Bahia Principe Explore El Portillo: Favourite place to go!

This was my 4th visit to this resort, and the 1st time taking my kids (8,11) and it is perfect! The rooms are spacious, clean and comfortable. The lobby, indoor and out door sitting areas are beautiful and we could always find a spot to sit and have a drink. The pool area is on the small side and busy, but always meticulously clean and the beach is just amazing! The food was excellent there was always something for even our picky eater, and the staff were very pleasant and wonderful.

Cayo Levantado Resort: superb resort

Amazing service,beautiful location,great attention to detail,clean elegant rooms,maybe a litte tired ,lovely beach.Strongly recommend.Ideal for adults.Staff friendly and attentive.Island location very scenicWould return again.

Viva V Samana by Wyndham: Beautiful and relaxing gem

From the moment we arrived our stay was relaxing. Our rooms were ready (earlier than stated check in time). The staff and porters all smiling and welcoming. My husband and I travelled with our two daughters to spend New Years in a beautiful relaxing oasis and to say goodbye to a year best forgotten (2019). And that is exactly what we got. Our rooms for the duration of the stay were kept clean with the mini fridge stocked daily with pop, beer and water. The rooms were modern and beds comfor [... read more]table. We loved the showers with the big rain heads and beautifully tiled floors and walls. The public bathrooms were also very beautiful with carved rock sinks and beautiful local marble tiles. We liked going to the buffet for each meal as opposed to the a la carte restaurants. The wait staff were quick and attentive. There was a large variety of good quality food choices that were varied each night. We tried the Fusion restaurant one night, and while delicious and presented beautifully, we did not want to spend a long time at dinner and preferred to sit around the lobby/bar area and listen to the local talent sipping cocktails and chatting with the friendly and entertaining animation crew or other guests. While the pool area was stunning and welcoming, we ended up spending all of our time down by the beautiful and clean beach. You could walk a long way each direction. We had a blast boogie boarding and playing volleyball. The beach staff from the animation crew to the bartenders were always friendly and smiling. They seemed very happy to be there and enjoyed their jobs along with the guests. We found beach chairs every day but the ever present towel on chairs with nobody in sight was an issue here as it seems to be in every resort. LOVED that the towels did not require towel cards and that we could use as many as we wanted. What a refreshing idea! There were a few animation crew that made our stay especially fun and comfortable. Honourable mention for Miguel Jordan and Adolfo! They just made the trip so fun and cheery. There were others that also stood out but I do not remember their names. The grounds were very beautiful with a large variety of exotic and flowering plants, and extremely well maintained. This resort is not necessarily about the night life as it quieted down fairly quickly and the disco was on the beach so you could not hear it past 10pm. News Years eve on the other hand was extremely well done with an incredible banquet dinner followed by a crazy party by the pool. No expense was spared and food included lobster, any kind of seafood you could want, elaborate dishes and decorations. The party had a light and sound show to rival any I have seen. The staff worked very hard to ensure everyone had a blast. The next morning, the resort was pristine again. I cannot imagine how much work it took to recover the serene beauty of the grounds after such a big party. Bravo Viva Wyndham V Samana!

The Eurostars Grand Cayacoa: Great resort, ok food!

The topography and the resort is beautiful. The views are spectacular! It’s built on a cliff so it’s different than other beach resorts. The food is average but the French restaurant is great. Breakfast buffet is also good with lots of variety - fresh juices, fruits, egg station, etc. You will find something to eat for sure for all 3 meals!!

Bahia Principe Escape Samana: Beautiful Gem!

We spent the most relaxing week at this resort. All our expectations were fulfilled and some more! We were impressed of the quality of the service provided, from cleaners to reception. We will definitely go back to enjoy it over again.

