Bahia Principe Escape Samaná - Adults Only

The Dominican is a beautiful country, but this expensive trip didn’t feel worth the money, and I’ll look elsewhere next time. We spent 10 days at the resort and had only two decent meals, both at the buffet. The food was bland, even at the “fancy” restaurant we tried on our first night, and drinks were mediocre. Food also wasn’t available all day, and most staff spoke very little English. The trip from Santo Domingo took about 2 hours and 45 minutes. We booked round-trip transport for my wife and me through the resort’s Amstar service, and it cost $500 USD before tip. The beach was small and clean, with a beautiful view. I liked that it was quiet, without crowds of tourists or vendors approaching us. Our room was a decent size and fairly clean. We’ve stayed at all-inclusive resorts before, so we do have some standards.

The quiet setting and the staff were the best parts of our two weeks. The views are amazing, the rooms are spacious and cleaned well, and the little private beach is nice. Aside from one pool barmaid, the employees were outstanding. The lobby singers from 8 to 10 pm were pretty good, too. We even saw whales swimming by. It was a peaceful holiday, though we ended it with a stomach problem that lasted two weeks. Other guests told us they’d had similar experiences. Getting around is a drawback. The hotel is far from the airport, and a trip to the nearest town costs $50. That’s the only way to explore outside the property. You can’t walk anywhere past the gate, with no places to go and no sidewalks. There are stairs everywhere, and the climb back from the beach is rough if you’re not fit. The beach itself could be better maintained, and there’s no bar or bathroom there. During the day, only the pool bar is open, then the lobby bar at night. There are supposedly three restaurants, but one is a small buffet space without air conditioning, the Italian place is closed, and the international restaurant serves mostly buffet food. Don Pablo is the only one we thought was worth dining at. There’s no AC, but the meals aren’t bad. You get two reservations a week, one at the international restaurant and one at Don Pablo. The room was clean, but the AC sounded like a generator, and there was mildew and mold on the walls beneath the windows.

We loved our return visit to Bahia Principe Grand Samana. We were last here in 2023 and came back in January 2026. The private beach is lovely, and the views are spectacular. Our room was wonderful, too. The place is beautiful, and the staff were friendly, responsive, and provided excellent service under Lissa Matos’s management. If you’re after somewhere quiet and scenic with great service, we highly recommend it.

The long, nerve-racking drive from Santo Domingo Las Américas airport is the main drawback. It takes around 2 1/2 to 3 hours, and I wish the resort were closer. Once there, the hotel is very nice. We had a lovely superior room with a sea view, and the minibar was restocked each day with Coke, Fanta, and two beers. The pool and beach were great, with plenty of sunbeds. The steps back up from the beach are a workout, though the way down is easy. And remember to tip the staff, they work really hard. Food was mixed. The buffet was good and had plenty of choice if you arrived when it opened. Later, it was lukewarm, though still decent. We were given one dinner at Los Olas. I thought the buffet was better. The food wasn’t very good: my husband, who eats just about anything, couldn’t manage his rubbery ribs, and my meal wasn’t good either. I believe the other two restaurants on site are much better.