Just returned (mid 30’s couple) from a 1 week stay at Grand Paradise Samana and it was amazing!! Is it a 4 Star hotel? Definitely not but only because the rooms are a bit dated. When we got there we did have a few minor problems with our room (safe not working, shower and toilet problems) but all issues have been addressed within the first day. Otherwise the hotel is very clean, grounds well maintained, food is good and staff very friendly and helpful.

The beach is amazing, plenty of beach chairs and yes there is some sea weed close to the shore at certain spots but nothing major. What we enjoyed the most is the surroundings and of course some of the great people we meet!!! Being the only major hotel in the area makes it amazing since you can explore some amazing beaches, waterfalls, mountains, restaurants, discos and much more without the big tourist crowds….

The hotel is located 5 minutes from a lovely little village “Las Galerias” that you should definitely visit even if tour operators from the hotel advise against (reason being is that they don’t want you to buy tours for cheaper in the village).

If you are looking to explore the amazing beaches, waterfalls, and mountains in the surrounding areas you will need to find Rudy a local ranch owner. Very friendly guy speaks English, French and German fluently and he can take you anywhere you would like on his horses, 4X4 or ATV. To find him just ask around for Rudy around the dive and snorkeling center or you can find him on the right side of the beach (facing the ocean) with his beautiful horses. He really made our stay amazing!!

As for the bad reviews just ignore them as long as you are an easy going person. It’s funny to see people expecting luxury without the high price tag!! If you’re looking for luxury than this place is not for you, rather open your wallet and try a luxury hotel in the Barbados, Bermuda or perhaps the Virgin Islands.

Will be back since there is so much more to see!!!

First of all I’d like to say that anyone who’s writing that you should not expect any comfort or service in DR is simply wrong or didn’t get to compare to. There are beautiful hotels and restaurants competitive even to Manhattan’s ones. Grand Paradise Sanama is not in the list, but its prices are comparable. We stayed at GP Bavaro: at least, they have “guests services”. The hotel chain belongs to Dominican Republic: it sets all the standards. You can clearly see two opposite categories of employees: hardworking auxiliary low grade and managerial VIP ones, who won’t notice you. From very first moments you start to understand that they don’t care about vacationers, they simply don’t want you to come back. Only “friends & family” get good treatment. The beach is miserable comparing to any in Punta Cana: there is no “white powder sand”, a sign says “Do not swim close to the rocks”. Someone has complained that no one cleans sea grass - you’re lucky if they cleaned up the horse manure. All negative reviews are true: just one key for a room; local people, horses, dogs go thru the beach; no bacon; we arrived on Saturday and got yogurt only on Tuesday; long lines in the buffet – they do not serve tea or coffee (DIY); the only respond to your basic needs – “tomorrow” day after day; water sports – deposit $50; there are two local liquor brands: “Classic” and “Royale”, so they use the worst one “Classic”; out of 78 TV channels 72 in Spanish; etc. The receptionist Geury when you're asking about some basic needs besides usual "maniana" or "no" says something in Spanish to your back, making his collegues to laugh: this is a top of hospitality & service. Did I mention that food is horrible?
Just read the review "Second visit, still pleased": We stayed 01/26/13 - 02/02/13 and out of 8 days have only two last days sunny: every day of rains (even our driver told us that he's sorry about everyday rain: January is a rain season???). Just wondering: what did JeenM49 mean "real rain"?

We flew out of the Halifax Airport on Air Canada Vacations. Due to the strikes going on at that time, it was a little hairy near the date of travel, but in the end we left and were only delayed on the plane for an hour while the captains were striking for some reason. We did take off. Never again will I travel Air Canada, though.

We arrived in the morning and were greeted with a fruit punch cocktail and a smile. We paid for a room safe, and were escorted to our room which was just up from the beach. It was really large, a big bathroom and bedroom with a balcony looking out at the Turtle Pond. The curtains were frighteningly dirty and the bed sheets did not go all the way down to the bottom of the bed. This didn't really bother me (I laid out my towel at the bottom), but I'm sure my sister lost more than a night's sleep over it.

