Cayo Levantado Resort: Great Resort!!!

Outstanding service, exceptional rooms and attentive hotel staff. Beach was rather windy most days but water was very warm. The only suggestion I would make to the hotel management would be to keep the main bar open beyond 11pm and full room service(wine or beer) was not available but for an extra cost so it's not fully all inclusive. But the overall experience was "Excellente"

Bahia Principe Explore El Portillo: Would definately return!

Hotel was clean, comfortable and grounds were beautiful. They take great care in the appearance of this resort. Food was fantastic in both the buffet and the restaurants. The beach was amazing - only downside is people reserving chairs at the beach.

Cayo Levantado Resort: It was nice - but lots could be improved too

The hotel is lovely. Immaculate grounds and great staff. The buffet food was excellent, however the A La Carte food was poor. We couldn't even get an a la carte restaurant reservation until the 4th night of our stay - that's pretty shameful. When we did get into one of the restaurants, the ambience and service were both great but the food was not. Overdone beef and fish - no taste to it. VERY disappointing. The beverages were beyond terrible. We've gone to several all inclusive's - the bar h [... read more]ere was so watered down there was no point in even ordering drinks. We should not have had to pay for wine that was palatable - not when you're spending $6K on a 7 day vacation - yet we had to buy wine in order to have a nice drink. That increased the cost of the vacation and should not have been necessary. Even the Presidente beer was so watered down it had no taste. The rooms are nice, but the bathroom has no privacy - it has a large window looking into it from the bedroom. There needs to be a blind! The bed was as hard as a rock. I had sore hips every morning - and I like a firm bed - so it wasn't me..it was the bed. The free Wifi did not work most of the time. I ended up being stung with a large bill from my internet service provider for using 3G. That really should not be the case. It sounds like a lot of complaints - the resort is gorgeous but I would not say it is truly 5 star. Not when the food and beverage are substandard. We wish we'd not wasted the money. It was a pile and we were really disappointed.

Cayo Levantado Resort: Closest to Perfection yet!

Let me first start by saying that there are no true 100% perfect experiences. But this resort and its staff have come as close as we think is possible. It's how they handled the unavoidable little problems that happened during our vacation. Nothing remotely serious enough to even list. From the moment we arrived and were greeted to the time we left we were treated like close family members. Our Butler, Gabriel and his team of well trained staff looked after anything that we needed. The [... read more]ir regular question was “is everything perfect?” A special shout out to some of the staff that took great care of us: The Butlers – Gabriel (Head Butler) & Francisco – can't say enough about the service. Main Bar staff – Walki (our main Barman!!) and “Sony” the Bar Manager (but it's Walki's bar.... LOL), and of course Virginia is the “elegant ballerina” who served us when we were not seated at the bar itself. Beach Bar – Abel is the MAN!!! and Jose his faithful sidekick! Restaurants... Diego (Head Chef), Miguel (Food Service Manager) and Alphonso (Maitre D' ) – every night was special because of everyone that was working in the restaurants, but these three people need some accolades for their relentless work at making the eating experiences unforgettable. My friend who was travelling with us is a big fan of lamb... and he was rendered speechless one night (which is really hard to do) by the plate that he was served by Chef William in the Rodizio. Amazing. The Security Team is there ... but usually invisible – just the way I like it – thank you Alphonso! The Animation team as a whole was always ready to make our stay more fun with activities and shows. There are far too many of the staff that I have missed, so I will say “thank you” to them all and a special thanks to the management who have hired such fantastic people – Carlos, Frantz & Lizairi – you are all awesome! The entire staff always smiled while we were there... I think it's because they really enjoy what they are doing. Thank you from Lousha and j

Bahia Principe Escape Samana: One of the best vacations!

We couldn't have asked for a better place to relax and enjoyed the beauty of the surroundings. Maybe a little more rain than expected and probably would chose January or February if was to return. Basically a first class place!

