Cayo Levantado Resort: Paradise !

Amazing location! Gardens and beaches are very beautiful. Villas more than meet your expectations. An abundance of good food choices. Always friendly service with a can do attitude. Quiet and relaxing. Simply paradise.

Cayo Levantado Resort: Paradise

This resort was outstanding. I can't wait to go back. Everywhere you look there is such beauty. The rooms where luxurious and I would be hard pressed to complain about anything. A week is too short! My next trip will be at least 10 days.

Bahia Principe Grand Samana Roulette: Cannot wait to go back!

This resort was truly wonderful. Long walkable beaches, amazing food and exceptional service. Dancing at the disco on the beach was a definite highlight. Very impressed with the people of Samana and hope that they can appreciate our need to escape the freezing cold of our Northern climes. Particularly liked the fact that Samana does not feel overrun with tourism and the focus is eco.

Bahia Principe Explore El Portillo: will go back again

Our stay for one week was wonderful. The rooms are clean and large, the food in the buffets and ala carte restaurants is very good, better then we have experienced at other resorts. Make sure you book the ala carte restaurants when you arrive, they are worth it. The waiters are terrific, very friendly and helpful especially Ariel, Ruben, Jose, Pedro...great guys in the beach restaurant. The beach is a little overcrowded and you need to hold your chairs by 6:30 or 7:00am or you may not get any. D [... read more]on't leave just the hotel towel on a chair to hold it, you need to put personal items on the chair as well, such as sandals, bag, your own towel, etc. The massages off property are amazing and well worth the price. We didn't book the massage in the resort due to price. Quite a few vendors on the beach with jewellery, scarves, etc to sell, but not pushy. The water is great, and the snorkelling terrific. Some of the reef is close to shore and can be walked to with fish very visible, however, if the day is windy, the bottom gets stirred up quickly and visibility is less. Best time to check out the fish is early in the morning. Off property excursions seemed to be priced high, we didn't do any, however, people who went whale watching said it was amazing. We would recommend this resort and will go back.

Cayo Levantado Resort: Fantasy Island

I loved the fact that the island felt like you were in the tropics surounded by nature, rather than a resort built to look like it has nature. Our room view (3202) was spectacular and private. When we arrived, it felt like we were going to fantasy Island.

The Eurostars Grand Cayacoa: relaxing week with good food

While not for the mobility challenged due to lots of stairs, this is a great resort. The place is spotlessly clean, the food is excellent with good variety and good hygiene practices, service was friendly and efficient at all times. Main pool area is quite loud and somewhat crowded, but beach has quieter areas and there is a second small splash pool area that is low key. Nice mix of European, Canadian and American guests. Only possible drawbacks are that some plastic rubbish -- mostly from the [... read more] town, but sadly sometimes from other guests -- washes up on beach, but they make good efforts to clean up. The sand here is quite fine, so there is rather a lot of silt in the water. Visibility somewhat limited, worse after it rains. All in all, an enjoyable place to spend a laid back week.

Wyndham Alltra Samana: average

Food - good - ate too much Beach - If not for the algaes the beach would of been great - not enough beach chairs for all residents Villa - Clean. Had a day of full hard constant rain - the roof leaked at a few places Animation - mediocre If you have been to the Dominican before & globally you want sun, food, clean & comfortable room (you don't spend the majority of you time in the room) at a good price you will like to resort.

The Eurostars Grand Cayacoa: Great resort

This hotel was impeccably clean. The staff was very friendly and the beach was nice. There was at times quite a bit of garbage in the water at the beach that washed up from the city of Samana, however the staff did work at cleaning it up.

Bahia Principe Explore El Portillo: Good but not amazing

The resort is OK, the food was good, service nice, room good. However the resort was overcrowded and to get a chair had to get up at 6 AM. The pool was packed with kids that are jumping and splashing around. The lobby is missing some natural flowers and vegetation; I was amazed to see that all flower are made of plastic and the central piece consist of palms made of metal. The beach is nice, long and just right for long walks. The trip to and from the airport was fast and very well organized. Th [... read more]e fact that we had to pay extra for a safe in the room isn't exactly what we expected since this is a all inclusive resort and you need to put your valuables somewhere. Overall, I cannot say that this was a bad experience but next time I will try something else for sure.

