beach is beautiful, clean, and never overcrowded. You can always find a quiet spot to sit, listen to the waves, and truly relax.
The food exceeded our expectations. There was a great variety at every meal, with fresh ingredients and flavorful options. The à la carte restaurants were excellent, and even the buffet felt well-curated rather than repetitive. We especially enjoyed the fresh seafood and desserts.
Staff throughout the resort were friendly, professional, and genuinely helpful, making the stay feel welcoming from start to finish. The rooms were spacious, clean, and offered stunning ocean views that made mornings and evenings extra special.
Overall, Bahia Principe Grand Samaná is a hidden gem — peaceful, scenic, and perfect for a relaxing vacation.
★★★★Private -
Verified PurchaserBahia Principe Explore El Portillo: Great resort plenty to do beautiful location
Very nice and well maintained resort with an excellent staff. The food is good with plenty of choice. The beach is very pleasant but the surf can get rough at times. There were plenty of people snorkeling but I don't so can't comment on how good the view is. Lot's of entertainment and activities and kids seemed to be having lots of fun. The pavilion that acts as reception and lobby is beautiful and a very pleasant place to just sit and do nothing out of the sun.
Would definitely recommend for couples and families.
★★★★Private -
Verified PurchaserViva V Samana by Wyndham: Great beach and locatiom
Our room was in the newer section and very nice. The resort was well maintained and nicely decorated for Christmas. There were some minor shortcomings; sun loungers had no cushions, towels and sheets all looked grey, food and drink quality was inconsistent. We enjoyed ourselves very much and the price was great so we would recommend.
Location5/5
Value4/5
Food3/5
Beach5/5
Rooms4/5
Service4/5
★★★★★Private -
Verified PurchaserBahia Principe Explore El Portillo: Great resort!
We love our vacations at this resort. This is the third time we have been to this resort because it is everything we are looking for. The main attraction is the beach which is a lovely sandy beach. There is no need for beach shoes as the sand continues into the water for some distance. Further out there is a coral reef so there are great opportunities to snorkel if you wish. Many people feed the fish so you can also see them without a snorkel. The buffet at the resort is lovely! Great food at every meal! The a la carte restaurants are fabulous! The Brazilian would have to be our favourite one followed by the Italian. This is just my opinion and my preferences, however. The room was fine for the price we paid with a few little things that could have been improved upon.
★★★Tom G -
Verified PurchaserViva V Samana by Wyndham: Best beach ever, However !!!!
Our third visit to this resort and 4th time to this beach. In all of our travels, this is the 2nd best beach ever to walk and experience. The V room with plunge was worth the little extra expense, doubles the patio size, although the pool was cool and you couldn’t retract the awning for the sun to warm up the pool. Pina coladas were 7/10 from a slushy machine. Other drinks like a Singapore Sling, Mai Tai, were, well let’s just say horrible. Wish I would have booked the bungalows. Otherwise, our room was in the 600 block. Request 600 block rooms 6111-1114. Or 6211-6214, 6311-6314 as these are on the end on the 6 block and have full ocean view. 6314 would be the ultimate private balcony.
There’s no need for the towel game as there are enough lounge chairs, but you do need to get up by 7 and play the game when you need the cushion for the lounge.
MOST IMPORTANTLY, there is a gastronomic virus circulating and the Air Canada rep tells you although Air Canada doesn’t. We both were sick for 2 days. Apparently all over the DR. The restaurants are so/so. Menu doesn’t change.
For the price, it’s a good deal.
★★★★Private -
Verified PurchaserBahia Principe Explore El Portillo: very nice!
beach:+++++ clean water, no seaweed, no wave, snorkeling close : just wonderful!!!
-------- not enough palapas; towels are very thin and old;
rooms:+++++ bed is very good, pillows are very good, very clean;
-------AC is not great, very old bathrooms, TV is too old and small,
everything else is REALLY WONDERFUL!!!
don't expect any great shows or super singers..
Location5/5
Value4/5
Food4/5
Beach5/5
Rooms3/5
Service5/5
★★★★★Private -
Verified PurchaserBahia Principe Explore El Portillo: Great Resort
I have been to a few Bahia Principe resorts and this one rates at the top.
Great layout, food and staff.
I would definitely recommend this resort. It is about an hour drive from the airport and the coach was very comfortable.