Bahia Principe Grand Samana Roulette: Great time

Hotel is located in the great place. The views of the city, mountains and ocean are very nice. Rooms are very nice and clean. Cleaning staff are great. There are 2 beaches, one is ok, another one is not too good. Entertainment on the beach and on the pool is very nice. Pool is closed at 6 pm, and a beach at 7 pm. Food is good. Evening entertainment wasn't too great. Night club is open from 11pm to 2 am. It wasn't any people there. Overall vacation was great. A lots of sun and swimming.

Cayo Levantado Resort: Just ok, definitely not a 5 star resort

Enjoyed a week away but not what I expected, talked to couples who returned for another getaway and they confirmed food quality and selection has dropped considerably, can’t complain too much about mother nature regarding the beaches ( cloudy and rocky), but I do travel for the water, I was hoping to find a diamond in the rough but this is not it, I will stick with Aruba and Curaçao.

Bahia Principe Escape Samana: Luxury Bahia Principe Samana

This was our first time to the Dominican Republic and it won't be our last. Upon arrival we were checked in and in our room in no time at all. The room was absolutely beautiful with a view of Samana Bay. The grounds were very well kept and the resort was super clean and beautiful. Food was good especially the a la cartes. The staff were super friendly and helpful and made us feel welcome. For those who love to party, this is not the place for you. It is a quiet resort with a small beach and [... read more] crystal clear waters. They had some activities both day and in the evening. For people with mobility problems this resort has a lot of steps so it may not be for you either. Overall we had a great time and are considering returning next May. See you all there!!!

Viva V Samana by Wyndham: Incredible Place

We had an amazing time the hotel is stunning the beach is peaceful and beautiful. Stayed in the bungalow. Highly recommend. Only complaint very poor pressure in the showers. Food just ok but I am picky.

Cayo Levantado Resort: Amazing resort

This was our second time to Cayo levantado and had a great week. Check in was painfully slow as it was evening and we just wanted to get to the island. Only one staff working the desk for check in and they new ahead of time how many were coming in. That took 1 1/2 hours from us. Once on the island our butler Anthony was there and ready to take us to our room. Our room request was not doable but they did move us up a floor and same location. Food was good all week long. Always able to get  [... read more]a chair by the beach or pool. Grounds are always looking good. Entertainment staff always getting us up and active. We had lots of fun. Yascar was always checking in and keeping us active. Beach bar was always keeping our drinks from running out. Great location and amazing staff. The waves have not been good to the island as it has washed about 100 feet away and creating issues with the sea wall. Three palm trees fell to the ocean in the week. The room always had everything we needed. The wifi was off and on at times. Made new friends and reacquainted with others. Will look forward to returning. We did leave the island for one excursion we planned ourselves. We had lunch in the hill top restaurant the food is amazing and very reasonable priced. El Monte Azul. The round up is not very good but worth the trip.

Bahia Principe Escape Samana: Wonderful hidden gem

This resort was pretty much perfect in all regards, and I have stayed at many others. The hotel is small with 149 rooms so it feels intimate. You get to know the staff who are very happy and seem to be enjoying their jobs whether it be Samuel serving with a smile in the buffet or Savielle dancing up a storm in the evening entertainment or Ramone bartending at the pool bar. You feel like a valued person here not just another guest to deal with. We even made friends with other guests whom we saw o [... read more]ften due to the intimate nature of a small resort. The food is outstanding from the buffets to the a la cartes. A variety of healthy options in the buffet offered lots of choice, and the service was impeccable. The beach is small but offers plenty of room to guests who want to enjoy the warm and relatively calm ocean without thousands of guests from other resorts walking in front of you obstructing the beautiful view. The entertainment is not what the huge resorts offer but we preferred the dancing and music over Hollywood style productions. The work put into the evening entertainment is obvious. The staff work hard to please. Nearby Samana is worth spending a day waundering (but not when a cruise ship is in the port) as is the beach at Bahia Levantado which we got a free boat ride to since our resort was a sister resort right across the ocean from the island it is on. Beautiful beaches there. All in all this was an outstanding week at Luxury Bahia and I can't wait to go again soon which is something I've never said about previous resorts. Definitely a resort to relax and rejuvenate in its calmness. A hidden gem!.

