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| Gran Bahia Principe Cayacoa Samana |
Sandra ~ Toronto |
November 2009
Arrival: August 2, 2009 - August 9, 2009
Our flight with Air Canada was very nice. When we landed we were the only flight that was there, so I was sitting on the bus waiting to go to the airport in less than 15 minutes. It was a very nice drive to the hotel with Joel giving some info on the lay of the land.
We were told by Joel at the ride there that the buffet closes at 3, so we should get checked in and go straight to the buffet. Checking in was very fast but we weren't given any maps of the resort so we had no clue where the buffet was. If it wasn't for the kindness of other guests, I wouldn't have known. One thing that Joel said was that it rains every day...and it does. Mostly at night though. That's what makes it so lush.
Rooms:
Our room was 309 overlooking the beach. I couldn't have picked a better room. The AC was working fine, and we had a nicely stocked fridge. One trick to know, if you leave your balcony door open, the AC doesn't work. Once the balcony is closed the AC turns on. My favourite part was getting up in the morning and watching the rain over the hills while having a cup of coffee with Bailey's (I brought the Bailey's with me)
Restaurants and Bars:
We went to the buffet mainly, but went to the Italian once. The buffet has a very good selection of food, not as good as in Punta Cana, but I still didn't go hungry. On Saturday they set up the BBQ at the beach which was lovely. I didn't have any problems or issues with any of the bars. My only complaint is that there is no beach restaurant where you can wander in for lunch with a bathing suit on. The main restaurant required you fully dry and in street clothes even for lunch.
Beach/Pools/Grounds:
There are two pools but I only visited the main pool. It was perfect for my needs. It was always clean, maybe a bit small at times, but it was refreshing when I needed a cool off. Mornings are interesting to watch the sand crabs.
Beach:
Definately not Punta Cana. I spoke to many people prior to going to Bavaro and they said it was white sand. Well these people don't know what white sand is. You can clearly see white sand when you look toward Bacardi Island, but our beach was very "shelly", but that for a nice adventure. Some people didn't like the snorkling, but I loved it. I dove down by the netting and could see many different fish - bright blue and orange ones, and lots of star fish. I would take a few rolls from the buffet into the water with me and had lots of fish around me. The water is not turquoise, but a blue green...maybe more green. But again, it was cool and refreshing. The grounds were beautiful and well kept.
Activities on and off the Resort/Hotel:
I went to the town twice. We were told by Joel to go get your money exchanged and then walk across the street to the grocery store. This is where you buy things for the same price as the locals do. You get a wide variety of rum, vanilla, coffee all very cheap. As soon as you get off the shuttle you will be approached by a local who will want to help you out and they expect some peso's in return. My first trip down I let a local help me out, but the second time I said I was fine by myself. He followed me anyway and offered to help cross the round a bout. I told him that he was more likely to be hit than I was because I was the only white chick crossing the road, plus a tourist. They wouldn't want to hit me. I went back to the bank, grocery, and then back to the mall to go to Harrison's and he was still there. I ended up in another store and the owner asked me if he was bothering me. I told him that he was and he told him to go away. He was very sorry for the local's behaviou!
r and said not all the locals are like that. He then made sure I got back up to the hotel without any further incidents.
Tours:
We also did 3 tours; El Limon, Los Haitises National Park & Bacardi Island, and the final one was a Outback tour. If you decide to go to El Limon take water shoes! The rocks going into the falls are very painful on bare feet. The horse ride was fine for some, but challenging for others. The guides hold onto the horses tails but that's it for guiding them. You also have to walk down to the falls, and if you have problems with stairs or climbing, it may be a challenge. The falls are beautiful though. The lunch afterward was very good. Los Haitises National Park is also a very wonderful trip. You go by speed boat to the park where you see islands, birds, caves, mangroves and finally Bacardi island for lunch and the beach. The final trip was ok... but I wouldn't do it again. My son and I were the only ones from the resort that were going so they changed the tour that we were supposed to go on. So we ended up driving around the mountains for about an hour after driving across the!
island to the north shore to pick up the group from the other hotel. We drove back by my hotel (by now I was bored of the ride) then cigar shop, farm with lunch, and a beach. The beach was the best part. The waves were so high and amazing. Like I said, I wouldn't do this one again if I had to do a do over.
Other Comments:
I didn't have any problems, and had the vacation I was expecting. Leaving was just as uneventful as it was coming. There were only 2 flights at the airport that day so there was lots of time to shop in the duty free. You don't even have to rush into the line to check in if you pre booked your seats. Have a seat and wait for the lines to die down. For some reason everyone comes to the flight at the same time so there was a line up to get everyone through. There is also a restaurant on the other side if you're hungry. Would I come back again? If the price was right - absolutely. This resort is not for someone looking for an exciting night life, but it is great if you just need to get away and relax.
