Occidental Gran Bahia Samaná Peninsula

My husband and I just returned from the Occidental Gran Bahia in Samana for New Years and it was great. The views were the most beautiful we've seen in our ten years of Caribbean travel. Everywhere you looked the view was amazing. Around the end of January to middle of March, you can see lots of whales right from the hotel. The food was better than we expected (don't expect five star food). The beach is rather small, but very nice. Plus you can take a boat each day to Cayo Levendo, which is beautiful. This is included in your all inclusive. The hotel put on a beautiful gala, lobster and shrimp buffet, salsa band in the lobby, fireworks at midnight. They even served soup around 1am to sober people up. The staff were amazing, very helpful and very friendly. The resort itself is very clean, however, it is becoming a bit worn and needs a renovation, especially the rooms. We did take the malaria drug (Choroquine), but did not see one mosquito. The only downfall to this trip is the bus ride, three long hours. We didn't see much on our arrival as it was dark, however, on our departure (in the daylight), there was much to see. The first hour of the returen trip from Samana to Puerta Plata is beautiful, then you go through Cabarete and Sosua, which are nice, but in between is very long. They are building a new international airport in Samana, as well as new resorts. This will definately be the next hot spot for the Domincan. It was nice to see Samana before it becomes too touristy.

This august my boyfriend and I enjoyed a three weeks vacation at Gran Bahia for wich we travelled all the way from Romania; it was all worth it! The hotel has a splendid view from every room, very friendly entertainment and service people. The rooms are big and clean with two(?) double beds but the bathrooms are very old styled: no bideau, no bathtub (only shower). We had some problems with the airconditioning and the maintenance was far from beeing prompt. The internet is too slow. I liked the cooked bananas and the fresh juice but generally the food was unusual for me. The best food we had in a very small diner in the village Los Cacaos. The beautiful island Cayo Levantado (a small boat takes you there from the hotel a few times a day) has the most incredible white sand but is not very relaxing beacouse there is allways somebody trying to sell you something. We spent most of our time in the watter, we took diving lessons and enjoyed the wonderfool ocean.

If you like raw pork, cold showers, roaches, and really bad service. Oh! and a $250 price tag, then Gran Bahia is for you. My husband and I, alond with our two kids (ages 4 and 6) spent a very long 24 hours at this hotel. We arrived at night only to find that Hotels had overbooked and did not bother to contact to us(a whole 'nother complaint) Luckily, there was a very nice guy at the recepcion desk who gave us room that someone cancelled at the last minute.

I'll try to keep this brief. The room smelled-and not in a good way. There was not hot water. At best, if you let it run 20-30 minutes you might get tepid. Imagine placing your yoga mat on the gym floor and then lying on it-that is about how comfortable the beds were. The food-uuuugh. For dinner was a pig leg, which was rare and a bunch of other semi-identifiable items. I told my children it was their lucky day and we all ate ice-cream and bread for 2 days. And to top off our wonderful stay was a very large tropical breed of cockroach which apparently inhabited the hotel, specifically our room.

On a good note, the views were great and the coffee wasn't too bad.

My husband and I stayed at the Gran Bahia at the end of May 2004. We lucked out with the weather - our visit was a week after heavy rains had washed out many of the houses and roads in DR. The Gran Bahia is a considerable drive from the airport, averaging about 4 hours, at times nervewrecking, since the road is riddled with potholes and travelled by every type of vehicle - car, bicycle and mopeds (with entire families - man, woman, and many times 1-2 kids on one moped - all without helmets!) Definitely rent a JEEP. Once we arrived at the hotel, it was a veritable oasis - just a beautiful, peaceful setting, a tropical paradise. The hotel is small by resort standards, which makes it very intimate and romantic. The room was very nice, with its own balcony overlooking Cayo Levetando, bathroom could have used some updating...but it was OK. The only major downfall of the Gran Bahia was that the food was simply awful - incredible, in an area so blessed by fresh fruit and plentiful fish...etc. I must add that my husband and I are not "high maintenance" or picky eaters...the food was just terrible. Toward the end of our stay, we finally wised up and took a short drive into the lovely seaside town of Samana and had a terrific meal at Camilo's - fresh fish, shrimp, rice done in the local style, 2 Presidente beers, then coffee and dessert for what amounted to the equivalent of $16.00 (US)! We could have kicked ourselves for not having ventured out sooner! There is a breathtakingly beautiful beach, Playa Rincon, which is and quiet, secluded and romantic - but only accessible via 4 wheel drive. We found out afterward that there is a wonderful restaurant at the very end of the road, fresh seafood, etc. All in all, our vacation was lovely...with a few minor annoyances.

We stayed at the Grand Behind the week of February 19, 2004. This was not by our choosing as we were sent there unwilling when our hotel was overbooked in Rio San Juan. We had the unfortunate experience of spending two nights at the Grand Behind. Everything from the service, to the food, the condition of the property the rooms, the pool and the fact there was no hot water was substandard at best. I do not know why anyone would consider this a relaxing and enjoyable experience. One word Nightmare and stay away!

I just got back from several days at the Gran Bahia and I have to say that it was far more than I expected! Everywhere I looked, something beautiful caught my eye. The location is spectacular and the room balconies are great. We did lots of lounging and swimming and ate everyday at a table on the lawn. The food is the only thing I wasn't satisfied with. It wasn't necessarily bad, just nothing I'd choose to eat again.

We stayed here four days, December 5, through December 9, 2003. The Gran Bahia is definitely a grand dame down on her luck. The rooms are large and the views are incredible. During our stay we had only one hot shower. The rest of the time the water must be left running for 15-30 minutes to reach lukewarm. Don't plan to use the air conditioning unit in room 229 at night. It sounds like a diesel generator and sleep is just not possible. The beds in this room were designed by the Marquise de Sade.

The staff is helpful although English is not a language that is spoken by many, a knowledge of Spanish is a must, German is also helpful...

The food is good, don't plan to eat in the restaraunt, we tried on two occasions and both times were strongly dissuaded by the staff. The menu is also not supported so your choices are very limited.

The beach on Cayo Levantado is beautiful. It is a vendors paradise as you cannot escape until the boat arrives to take you back to the hotel.

Someone please buy this place and return her to her former glory. It is a shame that such a beautiful property has been run into the ground.

This hotel is off the beaten track a few hours by car from Puerto Plata. We stayed here a few years ago and really enjoyed it. It is a beautiful hotel.

Our room was large and the beach was very pleasant. However it was a bit rough yet still swimmable at times.

The pool was quite nice but we preferred the beach.

The food was very average mass hotel type food. Nothing great but just OK.

The hotel is also located across from a gorgeous island.

Highly recommend this place. Entertainment in the evening. Most guests were from Europe. We just stayed 3 nights. It was enough as there is no real town nearby.

Peace and quiet is what you would get here. Beautiful sight. Caribbean view is gorgeous. service is excellent. People of the area are delightful. Gorgeous vintage look inside and outside of the hotel.

simply beautiful and wonderful! Been there for the 1st time in 2000 and again 2003 going back 2004 all in July. Oh food- well seasoned very tasteful. i personally love the bread. hmmmmmm

We were at this hotel on Sunday the 9th of Feb. 2003 and though the official exchange rate was 23.50 pesos to the dollar (us) the front desk gave us onlt 17. It was a sunday and there was no other place to go, so we put up with this robbery. Plus if you go down to the ground floor, near the gym, there is an unlocked abandoned restroom which is the filthiest place I have seen in 40 years of traveling the world.