I had heard I would want water shoes but not at all as the Corral areas were obvious and all soft sand wear you swan. I snorkelled several times and always found schools of fish quickly along the coral areas. We walked barefoot 45minutes either direction from resort and not a stone or sharp shell even. Lovely area. Well maintained grounds. Never felt overfull Buffet or most sitting areas. Bar drinks were well done e.g. Expresso Martinees, Mojitos or Brandy Alexanders.
Was disappointed there was no Pickleball lines on the tennis court. Bahai Principe is missing out on PB group vacationers.
Food was good. I usually only do the Buffets at resorts, as I don't like to have a scedule, but did find the Ala Carts to be better and worth attending.
★★★Private -
Verified PurchaserBahia Principe Escape Samana: Adults-only, cozy resort with a great ocean swimming area. It’s definitely not a 5-star property, and with low occupancy many bars and restaurants were closed. There are also lots of stairs throughout the resort.
Check-in was terrible. Our group had 28 people, and because we were the first on the bus, we were the last off. We waited over an hour to be checked in, with no refreshments offered, and the restaurant was closed. When we finally reached the front desk, we were told that despite booking a room with two double beds, we were assigned a king room. After such a long wait, this was unacceptable. Knowing the resort wasn’t at capacity, we asked for it to be addressed immediately. Rosa, somewhat begrudgingly, disappeared for nearly 30 minutes before eventually giving us a room with two double beds.
We were happy with the room overall. Cleanliness was just okay—the floors and bathroom were only marginally clean, and this low standard remained throughout the week. The sheets were stained, and the towels were worn. We arrived expecting a 5-star hotel, but once we adjusted our mindset to a 3-star experience, everything felt more reasonable.
Our room, located near the end of the hall on the 3rd floor, was a long walk but very quiet with a beautiful ocean view. The stairs didn’t bother us, but having the beach bar closed and needing to walk up to the pool bar each time was inconvenient. Only the buffet and two rotating à la carte restaurants were open. While understandable given the low occupancy, it would have been nice to have at least the beach bar open for limited daytime service.
Overall, I would return. You can’t control the inconsiderate guests who reserve chairs with towels despite the signs, though fortunately there were plenty of alternative spots to sit. It was also surprising how many people used speakerphone in the dining room and other public areas—rude, but not something the hotel can easily manage.
Most of the staff were great. Rosa at the front desk was difficult to deal with, but the lobby bartender was amazing. The lobby music was also too loud and would have been much more enjoyable if it were salsa, bachata, or something fun and lively.
We had a wonderful week away. The resort needs some updating and one of the restaurants wasn't open and 2 bars. It would be perfect if those were know before we booked. The pool bar was good but sometimes you had to wait a long time for a drink and they weren't busy. The bus to the resort was old as well.
We had a wonderful week away. The resort needs some updating and one of the restaurants wasn't open and 2 bars. It would be perfect if those were know before we booked. The pool bar was good but sometimes you had to wait a long time for a drink and they weren't busy. The bus to the resort was old as well.
Location3/5
Value4/5
Food3/5
Beach4/5
Rooms3/5
Service4/5
★★★★★Private -
Verified PurchaserBahia Principe Escape Samana: Great Last Minute Trip
We are just home from our 4th stay at the Bahia Principe Grand Samana (formerly Luxury). It is a small resort with great customer service, gorgeous views and comfortable accomodations. Some of the services were not available being at the start of the season, i.e. limited bars, entertainment and restaurants but we knew that when we booked and it did not affect our enjoyment. We had a very relaxing week and would highly recommend.
Location5/5
Value5/5
Food5/5
Beach5/5
Rooms5/5
Service5/5
★★★★★Private -
Verified PurchaserViva V Samana by Wyndham: Decent resort for reasonable price
Everything was good - beach, ocean, food, bars, room, but one nuisance should be mentioned. For some reason they organise the live performances with the local entertainers every evening right at the central plaza next to the main restaurant between the buildings ((though there is a special theatre next to the beach remotely from the room buildings) and such performances usually do not end till 10pm or even later. My first priorities at the resort are always the beach and the ocean and I go to bed rather early moreover in November it is dark after 6pm. And I go to the beach before 8am. So, with the loud music from the performances there is no chance to get asleep before 10pm. I really cannot understand why they do not begin the shows earlier and do not wrap up before 9pm. Only the guests at the buildings 5 and 6 can sleep relatively well, those buildings are protected by the buildings 2 and 3.
★★★★Private -
Verified PurchaserBahia Principe Explore El Portillo: Great week getaway !!