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| Gran Bahia Principe Cayacoa Samana |
Maria ~ NY |
August 2009
Arrival August 2:
My two daughters & my 18 year old nephew arrived very enthusiasticly from home on the Caribean Tour Bus as to which we found more comfortable to travel in since we came from a distance. We arrived at reception not only to find out the two bed bedroom i had spoken about when i was reserving was not available but also that our room was located near the beach which to get back to reception you have to take a car they provide & take you in.
Rooms:
We arrived at our assigned room & it was awful. NOT ONLY did the ac not work but there was a lizard looking creature in the bedroom. The fridge was also not working. Oh and i almost forgot to mention the bathroom has no ac so its suggested you don't spend much time in there. I decided to complain about these issues & headed back to reception where i was told there was no more rooms available that weren't those. Yeah right, i told them i was better off at home that if they needed to fix those things they should have done it before our arrival. Magically too bedrooms appeared in the same building as reception. We got transfered to our new bedrooms. Without dout these were better my only complaint is the water used to stop running but it was restored.
Restaurants and Bars:
We attended both el pescador & some other one following a trail along the pool side & it was ok. The waitors were very nice. The bars aswell
Beach/Pools/Grounds:
The beach is public to any outsiders therefor your paying for public service. I recomend not climing a rock that's located there as for my daughter went to take a picture & was pushed of by the current & got injured & no medical help was offered. The pools and grounds were enjoyable.
Activities on and off the Resort/Hotel:
I went to a show outside which was near the casino & it wasn't all that great honestly. Also found out its fonded by the gov't as in its public & we pay for public services and entertainment.
Other Comments:
I doubt i will ever come back to the resort I've heared rio san juan is good so maybe it just cayacoa that's not so good. I defenitly think Punta Cana is the place to be. I was dissapointed i wasted so much money for public events for that i would have just visited Samana and spent the night at a hotel & enjoy all the free things during the day. The resort itself doesn't offer fun & i think this is more suitable for people who are just looking to sit in place and relax. I on the other hand like to dance and sadly only heard music playing 3 times & one of them was an ipod someone had. I don't think it deserves so many stars. The architecture is beautiful there pictures don't lie but when your there theirs not much to do.
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| Gran Bahia Principe Cayacoa Samana |
Julie ~ Burlington, Ontario |
June 2009
Arrival: April 18 to April 25
Arrived on April 18th. Went straight through the airport within 5 minutes as there were no other planes at the airport. Met a guy from our hotel in the parking lot waiting to give us our room packages. Received our bands and our room key so we didn't even have to check in when we got to the hotel. Got to the hotel and went right to our rooms to change into our bathings suits. Was at the pool about 2 hrs after we landed. Rooms:
Our room had a beautiful view of the bay and Cayo Levantado island. The room was extremely clean with a nice balcony. The bathroom was a little small but not a big deal as I don't spend much time in the bathroom. The only problem with our room was that we didn't have a phone that worked and there are no alarm clocks in the rooms. Once again, not a big deal.
Restaurants and Bars:
We went to one a la carte restaurant which was the Italian. It was nice, overlooking the bay. The food was good. The buffet is excellent as well.
Went to the lobby bar every night as we got to know the bartender "Angel"
quite well. Very nice guy. Swim up bar was fully stocked as well.
Beach/Pools/Grounds:
Only went to the beach once as I'm not a beach fan. It's small but clean.
The bathrooms by the pool and the beach are so clean you didn't feel the need to wear shoes. The grounds are absolutely beautiful. Lots of stairs which makes for a good workout.
Activities on and off the Resort/Hotel:
We went snorkeling one day over at Levantado beach. Had a great time. The Levantado beach was beautiful but if you don't like crowds then I suggest you don't go when there is a 2 cruise ships in the bay. It was quite busy when we were there but good for people watching if you like to do so. Did some games by the pool which are always fun. The animation staff were great.
Other Comments:
This was the most beautiful hotel I've ever been to in Dominican and I've been there 8 times. I couldn't get over how clean it was, the staff were friendly and the food was awesome. It was the most relaxing vacation and I would highly recommend it. Samana is all mountains so the view every where you looked was beautiful.
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| Gran Bahia Principe Cayacoa Samana |
Sue ~ Canada |
March 2009
Arrival: Feb 23 - Mar 9
We went Transat Holidays Royal Golden and would do that again in a flash. We were checked in on the bus and put in our ocean view room (specific for royal golden) right away. We got exactly what we hoped for.
Rooms
The rooms were pristine. The maids were adorable and everything was kept spotless.
Restaurants and Bars
The buffet was EXCELLENT. The al a cartes were so so. It didn't matter because we were there to enjoy and to appreciate what the Dominicans had to offer us. Which I must say for my 15th trip to that country was just as amazing as all the other times.
