First - Thanks to DR1 responses to my request for help as we prepared for our first ever trip to the Samana Peninsula region. Your thoughts and suggestions really helped.
We returned yesterday from 9 nights at the Viva Wyndham V outside of Las Terrenas. Other than having to sleep on the floor in the Newark, NJ airport [on the way back to Iowa due to thousands of weather related flight delays] it was a great trip.
We chose Samana for; a change from our normal Mexican trips, for the unique and beautiful scenery, to stay at a smaller adult-only AI with amenities but close to a smaller city, to learn about Dominican people and their culture, because the price was right, and of course to spend time as a couple. We accomplished all of this to a high level.
The Viva V is a nice resort. Trip Advisor reviews had told us it was slow pace, the food was average, and there was a language barrier at times for people speaking English. All of this was very accurate. The Viva V is set up for a French and Italian speaking audience, right down to the choice of nightly music in the lobby. The rooms are small and clean. The beach is nice, although not really ideal to swim. You can walk down Corson beach for miles to the southwest or in the other direction towards Bonita for at least several miles, with various great food/drink options in both directions. I am not going to go into the same detail on DR1 about this resort as I will on trip advisor, but it is not a 4 star, but it is nice. You can get day trips, etc, planned for you last minute at the hotel, although we chose to line our own up. A few of the staff speak English.
Viva V is not close enough to spend a lot of time in Las Terrenas unless you want to spend $40-$50 a trip on a cab. We were in Las Terrenas three times, twice on the way to day trips, once to see the town. Once you get down into the Pueblo De Los Pescadores area there is plenty to do, and we felt pretty safe. In fact, we felt safe the entire trip, and we were off of the resort a lot. We partied a little off of the resort, but never past dark. I am not sure I would party after dark off the resort unless I was with someone who knew the area and the language. The beach at Punta Popy is vastly superior to the one downtown.
I would advise to use Dominican currency. We exchanged up front and only took as much with us as we needed for one day, but there were many places to easily exchange money in Las Terrenas. Credit Card use was available everywhere, but we did not wish to test that. We used Sun transfer for a private shuttle from Santo Domingo to and from the Viva V. They were timely, vehicles were clean and in good working order, and they got their task done. Neither driver spoke any English so it was a quiet two hour trip. We would use them again.
We had four day trips planned, and one got cancelled. We did a half day trip to El Limon waterfall, a whale watching trip combined with a Cayo Levantado visit which required a trip to Samana City, and a three beach boat trip [Fronton, Playita, Rincon] which initiated in Las Galeras. We used Flora tours for the three beach tour and Peninsula Tours for the other two. We would consider using both again. Flora provided a great day and fantastic meal at the La Playita restaurant. I wish I could remember the name of the only English speaking guy, but his communication made the trip for us. Moving from spot to spot, fighting a thunder storm on the way to Fronton, organization at the start of the tour, etc, all would have been scary without any communication. The guide at Peninsula for both trips was Henry. He is without question one of the nicest, sincere, caring, funny, sharing people we have encountered on any trip anywhere. Both Peninsula trips would have been fun without him as the other Peninsula people spoke some English and were nice, but Henry is wonderful. He speaks four languages fluently. His pride in his country and it's people is amazingly evident. He spends the day trying to teach you when he could get away with much less.
Two other observations. I would not attempt to drive in the Dominican unless I could read the signs and understood the driving "culture". Let's just say that to an American it is a little nuts! Also - there are dogs everywhere! They will not harm you.
We will return to this area at some point. It was a great experience. The scenery is some of the best we have ever seen, anywhere. The Dominican people make you want to come back.
Many thanks DR1!
Randy from Iowa.
We returned yesterday from 9 nights at the Viva Wyndham V outside of Las Terrenas. Other than having to sleep on the floor in the Newark, NJ airport [on the way back to Iowa due to thousands of weather related flight delays] it was a great trip.
We chose Samana for; a change from our normal Mexican trips, for the unique and beautiful scenery, to stay at a smaller adult-only AI with amenities but close to a smaller city, to learn about Dominican people and their culture, because the price was right, and of course to spend time as a couple. We accomplished all of this to a high level.
The Viva V is a nice resort. Trip Advisor reviews had told us it was slow pace, the food was average, and there was a language barrier at times for people speaking English. All of this was very accurate. The Viva V is set up for a French and Italian speaking audience, right down to the choice of nightly music in the lobby. The rooms are small and clean. The beach is nice, although not really ideal to swim. You can walk down Corson beach for miles to the southwest or in the other direction towards Bonita for at least several miles, with various great food/drink options in both directions. I am not going to go into the same detail on DR1 about this resort as I will on trip advisor, but it is not a 4 star, but it is nice. You can get day trips, etc, planned for you last minute at the hotel, although we chose to line our own up. A few of the staff speak English.
Viva V is not close enough to spend a lot of time in Las Terrenas unless you want to spend $40-$50 a trip on a cab. We were in Las Terrenas three times, twice on the way to day trips, once to see the town. Once you get down into the Pueblo De Los Pescadores area there is plenty to do, and we felt pretty safe. In fact, we felt safe the entire trip, and we were off of the resort a lot. We partied a little off of the resort, but never past dark. I am not sure I would party after dark off the resort unless I was with someone who knew the area and the language. The beach at Punta Popy is vastly superior to the one downtown.
I would advise to use Dominican currency. We exchanged up front and only took as much with us as we needed for one day, but there were many places to easily exchange money in Las Terrenas. Credit Card use was available everywhere, but we did not wish to test that. We used Sun transfer for a private shuttle from Santo Domingo to and from the Viva V. They were timely, vehicles were clean and in good working order, and they got their task done. Neither driver spoke any English so it was a quiet two hour trip. We would use them again.
We had four day trips planned, and one got cancelled. We did a half day trip to El Limon waterfall, a whale watching trip combined with a Cayo Levantado visit which required a trip to Samana City, and a three beach boat trip [Fronton, Playita, Rincon] which initiated in Las Galeras. We used Flora tours for the three beach tour and Peninsula Tours for the other two. We would consider using both again. Flora provided a great day and fantastic meal at the La Playita restaurant. I wish I could remember the name of the only English speaking guy, but his communication made the trip for us. Moving from spot to spot, fighting a thunder storm on the way to Fronton, organization at the start of the tour, etc, all would have been scary without any communication. The guide at Peninsula for both trips was Henry. He is without question one of the nicest, sincere, caring, funny, sharing people we have encountered on any trip anywhere. Both Peninsula trips would have been fun without him as the other Peninsula people spoke some English and were nice, but Henry is wonderful. He speaks four languages fluently. His pride in his country and it's people is amazingly evident. He spends the day trying to teach you when he could get away with much less.
Two other observations. I would not attempt to drive in the Dominican unless I could read the signs and understood the driving "culture". Let's just say that to an American it is a little nuts! Also - there are dogs everywhere! They will not harm you.
We will return to this area at some point. It was a great experience. The scenery is some of the best we have ever seen, anywhere. The Dominican people make you want to come back.
Many thanks DR1!
Randy from Iowa.
