The Bannister Hotel & Yacht Club

We stayed July 3rd, 2025. Jose Alberto and Alex Manuel were amazing, going above and beyond to make sure we had what we needed and helping us feel welcome. It was also super convenient to chat with the staff on WhatsApp for questions or requests. The hotel is a little away from downtown, which suited us since we wanted peace and quiet. The area is calm and nice, and there's water right on the property. The price was great for what we got. We had a wonderful stay!

Since 2019, we've kept coming back to the Bannister, first as a couple and now with our kids. It's our go-to place to relax and get away from the city. Peaceful, beautiful and super chill. We definitely recommend it!

The infinity pool and its view over the Bay of Samana are fantastic, and the nearby bar is a nice touch. The setting is peaceful, but the rest of the stay was a letdown. I wouldn’t recommend this place as it is now, especially not as a five-star hotel. Our first room was beside the generator, so sleeping there was impossible. In the next room, reception music came through the bedroom, and the breakfast setup was loud in the morning. We went to bed and woke up to bloody jingle bells. When we raised it, the receptionist seemed surprised and didn’t see a problem. Room 401 also had no hot water. The rooms are worn, with rusty lamps and a rusty shower, and there was no working phone. If you ask, reception gives you a number to call from your own phone. At check-in, they tried to charge us even though we had prepaid. The receptionist insisted that “pre paid” meant we hadn’t paid until we showed the manager our credit card statement. Breakfast was mediocre: my eggs arrived with sesame seeds after I asked for none, and the mint tea I ordered never came. Most staff speak very little English. That wasn’t a big issue for us since we speak a few languages, but it’s odd for a hotel that calls itself five-star. If you can get a bargain and don’t mind those problems, the location is nice. Otherwise, there are better options. I was also surprised to see it listed among the Luxury Small Hotels of the World. One receptionist was friendly and completely understood the situation.

We were staying on our boat in the marina, so I can’t comment on the rooms. The location is great, and the marina staff were great too. Service was very good.