Beach/Pools/Grounds
Pools and Grounds were immaculate. If you are looking to walk along a long beach with turquoise water. You need to go to Levantado or even better take a walk down the hill to the town of Samana and hire Adib or El Mello his twin brother who are taxi drivers to take you to El Rincon. WOW!!!!
Activities on and off the Resort/Hotel
Visit Kim Beddall and she will take you on the most educational whale watching trip of your lifetime or a new tour she has just started takes you to Los Haities. WOW... Her PRICES are reasonable not gouging like the hotels.
Other Comments
Please remember when you travel to a third world country like this that not everything is perfect. Find the good in all things. Go hoping but, don't have an expectation of the outcome and see what comes of the result....Enjoy...Adios...
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| Gran Bahia Principe Cayacoa Samana |
Richard & Lavonne |
March 2009
Arrival
We flew to El Catey Airport on Sat. Mar. 7/09 with Air Canada Vacations and landed around 1:30 p.m. Got through customs quickly and our tour bus took about an hour to get to the hotel.
Joel, our tour rep gave us site info during the trip into town that was very useful.
Room
We had a room with a bay view on the 5th floor facing west, so we didn't get the prevailing breeze blowing things off the table when we sat on our balcony. On the other hand, we did get the afternoon sun (4 to about 6:30 p.m was direct sunlight), so it was pretty bright. The view was terrrific!
The room and bathroom were good for two but would be cramped with any more than that. Our phone didn't work after the first day, so we notified the front desk but the problem was never addressed, even when we notified the front desk a second time. We also asked for an iron and it took almost two hours to get it.
Restaurants and Bars;
The buffet was small but selection and daily themes changes that were great and meant lots of variety. No tummy problems but we were told not to drink the tap water. The lobby bar had different themes almost every night too, so it was a great place to meet and relax with friends. I also found that if you put a $1 U.S bill on the table for each round, you got faster and friendlier service ( I figure these folks can use the money and for a buck a round, it doesn't break you). The a la cartes were good to exceptional and the restaurant staff try to be as prompt and friendly as possible. No complaints there!
Beaches/Pools and Grounds
This was our first trip to the Caribbean and we wanted an out the way place that wasn't too big. The main beach was ok but nothing to write home about. Plenty of shade and chairs if you got there early. The main pool was for the younger set, so we went to the jacuzzi pool early and liked it there. You can get a shuttle from the lobby down to the jacuzzi to avoid all those stairs you hear about and you can ask the bar keeper at the snack shack to call the shuttle for you when you want to go back up to your hotel room. The beach and grounds were cleaned daily, so are well kept.
Activities
Go for supper, then hit the lobby bar to chill out then do the animation disco thing at 10 p.m We chose this hotel because it's part of the town of Samana and has a free shuttle bus to the commercial district. Go to the local Mercado for cheap supplies and if you can handle it, go to the open market to see how the locals really shop. For me it was a eye opener that made me appreciate being a Canadian.
We went on a whale tour with Kim Beddell (she's a biologist and a Canuck) a jet boat tour to the national park (across the bay) and rented a cab with another couple to go over to Playa Rincon (what a beach!). We also went on a Safari (with Sabina - a german expatriate) and dropped off individually wrapped maple candy and supplies at a one room school. Sabina was very informative and made sure we got lots of variety on our tour. My wife and I will always remember the kids that walked us up to a waterfall. The stops we made for lunch (it’s included) and the coffee, fruit and cocoa stop were also great. Tours will usually have a jug of rum to share with you and your mates (free) if you’re not happy enough.
Other Comments
We enjoyed this smaller resort because we wanted to spend time in town being with the natives. Service was great but it you had a problem, be aware that Dominican time is not as fast or as prompt as back home.
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| Gran Bahia Principe Cayacoa Samana |
Bert ~ Canada |
March 2009
Arrival
arrived in the samana airport arround 11.30 local time had to walk to the bus because they werent allowed to park close to the terminal not sure why.
the check in was done on the bus without any problems
Rooms
rooms where great stunning view from our room 3214 we had the golden club which was not worth it at all,The bar at the lower pool/whirlpool area shoud have been open for breakfast cleaning staff very nice and friendly
Restaurants and Bars
the Gourmet,Italian and the Pescador where very good staff once again great,the buffet was small but a good variety of choices.
Beach/Pools/Grounds
We only went to the beach at the back bay you had to get up early to find a good spot lucky for me i was up every morning at 6.45 am and went down to reserve the chairs for the 6 of us.If you are not used to a lot of walking and stair climbing dont go to the cayacoa.
Activities on and off the Resort/Hotel
we did not go on any tours other then going into town one night to check out the casino (not worth it)
Other Comments
We have been to several gran bahia's Riu's and other resorts, this resort had the nicest views of all.but we wont be back there Punta Cana is still as far as we where concerned the best palce in the DR.