Bahia Principe Explore El Portillo: Fantastic destination

From the airport shuttle to the check in process everything was smooth. Quick simple check in and off to nice room. Ample sized with a nice bathroom and balcony. Only small issue with the room is pillows were flat and hard. The resort itself is beautiful. Very well maintained and kept spotless. Buffet and a la carte's also, all great! There's no shortage of food abd even the pickiest eater would be able to happily fill their plates. Must try the Brazilian a la carte...amazing! Pool is warm and [... read more] perfect. Hard to find chairs during the day but always plenty of chairs at the beach. Beach is beautiful. It stretches endlessly on both sides of the resort for nice walks. Sand is powdery and lovely and the water calm and lovely. If you like to snorkel there's plenty of reef right at your toes, literally! Some areas are covered in coral reef....others just lovely sand. There's plenty of areas for R&R and plenty of activities planned by the animation team. Really, they go out of their way to make sure their guest are happy. Bars a plenty and great service from bar staff and wait staff alike. Although tipping seems to make no difference in the level of service, a smile and kindness on the other hand goes a long way. All in all, a fantastic resort and location. We loved our stay here and although we never go to the same place twice, we would here. Tips.... Massage on the beach just off the beaten path, a must! $25-30 USD and you will be thankful. Book excursions with Manuel at the scuba shack. We did whale watching (nice big boat) saw tons of whales! Also went on the catamaran snorkelling tour which was quite lovely. Not a booze cruise if that's what you desire. More subdued but a great day on the water. Thank you Jennifer at trip central for helping with our booking. We are very pleased with El Portilllo!!

Wyndham Alltra Samana: It could have been better

It started as a horrible experience, the room first given was like one out of a nasty horror film. Day 2 we were moved to a new room & things improved greatly from there. Many of the employees where polite, but did not seem very happy or smile much. However, there was 2 that made up for all the others, Carlos G, the porter & Robert, the bartender. They were a delight to see everyday & the service & smiles from these two was never ending. The Westjet representative was a nightmare & difficult to  [... read more]get ahold of, would think twice before booking with Westjet again because of his service or lack there of.

Bahia Principe Grand Samana Roulette: Cayacoa is the choice for us!

The Cayacoa hotel was lovely, just the right size with the right number of people to spend your vacation with. The beach and pool were not overly crowded and it was always easy enough to find lounge chairs and a place to relax. The outdoor bar patio was the perfect spot to drink your morning coffee and overlook the bay ... gorgeous. We booked through Air Canada Vacations but rep in Dominican proved to be similar to that of a salesman and lost interest quickly in his clients once he made a sale  [... read more]for any of his excursions, to the point where he didn't even speak a word to anyone on the bus back to Samana Airport, not even a goodbye to anyone or a 'thank you for traveling with Air Canada.'

Wyndham Alltra Samana: Not the best resort

The hotel wasn't great, I requested to be close to my sis and family and the room we initially got were the furthest possibly away from my sisters. I then asked to move, they kept telling me to come back at certain time and each time they said they couldn't yep anything. They finally switched me on day 3. The people working at the hotel were not friendly at all, the night show was not that amazing. Our stay did get better by the end of the week but I did not feel comfortable like home and the st [... read more]aff did not feel like family to me where other resorts I've been to felt so warm and king like family. A lot of people got sick from the food but my son and it were ok.

Wyndham Alltra Samana: Good Times

A decent place, the Villa we stayed in was very roomy, and the bed was comfortable, however the room was a little run down. The hand held shower did not have a wall bracket to hold the shower head, the TV had a large blue strip running though the screen and there wasn't a remote. Our last day there the key card for our room stopped working, and it took many trips to the front desk and half a day to repair the problem (which turned out to be a dead battery in the door lock). The beach area was be [... read more]autiful, but not enough lounge chairs for everyone. The staff were friendly. Over all depending on your expectations, a very nice cheap vacation.

The Eurostars Grand Cayacoa: we loved the resort

the only thing we would change is the use of the lounges and umbrellas around the pool. There are not enough available and just putting towels or books on a lounger should not reserve you one for the rest of the day, especially if you don't even use it. We noticed people as early as 7 am reserving loungers and umbrellas. Not cool.....

The Eurostars Grand Cayacoa: Amazing Short Get Away

We arrived at lush, green Samana on Jan 27th for a short 4 day get away. It is wonderful that the resort has this option, so many all inclusive do not offer less than 7 days. This was the 3rd Bahia property we have stayed at, and by far the most picturesque. There is a stunning view from wherever you look. Our balcony overlooked the town of Samana, and both the pool and beach elevators have glass windows to look out. A resort built into the side of the hill gives great views but many steps for  [... read more]walking. Also sometimes a challenge to figure out where you want to go initially. A short 45min transfer from the airport, quick check in. Remember to pay ($4 per day) for your safe, and they give you the activation code, we forgot and had to go back to the desk. Our room was standard, clean. The king bed was on the firm side, and pillows ok, but we were given 4 of them. Bathroom fine too. We were on the 5th floor and no trouble with water temp, but water pressure was low. Once again, to Bahia standards we ate like kings. There is never any point of the day that you cannot get food. The buffet was standard, and always found much to our liking. Snack bar was great too. We tried the Italian and Gourmet a-la-carte. The italian was just ok for me, but the Gourmet was amazing! Best meal at a resort I have had. All the bars are great and very eager to please. They did run out of mint for 2 of our 4 days which was a problem for us mojito drinkers, but we managed to survive. The cappuccinos in the lobby bar with Barcelo Creame (Dominican Bailey's) were to die for. The entertainment staff here really go above and beyond. They want to talk to you and get you involved. They do an excellent job. During our 4 days we had a lot of rain, torrential at times. The entertainment staff did their best to give you fun options during the rain. The resort also puts an umbrella in each room. 2 thumbs up to Alex and Tomas and the rest of the animation team. The early evening dancing was fun, and we saw the Dominican Dancing professional show and also the Circus show, both very enjoyable. We did take the free ride into Samana for a couple hours. When you get off the cart there are locals waiting to take you around town. At first we were very leary of this, but in the end he was very helpful and informative taking us to the local market and also the supermarket to make our purchases. He answered all our questions and we were happy to learn so much. We did not do any other excursions as we only had 4 days. Other people enjoyed the zip lining. I think with all the rain the water looked very rough for whale watching. Despite the rain, a wonderful vacation. Very up to the Bahia standards. Would highly recommend. Room Tip: We liked being the main building. It meant less walking up stairs, especially in the rain. Our roo... Stayed January 2015, travelled as a couple