Viva V Samana by Wyndham: Enjoyed our vacation

The resort is lovely. We chose it for its being adults-only and small--144 rooms. Also, it's about 20 minutes by bus through gorgeous hills and views of the ocean to arrive from the Samana airport. The room was on the small side but clean and attractive. Daily the fridge was re-stocked with pop, Presidente, and water. The bathroom had been updated and was pleasing with the glass shower stall. Our king-size bed was comfy. On the balcony were two wicker chairs with cushions. I think mo [... read more]st of the rooms would have a sea-view. We certainly did from our room in Building B, which is behind the buffet. Food was just satisfactory even in the ala cartes. This was quite a let-down. The wine and 'champagne' were dreadful. Beach towels were plentiful. The beach had sun loungers pulled up to near the shore so people were very close to one another. However, many people didn't mind being behind, and some even moved their sun beds to the grassy area. No palapas are present, which is sort of problematic since everyone has to move their beds to stay either in the sun or shade from the palm trees. Hence, the over-crowding. The pool was only four feet deep but was nice. A few Bali beds there are reserved early by people. We had a good time but it just isn't the resort for us. I must commend Kim Hartlen, our travel agent from Bedford, NS for being just fantastic! She is a total professional with a friendly touch. Despite my having to ask her some simple questions over the course of a few weeks, she was always polite and patient with me. We already have our next trip booked through her! 😀

Viva V Samana by Wyndham: Wonderful vacation

The viva wyndham Samana is a smaller resort which is exactly what we wanted. It has been beautifully restored. The grounds are well kept and lush. The rooms have plenty of space and storage all have some kind of view of the ocean. The bathrooms look great but are narrow. The showers are very good which to me is important especially after time in the ocean. The beach is great for walking in either direction lots of privacy lots of beautiful homes to look at . The food is good there. There was som [... read more]e items that were very good others not so much.. after a couple days you find what you like best.. you certainly won't starve. They are generous with the drinks they have top shelf liquor and a decent white wine.the service in the restaurants runs from good to awesome. The man who runs the smaller lunch area the turns into the Mediterranean restaurant in the evening is fantastic. He really helped to make your time there a wonderful experience. Look for Santos! I would definitely recommend this place to people who want a relaxing friendly personalized experience. It is the type of place where you can do as little or as much as you want!

Viva V Samana by Wyndham: Amazing Resort and Great People!!!

This hotel had amazing staff and grounds. It is definatly a 5 star resort with all the ammenities. The rooms were super clean and 24 hr room service is another plus. A well needed getaway and super appreciative. Thank you tripcentral.ca

Bahia Principe Explore El Portillo: Amazing Resort

Everybody there is very friendly. The food is amazing. My boyfriend and I had such a great time as this was our very first vacation together. We both loved the entertainment shows and the a la carte restaurants. We went during the March break. The beach and pool is very clean and nice. We only did one excursion and that was zip lining. There were a total of 12 lines and the views are just breathtaking. We were so sad to leave but it was definitely a trip to remember! We will for sure be back!!!! [... read more]! :)

Wyndham Alltra Samana: Fantastic Family Vacation

We were a bit worried at the beginning, since the bus ride was very long (1-1.5 hr) and our name was not on the bus attendance sheet (we were Select guests) but we were greeted at the Select check in with champagne for the adults and Pina Coladas for the kids. The concierge, bartenders, waiters and ground staff were all very friendly and the service was impeccable. A few individuals went above and beyond to make us feel spoiled at the resort as well. My daughter (6) participated in the k [... read more]ids club each day and had a fantastic time (to the extent that she didn't want to hang with us she was having so much fun). Great shout out to Bombie the coordinator there. My son (9) loved the pool and the beach and the pool and the beach and the pool and the beach. Our cabin was beautifully located facing the ocean with a lovely cool deck area containing a lounge, a coffee table and two chairs. The grounds were beautifully filled with coconut trees and a few other local trees. The food was great, especially the food at the Select bar/reception area. We ate at the Japanese restaurant one night and had a fun meal that the kids really enjoyed, then on night at the seafood restaurant, at which the food was a little less enticing, but a nice change. There was always lots of space on the lawn chairs / loungers and nothing was ever crowded. Occasionally the main pool got a bit loud but it just encouraged us to try something different. We didn't try any of the excursions but there were many who had and raved about them. One small issue was the toilet in our room. It flushed but often needed "encouragement". Overall we had the most relaxing vacation in a very beautiful location. I would very much recommend this resort to anyone, but with the Select package, as it gave you access to some excellent perks!

Bahia Principe Escape Samana: Sensational

The hotel was most luxurious and beautiful, the food was exquisite in its taste and variety, the scenery overlooking the bay from our balcony was enchanting and magical, but by far the greatest feature was the staff. They always had time for a smile, a warm greeting and a chat: from the servers, to the bar tenders, the front desk, and even the chambermaids and the floor cleaner and time to say something nice to make you feel good. A vacation at Bahia Principe Samana Don Pablo Collection is to ex [... read more]perience a moment in paradise.

