Gran Bahia Principe Cayo Levantado Rating: 4.0 Pearls

Samana Peninsula, Dominican Republic

The Cigar Bar is a main attraction

The vibe here is quiet and calming. Seniors and a few families visit from Europe or Canada, as with so many D.R. resorts. As I lounged at the Bahia pool, a beautiful winding grotto, the only sounds that could be heard were the sucking pool filter, the gentle wisps of palm trees, and the occasional bird splashing down into the water. The pulse here is relaxed, so relaxed that some guests find it boring. All of the bars shut down by midnight.

Before sunset, guests gather on the terrace for coffee or cocktails. The fountain bubbles, the sun sets, and a professional cigar roller sets up a table to twist personal cigars. Welcome to the Dominican Republic -- you've made it.

Bar tending

The service leaves a lot to be desired. I chalk it up to growing pains -- the resort had just opened when I stayed here, so many of the staff members were newbies. At these prices, this was a big letdown. Even cheaper properties in the Dominican Republic had much better service. For example, the Gran Bahia hotel in nearby Samana, Gran Bahia Cayacoa, had far better service.

Calls to the front desk were basically pointless. I asked for my laundry to be picked up, but no one came. I finally located a housekeeper in the hall to help me -- when she called, someone quickly came by to pick up my clothes. Another call for ice was totally ignored. After waiting in my room, I went downstairs and asked for some ice in person. The ice was promptly delivered. Often, only one person is working at the front desk. He or she is easily kept busy with two or three people waiting for attention. When I lost my key (it happened twice), I had to wait patiently while the single desk person helped each guest in front of me.

This poor service, however, could be attributed to a language barrier. English-speaking staff members are surprisingly rare. Most speak a little to get by, but getting real answers to questions can be tricky. This is not to say that the employees aren’t friendly -- they are. The servers at the buffet and bartenders were especially helpful.

View on a Larger Map

Cayo Levantado is located on its own private island off the Samana Peninsula. Getting to the resort is a hassle. From the Samana airport (El Catey International Airport), it’s a 45-minute, $65 cab ride to the Bahia ferry station. (Parking is available at the station.) From there, it’s a 10- to 15-minute ferry ride to Cayo Levantado. In lieu of the ferry, you can also hire a private panga boat to take you from Samana. This will cost about $25 and will likely be a bumpy, wet ride. I recommend the ferry.

The Samana Peninsula is located on the east end of the Dominican Republic. The main town of Samana is popular with cruise ships. The Samana Peninsula is seen as one of the less developed and more serene tourist areas of the Dominican Republic, home to some of the country's best beaches. However, it's also common to see armed guards at the hotels here, which can be a bit off-putting.

The Superior Room's balcony

The rooms at Cayo Levantado are among the nicest in the Dominican Republic, overshadowed only by those of the more expensive Casa Colonial boutique in Puerto Plata. Large is the first word that comes to mind. The large flat-screen TV looks puny when watching from the bed, way across the room. The rooms come with a comfortable, king-size four-post bed with nice sheets and a firm mattress. With wicker furniture in the sitting area, the rooms strive for a clean, Caribbean feel.

The marble bathroom is reminiscent of a Greek bath. It has a walk-in shower, a toilet and bidet room, and a Jacuzzi big enough for one person to fit comfortably or two people to fit snugly. A window in the bathroom looks out into the room.

Every room comes with a huge balcony -- they’re almost bigger than the rooms. A modest dinner party could fit, but someone would need to bring a table: They’re only furnished with two chairs and two chaise lounges. The main drawback? They’re not entirely private -- the balcony on the adjacent room shares the space.

The mini-fridge has the typical Dominican Republic all-inclusive drinks -- two beers, two sodas, and two bottles of water -- as well as a small can of Pringles and nips of vodka and scotch.

The hotel also features a Cigar Bar

There are two gorgeous pools on-site, one by the beach and one closer to the main resort area. Both have bars nearby and plenty of lounge chairs, and both are exceptionally clean. The snack bar at the beach pool has a basic buffet with hot dogs, hamburgers, rice, salad, and selected entrees.

Free Internet is available in the lobby -- a rarity in the Dominican Republic. There’s no Internet in the rooms, though.

The bars shut down by midnight, and there's nowhere on the resort to buy booze. Yes, the room fridges have some alcohol (two nips) and two beers, but this really annoyed some guests during my stay. So instead, guests can dance the night away at the outdoor discotheque on Bacardi Beach until 2 a.m. A live band on the beach and dancing on the sand, in the open air may make up for the lack of intoxicants.

Numerous private villas dot the lush grounds near the beaches. Some have indoor and outdoor Jacuzzis, which are ideal for honeymooners.

Cayo Levantado is immaculate. A team of workers manicured the grounds endlessly, and I constantly saw maids vacuuming hallways and cleaning the lobby.

The buffet

The on-site buffet was surprisingly good, but the sit-down restaurants got panned by other hotel guests. That jibes with reviews on TripAdvisor and Concierge.com. One Canadian couple I spoke with actually walked out of the Italian restaurant because the food and service were terrible. They went up to the buffet to finish their dinner.

At the buffet, I had some good chicken fajitas, roasted pork, and pizza. There was a solid selection of cheese and crackers, various salads, and numerous vegetarian options. Servers at the buffet were always very attentive and friendly.