Overall it was still a great vacation
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| Gran Bahia Principe Cayacoa Samana |
Scott & Cheryl ~ Belleville, Ont |
March 2009
Arrival: 25 Jan 2009 to 2 Feb
We arrived at El Catey Airport and moved through customs quickly. We booked through Air Transatand the transfer bus was there to pick us up. The rep handed out the room key/ wrist bands etc on the bus. The trip took about 1 hour due to poor road conditions. The scenery was great.
Rooms
Our room was not ready yet as it was only 1Pm so went to the buffett and chowed down. We were near the beach in villa 32 on the 2nd floor in a junior suite. Excellent room. We did not need the AC on as we could leave our balcony door open and a beautiful breeze blew through the room. Since we were in an end room we could leave our front door open to have a flow-through breeze. With the balcony open at night the waves breaking on the beach put you to sleep. The rooms were clean and the mini bar restocked daily. A leak in the upstairs bathroom was promptly fixed. The only problem was the room door lock had to be reprogramed several times.
Restaurants and Bars
We tried the Italain ala cart. The sevice was very poor and the food so so. The Gourmet food and service were excellent. We really enjoyed the buffett.
Beach/Pools/Grounds
we stayed with the smaller Jaccuzzi pools because the were very close to our room. Lots of stairs to climb. Good exercise
Activities on and off the Resort/Hotel
Two tours. Jeep safari and the Los Hatais National Park. Both well worth the money. Take school supplies with you to leave at the rural school. We went to a $ store here at home to get pen, pencils, stickers,etc to leave. Individually wrapped candy is greatly appreciated.
Other Comments
We had a blast at this resort. We definately would go back. It's advertised as a 5 Star. Maybe. Maybe not.
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| Gran Bahia Principe Cayacoa Samana |
Jean ~ Peterborough, ON |
February 2009
Arrival: Feb 14 - 21
Arrival was great. It's a new airport and on Saturday ours is the only plane that arrives all day. Everyone was ready for us and it went quickly. Funny that the card they told us on the plane to make sure we had when we leave the country was taken from us first thing. What's that all about? Even though we were a small group, they still had us walk around through the maze used for lineups at the airport - that was funny.
When we left we thought, "well, at least we won't have to line up for take-off". But the pilot told us it's quite common to wait for clearance to take off and we waited about 20 minutes. I couldn't see anyone in the tower, so maybe they weren't there???
The drive to the resort was just short of an hour. The hotel had dancers at the door to greet us, but no welcome cocktail.
Rooms
The rooms are not great. We are a family with 2 kids (10 & 12) and it was very crowded.
The bathroom was the tiniest we've ever had on vacation and there were always water problems. About once a day there's no water for a while, and even when there was water it didn't like to come out of the shower. The shower was a bit of a torture each day - barely warm and only trickling out. We never got more than 3 towels for the 4 of us. One day our toilet didn't flush and the maid went ahead and cleaned it but didn't report it. When we came back to the room we reported it and it was fixed later that day, but whatever they used to fix it left a black, greasy mess that wasn't cleaned until next day.
Apparently there aren't enough rooms with 2 beds at this resort. We were certainly not the only ones saying we didn't want 1 king bed. A group of 3 men was put in a room with 1 king, and we talked with lots of others with the same complaint. The cots are too small even for our 12-year-old, who's feet stuck out the bottom. They brought us a cot, but they didn't put sheets on the sofa until the second day, after we asked 4 times. The sofa is about the same size as the cot - it's a foam slab that works well for small people.
Our first room was in the basement, under the dining room. It was kind of creepy down there, but we had a nice view down the hill and over the bay. Every morning we woke up when the dining room opened, because of the sound of the chairs moving. After 2 nights (and several precious hours wasted coming back to the desk to ask on the progress), we were moved to a room with 2 beds and a view of Samana. There is music coming from Samana almost all night long, but we got used to it. Some nights there was a show right below our window - loud, but short and it was fun to watch from the balcony.
The beds have a thin sheet and a heavy bedspread on them. The air conditioning blows right onto the beds. I was constantly kicking the thick spread off when it got too hot, then pulling it back on when the A/C blew on me.
Restaurants and Bars
This resort is very small, and it's reflected in the food options. The buffet is small, without the usual range of choices we're used to. Still, there was always something. They have the usual pasta bar, and freshly cooked fish or meat. At breakfast there were the omelette and juice bars. The food was OK - about the same as anywhere. Service was a little better than many places we've been.
Beach/Pools/Grounds
If you like to sit in the shade by the pool, choose another resort. There are about 4-6 umbrellas on one side, depending on how many are not broken. The other side of the pool has some shade from trees in the afternoon, so that's a better side to sit on for shade. But we found people on that side were mostly European and they smoked a lot, which was bothersome. Everyone is packed in close together, because the pool is so small. To get a shady spot, be at the pool before 7:30am to save your spot. To get a sunny spot, be there by 8am. After 8am there is no place to sit by the pool.