The beach was lovely (no bees, people kept saying there were bees/hornets in reviews before we left, but we saw none!). Lots of shade, lots of chairs. The water was full of seaweed beds, so if you are one who likes to walk out to deeper water you may be disappointing. There were a couple of sections where you could stand on sand and be up to your hips, but that was it. Far to the right there is a man (he looks Hawaiian?) who runs a snorkeling area just off the beach. Worth the $15 for sure, deep and sandy so you can swim and see the fish!

The food was GREAT. We never went hungry, and one day actually ate lunch twice just because it was so good. Pasta, pizza and salad and sandwiches could be had at the beach buffet which was our favorite. The main buffet had a different theme each night, our favorite of the week being Mexican - so good! We didn't eat once at the A la Cart restaurants as we were happy with the buffet. They served really cold beer in cold steins in the buffet as well which we loved. Breakfast was by far the best, the best omelettes I have ever eaten in my life. The drinks were cold and they had many to choose from!

The grounds were clean, friendly staff, Roberto made us the best cafe Americano and drinks of the whole place at the pool bar. One day he wasn't there and noone else knew how to make them. We missed him! :)

We had one day of some tummy troubles, but nothing too serious and we weren't room ridden. Come prepared with pepto and some tylenol and you should be fine. We did get a prescription of anti-biotics before we left just in case, but didn't have to use them! I have been to the Dominican once before, and we were really sick. So not the case this time!

We slept well and ate well. We did walk down to the small town and purchased some paintings from a store there. I felt sort of pushed into buying something, so unless bargaining is your thing I wouldn't recommend it.

We paid approx. $900 per person for the week taxes in, and it was a great value and well worth it.

Just returned on Jan29-30 from Grand Paradise Samana. We stayed one week, flying out of pearson in Toronto... This was our second trip to this resort (last year with our kids)... and going again next winter!!!( If they didn't sell the resort to Gran Bahia) Looking at some of the negative reviews, I am not sure what to say!!!... Except that you only reap the karma you sow!!... We have last year and this, recieved NOTHING but the very best in service and smiles... For the price of this resort, accept that there will be little "quirks", and you will not get glitzy, or shiny like a Bahia or Riu in Punta Cana and if that is what you want, go there and pay for it!!... If you do not look down your nose at staff, if you realize that EVERYWHERE in the Carribean smells musty, if you make an effort to tip, and say GRACIAS... your time here will be enjoyable... If you like rugged beauty, and can actually enjoy the outdoors, the REAL outdoors... you will enjoy your time here. This is the type of resort you can walk off of and actually be safe. Explore the coastline... find some geocaches... If you learn a little spanish, the locals are so friendly and willing to talk with you...Go fishing... Go zipline... Go catamaran... Go quadding... All worthy excursions... If you do the half day to El Limon by horseback, a couple detractors... One, if you are a rider at all, you only get crowbait here, it is not a western pleasure tour, and second, the horses only go halfway, and you have about 1/4 to 3/8 mile of stairs over about 400 ft elevation... between 750 and 1000 steps... be prepared.
The Sunwing Rep, Ramon, went above and beyond, arranging excursions...and the fishing trip!!!
Wife and I met another couple in the security line at Pearson, and we pretty much spentthe rest of the vacation together... So Pete and Garry, being the tournament anglingcrazy canuck fishing nuts that we are, had to get out, and brother, you GOTTA try this!!!... Imagine the WILDEST musky fishing you ever done, and then give it a heaping dose of steroids and you might come close to what fishing for Dorado and Wahoo is about!!!... We brought one fish back to the resort, and Ramon brought it to a gal, Morena, who prepped and cooked a meal for all four of us the next night at her bar, a two minute walk off the resort towards las galleras.
Running out of time, so gotta cut short... The food is really good here, lots of it... but if you need it hot, go at opening time... the drinks are soso, but cycle through, find what you like and stick with that... Animation crew are great people, all wonderful and approacheable... go here with the all this in mind and you will have a fantastic time... and tip the workers, they work hard for it... remember, look to Ramon if you want to go fishing, or anything off resort... tell him Cowboy sent you