Cayo Levantado Resort: Almost perfect

Beautiful place. Great attention to detail. Scrupulously clean and well-stocked. Friendly, attentive staff. Very good food: fresh, abundant, beautifully presented, excellent variety. Gorgeous beaches.

The Eurostars Grand Cayacoa: best surprise!

Booked this resort, with pretty low expectations as we were trying to go south and not spend much. Spent only a few days at Gran Bahia Principe Caycoa and the views are spectacular! The view of Samana and the bay are stunning. The best surprise was we got offered to upgrade for free to Luxury Bahia Principe Samana....wow! Adults only, butler service and amazing restaurants! Also, spectacular views. Fell in love with Samana, quiet low key place compared to Punta Cana....would highly recommend thi [... read more]s destination.

Bahia Principe Explore El Portillo: Had a Great Week at El Portillo

First of all, the drive from and back to the airport was fabulous, amazing views, mountains and beautiful vegetation everywhere. I normally just tolerate the drive to the resort but I enjoyed this transfer so much. The resort is very pretty and yet elegant, loved the open air concept in all the additional places to the lobby, restaurants, seating areas. There were so many places to go and sit if you wanted to get away from everyone. Rooms were great, everything replenished on a daily basis.  [... read more] Restaurants are really nice, loved the buffet outdoor seating on the beach. Food was good to really good depending on the dish. Tons of selection at every meal, fantastic fruit, yogurts, breads, salad bar, lots of flavourful dishes, some of the highlights for me were the pork tenderloin in prune sauce, the oxtail stew, the goat stew and the octopus stew. I know that these are not to everyone's taste but I loved them and there are plenty of delicious chicken, pork, seafood and beef dishes as well as lots of vegetarian. Rodizo, the Brazilian restaurant was a great experience, the most amazing chicken and pork although the service was poor, especially to two women. Dishes were replenished regularly at the buffet and those desserts were too good, especially the small squares of cakes, so light and delicious. Staff very friendly and helpful, slow to serve at the bar so you need patience but this is the Dominican so slow down. The beach was beautiful as expected, lovely bay with spectacular views to the right side. Lovely soft, fine golden sand, clear, calm water. You could walk for miles. My only disappointment and for me this was significant was that the beach was so crowded. There are not enough palapas and beach space with chairs for this size of a resort. I felt that people were on top of each other all the time. The only exception was if you got a front row palapa, otherwise you were looking at a sea of beach chairs and bodies. Lucky for me is that my sister is an early morning runner, so she was able to get a decent spot most days. We had great weather, one really overcast and windy day so we took a taxi into Las Terranas. Interesting town. lovely beach side promenade and restaurants and stores. The cab driver offered to wait for us for 2 hours but if not, there are plenty of other cabs. I loved Samana and would like to try one of the other smaller Gran Bahia resorts in this area.

Bahia Principe Explore El Portillo: The resort is lovely

The rooms were clean and comfortable. The resort is small and quite intimate and the food delicious as it is at all Bahia resorts. The buffet had plenty of options so there was always something good to eat. The only special restaurant that I tried was the Brazilian and the food was good but be prepared as it is a slow way of eating. The water was very shallow quite a way out which is good for families with little children. There is some coral in the water which was good for snorkeling. This [... read more] is a good hotel to go to with your family or for a relaxing vacation. The town of Las Terenas is a good place to go for a look round the town, there are some nice restaurants there too.

Bahia Principe Explore El Portillo: Beautiful place!

What can I say...great food, great service, beautiful beach and cold drinks! we really enjoyed our stay and did not want to come home. The staff was friendly, although they did not understand much English, but they got want we meant with a few hand gestures and pointing..

Bahia Principe Explore El Portillo: Great vacation

Fabulous trip, just one complaint, I didn't go for 2 weeks. Food, beach and staff were amazing, absolutely no complaints. Easy check in and out. Pleasant trip from airport, check in on bus, so when you get there you are ready to go to your room. It is very relaxing, slow paced vacation. We did go whale watching through the hotel and it was great. Saw quite a few whales, amazing!

Bahia Principe Explore El Portillo: Beautiful Resort

The staff was very friendly although there English was limited they were helpful and happy. The resort was clean and well kept and with beautiful surroundings very lush and tropical. There was lots to do with activities always on the go. The food was very good with lots of variety.

Cayo Levantado Resort: Beautiful setting and great service

This was our first trip to the hotel, and the location was great and facility had lovely manicured gardens. Our room package came with a butler and she looked after us with great attention to detail. (this was over Valentine's Day which she made extra special) The food was good both at the buffets and a la carte restaurants. The only "issues" we had was that as non-smokers it was difficult to eat outdoors in the daytime or evening without having someone smoke near us as there were no designa [... read more]ted smoking sections and the other was that some guests took it upon themselves to reserve beach chairs first thing in the morning and did not show up until early afternoon - which was not fair to other guests. Both of these small issues were discussed with the manager and he advised they are working on a plan to address both concerns. Overall it was a great holiday and a place that we would highly recommend for a more secluded getaway that is not the big hotel experience. Glad we went with our travel agent's suggestion and will be going again someday!