The beach was not great. Again, it's small and crowded, but there are more palapas there for shade and you can still get a spot until about 10am. It's not Punta Cana sand - it's a bit gravelly. The water doesn't have that beautiful Carribean colour - it's grey. Our kids thought it looked more like a lake at home than the ocean.
Don't bother to take snorkelling equipment. There are starfish, but that's about it and they get boring quickly.
The grounds are beautiful and interesting. It's on a cliff with lots of vegetation. Much prettier than Punta Cana, and more shade as you're walking around in the heat.
Activities on and off the Resort/Hotel
The nice thing about the size of the resort is that it's very friendly. You soon get to know (or at least recognize) pretty much everyone there. The animation team is good, although a little aggressive for my liking. They like to sneak up behind people and tickle them with palm leaves, or move their chairs, etc. Maybe it's because there weren't many people participating. I just like to lie in the shade and read, and I was constantly saying "No, gracias" to activities because they never stopped asking.
Other Comments
This resort is strangely laid out and requires a lot of walking and stairs. The person who said there are 200 stairs to the beach restaurant exaggerated - we counted only 153, plus ramps. It's a tough climb, but a pretty one. Not all rooms have elevators and not all the elevators go to all the floors. It seems like you walk around in circles a lot. In our first room we had to walk up 44 steps (no elevator), go along the hallway, and then go down 22 steps to get to the restaurant.
We've been to several large Punta Cana resorts (including the Bahia Principe), to La Romana, and to the Mayan Riviera. This resort was not as good as any of them, mostly due to the limitations of its size and space. But once we got used to the limitations, we had a good time. The staff are very nice and do a good job. If you've already booked this resort, enjoy it. If you haven't booked yet, be sure you can be comfortable in a small space before you choose this one.
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| Gran Bahia Principe Cayacoa Samana |
Karen ~ Chatham |
January 2009
Arrival: Jan 18 - Jan 25th/ 2009
Airport.....10 Tourist card which you walk 10 paces and then hand in??? Oye.... gimmie a break!!! I just hope thhis $$ goes into the economy for good use!! Hotel....quick check-in....went great!!!
Rooms:
Junior suite....AWESOME view.... well maintained/clean room....linens changed everyday...bar restocked daily as well. Only complaint....barely any water pressure, and water was lukewarm at best unless you are a VERY EARLY riser!
Restaurants and Bars:
Italian ala carte....very good, Gourmet was also very good.....service in both was excellent! Buffet....always something for everyone..BREAKFAST omelettes were awesome! Only complaint there.....men had to wear long dress pants, any other place I have been to men only had to wear dress pants at the ala cartes. Come on....we are on vacation...dress shorts are okay. Pool Bar!!!! Zeldina....we LOVE you!!!! This girl was FANTASTIC. As was Herme in the lounge/lobby bar area. Both quite friendly and very good with the customers! Extra A++++++ to Zeldina though, she is a treasure!!!
Beach/Pools/Grounds:
Beach......small....no LONG walks along the beach here....otherwise they do try their very best to keep it clean. Pool......ALWAYS clean, very well maintained...and very entertaining with the staff they have on. Franklin(sometimes Farco) is a gem, as is Johnathon.
Activities on and off the Resort/Hotel:
Whale tour....VERY rough the day we went, take the gravol they supply as soon as you get on board!!! Kim Bedell is GREAT.......very informative. Saw two whales, but we were early in the season, was still quite the site though. IF booking go thru KIM BEDELL...... the information is amazing, and you will NOT be disappointed with HER tour. Just call and book her direct from your hotel room....
Other Comments:
Any questions...I'll do my best to answer ... gags66@hotmail.com
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| Gran Bahia Principe Cayacoa Samana |
Ivona ~ Canada |
August 2008
Country: Dominican Republic
Area: Samana
Hotel: Gran Bahia Cayacoa
Rating: 4 stars
Meal Plan: A/I
Wholesaler: Conquest Vacations
Airline: CanJet
Date of Visit: July 2008
Background:
I have been wanting to visit the Samana peninsula for quite some time, but it hasn’t always been the easiest spot to get to. Now that there is an international airport serving this area, it has become much easier. Otherwise it is a 4 hour bus ride from Puerto Plata.
I spent two nights at the Cayacoa, and then the rest of the week at the sister resort of El Portillo (see my other review).
The Area:
The peninsula is simply gorgeous. I have previously been to Punta Cana and La Romana but Samana is thus far my favourite spot in the D.R. The scenery is simply beautiful; lush vegetation, rolling hills and mountains, spotless creamy sand beaches and a turquoise ocean all add up to stunning natural beauty. The Cayacoa is located near the town of Samana, about one hour from the airport.
