You did a fantastic job reviewing this hotel. I have been to Samana many times, i stayed twice at El Portillo and twice at Cayacoa and also have been to that beautiful beach in Cayo Leventado. The hotel has apparently been completely renovated and its expensive but just gorgeous. El Portillo has the most amazing beach and the sand is whiter i believe than this beach.
I have been three. Times to this hotel. Twice in bungalow. I really enjoy the privacy for night cap or coffee in the morning. On the right side you have playa Bonita will all little cantina, bar, mosquito beach bar and restaurant. On left side a little cantina for sunset and beer. Fabulous place
You can walk past the breakwall on the right until Playa Escondida. From there you have to leave the beach for few minutes. After that you can walk till Las terrenas if you want :) Walked 3 hours straight in that direction.
Thanks for sharing this great video. We were there in April 2016 or 2017 (when it had just opened), so nice to see the property is just as nice and clean as back then. We are thinking of returning in April as we prefer Adults only resorts. Our first time there, the building you stayed in was not yet built . We too, prefer top floor - were you on the 3rd floor and what was your room number? Thanks again for sharing.
Thanks for a great review. Very helpful. Were there people playing volleyball? My husband really enjoys it and wants to ensure that there will be company. Thanks!
I've stayed at Cayo Leventado. I agree its very pricey but its also quite luxurious and absolutely gorgeous. Some of what you said isn't quite accurate. When you stay at the Bahia Cayo Leventado you don't really notice the tourists coming and going to the other side of the Island other than seeing boats come and go unless you go out of the resort. If you go to the 'public' side of the Island earlier in the day before the tour boats arrive it is very quiet and lovely. Yes there is an armed security guard at the entrance to the resort. The resort has 2 private beach areas of its own. The boat ride from the Bahia private dock (which is where they check you in and take your luggage and put it in your room for your arrival) on the main land is about 10-15 min. Once you are at the resort they have a free shuttle to and from the mainland twice/day if you want to leave the Island and they have excursions that leave directly from the Island as well. Since the renos a couple years ago it has gotten more upscale and definitely more pricey and would be more along the lines of higher end Secrets properties. Personally I don't think the traffic on the public end of the Island is really a factor for whether you might like to stay there or not. It's more of a do you want to pay that much even though its very nice?? You are correct you could definitely go to Viva V twice for the price of one time at Leventado.
Is there only one pool? I assume there is a pool bar since there is an all-inclusive option? If only one pool, I'm just wondering if it is at all quiet, or if there is constant entertainment at the pool.
I like your no nonsense no BS review. Two questions, One I saw one review on here that said this resort has significant issues with insects both inside rooms and outside along with power disruptions and water outages. Was that your experience the 2 times you were there? (What time of year did you visit on your 2 trips?) Two, you mentioned cigars, would you say the duty free cigars were more or less expensive than at the resort cigar shop?? Did vendors in town or on the beach have name brand cigars in sealed packages?? Thanks so much.
Hey brother, many thanks for the kind word and connecting in. 1. Both times I went to the Viva V was between Mar 15 and May 15th and had no issues with water or bugs. I think I saw the review you may have seen of this couple that had water coming into their room and complaints about bugs. It must have been some weird occurrence because that hotel is ultra clean and bug free and I would return in a heart beat. 2. Both the duty free and the hotel especially are a complete over priced rip off. I can buy a Gran Puro Nicauraguan $7 usd cigar from www.4noggins.com in up state NY and in the dominican that same stick (that's made in the dominican by the way) will be $22 - 25USD. The beach vendors are locals that roll up god knows what and then print up labels in their ink jets and will try to tell you they're premium sticks. Buy your cigars at home somewhere you trust and take them with you is the way to go. Moreover, if you buy their sticks in the summer the humidity is so high and the cigars will be so damp they won't smoke well. That's my two cents worth. Hope it helps. Cheers
Almost forgot, if it's of interest I'll have a review of the Memories Caribe Beach, Cayo Coco Cuba in a couple weeks time. Heading there next week. Cheers!
@@PTPhotoGearReviews Good on you for taking one for the team! Cuba has been so hit and miss past few years. Everyone I ask who's been there either say it was fine like years ago or it was awful running out of food and booze multiple times/week. Hopeful you have a good tip! I'll look forward to your review. It's nice to have a few cheap places to go for a beach vacation.
There's lots of activities though out the day but I honestly never visited the disco at night so can't really comment. They had a Cir de sole show that was not to be missed and some other local entertainers come in which were nothing special but there was one gal that visited every other night with an amazing voice. What I noticed is that the level of activity corresponds to the crowd of people at any given time. Cheers!
