Cayo Levantado?

[Keith R]

From today's DR1 Travel News:

Pinero Group bets on Samana

The Spanish hotel group announced that it is building a 191-luxury hotel in Cayo Levantado, after having secured rights to the island for 50 years with the Dominican government.

"Secured rights to the island" means what? Does it mean that day visits to the island will be restricted in any way, such as only be permitted to do so by being a hotel guest or by getting a day pass from the hotel? One of the highlights of my family's visit to the DR in 2003 was spending a day just lounging around Cayo Levantado, enjoying the sun, surf, beer and fresh seafood...

Are they tearing down the old hotel that is already there and building a new one, or just remodeling the old one?

Any projected opening date announced?

 

[laurapasinifan]

I 'll add a LITTLE info....we went there in sept last year. there was construction going on then, to some of the building away from the beach area on the east side...ie.. the buildings were on the western side of the island. they appeared to be remodeling work, and not new construction....there appears to be some type of public access on the eastern end where the boats land, and there is a nice large beach area , with several vendors selling food and drink and such.

but this new info could overide all that......

nice beach though!!!!!

bob

 

[Mirador]

From today's DR1 Travel News: QUOTE]

Did you know that in 1872, President Buenaventura Baez rented the entire Saman? peninsula to an American corporation for $150,000 a year?


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[Dolores1]

There is a cruise ship company that has an agreement for its tourists to be able to visit the island, so I do not think the island will be off limits to visitors. From what I recall, the old structure was less than 50 rooms (I think was about 20 rooms), so what they are building has to be much bigger.

 

[WebDev]

From today's DR1 Travel News:



"Secured rights to the island" means what? Does it mean that day visits to the island will be restricted in any way, such as only be permitted to do so by being a hotel guest or by getting a day pass from the hotel? One of the highlights of my family's visit to the DR in 2003 was spending a day just lounging around Cayo Levantado, enjoying the sun, surf, beer and fresh seafood...

Are they tearing down the old hotel that is already there and building a new one, or just remodeling the old one?

Any projected opening date announced?

The Pi?ero Group(Bahia Principe Clubs & Resorts) has acquired 60% of the Spanish company that holds the rights to the island of Cayo Levantado

Read all the Press releases at: http://www.bahia-principe.com/bp/novedades/prensa.jsp including "Next openings"

Re: visitors access and the fate of operators of the food and souvenirs shacks? My "Crystal Ball" to predict the future is broken, you take a guess.

Will be nice to read the actual agreement, but I am not conected to anyone at the "Palace" in Santo Domingo. LOL

WebDev

 

[laurapasinifan]

funny that link doesnt even have the gran bahia SAMANA in the destinations selections....but it shows photots of the hotel , just like it shows photos of the Cayo Levantado hotel on the main page!!!!!!!!


why they dont list either of those is beyond me........unless they started to remodel the Gran Bahia -Samana as well!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I was there in sept 05!

bob

 

[WebDev]

funny that link doesnt even have the gran bahia SAMANA in the destinations selections....but it shows photots of the hotel , just like it shows photos of the Cayo Levantado hotel on the main page!!!!!!!!


why they dont list either of those is beyond me........unless they started to remodel the Gran Bahia -Samana as well!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I was there in sept 05!

bob

Bob,

Gran Bahia closed for renovation November 2005, renovation start as early as December 2005.

Read the link I posted above, News Releases from Bahia Principe website.

On the same website should notice opening of this hotels to be "winter 2006-2007"

Gran Bahia and El Portillo are renovated by a well known architects firm from Santo Domingo, they pace them self with the work at El Catey airport. This hotels will not fully open if the airport is not ready.

WebDev

 

[aegap]

WebDev,

Is that spanish company, of which The Pi?ero Group(Bahia Principe Clubs & Resorts) has acquired most of the stakes, Altabella Hotels?

 

[samanasuenos]

Will they claim the buried trash as well?

Just wondering if the new owners will also claim rights to the trash buried by the food vendors.......how hard would it be to collect the trash and ship it away? Anyway........