Cayo Levantado Resort: Beautiful resort, great time

The grounds are spectacular, rooms are beautiful and spacious , beach is not the best as the waters were not calm, but there is a public beach we went to, and it was big and lovely, food was delicious drinks were tasty service is a bit slow, but we were not in a rush It is a quiet and relaxing resort, just what i needed.. Overall i would highly recommend this resort to my friends and family

Cayo Levantado Resort: Everything and more! The luxury Bahia Principe Cayo Levantado, Samaná ( Bacardi Island)

We recently celebrated our 50th wedding anniversary at this beautiful location. In all our life, it was the best place we ever stayed at! We flew into Samaná from Montreal and it was seamless. After a 45 minute bus ride from the airport we arrived at the check in on the mainland where we received our room allocation,etc. Initially we were SO disappointed to receive a room in the main building rather than one of the surrounding villa rooms that we had requested. The room we received was beyond  [... read more]all our expectations, We felt like royalty! Everything we experienced was so wonderful......the food, the beaches, the pools, the manicured gardens, the sound of the waves and the birds, the smiling, happy faces of every employee, who couldn’t do enough to make each moment special......especially Anthony ( hope your exams were successful) and Gabriel ( surely he was the manager/owner of the whole resort........if not, he should be!!) At this point in our life we will probably never return ( not that we wouldn’t want to in a heartbeat) but, be assured we have already recommended this little paradise to everyone we know💜

The Eurostars Grand Cayacoa: Love this resort

I absolutely love this resort, food was good, love the beach. The people and service was wonderful! I would definitely revisit this resort with my family and friends. Close to town and loved going shopping in town.

Wyndham Alltra Samana: Great Potential - beautiful location, but service was lacking!

I had heard not to expect much in DR as far as food, better than Cuba but not as good as Mexico or Jamaica for example. I would say it was ok, but I admit I am a bit of a fussy eater ;) The grounds were beautiful, beach pretty nice, bits of seaweed that we only saw them attempting to clean up once in the week and they worked at they're own Dominican pace! The entertainment was terrible - I guess they tried but the worst I have seen! Also, if you wanted food between meals, good luck! Th [... read more]e main buffet was only open at meal times and the Beach BBQ buffet times were not posted, but the bugs around the salad and cold food made it not so appealing! We did eat chicken wings a couple times that were tasty though! Service was not great! Good luck getting a coffee cup or spoon and they don't speak hardly any english so even when you asked they didn't understand or even try and would just disappear. They really didn't serve at the table at all so I saved on tips where I generally would've tried to get into a section with someone who was good and tip every day! Water in your room was another thing, our room was good but the couple we travelled with had none for a couple days ..... you can't drink the tap water so this was an issue. Their phone didn't work, lamp wasn't plugged in because it didn't reach the outlet and they asked 3 times for an iron and a maid came in and put the hair dryer on the bathroom vanity and left without speaking??? Customs at the airport we were finger printed upon entry ..... that's a first! First and last trip to DR sorry to say but I had to try it!

The Eurostars Grand Cayacoa: Beautiful

Took my sister to my happy place. I have been here 5 times now. I can’t get enough of the beautiful view from every where you look . The resort is beautiful.. clean and there is always someone to help you if you have any questions. The staff are amazing. The assistant manager Edward was extremely helpful and always available. The restaurant staff are always with a smile and there for your every needs. The buffet manager dady was always helpful and he always is there to assist. The bartenders [... read more] were all very good. In a good mood and awesome at their job . The locals that work beside the beach are amazing and we made several trips to town to support as many businesses as we could. It’s a beautiful place to go. The shuttle service was fantastic. If you love to go in the water it is warm clean and very gentle. The beach is small but kept exceptionally clean by the staff. The bridge that goes into the ocean is lit up at night which makes the scenery at night even more beautiful. Town is a few minute walk and all the houses are built up the hillside so at night it reminds me of Italy . Great entertaining in the evenings as well as their disco. The rooms are situated where there is a beautiful view wherever you are .We have been to many resorts in many places and this is by far the most beautiful scenic resort we have ever seen. I will return again and again . Thank you for all you do to make your guests have an unforgettable holiday ❤️