Yes, and the hotel staff will help you with her if need be. Make sure she goes in from the front facing the lobby as there are several very gradual steps. It’s easier to trip entering on the sides.
If you can't find what you want in the hotel you can take a taxi to Las Terenas, $40 USD and 15 minute drive and your driver will wait forever for you and you'll likely find what you want there and it will be about 2/3rds cheaper than at the hotel. Can't speak to the quality as everyone has different likes. My luggage showed up 1 day late so had to visit las terenas and came back with a boat load of stuff for $40USD. One T-Shirt at the hotel is $25 USD. Hope that helps. Paul
So at timecode 2:10 of this video you can see the wheelchair ramp into the lobby and then basically from the lobby right down to the end of the pool is WCA but the hotel has no elevators that I ever saw so you would want to stay in a ground floor room or one of the bungalows. At timecode 4:54 you can see the front of the pool shelf which is about 6" deep and then there's two shallow steps that drop down from that and there are steps into the pool on both sides in between the little white sheet cabanas. Timecomde 5:41 has these slate walkways so a little more difficult for the WC bound to navigate. Hope that helps. Paul
We will be going there in February. How much money would you reccomend bringing? Wondering how much massages are for 2 people . We also booked an excursion to monkeyland
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Great, thorough and honest video! Thank you! (PS, my family lives in the Kawartha Lakes) 😊
Many thx for connecting in, it's much appreciated. Cheers!
You did a fantastic job reviewing this hotel. I have been to Samana many times, i stayed twice at El Portillo
and twice at Cayacoa and also have been to that beautiful beach in Cayo Leventado. The hotel has apparently been completely renovated and its expensive but just gorgeous. El Portillo has the most amazing beach and the sand is whiter i believe than this beach.
I have been three. Times to this hotel. Twice in bungalow. I really enjoy the privacy for night cap or coffee in the morning. On the right side you have playa Bonita will all little cantina, bar, mosquito beach bar and restaurant. On left side a little cantina for sunset and beer. Fabulous place
You can walk past the breakwall on the right until Playa Escondida. From there you have to leave the beach for few minutes. After that you can walk till Las terrenas if you want :) Walked 3 hours straight in that direction.
Good for you, thanks so much for connecting in. It really is a paradise in that area. My wife and I just love the area. Cheers
Going to that resort for our honeymoon this November...you have eased my mind! Cant wait thank you ❤
Thanks for sharing this great video. We were there in April 2016 or 2017 (when it had just opened), so nice to see the property is just as nice and clean as back then. We are thinking of returning in April as we prefer Adults only resorts. Our first time there, the building you stayed in was not yet built . We too, prefer top floor - were you on the 3rd floor and what was your room number? Thanks again for sharing.
saludos desde quebec ..cheers..like very much your style ..best regards..lets stay in touch..hasta la proxima
Thanks for a great review. Very helpful. Were there people playing volleyball? My husband really enjoys it and wants to ensure that there will be company. Thanks!
I've stayed at Cayo Leventado. I agree its very pricey but its also quite luxurious and absolutely gorgeous. Some of what you said isn't quite accurate. When you stay at the Bahia Cayo Leventado you don't really notice the tourists coming and going to the other side of the Island other than seeing boats come and go unless you go out of the resort. If you go to the 'public' side of the Island earlier in the day before the tour boats arrive it is very quiet and lovely. Yes there is an armed security guard at the entrance to the resort. The resort has 2 private beach areas of its own. The boat ride from the Bahia private dock (which is where they check you in and take your luggage and put it in your room for your arrival) on the main land is about 10-15 min. Once you are at the resort they have a free shuttle to and from the mainland twice/day if you want to leave the Island and they have excursions that leave directly from the Island as well. Since the renos a couple years ago it has gotten more upscale and definitely more pricey and would be more along the lines of higher end Secrets properties. Personally I don't think the traffic on the public end of the Island is really a factor for whether you might like to stay there or not. It's more of a do you want to pay that much even though its very nice?? You are correct you could definitely go to Viva V twice for the price of one time at Leventado.
Many thanks for connecting in and the heads up. It’s much appreciated. Cheers
I have a trip booked here! Looking forward to it more now! Just curious, how expensive was the excursion to the caves?
I think about $100 bucks if I recall correctly. It’s well worth it.
Is there only one pool? I assume there is a pool bar since there is an all-inclusive option? If only one pool, I'm just wondering if it is at all quiet, or if there is constant entertainment at the pool.
Hi great review . Is the pool warm.
I like your no nonsense no BS review. Two questions, One I saw one review on here that said this resort has significant issues with insects both inside rooms and outside along with power disruptions and water outages. Was that your experience the 2 times you were there? (What time of year did you visit on your 2 trips?) Two, you mentioned cigars, would you say the duty free cigars were more or less expensive than at the resort cigar shop?? Did vendors in town or on the beach have name brand cigars in sealed packages?? Thanks so much.