The Eurostars Grand Cayacoa: Very nice resort.

We just traveled to the Grand Bahia Principe Cayacoa in Samana for a week we had an awesome trip. The food was good. The resort was clean. The only problem we had was the air conditioner in our room smelt like mould. Not nice at all. Other than that our room was clean, the resort itself was very clean.

Bahia Principe Explore El Portillo: Relaxing escape from Canadian winter

This hotel was everything we wanted - gorgeous beach, beautiful hotel, and a relaxing atmosphere for a week long escape from the cold Canadian winter. The beach was definitely the highlight: you could walk for miles in either direction and barely run into anyone else. Soft sand and some really cool coral/marine life to go snorkeling. The hotel keeps the beaches very clean and there are a good number of loungers if you go early in the day. Lots of sun but not a problem to find shade if you want i [... read more]t. Lots to do at the resort: bocce, shuffleboard, badminton, ping pong, tennis, kayaking were all things we tried out and enjoyed. Some fun evening entertainment: michael jackson show, fire show on the beach, and a big super bowl night for those who were missing the game back home. There's some nice piano and jazz sax performances as well. This isn't a big party resort so don't expect much to be happening past midnight, but that was exactly what we were looking for. The food at this resort was great - really exceeded my expectations. The buffet has different themes for dinner every night so they do try to switch up the food. I highly recommend the restaurants - all four were good but the Brazilian steak house on the beach was a highlight. Staff are all very friendly and the hotel is clean and beautiful. Very nice landscaping / gardens. The grounds are not too big and my boyfriend and I were able to walk from our room at the far end to the lobby in 5 minutes max. Suites were spacious with a well stocked mini bar and a beautiful big bathroom. Would definitely go back!

Viva V Samana by Wyndham: Great adults only resort

Beautifully kept grounds, with clean facilities, hard working staff, and a gorgeous beach. This is a small resort with only 144 rooms in 3 storey buildings which are all in close proximity to the shallow, sandy bottom, well shaded (with palm trees) beach. The rooms are on the small side, but who goes to sit in the room! Wifi is included and works quite well ...most of the time; sometimes even on the beach. The food is quite good, but I do have to say that they need to work on keeping it hot.  [... read more]Much of it is warm at best, but I do see head chef, Manuel, making improvements as he oversees the buffet and 3 a la cartes, teaching his staff accordingly. Coffee is great; beginning with fresh ground beans.

Bahia Principe Escape Samana: Best relaxing vacation under the sun Ever!

We visited this hotel from Feb 2 to Feb 9, 2017. We did not know what to expect, as it was our first time in Samana. We loved it! The hotel is small, quiet, and clean. We strongly recommend it for couples who are looking for a place to relax. No need to fight for a spot on the beach or by the pool, plenty of chairs available all day. The food is varied and tasty; try the French (Don Pablo) and the Brazilian (Rodizio) restaurants. The service is amazing! Allow us to mention a few individualsâ [... read more]€¦ Reception/ Majordome: Carlos, Luis Miguel, and Ramon took great care of us and kept asking how they could make our experience better. Restaurants: Maitre D' Crisostomo Gonzales, Anneylissa and Meilin (buffet) were very welcoming and always made sure to provide the best available table. Then Jose, Jesus, Oliver, Ingrid, Eunice, and Wendy made sure our glasses were never empty. Exceptional service and always with a smile! We were also impressed by the hard working waiters at the a la carte restaurants: Ramon Garcia, Eddy, and Fautos. Pool Bar: Hansel and Yacauris both went the extra mile to make sure our drinks were prepared exactly the way we wanted. They also took initiative and welcomed us with fresh pool towels each time we came back to the pool after lunch. Theater Bar: Carlos and Adeudice made sure we finished the evening with a few generous glasses of MamaJuana. Ay! Spa: Mercedes provided great facial services at the Spa. This is a true 5-star hotel that will provide you with a relaxing and worry free vacation. But, if you want to party, walk the beach for miles, shop, and do a lot of sports and activities, this is not the place for you. We suggest you go to one of those big resorts in Punta Cana instead.

Bahia Principe Explore El Portillo: Everything we were hoping for!

The hotel was awesome. - Best food we've ever had at an all inclusive. We enjoyed all 4 all a carte restaurants, as well as the buffet. - Very organized resort and the staff were friendly/helpful. The check in process was superb. They had you your key the minute you walked off the bus. No need to wait in line at the front desk. - Rooms were nice and very clean. Bed was fairly comfortable, at least by hotel standards. - Beach was amazing, you could walk forever in either direction. Only d [... read more]rawback is there's lots of people selling things on the beach. They're not pushy, but be prepared to say 'no thank you' every 20 minutes. - We liked the pools, although didn't spend much time at either - Older ground, most people we're 50+. Definitely not a party atmosphere, if that's what you're in too. We just wanted to relax, so that was fine by us Overall a great hotel, and would go back in a heart beat.

