Samana / Las Galeras
Okay, you sound like a good one to take on Samana, well - really Las Galeras. I would stay in Las Galeras - probably at Club Bonito Hotel,
www.club-bonito.com.
http://www.club-bonito.com
You'll be closer to where the locals are.
I, on the other hand, prefer TODO BLANCO (right next door). They have no pool, their showers/water is salty, and there is no restaurant, nor bar. To make up for all of this, they have beautiful large rooms with double doors that open to terraces overlooking green gardens leading to ... the white beaches.
And you can always visit next door. If you buy a drink or lunch, you can hang at the pool all day. But you'll be up and out and over at Playa Rincon, not slacking with other tourists.
Write to
todoblanco@hotmail.com. (BTW - The owner is a charming Italian lady).
Now that you have picked your lodging - either at an AI or at one of the two beachfront places that I just described, you can manage the gua-guas (pronounced - WA-WAz) that take you back and forth to Samana, during daylight hours. Keep extra cash available for a late-night cab ride home, which will run $USD 20 to 30, depending on supply and demand and how late and how drunk you are. Do not expect to pay less. And no use in arguing about it.
Good daytrips will be:
Playa Rincon via taxi or boat
Whale Watching with VICTORIA MARINE/Kim Bedall
Caya Levantado (I say skip it!)
Salta de Limon Waterfall, on horseback arranged at Antonia's on the right hand side of the road from Samana to Las Terrenas (Victoria Marine can set it up for you.)
Visit CEBSE center
Parque Haitises (again with Victoria Marine)
Las Terrenas for some good French food
There are goodish restaurants in Las Galeras, and an internet cafe.
But if you venture into Saman -
Decent restaurants in Samana city:
La Hacienda
Bambu
Las Olas internet cafe in Samana is a cool place to eat, drink, chat and meet people. Buy some souvenirs there as well. And Ellen is a good resource.
I am waiting to read your trip report!!