Hey brother, many thanks for the kind word and connecting in. 1. Both times I went to the Viva V was between Mar 15 and May 15th and had no issues with water or bugs. I think I saw the review you may have seen of this couple that had water coming into their room and complaints about bugs. It must have been some weird occurrence because that hotel is ultra clean and bug free and I would return in a heart beat. 2. Both the duty free and the hotel especially are a complete over priced rip off. I can buy a Gran Puro Nicauraguan $7 usd cigar from www.4noggins.com in up state NY and in the dominican that same stick (that's made in the dominican by the way) will be $22 - 25USD. The beach vendors are locals that roll up god knows what and then print up labels in their ink jets and will try to tell you they're premium sticks. Buy your cigars at home somewhere you trust and take them with you is the way to go. Moreover, if you buy their sticks in the summer the humidity is so high and the cigars will be so damp they won't smoke well. That's my two cents worth. Hope it helps. Cheers
Almost forgot, if it's of interest I'll have a review of the Memories Caribe Beach, Cayo Coco Cuba in a couple weeks time. Heading there next week. Cheers!
@@PTPhotoGearReviews Good on you for taking one for the team! Cuba has been so hit and miss past few years. Everyone I ask who's been there either say it was fine like years ago or it was awful running out of food and booze multiple times/week. Hopeful you have a good tip! I'll look forward to your review. It's nice to have a few cheap places to go for a beach vacation.
Nice job
Nice review! Well done sir. Im planning to go there to have some fun in April. How's the night activities in the hotel? Is discotech active?
There's lots of activities though out the day but I honestly never visited the disco at night so can't really comment. They had a Cir de sole show that was not to be missed and some other local entertainers come in which were nothing special but there was one gal that visited every other night with an amazing voice. What I noticed is that the level of activity corresponds to the crowd of people at any given time. Cheers!
@@PTPhotoGearReviews Got it! thanks for the info and taking your time to comment on this. I will give it a try for sure. Cheers!
Is the pool easy to get into. My 81 year old mom with mobility issues is looking at this resort
Yes, and the hotel staff will help you with her if need be. Make sure she goes in from the front facing the lobby as there are several very gradual steps. It’s easier to trip entering on the sides.
Very good reriews . I went there , and your comments are honest.
Hey thanks, it really is a wonderful hotel vacation spot. Cheers
Thank you very much for the great video and your tips. Do you know if you can buy good rum there? Many greetings from Germany
If you can't find what you want in the hotel you can take a taxi to Las Terenas, $40 USD and 15 minute drive and your driver will wait forever for you and you'll likely find what you want there and it will be about 2/3rds cheaper than at the hotel. Can't speak to the quality as everyone has different likes. My luggage showed up 1 day late so had to visit las terenas and came back with a boat load of stuff for $40USD. One T-Shirt at the hotel is $25 USD. Hope that helps. Paul
Hello can you recommend tranportation from which airport to resort? Thank you
A bus from the airport in Samara will take you to the hotel prearranged.
Samana I meant to say.
Could you tell me if all ground floor rooms have the private mini pools or just selected vibe rooms?
All ground floors do not have mini pools.
Ok , thanks.
So , I have to request higher floor.
We booked standard room, but I don’t want be on ground floor.
Can you tell me if this resort is wheelchair accessible and if the pool has walk in steps into it, thanks
So at timecode 2:10 of this video you can see the wheelchair ramp into the lobby and then basically from the lobby right down to the end of the pool is WCA but the hotel has no elevators that I ever saw so you would want to stay in a ground floor room or one of the bungalows. At timecode 4:54 you can see the front of the pool shelf which is about 6" deep and then there's two shallow steps that drop down from that and there are steps into the pool on both sides in between the little white sheet cabanas. Timecomde 5:41 has these slate walkways so a little more difficult for the WC bound to navigate. Hope that helps. Paul
Thank you for the info
We will be going there in February. How much money would you reccomend bringing? Wondering how much massages are for 2 people . We also booked an excursion to monkeyland
$350 should do it for two massages and monkey land
Hi is there a family side that We can go?????
Bahia Grand El Portillia is just down the road from the Wyndam and it's a family hotel. Not quite as new but I heard it's nice as well. Cheers
Awesome video.. Ty! We just booked for Jan 2025
Enjoy!
Is this adults only
Yes!
Your video doesn't show much what about the nightlife? Why is it so dead there? Is that how it always is?
just smile man :(
Why are you walking everywhere but the path?
so boring :(
What was boring about it, I plan on booking and I don’t want to waste my money 😢