Just returned from a relaxing week in paradise. Bahia Principe El Portillo did not disappoint. Beautiful beach, good food, great staff and beautiful grounds. We did have some issues arranging AlaCarte dinners but managed to get 4 booked for a group of 10 people. Rooms were spacious but a little tired. Could use some spicing up. 4th time at this resort and will go back.
Location5/5
Value4/5
Food4/5
Beach5/5
Rooms4/5
Service4/5
★★★★Private -
Verified PurchaserBahia Principe Explore El Portillo: Not a 5 stars resort!
Too many people in resort. No places on the beach or around the pool. Waiting in line to go in the main buffet (not enough space). You pay for premium drinks (so it is not all included). Food is average more oriented to the Canadian taste: bacon, burgers, fries, pizza, pasta, omelettes.
Spectacular views, very nice rooms, amazing staff, really good buffet, a la cart ok Lots of chairs by pool and beach. The girls at front desk are super friendly and helpful. Very quiet resort so if you are looking to stay up late or party this is not the place for you. You are not able to walk anywhere from resort.
Location5/5
Value5/5
Food5/5
Beach5/5
Rooms5/5
Service5/5
★★★★★Private -
Verified PurchaserBahia Principe Explore El Portillo: Amazing time
A very lovely place to visit. The resort is absolutely immaculate, the staff are wonderful and the food was great. The beach was clean and the water absolutely beautiful. We enjoyed ourselves immensely. A beautiful place you must visit!
Location5/5
Value5/5
Food5/5
Beach5/5
Rooms4/5
Service5/5
★★★★★Private -
Verified PurchaserBahia Principe Escape Samana: we loved it
Nicely laid out grounds, lots of stairs climbing practice - we did not mind - for good exercise. The resort has some style - hopefully Bahia will keep it up if renovations are being planned. Good room service and good food. We will likely come again to this location.
Location5/5
Value4/5
Food4/5
Beach4/5
Rooms4/5
Service4/5
★★★★★Private -
Verified PurchaserBahia Principe Explore El Portillo: very good family resort, not good for parties lovers
Resort is not very big but very well organized. One huge restaurant for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Food selection is amazing - fish , meats, fruits. Everything is fresh and tasty. There is also snack bar on a beach which is OK. A la carte restaurants I would not recommend, food is OK but in general it is just a waste of time.
Beach is amazing. Nice sandy beach with lots of chairs and shady spots. Beach is quite long for this size of resort, never looks crowded. You can do snorkelling right on the beach.
For kids they have kids club and nice waterpark
Night entertainment is pretty limited but generally it is OK .
As a negative, I can admit only poor internet connection in rooms. Weak signal on a beach. For good connection you should stay in a lobby or in restaurant.
★★★★★Stu and Brennie -
Verified PurchaserBahia Principe Explore El Portillo: Amazing Samana Resort!
- Beautiful accommodations!
- Excellent Buffet and a la carte restaurants. I'm celiac and had no problems finding gluten-free food.
- Lots of shaded areas at the beach
- Great pool area. Both the pool and beach are in close proximity to the accommodations.
- Excellent entertainment and activities.
-We went on one excursion to the National Park and had a great time.
-Yoga in the morning on the beach with Jairo was a 10/10. Great way to start your day!
Location5/5
Value4/5
Food5/5
Beach5/5
Rooms5/5
Service5/5
★★★Private -
Verified PurchaserBahia Principe Escape Samana: Nothing to do here
If you're a solo traveller, stay away!
This is a couples resort, even though it's not advertised as such.
I use the term "resort loosely, as it's mostly just a hotel with a buffet, not much else.
There is no entertainment, no nightlife, no activities. Even the seniors visiting were complaining about this!
I unfortunately got locked in and couldn't cancel, so I had no choice but to stay here... thank goodness for excursions, or I would have died of boredom.
If you're a couple who wants to do nothing but eat, drink and sleep by the pool/beach, then go here. Otherwise, it is not worth it.
Also, the beds are extremely hard, I woke up with sore hips every morning.
