TripAdvisor Traveler Rating

The animation was amazing! We had fun with the animators, they were always laughing and very nice with us. We meet with Manuel, Billy and all the group! Michael was particularly nice either way us. Anais , beautiful person, body play and dancing!

Family vacation (party of 8 people). Taking into consideration the climate differences, dietary changes, and individual sensitivities to external factors, as seasoned travellers to the Caribbeans (up to 3 times a year), this was the first time that we ever got sick to this degree (7/8 people experienced discomfort leading to vomiting and/or diarrhea). Considering that the health concerns symptoms and vomiting only lasted one (1) day, it highly suggest food poisoning and/or water contamination, contrary to it being a virus as hotel and travel representatives claims. Buffet and Food: There was some diversity in the food served over the week and while it depends on taste and preferences, the taste was overall, okay in my opinion. However, utensils used for raw foods and cooked foods were being used interchangeably, and the temperature of the food (despite heaters and refrigerators) were not adequately maintained. The food is lukewarm at best. Furthermore the buffet is outside, and considering the temperature and humidity in the area, it is even more difficult to control the temperature. While the hotel maintains they have strict compliance with their HACCP system for all food and beverages, the amount of sick travellers on premises would suggest otherwise. More ever, cats could be seen climbing onto the tables to eat leftovers left by customers. As the utensils are placed on the tables beforehand, nothing can prove that cats have not touched it before we sat down. While we appreciate the initiative for no plastic and being eco-friendly, the fact that no bottled water was supplied and water had to be filled at the designated water station further backs our theory of water contamination as the remaining person in our party that didn't fall sick decided to only drink bottled sparkling water... Restaurants: Restaurant food and service was better than what was offered at the buffet, and overall the food was served at the expected temperature. Rooms: The rooms were much smaller than what we expected from the pictures taken on the travel site(s) but they served their purpose. One of the downside is that there was no place to put our luggage (luggage tray or table to deposit our luggage). Cleanliness: Depending on the cleaning lady assigned to our room, the quality of the cleanliness differed, but cleaning staff were very kind. Smoking: Please note that there is a lot of smoking on the resort and no designated smoking area. Location: The resort layout and the beach was beautiful. The palm trees across the resort and along the beach truly makes you feel isolated and away from the cities, a nice change of pace for travellers. The beach is very nice, but please note that the waves are very strong, and that the beach chairs are very close to each other. Atmosphere: The overall atmosphere of the resort was amicable. Most staff were very kind and always smiling. However, it is to note that upon our arrival, there was no welcoming drinks (not mandatory or required but as seasoned travellers and price range of the overall trip, it would have been a nice touch.) Additionally, upon arrival, welcoming staff sighed when our party mentioned that we booked a total of four (4) rooms, as if our arrival was a burden and generated additional work for them. Note that as most destinations in Dominican Republic, there is a lot of marketing for upgrades with the promise of a ''gift'' on the premises of the hotel and we understand that it is a part of their livelihood but some can be extremely persistent. Do remember that these presentations always come at a cost and nothing is free. On one occasion, no towels were left in our room and reception told us they were going to send someone up; the towels never arrived, and thankfully the other rooms in our party had towels to spare. Beach Towels: No restrictions on the quantity of beach towels is a plus, and very practical as we were caught by the rain on numerous occasions. Value: The resort is very small and is constructed with an open concept, everything is outside including the lobby area and the buffets, which is not our personal preference, but we can see how some travellers may prefer this concept. However, compared to other resorts within the same price range, Viva V Samana by Wyndham failed to provide the expectations in terms of Quality and Services. The overall experience did not meet our expectations set by the cost of the stay. Samana is a very beautiful area for the beach and for the scenery. We enjoyed the weather, and the beach however, due to health concerns, we would advise travellers to carefully consider before travelling to this hotel, and to be aware of the risks.

In the 32 years we’re been travelling, this is the first time we have experienced so many peoples getting sick from food poisoning at a resort, including 7 persons of our group of 8. The representative of our travel agency stated the sickness were due to a virus but symtoms are clearly food poisoning or water. The cooks were mixing up ustensiles used for raw and cooked sea foods. The clean dishes are stained with food, we need to choose so many before getting a clean one. Stray cats were climbing everywhere on the tables at the buffet to eat leftovers. Bottled water are not supplied, you need to fill at the water station location. Room is out of date however the maid that we had on some days made the difference. Resort layout is beautiful and so is the beach but the fear for our heath prevented us from fully enjoying our holidays. We suspected the water, the food preparation and conservation were the root causes of vomitting and diarrhea. This is not the virus this is E.Coli and Salmonella problems. Compared to other resorts within the same price bracket this resort fails to provide the expectations in terms of quality and services. The overall experience did not meet our expectations set by the high cost of the stay. Canadian travel agencies please audit this resort before sending Canadian travellers. Samaná is very beautiful but we will not be coming back to this resort. Until the issue is completely resolved, we advise fellow travellers considering this resort to be careful.

Honest review It is a small resort with a lovely design We had a lovely time in the ocean with lots of waves Pool is really nice. It was a little chilly but that was due to weather Our room was small but very nice with a nice view from the balcony Food is ok but that is a matter of opinion. My husband really enjoyed it , I am a little fussier. Definitely not a 5 star in mexico though. Everything is outdoors, even the buffet which we loved. Negative: We had a party of 4 of which 3 got ill. many people we talked to got sick some even on intravenous for a few days. It was blamed on a virus from Canada. We read the reviews after we booked as it was done in such a hurry and this has been going on for a while We dont really know what or where it came from BUT beware. There are no water bottles on this resort. You are given a glass water bottle in your room and you fill it from a fountain in the hallway that is supposed to be drinking water. I didnt drink it and I didnt get sick Its a nice idea to save on plastic BUT..........................................................

Completed the required 90-minute presentation expecting a day pass, but they found a reason not to provide it at the end. Wasted time. Getting hustled reminds you: Nothing is free.