Viva V Samana by Wyndham: Wonderful, relaxing stay

This small resort is for couples that enjoy a quiet, off the beaten path experience for complete relaxation. The staff was attentive and available to accomodate for almost every detail. The rooms are smaller but updated with clean bathrooms, large screen TV's and modern decor. We were able to enjoy free wifi almost anywhere, including the beach! The beach was great for walking but the ocean was wavy our entire time there. For those who may be uncertain swimmers or require a gentle entry fro [... read more]m the beach for mobility, this may not be the ideal location for you to enjoy ocean swimming, you may choose to enjoy the beautiful pool area instead. The food in the buffet and all 3 ala carte's was a pleasant surprise. The head chef from Viva Wyndham Resorts was there at the time and the quality of the food was excellent considering some of the earlier reviews we had read before we went. The Viva Wyndham V Samana was an excellent resort vacation and would highly recommend to couples who want to get away from it all!

Cayo Levantado Resort: Very Nice Resort!

Beach setting was just amazing with ample chairs everyday as well as shade if desired. Arguably the prettiest beach we've been to but not overly large. Resort itself is what you would expect with a 4-5 star resort. No complaints there. Restaurants were a little difficult to get into at reasonable times. Dining was superb! Staff was amazing. Would definitely go back again. Happy Traveler!

The Eurostars Grand Cayacoa: Beautiful Resort

This resort was beautiful the grounds were manicured and clean and so well taken care of. The hotel was one of the best well taken care that i have ever stayed in and would recommend to anyone interested in a perfect resort for a winter holiday. The hotel room was decorated nicely but the bathroom needs ventilation for the steam when showering. New (better) pillows would also add to the comfort of anyone sleeping. The food needs some improvement in taste even though there was plenty to chos [... read more]e from. Thank you for a wonderful 10 days at this beautiful comfortable pretty resort. Ralph & Andrew

The Eurostars Grand Cayacoa: Beautiful Resort & wonderful staff

The resort was beautiful & rooms were spacious, clean & well equipped. We had a Jr. Suite in the 'golden' area (bungalows separate to the main building) and it would definitely say they're worth a little extra money for the extra space, view of the ocean & scenery. However, there were 76 stairs from our particular suite up to the main pool/building. So people with mobility issues should take that into account. There was an internal shuttle that you could call that was relatively quick as wel [... read more]l. The pool area(s) were beautiful & well kept. The beach was nice, but small. The doc at the lower/smaller pool was a lovely quiet spot to relax. The staff was very friendly & helpful/efficient. Although I would rate the hotel as a 4 star, the food is just 'good'. Not outstanding (even the a la carte).

Wyndham Alltra Samana: It was ok

The rooms in the older buildings are poorly maintained. If you don't buy upgraded rooms, stay away from the hotel. The food was mediocre, including a la carte. Kids enjoyed the night shows, the beach and beach volleyball. The beach is wide and has enough chairs for every guest.

Wyndham Alltra Samana: Great vacation.

Beautiful scenery. Large beach with plenty of shadow from the palm trees to take a rest from the full sun, thus no fights for lawn chairs. No loud, aggressive music on the pool. Walking distance along the shore to the nearby village. During my stay (mid March – a bit windy) not even single mosquito nor sand fleas. Rooms are renovated and clean, so is entire resort. Quiet. After dozen of trips to Caribbean, always great but never doubled, this is hotel I would return to.

The Eurostars Grand Cayacoa: Beautiful

I have never written a review before but here it goes, an easy to follow description. The pictures alone are almost worth the trip. It is clean, the food is good, the people are friendly and helpful. They have good excursions, all good.

Bahia Principe Escape Samana: Beautiful resort

Wonderful resort, great services and facilities. Hotel small and great, staff great and helpful. It is a great place to relax in beautiful surroundings right on cliff side with all facilities on edge of water. Beautiful views everywhere. Very clean hotel. Will be returning next year for sure.

Bahia Principe Explore El Portillo: Cayacoa resort is better!!

Beach is beautiful, however many cats and dogs walking through the resort. Entertainment was a little boring and inappropriate at times. Food was good. Need to wake up very early to get a chair both by the pools and or at the beach. Lots of French Canadians at this resort. Not worth paying the extra for Royal Golden as we were not in prime location, and only got turn down service 1 night. The room service menu is nothing much either. Staff were not all friendly nor were they appreciative of tips [... read more]. If going to Samana I would strongly recommend staying at Grand Bahia Principe Cayacoa.