Pros

  • Simple apartment-style hotel in central Bayahibe
  • Apartment-style rooms are clean and homey, with basic kitchens
  • Regular hotel rooms are also available
  • Outdoor palapa sitting area with small collection of books
  • Free coffee and fruit in the morning
  • Casual dinner restaurant (check ahead to make sure it's open)
  • Free and functional Wi-Fi
  • Free secure parking inside compound
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Cons

  • Surrounding local neighborhood can be noisy morning and night
  • Beds are rock hard
  • Rooms lack safes and kitchens do not have microwaves
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Bottom Line

The down-to-earth, two-pearl Villa Baya Aparta-Hotel in Bayahibe is a fine choice for those looking for a humble, independent getaway near famous dive sites. It’s a simple place, with 17 homey apartments and rooms, many of which include minimally appointed kitchens, flat-screen TVs, free Wi-Fi, and air-conditioning. The hotel is right in town, and there's several shops, restaurants, and dive outfitters all around, and the local beach is a 10-minute drive from the hotel. Keep in mind that the neighborhood can be noisy with everything from loud music to roosters. While we were able to photograph a restaurant in 2016, but at the time of writing it was temporarily closed, so check ahead.

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Oyster Hotel Review

Villa Baya Aparta-Hotel

Scene

Low-key apartment-style hotel ideal for independent, budget travelers

The relaxed Villa Baya Aparta-Hotel stands on a narrow side street in the sleepy former fishing village of Bayahibe, now mostly known for having the best scuba diving sites in the Dominican Republic. The easygoing local vibe might be what draws the mostly European travelers to the equally low-key hotel: There’s little more here than simple rooms, cheerful staff, and free coffee in the mornings. Still, for the price, it's hard to beat -- public spaces are bright and tropical, from the building's yellow Spanish colonial exterior and abundant palm trees to the simple, open-air common areas. Additionally, the hotel has 24-hour gated security. There's a sort of bohemian vibe here, and the palapa in the center of the property provides the option to socialize with other guests -- at least the ones who don’t spend all day diving or snorkeling on the local beaches. 

See More Scene

Location

In Bayahibe, a scuba diving hotspot with lots of local culture

The hotel is in sleepy Bayahibe, a former fishing village that’s slowly gaining popularity among international tourists, mostly for scuba diving. There's also a charming, relatively intact local culture here -- you’ll hear more Spanish than in some of the more popular vacation towns like Punta Cana and Bavaro. It’s one of the best places in all of the Dominican Republic for divers, with over 20 official dive sites in and around the area. The local beach is a ten-minute drive from the hotel, and it’s also the embarkation point for Saona Island, a sparsely inhabited place with various beaches and a national park. Otherwise Dominicus Beach is also just a 10-minute drive away.

The hotel is within walking distance of all the necessities. The local grocery store is a three-minute walk from here, and also has a bus stop for getting to the local sights. Keep in mind that there doesn’t seem to be a coherent schedule for buses, and they seemed most frequent in the morning and evening when we were in town. The bank and ATM is a four-minute walk away, and other currency exchanges are sprinkled throughout the small town. For dining, there are a ton of local and international options, all within a short walk or drive. These include Saona Cafe, with great breakfast options (a four-minute walk); Lost Bar and Restaurant, a popular bar among expats (a four-minute walk); and Las Palmas for made-to-order fresh lobster (an eight-minute drive). 

It's a 50-minute drive to Punta Cana, which also has the closest airport. Santo Domingo is a two-hour drive from here, though the DR's main international airport, Las Americas, will take 90 minutes to reach. 

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Rooms

Mix of standard and apartment-style rooms with private terraces and spacious kitchens

There are mix of rooms on offer at Villa Baya, all of which are clean and basic, but not without their charm. The simple, sometimes clashing decor consists of natural wood and neutral, earthy tones, with a few red and orange accents. Details like fresh flower bouquets that are replaced daily, roomy private terraces, and bright textiles help add value, but all in all the look has a decidedly budget feel. 

Still, for the price, these are a good value -- especially the apartments. These come with spacious kitchens that are well-equipped for short-term stays, and feature mini-fridges, stove-tops, coffeemakers, and standard cookware. Apartments also have dining tables plus sitting areas with a futons and lots of closet space, but no safes. All rooms include flat-screen TVs and ceiling fans, and most have air-conditioning. Wi-Fi is free and functional.

Bathrooms here are reasonably sized, and include hot showers and limited counter space. Water pressure can be touch and go. Light sleepers should beware: The local neighborhood can be loud -- past guests have complained of the neighbor’s music, barking dogs, and roosters waking them early in the morning. Also, the beds here are stiff and uncomfortable, adding to any potential sleeping woes.

See More Rooms

Features

Free coffee and fruit in the mornings and free Wi-Fi

There's very little in the way of features at this hotel -- don't expect a pool or anything like that. The hotel does serve free coffee and fruits in the morning in their casual lobby, with extras like pastries, breads, and eggs available at a nominal fee. There is a restaurant that provides casual meals, but at the time of writing in early 2016 it was temporarily closed, so check ahead (this may also affect what's available in the mornings).

