Need your help please many questions

Music · #1 03-16-2009, 11:16 AM

Hi everyone,

I have a friend who has booked a trip to Samana and staying at the Gran Bahia Principe Cayacoa hotel they got a great deal! My friends do like to leave the AI and tour the area. I have never been to Samana so I'm not much of a help to them for suggestions. But they have a lot of questions and I decided to help by asking for your help

Any recommendations or suggestions are welcome as well please

1. Hotel- Is is a nice hotel in a good area? What is around it?

2. Tours- Any recommendations for good tours? They read about some tours they are interested in such as an Eco tour, Elcimon and Cayo Laventado tour. Is there a cave tour?

3. Playa La Ricon - Can they easily get a taxi to and from there hotel to the beach? What is the cost?

4. Any good restaurants to eat at in the area?

5. Where is a good place to rent a moped or car?

6. Where is a good place to book any tours outside the resort? or should they just book with the resort?

Thanks so much!!

caipiranha · #2 03-16-2009, 03:43 PM

Hi Music!

Sorry, I tried to give you a long recommondation list for tours, but this forum dropped me out when I started to post my reply. So here´s the short version:

1. Playa Rincon: Your friend also could go to Las Galeras by guagua and then take a boat (around 15$US) to Playa Rincon. He should deal the price before and pay on his way back.

2. Cayo Levantado: Very nice island, around 15$ from Santa Barbara de Samana. He shouldn´t go there when there are cruiseliners, the public beach is very small and it´s no fun at all with these hundreds of tourists.

3. Las Galeras: A typical Dominican place (guagua). Around he´ll find some of the best beaches at Samana (Playa Madame, Playa Rincon, Playa Fronton (cave), la Playita, Playa Colorada). Or relax at the El Cabito. Please “google” for further information, some of them can only be reached by boat or on horseback.

4. Las Cascadas de Limon: Organized tour or by guagua to El Limon. Horses and guides are waiting there for tourists. Prices have to be dealed.

5. Los Haitises: Boat trip across the Samana bay to the national park. Birds, mangroves, small islands, caves, pure nature… Organized tour.

6. Las Terrenas and Playa Bonita/Playa Cozon: There´s a guagua to LT, from there he could take a concho to these beautiful beaches. And have a drink at the "Dos Rios"...

7. “Nasenlöcher des Teufels”: Sorry, I didn´t find any translation for that. These are special blowholes, washed out by the sea, he´d have to go right, shortly before he´ll reach Las Galeras.

8. El Valle: I don´t understand why so many people are touring there. Nothing special, but perhaps he´ll love it.

9. If your friend is an adventurous driver – he should rent a 4WD and make his own trips.

Hope I could help you - and sorry for my bad English.

Music · #3 03-16-2009, 05:40 PM

caipiranha thanks so much and I understood your English just fine

They will be happy to read all your information!

Thanks again I really appreciate it!!

reilleyp · #4 03-16-2009, 06:33 PM

If your friends would consider something besides the AI resorts, and would like to rent a car, and hit some of these destinations on there own, I have a brand new two bedroom two bath condo, right on a private beach, about 5 miles from Las Galeras. Feel free to visit my site, and contact me with any questions. Samana, Dominican Republic
Thanks
Patrick

pedrochemical · #5 03-16-2009, 08:40 PM

Bloomin' heck mate. That looks nice!
How much is it?

Music · #6 03-17-2009, 10:05 AM

reilleyp thanks for the info

They have already booked as they got a cheap deal but I will keep your website link in mind if I visit Samana I've always wanted to

It looks very beautiful!!

irrrrrnal · #7 03-19-2009, 03:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pedrochemical

Bloomin' heck mate. That looks nice!
How much is it?

Hi Pedrochemical,

Yes your place looks great....I was waiting to see a $$ for rent pop up on this thread but you must have PM'd it. Can you please let me know also how much.
Thanks Very much

reilleyp · #8 03-22-2009, 12:12 PM

Music,
I hope you enjoy your stay. If you rent a car, I would rent it from someone at the airport, from a major chain. I rented one from a local, and it was a nightmare. You can use the car to get to many places, but if you plan to go to Playa Rincon, you should rent an SUV, as the road is very rough.

Playa Rincon is beautiful, but you should bring a lunch with you, since there is nothing to eat there. You should also bring some chairs, your camera, and your binoculars.

If you continue on the Las Galeras, near the end of the road, before you hit the beach, you will find Coconut Roys restaurant. John operates the retaurant. He and his staff speak English, as well as Spanish, and they will make anything they can for you. If you ask them what they have, and they say "what do you want?", they are not being sarcastic, they will make whatever you want, if they can, and if they have it. Their balsamic dressing for their salads etc, is very good.

My friend really enjoyed their fresh tuna steaks, caught locally,which he can make into a sandwich, or on a salad, or whatever. . .

I have not done the water fall tour. I am not much of a horseback rider. From what people have told me, the tours involve small horses or donkeys, on small trails. Having said that, when I do go on the waterfall tour, I am going to skip the horses, and just hike the trail. Locals will swarm you to take their own tour of the falls. I cannot say which is better, but I would always negotiate.

The other beaches on the peninsula all vary. Las Terrenas never impressed me. Too much traffic and people trying to sell you stuff. I would not trust anyone there either. That is not to say everyone is bad. Some are very helpful. I am just telling you to be careful, and it is not worth the trip up there.

The grand bahia is a very nice hotel, and has good food. The pool is up top, and you need to go down the elevator to access the beach. The other beach at the hotel is on the right side, down the windy path or road, and is more quiet, and secluded. There is also a small restaurant at which you can get sandwiches and drinks. I like to place. My only suggestion is the bring pants with you, since they will not let you access the dining room without long pants, and ask that you not get a room under the dining room. When I stayed, you hear every chair that is pushed in and out, and it drove me crazy.

The whale tours will be winding down, and I don't think you will see anything after March. You can still go deep sea fishing, or just take a boat tour. See my links on my webpage for Roberto Guzman. He is a good guy, and he has good equipment, and speaks English. He is located in Las Galeras.

Cayo Levantado tours can be found on the way to Las Galeras. I have not been there, but I does look very beautiful, and is probably worth the trip, but I am not sure how much there is to to there. You may want to do there early, and then continue up to Las Galeras for the rest of the day. Take your time, as the roads are very bad. They should be fixed once they finish putting in the water lines.

Ok, I am tired of typing. If you have any more questions, I will be happy to answer them if I can. I think you will enjoy your trip.

Chirimoya · #9 03-22-2009, 12:48 PM

Nothing to eat on Playa Rincón? There are three restaurants at the far end - turn right when you get to the beach. We ate at Ruby's.

caipiranha · #10 03-22-2009, 01:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chirimoya

We ate at Ruby's.

Thanks for the info. I´ll try it when I´ll be there next week.

Saludos