The Resort and Clientele:
The Cayacoa is perched on a cliff with breathtaking views all around. The resort is made up of one main 5 storey building, and a few villas near the second beach where the Club Golden suites are located. The grounds as well as the common area were always spotless, the vegetation well cared for and lush, and I couldn’t get enough of those stunning views.
The clientele during my (July) visit was a real mixed bag of families, friends and couples. The visitors seemed to be mostly European, especially British, Spanish and Portuguese.
The Room:
I booked a junior suite (rather than a regular room) and I was delighted with the room I was given. I had a wonderful large, high ceiling room on the 4th floor with an amazing ocean view. My room had a king-sized bed, lots of closet and drawer space, a large balcony with chairs and table, a stocked bar fridge, coffee-maker, safe in the closet (extra charge) and a beautiful marble bathroom. The maid service was wonderful. NO complaints here whatsoever.
Beach(es) and Water:
There are two beaches at the Cayacoa; the main one with all the palapas, and a smaller beach down by the Club Golden. There was plenty of shade at both beaches; I never ran into problems finding shade for the day. The ocean at the main beach was a bit rough, and as such the water was not very clear. It certainly did not work to snorkel. The ocean at the smaller beach, while rocky at the shoreline, was much more calm and therefore clear and while the snorkelling wasn’t fantastic, the star fish were abundant. The ocean at this area of Samana is definitely not as crystal clear and turquoise as around Las Terrenas, but it was nonetheless clean and warm and fun to swim in. I liked the fact there were no ropes limiting the swimming area, and also no smelly and loud motorboats to spoil the peace and quiet. The beach itself was always kept clean and while beaches in the D.R. are public, I was never bothered by vendors.
Pools/Jacuzzis:
The hotel map shows 3 pools. I only visited the main pool and the pool/whirlpool by the Club Golden. The main pool was OK, albeit a bit small for the number of rooms. IT was usually packed with kids and people playing water sports. There is a swim-up bar that was constantly packed with people.
The Jacuzzi pool by the second beach was very nice and relaxing, although again, by the afternoon it would fill up with young kids and became too noisy and busy. Too bad this area hasn’t been turned to an adults only spot.
Food/Drinks:
The food was as good as one would expect from a 4 star resort. The thing that impressed me the most was the vast selection of veggies. It was nice to be able to load up on all sorts of veggies prepared in different ways. I had no complaints about the food, and I did not experience any tummy troubles. I was able to book one a la carte supper, but then I left the resort before I was able to try it out. The a la carte spots go very quickly, so if you want to try them, be sure to book early in your stay. You can book with the customer relations desk near the lobby. The buffet can also get extremely busy. During my last nite at this resort people were lined up just to get a table, and I was given a table right by the door. When it was that busy, the service, as you can imagine was pretty slow and spotty. I just felt sorry for the staff because they were all running off their feet. I think hotel management needs to re-think the staff requirements for busy times.
The drinks that I had were just fine. I stick to rum based drinks when I travel to the West Indies so I am usually not disappointed. The lime daiquiris, rum punches, and just plain ole anejo rum with pineapple/orange juice was just the ticket. The only complaint I would make is the house wine. It was pretty awful. I’ve had much better house wine in the Spanish resorts in Cuba.
The Staff:
They were all hard-working and wonderful! I cannot say enough about the lovely staff that work at this hotel. Everyone from the front desk to the maids, to the bartenders and the water sports staff were helpful, friendly and simply terrific, period.
Tne HotelBeds rep Anthony was very helpful and knowledgeable.
Things to Do:
If swimming and relaxing aren’t your thing, there are lots of excursions you can book thru the hotel; horseback riding, jeep tours, catamaran tours, and many others. You can hop on the ferry (right at the hotel dock) for 15 dollars and spend the day at Cayo Levantado. You can walk or take the shuttle to town and walk around and shop.
Shopping:
The hotel has one small shop for sundries, and there is a continuous shuttle that will take you the Pueblo Principe for extra shopping. You can be a bit more adventurous and simply walk or take the shuttle to town. There are lots of banks in Samana town including Scotiabank. Prices are cheap when compared to Mexico for example. The things to buy are Haitian art, carvings, rum, mamajuana, amber and larimar jewellery as well as the usual souvenirs like T-shirts and pareos.
Climate:
The weather in July was fantastic! I was lucky that no hurricane hit during my visit. The entire week was hot, sunny with no rain. The humidity was bearable; so much so that I was able to turn off the A/C at night and sleep with the balcony door open.
Insects:
I am sure the hotel sprays for mosquitos because I didn’t see any. I didn’t see any other insects.
In Conclusion:
A lovely 4 star hotel and an incredible value. GO see Samana before it gets over-run with tourists and mega-resorts a la Punta Cana.