The Eurostars Grand Cayacoa: Wow what a nice vacation.

I have to start with the food ! I have been to several resorts and I am a picky eater but I loved the food here . I never ate anything I didn't like. It was not bland or tasted all the same. It was very fresh and tasty. Rooms are very nice , staff was very friendly and try to help in every way with a smile. We didn't have to fight for chairs on the beach but the main pool area will fill up. but you can go to another pool . There is allot of stairs around the resort but you need some exercise to  [... read more]burn off all that food you are going to eat. The view is beautiful all around . There is lots to do here also like rent a motorbike and go driving around . It was a blast but I must warn you there are no rules no stop signs or stop lights it is just a free for all and you should have previous experience driving a bike and pay attention all around you . There are more motorbikes here then I have ever seen Everyone has one , you will see many people on one bike and all the bikes are small nothing over 200cc . I would go back to this place most defiantly.

Bahia Principe Explore El Portillo: THE BEST EVER

IT WAS BEAUTIFUL, LOVE THE LONG BEACH, THE STAFF WAS VERY ACCOMODATING. THE ALA CART RESTAURANTS WERE EXCELLENT!!! WOULD HAVE LIKED THE POOL AEROBICS IN THE MORNING IN THE POOL! PLENTY OF SHADE AND VERY CLEAN!!!

Bahia Principe Explore El Portillo: Great Resort

Great People and service ..Excellent Location..Very Clean..Good food..Very nice beach..Euclides at the beach bar is the best bartender i've ever encountered. Would definitely go again and recommend to all. Don't miss the whale watching when there in season..End of Jan through March.

Wyndham Alltra Samana: Will definitely be coming back!

We were at Grand Paradise Samana from January 21-28 and all I can say is it was really an amazing time. The resort is an hour and a half away from the airport but that was not really a bother as we also get to do some sightseeing on our way there. We were greeted by the friendly staff with some refreshing drinks, check-in was fast and no problem at all, safe is also available for $15. Our room was a bit far from the lobby (no complaints, we had not asked for a specific room when booking) but al [... read more]so the grounds of the resort is really big. Room is spacious enough, bathroom's okay as well, and there's a tv which we didn't even bother to use. We stayed mostly by the beach (not really a big fan of pools in general, better view at beach anyway), so beautiful and long very nice for a walk along the shore. There was quite a bit of seaweed, which I'm not a fan of at all, but I've managed to just keep my feet on the clear areas. Water is very clear even when you go a bit further. My boyfriend and I went kayaking a few times (free activity) and we were surprised how shallow the water even if you go further. Like the beach starts shallow, then deep, then shallow again. It was quite interesting, we tried snorkelling, saw some starfishes. Food was okay. It is not the best but they try to give you different varieties everyday. I'm not a big eater, I only consume what my body needs so the food was okay enough to survive through the week. Although there are actually a few items that I really like from their selection. Went on the Los Haitises Tour, it was very good, and really interesting. Lots of history, you will be surprised. Great wild life, never seen rare birds and different animals up close until here. What made the boat ride exciting was that we had seen at least for dolphins just swimming freely around us while we cross Samana Bay. That was quite a show. Bacardi Island was beautiful, nice tourist spot, good food served at lunch too. Spent about two days outside the resort, the town of Las Galeras is about 10 minutes if you take the beach. Nice pathway too, you'll be surprised of what you find in it. Had dinner at a local place, two lobsters, rice, plantains, veggies and cold Presidente for $20. How awesome. The staff of Grand Paradise really do work hard, I don't think we've ever been ignored like everyone says hi and acknowledges you it was very pleasant. Robert, the bartender at the Sports Bar by the beach was so awesome. Very friendly to everyone who comes by. Love his music, makes the bar lively. Francesco and the animation team are the best, love him, he's so funny. Angelo was very nice to us as well, he is our server at the buffet breakfast every morning. Front desk staff are all helpful, Alvaro was a good guy, always friendly and conversational. Overall, we really enjoyed our trip. Would definitely come back and maybe with family this time. My boyfriend and I really didn't fall into the age group of who else was there on our stay, everyone is much older, but still ain't a problem, guests were friendly so we made some friends along the way. Wish I went to the actual town of Samana but had no time. Again, lovely place, great people, and the beaches are beautiful!!!!!