Hostal Marina Samana

The rooftop breakfast was tasty, with a lovely view over Samaná, and the hostel is right in the center, handy for setting off on tours. I stayed several days at Hostal Marina Samana, and that part was great. What happened with the guide, though, really soured the trip for me. I’d asked the man at reception to arrange tours to places like Los Haitises, Cayo Levantado and las Galeras. He said he’d get in touch with someone. The next day his friend Richard W. showed up. He was warm and spoke English well, and offered trips to Boca del Diablo, las Galeras, Rincon, limon and other places. I spent about two and a half days with him. We’d agreed I’d tip him at the end of each day for his company, and that was fine at first. On the final day I expected to tip him that evening too. I’d already covered his lunch, which turned out to be much too expensive. Instead, he demanded $140 US. After a long argument I got the amount down a little, but still paid far more than I should have. I checked with the receptionist several times about whether the guide was trustworthy, and he assured me everything was okay. This was the worst experience of my holiday in the Dom Rep. The guide is friendly, tells you lots and tries to earn your trust, but in the end seemed interested only in the money. I can still recommend the hostal itself. For tours, I’d book through official organizations so you’re on safer ground.

The people at Hostal Marina were so friendly, and everything felt clean. We felt like we were part of the family. Loved it. God bless you guys🙏🏼

Really good value for the price. Recomiendo este hotel.

Clean, and a nice place.