★★★★BillB -
Verified PurchaserWyndham Alltra Samana: Great Family Vacation
Rooms were nice and clean. Beach was great, pools were great...shallow for little ones and also a deeper pool. Samana is beautiful, lush vegetation and mountainous on the drive to resort. The resort ground were kept beautifully. The Service was great and the staff were great. Only drawback was food was just ok but you won't go hungry. The a la cartes were ok and although buffet did not provide a huge selection we always found something to eat. A nice touch that you don't have to book reservations. This resort was perfect for our children and grandchildren. They really enjoyed this resort. It is on the smaller side but we like that and it was also a quiet resort which was perfect for us. There was another a la carte restaurant but it is under renovations. I would recommend booking with Tripcentral and use agent Kevin Dupuis. By the way I want to say once again the staff are great here. If the food was improved a bit nothing at all to complain about. Th
★★★★★Angelika -
Verified PurchaserViva V Samana by Wyndham: What a beautiful place
We had a amazing time in this beautiful hotel.The stuff is well trained and very eager to help you out and feel you home.The food was great. The beach is fantastic very long great for beach walks and not many people's. I would definitely go back to this hotel.
Location5/5
Value5/5
Food5/5
Beach5/5
Rooms5/5
Service5/5
★★★★★Private -
Verified PurchaserBahia Principe Escape Samana: Perfect for escape!
It’s an amazing hotel if you are romantic personality and admire the view. The beach is very private, you can read your book without anyone trying to sell you sombrero; it’s quiet around the pool, just lounge or instrumental music (thank you), the food was ok, I could find something tasty for each meal and the rooms obviously need more care, especially in the bathroom. But who cares when you are among all these beauty? I’ve visited spa as well and it was pretty decent.
Location5/5
Value5/5
Food4/5
Beach5/5
Rooms3/5
Service4/5
★★★★★Cindy_91 -
Verified PurchaserBahia Principe Explore El Portillo: Exceeded expectations!
I recently stayed at this exceptional resort, and I can confidently say that the experience far exceeded my expectations. The photos on the website simply don’t do it justice! From the moment we arrived, it was clear that this place is committed to quality and service. The food was of the highest standard, and what impressed me most was how it was always available. Whether it was a quick snack or a full meal, there was never a shortage of options.
The staff was always visible and working tirelessly to maintain the property. Bathrooms were constantly being cleaned, and I even noticed them painting and touching up various areas—no corner was left unattended. The pool and pool bar were spacious, never overcrowded, and perfect for relaxing or having fun. The beach was stunning, and there was so much to do, from water sports to lounging by the shore.
One of the highlights of our stay was the snorkeling. My kids and I went three times, and it was all included at no extra cost. It honestly felt like we were swimming in a giant fish tank, surrounded by thousands of vibrant fish—such a magical experience!
Entertainment was always on point, with activities running throughout the entire day to keep everyone engaged. The only suggestion I’d have is to start the nighttime parties a little earlier. My kids were so excited to join in, but they were often too tired by the time the fun began. An earlier start time would be perfect!
Overall, I would highly recommend this resort to anyone looking for a fantastic family vacation experience. We had an unforgettable time, and I’ll definitely be telling everyone I know about this amazing place!
★★★★★Private -
Verified PurchaserBahia Principe Explore El Portillo: Great week
Hotel was really clean and the staff was awesome and the food was great. kids waterpark the pool and the ocean was all excellent. The entertainment at night was excellent. Weather for the week 28 deg and sun every day
Location5/5
Value5/5
Food5/5
Beach5/5
Rooms5/5
Service5/5
★Private -
Verified PurchaserViva V Samana by Wyndham: Honest Review
Pros
* Beautiful beach, raked daily
* Clean updated guest rooms
* Friendly staff
* Short commute from Samana Airport
* Excellent service & food in a la carte restaurants
Cons
* Use of drones on the beach (invasion of privacy)
* In order to get a chair on the beach, you must get up before 6 AM to set out a towel on a chair
* Smoking in posted non smoking areas
* Dress code not enforced for a la carte dining (guests wearing shorts, printed t-shirts, flip flops, etc)
* Not much hot water, for showers, in the evening
* Only 1 bar to service both the pool and beach guests, always a queue
* Under staffed throughout resort
* Very difficult to make reservations at the a la carte restaurants (early times seemed to be gone, when the dates opened up 4 days prior)
* Beach towel availability was hit and miss due to no exchange program, lack of guests returning towels, towels not being collected at the end of the day from the beach and pool
* Club Viva members jumping the queue for drink service, having their own roped off area of the beach, rooftop bar, their own area in the buffet, etc.