Cayo Levantado Resort: Another Excellent Vacation at this Beautiful Resort

This was our second trip to this beautiful island resort and surely not our last! The island and the hotel are absolutely beautiful. As for the staff and management they are really wonderful as well, going out of their way to make your stay that more enjoyable and memorable. Just a few that I would like to mention from the many is Jose our butler who we had the pleasure of meeting on our last visit as well. Always with a smile and ready to assist you with whatever you may need. Thank you once [... read more] again Jose! The guys at the pool bar make the best drinks and are always ready to make you smile. Thank you Eduardo, Erickson and Martin! Will be back soon!

Bahia Principe Escape Samana: Nice and relaxing but beware of food

Summary: Pros: Small boutique hotel with good service and variety of wellness activities. Cons: Beware of buffet food, had food poisoning which tainted our vacation (hence 3/5 rating). Details: We stayed there at the end of August for one full week. We chose this hotel because of its small size and the fitness programs they offered. In general we enjoyed our stay. The hotel's occupancy was apparently at 40%. The benefits were that there were plenty of unoccupied beach and pool chairs. You  [... read more]often had the pool to yourself which we enjoyed. However their activity programs and restaurants were also understandably operating with reduced offerings. The beach itself is pretty and essentially private but rather small (not suitable for long walks along the beach). The team responsible for the fitness activities were very friendly and passionate. We enjoyed all their activities (yoga, paddle board yoga, paddle board aquafit, tai chi, functional training, GAP, martial fit, ...). The people who stood out from the team were Freddy and Nerfri. Their fitness facilities even had a punching bag, kettlebells, and pairs of fitness equipment (ellipticals, treadmills, bikes,...) to allow working out with your significant other. Ramon who worked at the pool bar and José who worked at the restaurants stood out. Their attitude, friendliness, and attentiveness were remarkable. My wife and I are vegetarians so the food selection at times was limited especially when it comes to getting some protein rich foods. However, the staff were usually accommodating about it. I did get food poisoning (in the middle of our vacation) after one of the buffet dinners. It was rather unpleasant and I had to spend a day confined to our room. The vacation wasn't the same afterwards but we tried to make the most out of it. The staff was shocked about the food poisoning incident but accommodated our requests for rather simple food to help with the recovery. Overall it took about two weeks to fully recover from it. A lot of the staff who were aware of it did ask about my well being several times which was nice and thoughtful. Anyway, the hotel and staff generally deserve their 5-star rating. The food poisoning was an unfortunate event and didn't allow us to take full advantage of our vacation. Overall it was a positive experience at Luxury Bahia Principe Samana, but the food poisoning and lengthy recovery only allow us to give it a 3/5 rating.

Bahia Principe Escape Samana: Excellent resort

Resort was excellent. Service was great, staff amazing, food outstanding. Staff very attentive to the guests. Your wine glass is never empty, a server is there asking if you would like more before you take last sip. Food was outstanding. The best I have had at any resort. The Rodizio restaurant (Brazillian BBQ) was fantastic. Buffet was also fantastic. Lots of seafood and cooked perfectly. Beach was smaller, but very clean with clean water. No issue finding lounge chair with umbrella. No wait [... read more] at beach bar. Rooms were very nice and well kept. Nightly entertainment was good - usually dancers or music around pool or in lobby. This is a small, quieter resort. There were no long lines to wait in for food, drink or anything else. We would definitely come here again.

Bahia Principe Explore El Portillo: Good Resort

Rooms were clean need to be renovated but ok, food buffet it was good, I recommend El Pescador restaurant. Beach super nice, we also visited Las Terrenas Town, very nice place in general we had a excellent vacations