The hotel has a palapa with a few comfy seats and stacks of things to read -- it’s an informal book swap and serves as a breezy place to read or relax. There are also some trinkets for sale in the lobby. Wi-Fi is free and mostly functional everywhere on the property. There’s limited but free and secure parking within the compound. 

See More Features

Oyster Hotel Review

Villa Baya Aparta-Hotel

Scene

Low-key apartment-style hotel ideal for independent, budget travelers

The relaxed Villa Baya Aparta-Hotel stands on a narrow side street in the sleepy former fishing village of Bayahibe, now mostly known for having the best scuba diving sites in the Dominican Republic. The easygoing local vibe might be what draws the mostly European travelers to the equally low-key hotel: There’s little more here than simple rooms, cheerful staff, and free coffee in the mornings. Still, for the price, it's hard to beat -- public spaces are bright and tropical, from the building's yellow Spanish colonial exterior and abundant palm trees to the simple, open-air common areas. Additionally, the hotel has 24-hour gated security. There's a sort of bohemian vibe here, and the palapa in the center of the property provides the option to socialize with other guests -- at least the ones who don’t spend all day diving or snorkeling on the local beaches. 

See More Scene

Location

In Bayahibe, a scuba diving hotspot with lots of local culture

The hotel is in sleepy Bayahibe, a former fishing village that’s slowly gaining popularity among international tourists, mostly for scuba diving. There's also a charming, relatively intact local culture here -- you’ll hear more Spanish than in some of the more popular vacation towns like Punta Cana and Bavaro. It’s one of the best places in all of the Dominican Republic for divers, with over 20 official dive sites in and around the area. The local beach is a ten-minute drive from the hotel, and it’s also the embarkation point for Saona Island, a sparsely inhabited place with various beaches and a national park. Otherwise Dominicus Beach is also just a 10-minute drive away.

The hotel is within walking distance of all the necessities. The local grocery store is a three-minute walk from here, and also has a bus stop for getting to the local sights. Keep in mind that there doesn’t seem to be a coherent schedule for buses, and they seemed most frequent in the morning and evening when we were in town. The bank and ATM is a four-minute walk away, and other currency exchanges are sprinkled throughout the small town. For dining, there are a ton of local and international options, all within a short walk or drive. These include Saona Cafe, with great breakfast options (a four-minute walk); Lost Bar and Restaurant, a popular bar among expats (a four-minute walk); and Las Palmas for made-to-order fresh lobster (an eight-minute drive). 

It's a 50-minute drive to Punta Cana, which also has the closest airport. Santo Domingo is a two-hour drive from here, though the DR's main international airport, Las Americas, will take 90 minutes to reach. 

See More Location

Rooms

Mix of standard and apartment-style rooms with private terraces and spacious kitchens

There are mix of rooms on offer at Villa Baya, all of which are clean and basic, but not without their charm. The simple, sometimes clashing decor consists of natural wood and neutral, earthy tones, with a few red and orange accents. Details like fresh flower bouquets that are replaced daily, roomy private terraces, and bright textiles help add value, but all in all the look has a decidedly budget feel. 

Still, for the price, these are a good value -- especially the apartments. These come with spacious kitchens that are well-equipped for short-term stays, and feature mini-fridges, stove-tops, coffeemakers, and standard cookware. Apartments also have dining tables plus sitting areas with a futons and lots of closet space, but no safes. All rooms include flat-screen TVs and ceiling fans, and most have air-conditioning. Wi-Fi is free and functional.

Bathrooms here are reasonably sized, and include hot showers and limited counter space. Water pressure can be touch and go. Light sleepers should beware: The local neighborhood can be loud -- past guests have complained of the neighbor’s music, barking dogs, and roosters waking them early in the morning. Also, the beds here are stiff and uncomfortable, adding to any potential sleeping woes.

See More Rooms

Features

Free coffee and fruit in the mornings and free Wi-Fi

There's very little in the way of features at this hotel -- don't expect a pool or anything like that. The hotel does serve free coffee and fruits in the morning in their casual lobby, with extras like pastries, breads, and eggs available at a nominal fee. There is a restaurant that provides casual meals, but at the time of writing in early 2016 it was temporarily closed, so check ahead (this may also affect what's available in the mornings).

The hotel has a palapa with a few comfy seats and stacks of things to read -- it’s an informal book swap and serves as a breezy place to read or relax. There are also some trinkets for sale in the lobby. Wi-Fi is free and mostly functional everywhere on the property. There’s limited but free and secure parking within the compound. 

See More Features

Best Rates

Amenities

  • Air Conditioner

  • Airport Transportation

  • Beach

  • Cabanas

  • Cribs

  • Internet

  • Room Service

Disclaimer: This content was accurate at the time the hotel was reviewed. Please check our partner sites when booking to verify that details are still correct.