* Difficult to find a clean table, or one with a full place setting, at the buffet (always searching for utensils, napkins or glassware)
* Difficult to get coffee/tea at breakfast or wine at dinner due to what seemed like a lack of staffing in the buffet dining area
* Club Viva salespeople constantly hounding
* Food poisoning on Tuesday, February 25th (which was confirmed with other guests as they too had it on the same day). Resort does not consider it food poisoning unless you visit the doctor and report it, which is difficult to do when unable to leave the room
* Feral cats/dogs all over the resort. Witnessed a cat using the beach as a litter box
Grounds are nice and well maintained.
Staf is caring and welcoming.
Rooms are running down, need facelift.
In our room on 4th floor 425 we woke up in the middle of the night from strong strikes of damaged roof during strong wind.
When we changed the room to 419, we found out that bath tub there is leaking.
Location4/5
Value4/5
Food4/5
Beach4/5
Rooms3/5
Service5/5
★★★★Private -
Verified PurchaserBahia Principe Explore El Portillo: Great place to go
We really enjoyed staying at this resort.
Everything was central. There was transport around the resort which is very important to us.
The beach was very calm so easy to get in and out of.
Food was good.
Needed more bartenders.
Certainly would recommend this resort to everyone and we will be returning.
The resort was very peaceful to start with. The rooms were large and spacious. To bad that the outdoor bar by the front lobby was closed it would have been a great place for an evening drink in the cool of the night. The food was really good, could have used more than two reservations for the week. All in all it was a good experience in Samana at the Bahia Principe Grand Samana
Location4/5
Value4/5
Food4/5
Beach4/5
Rooms5/5
Service5/5
★★★★Diah -
Verified PurchaserViva V Samana by Wyndham: Great resort, small, adults only!!
Liked the small more intimate resort. Good music, and shows but nit overly loud and noisy. Very nice room. We did get sick, likely due to food or drinks, as did many other guests. We were very disappointed by this!
Location5/5
Value4/5
Food3/5
Beach5/5
Rooms5/5
Service4/5
★★Jenn -
Verified PurchaserBahia Principe Explore El Portillo: Rude staff
The hotel was fine. The rooms were not cleaned properly each day. Dirty towels and face cloths were left on the floor for the staff to change out but instead, they just left them there. The front desk staff were shady. When a ground floor room was requested, they said they would do it for a 50$ fee. When the woman produced her CC, they told her it had to be cash only. They turned the lights off in the lobby at 11pm even though a group of us were playing cards. When we asked them to turn them back on, they were very confrontational saying they were on a timer, but the night before when they went off, they turned them back on when we asked (different staff). They rolled their eyes at us when we asked for a Trolley lift to the water park, they made no accommodation for us getting zero a la cartes all week, and they completely ignored the kids when they went to the swim up bar for a drink. The sand fleas were bad and the beach is open to locals so you get zero time to relax because you're bombarded by solicitation.
★★★★★Suppermayor22 -
Verified PurchaserBahia Principe Explore El Portillo: Amazing Resort
Our week at the Bahia in Samana was an excellent experience. We especially owe a gratitude of thanks to Jairo who minds the gym daily. He was very kind and added a Smile to the start of our day. Lidia at client services was outstanding in assisting us with reservations for a la carte dinners and booking a special dinner on the beach. Management of this hotel were exceptional in delivery of client services and any questions or needs we requested. This is an excellent all inclusive trip and we would recommend you try it.
The Bahia Principe Samana is luxury at its finest. The food being served at the buffet and a la carte's is exceptional. The hotel and grounds are maintained to the same level of perfection giving the the Bahia Principe Resorts something to be proud of. We have been to three other Bahia Principe's at other countries and each one is operated and maintained by the same level of pride and distinction.
Amazing place with good food beautiful views
It had private beach
Relaxing vibe
Close by excursions
Great staff
Had a room issue didn’t get 2 beds but got the staff to sort it out on day 3 and all was well
I would go back for sure !
Location5/5
Value4/5
Food5/5
Beach5/5
Rooms5/5
Service5/5
★★★Jimmy -
Verified PurchaserBahia Principe Escape Samana: Great hotel
Hotel, beach,waterfront, and staff where all excellent except the food was very bad. The leftovers seemed like they were served the following day and the exact same meals were served everyday. Very little choices to choose from. Food was not five star. Many people at resort same same thing. For this reason I would not recommend this Hotel.
This hotel lived up to the recommendation and descriptions of our Tripcentral agent Jairus Maus. Since he’d been there he was quite specific and answered all my questions concerning accommodations for my daughter and granddaughter, both strict vegans, the off- property options for exploration, the distance from the airport, etc.
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