The Eurostars Grand Cayacoa: Nice resort but lots of steps and walking

Food was fine, same items most nights at buffet but a la carte restaurants were good. Not a resort for anyone with mobility issues - washrooms not close to main pool, buffet not on main level. Strange layout to resort as nothing was close and everything required lots of walking and steps. Our room was clean and quiet as it was outside the main area - 10 minute walk plus 5+ flights of stairs with no option for shuttle and no way to avoid stairs. From main pool, flight of stairs and walk to [... read more] washroom, 2 flights of stairs up to main buffet or 5 flights of stairs down to snack bar. Set up a table at main pool with different types of rice every day, depending on theme. Snack bar by a secondary pool had dress code. Beach was very dirty. Staff was great - animation, bartenders and servers were all very friendly. Everything closes down at 11pm (bar closes, turn all lights off on patio) unless you want to go over to disco, which wasn't worthwhile Evening shows were inside very small, very warm disco. Not as nice as most of the Bahia Principes we have stayed at in the past.

Cayo Levantado Resort: Cayo Leventado: Samana's Vacation Gem

Cayo Leventado Don Pablo by Bahia is one of the best vacation properties we have visited. From the most excellent staff who gave the property a fun and friendly vibe, to the high quality food and drink - a la carte or buffet resto's, we found quality service and a wide variety of excellent freshly prepared foods. The accomodations were fantastic in the Villa's with beautiful views and large spaciouse and comfortable rooms. The oversized balconies with full wicker seating and a cieling fan to boo [... read more]t were awesome! Several beaches and a bunch of pools always offered variety. Loved the fact that the main beach and main pool were only steps away from each other. From beach volleyball and body surfing and snorkiling to just chilling this property had it all.

Bahia Principe Explore El Portillo: Beach Perfect

Awesome beach walk for miles, crystal clear water. Good food clean rooms. Don't waste your time in Les Terranas although it's a nice walk along the beach from the resort. No ocean view rooms at this resort as the restaurants all face the beach. Nice resort not to big. I would go back but wouldn't pay for the Royal Golden package as an upgrade next time. a la carte should be used Rodizio interesting, French very nice. Buffet was also good.

Viva V Samana by Wyndham: Not what I expected but amazingly more!!

This hotel is simply a gem. Close to the airport, a huge, nearly un-populated beach without other resorts nearby (maybe 2 other small hotels), very safe, fantastic staff, very good food and the rooms were very modern with comfy beds. We were there for only a week but simply were impressed by almost everything. This is a well laid out hotel, with a beautiful pool and multiple styles of lounging areas near the pool. The only negative is the flooring near and around the pool is made of marble a [... read more]nd can be extremely slippery causing me to slip and got minor hurt even though I was walking very slow. There were fantastic, enthusiastic staff that got many clients doing yoga, bache, volleyball, salsa dancing and just generally having a very fun vacation if that is what you wanted but they were never pushy. Overall I am impressed and would recommend this hotel and the Samana area to anyone looking for a trip south. I almost hesitate to give it such a good review because that typically means the price may go up next travel season. My biggest concern is the very real possibility of future development along this extensive mostly empty beach. That would change my review and it would be a shame.

Wyndham Alltra Samana: Great location but needs improvement

THE BAD The hotel in not attractive at all when you pull in. Our room had 2 double beds and when we asked for a king or queen (as we were a couple on our vacation ) were rudely told not available. We had no air conditioning the first night and after demanding to have it fixed it only worked ok for rest of trip. Transat rep would not accept tripcentral prepaid card for excursions. Pool bar staff very rude Two single girls woke up with two male staff in room and were robbed! Could see ligh [... read more]t all around door frame Bed linens were absolute nightmare! They were clean but used mattress pad as duvet and a king mattress cover as sheets on double bed. I guess they ran out of linens? Entertainment was a complete joke No make up mirror THE GOOD Absolutely beautiful beach and landscape Food was great Room was always clean Lots of room and shade available on beach Staff was mostly friendly excluding pool bar and one sour girl at front desk I would return to this resort only if I got a really good deal and it would have to be in select club. The beach is absolutely one of the prettiest I have seen in the caribbean! This resort has a lot of potential , Lots of room for improvement here as it could be turned into a 5 star very easily with the right management. The safety issue was a big deterrent when we checked out and the two girls had been woken up with male workers in their room and things had been stolen....VERY SCAREY!!!

The Eurostars Grand Cayacoa: great resort

It's good environment for relax with family, friendly staff and good food, Elevator to the beach, which is interesting, buffet change menu every day, overall good quality Friendly staff always smile on face, welcoming thank you

Bahia Principe Explore El Portillo: Grand Bahia- El Portillo

Trip Central was able to help facilitate a great trip to El Portillo. There was a fine rep onsite daily to answer any queries. El Portillo was everything we expected and the staff were genuine with wonderful DR virtues. Thank-you Trip Central.