The 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.

The 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.

Viva 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.

Viva 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.

Bahia 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 d [... read more]ining 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.

Viva 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  [... read more]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.

Wyndham Alltra Samana: Amazing!

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!

Bahia 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.

Viva 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 rea [... read more]lly 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! ?

The Eurostars Grand Cayacoa: Beautiful views, serene location

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  [... read more]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!

Wyndham 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. • Roo [... read more]ms – 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.

The 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 [... read more] 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.

The 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 fr [... read more]ee 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.

The 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!!

The 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!!

Wyndham Alltra Samana: Absolutely amazing resort

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.

Bahia 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 [... read more] 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.

Bahia 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 [... read more] 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.

Wyndham 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.

Wyndham Alltra Samana: Pretty 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)