If you still have questions, email me at: Ivona_Lancaster@hotmail.com
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| Gran Bahia Principe Cayacoa Samana |
RSM ~ Ontario, Canada |
March 2008
Arrival: My husband, I and 7 year old daughter travelled on the direct Toronto-Samana flight with Skyservice rather than do the long bus ride from Puerto Plata. In talking to others that came via Puerto Plata, we made the right choice. As it was late at night (~11:30 pm), hotel did everyone’s check-in (not just Royal Golden) on the bus ride to hotel so we got room keys, wrist bands etc. Signature rep also did the welcome briefing on the ride so we didn’t have to get up and attend one in morning. This was great! The snack bar (Italian restaurant beside disco) was open with a limited menu so we were able to get a midnight snack when we got settled as we were starving.
Rooms: Great size – balconies are glass walled so your view is amazing. We ended up with a full oceanview suite. Hotel is 5 stories and very accessible as long as you are in the main building with easy elevator access to buffet level, pool level and then another elevator to beach. From what we saw, upgrade to Royal Golden area not worth it unless you liked a lot of walking/steps to get everywhere (or waiting on a golf cart shuttle). My only suggested improvement (if the hotel reads this!) is that in this caliber of hotel, the additional cost for the in-room safe should be ‘buried’ into the room cost. Don’t make me make an additional trip to the front desk to pay/arrange for this.
Restaurants: Buffet was fine – lots of selection, you never starved. Pasta bar, salad bar and fruit selection with each meal. A la cartes (Italian, Gourmet & Seafood) were typical of other resorts. Favorites were the Gourmet or Seafood. For some reason, Gourmet had alot of seafood dishes on the menu which seemed strange when you also had a seafood a la carte. Book reservations with guest services at the front lobby; there was never a line up to do this as they are there long hours.
Bars: Typical of any resort; bartenders at some (especially beach bar) not the friendliest but hey, as long as I get my drink! Lobby bar had indoor/outdoor seating area and was great for the pre- and post-dinner hangout.
Beach & Pools: Glass elevator to pool level and then to beach fabulous. Nicely designed. Never had problems finding a chair at pool or beach and this was high season. One side of pool gets more shade in afternoon. Lots of palapas on beach. Sure, beach is smaller and not as nice as Punta Cana but we were expecting this and found it just fine. Our daughter had fun digging for/finding lots of shells on beach and had fun playing in the waves. We enjoyed the “desolate” feeling compared to being on a beach strip with hotel after hotel side by side.
There is a bar/washrooms at beach level. One improvement to suggest would be a lunch time snack bar – even if only limited menu (salads, wraps, grill or something) so you didn’t have to dry off and go up to the buffet or down all the steps to the snack bar at the 2nd pool (which didn’t have that great a selection).
Never swam or hung out at the 2nd pool … seemed to vary in how busy it was and not much of a beach area there.
Grounds: nicely kept, always staff working on them.
Activities: Guests were of all age ranges and mainly Canadian, Dutch, German, Spanish. Animation staff were a great bunch, and, like other resorts, they work long days… around the pool and then the show in the disco at night. Shows were hilarious and typical of other resorts we’ve been to. They do some “pre-show” games etc. in the courtyard outside the lobby bar before the real show starts at 10 pm. Disco continues after that.
Golf cart shuttle runs regularly to/from Pueblo shopping complex in Samana. Best prices on coffee and some rums? Go down the street from there to the grocery store. There is a Scotiabank in Samana and I’m told the ATM gave pesos to Canadian cardholders! Beware the motoscooters everywhere and look both ways twice before crossing the street!
Tours: We booked whale watching with Victoria Marine (Kim Beddall—a Canadian) and had a wonderful day and saw lots. Great experience. We also rented a private taxi one day to travel to Playa Rincon (#4 beach in the world). Breathtaking location, almost the only ones there on a Saturday! Interesting to see the villages on the way. Once you got higher up into the mountains, it became more agricultural (pineapples, potatoes etc.).
Conclusion: Can’t wait to return. Would recommend this to anyone looking for a relaxing, carefree getaway. If, however, you’re looking for the white sand beaches of Punta Cana to go for long walks on, know up front, this is not the place. We’ve done the “mega” resorts, as well as smaller ones, throughout Mexico, the DR and the Caribbean and this one only helped to confirm our decision to continue with the smaller resorts – better vacation, less stress, meet more people etc. (Questions: shaybaby@rogers.com but please put GBPCayacoa in subject line)
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| Gran Bahia Principe Cayacoa Samana |
Sue & Tamsin |
April 2007
We went to the Bahia Principe Cayacoa in Samana for 1 week at the end of March. Although the weather did not cooperate, we had a great time and were very happy with our choice of hotel and location.
Location/weather: Samana is gorgeous. From the moment you step off the plane you are surrounded by lush vegetation. The ride to the hotel (from Samana airport) was about 45min and was fascinating to see the coconut plantations and glimpses of the ocean, as well as the homes along the side of the road, albeit a bit hard to see coming from Canada and being accustomed to the luxuries of home. The condition of the roads was “interesting”, but it was a very comfortable ride nonetheless. The hotel is beautiful and its private beach is great. The only complaint we heard from ppl was that they couldn’t go for long walks along the beach as it’s small, but we enjoyed it and liked having bar and bathroom nearby. There was a daily shuttle to Cayo Levantado beach which was bigger and beautiful light sand and turquoise water. Pools and grounds of the hotel are really nice, though walkways were still under construction. The town of Samana appears charming, though we didn’t have the opportunity to walk around. It rained every afternoon like clockwork. One expects that in a lush tropical location like this it would rain, but we felt this was a bit much – we only had 1 sunny afternoon. It was difficult to get a clear answer from those who work and live there, most said that it was an unusual amount of rain (and indeed there was even flooding in other parts of the country). Rooms were great and clean, and I don’t think any would have bad views unless you’re on the first or second floors.
Arrival: We flew from Montreal, and because they can’t fill flights to Samana, we went through Cayo Coco in Cuba to drop people off, and to pick up those finishing their vacation there and headed home. It was done efficiently but made for a long day (our flight back was direct which was much better). Room registration was done on the bus to the hotel, and the rep from our tour operator (Signature) provided useful information for the stay. Upon arrival you are given juice and because of the timing of our arrival, once we ensured our bags were in the lobby we were swept off to the buffet for lunch before it closed. Once finished, we returned to the lobby and a bellboy took us and our bags up to our room. We needed to change rooms in order to be near the person we were traveling with, and although it took a bit of going back and forth, the staff were very friendly and helpful and took care of everything in the end.
Food: The food in the buffet was excellent, we ate there for breakfast, lunch and most dinners. They are closed for a couple of hours in between meals but if you’re stuck there is a 24h snack bar down at the dock (we ate lunch there the day we returned from Cayo Levantado and wouldn’t choose to eat there again unless we had to). The A la Carte restaurants were an experience not to be missed. The food was not great (except for the shrimp at both the Italian and Pescador restos which was excellent) but it’s worth it just to be served at your table with amazing service and for the pleasure you’ll get from making out the items on the menus (they could do with having someone verify the English translations, though that would really take away a lot of the fun). At the moment only one restaurant buildings is being used for the A La Carte with a view on Samana Harbour, and it switches nightly. Normally there would be 2 other restaurants open each with great fantastic view over the ocean but they are currently closed. Our understanding was that there had been a lot of complaints about the trek to actually get to them, so they’re taking this opportunity, while it’s low season, to refurbish.
Service: the service throughout the hotel, and in particular the restaurants and bars, was impeccable. It helped to speak a little Spanish or to try to as not everyone is fluent in English, but they do try. They are extremely friendly people and have a strong work ethic.
Nightlife: rather non-existent. We only caught one show and were impressed given our low expectations. The setup for the theatre (which converts to the disco after the show) is small and not ideal, and there were not many people in attendance most nights (making it difficult for the animation team as some of their shows are interactive with the audience, but they try very hard). The main bar closes at 11 so if you aren’t ready to go to bed, the disco is the only place to go and unfortunately not many people do, so most nights are quiet. There are a couple of discos and bars in town which apparently are busy at weekends (at night you can hear the tempting music across the water), but we did not venture out.
As it is a brand new location, I expect a lot to change and would be interested to return. The hotel was only at half capacity - we are however entering low season, but I don’t think they have handled full capacity yet, and I think the beach and pools will be a bit crowded when that happens. The guests at the moment were 75% Canadians, and most of those from Quebec. The rest were Europeans and it appears to be becoming quite a popular destination for Italians.
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| Gran Bahia Principe Cayacoa Samana |
Leonard |
March 2007
Hola,
Back from Hotel GBP Cayacoa in Samana, D.R.
Hotel is one hour drive from the new airport.
It is a new hotel with stunning scenic views.
Rooms confortable. Hotel's golf cart takes you down the hill to Samana city (Santa Barbara), where you are able to walk and explore the city on your own.
Signature has a daily free trip from hotel to Bacardi Island (Cayo Levantado), (others pay $ 15.00) , the trip takes about 25 min one way.
The boats leave at 9:30 and return at 1:30., Reservation one day before.
On Cayo Levantado lovely beach and good swimming, place crowded when cruise ships arrive.
.
Cayacoa Hotel's beach is small and crowded.
Swimming is ok. and water warm. (even in January) Diving school and other sports available.
Food in buffet restaurant is good (4 stars) and in a la carte restaurants (3 available) also.
Make reservation one day before. (three per week) During our staying the wine was changed from sweet Italian to a pretty good Spanish one.
Main pool very nice with confy chairs,(not enough) not much shade available.
pictures link :
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/lcupryk/album?.dir=/3bd2re2&urlhint=actn,ren%3as,1%3af,0
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Last updated: August 20, 2009
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