Bahia Principe Grand Cayacoa

The location is awesome! I adore tropical plants, the territory and our balcony with amazing view! The beach is not long, you need to take an elevator to get there, however it is not an issue at all)) There is a beautiful bridge to the elevator and you can enjoy the fantastic view from the height! The water was warm and shallow, the sand is golden, there are palm trees and all equipment to make your rest unforgettable! We like everything! [Details]

Vacation package and stay at Cayacoa were excellent. The food was great - amazing buffet for breakfast and supper and with full board option we also got an a la carte lunch which included fresh fish. Excursions (Limón waterfall by horse back and whale watching lunch and beach) were extra but very affordable. We drove from Ottawa to Montreal - it was worth it for us. [Details]

We travel to Caribbean every chance we get and we chose BAHIA PRINCIPE GRAND CAYACOA hotel because of the great reviews and the fabulous site. Our stay was pleasant with minor unforeseen circumstances.

ROOM:
My Wife and I (along with our 2 kids aged 11 & 8) initially booked Junior Suite with preferred 2 twins or Queen beds. On arrival we were issued a junior suite with king size bed. Not ideal for family of 4 so hotel staff offered to bring in extra single bed. Upon entering the room, there was a distinctive damp and moldy smell. We turned on the ceiling fan to air out the room and decided to tour the hotel, pool and beach before settling in. It did not take long to find out why the room had damp and moldy smell. Upon arrival back to room approx. 1 hr later. We encountered an issue with either over-head air-conditioning or plumbing in the room. As we entered the room, we found a very large puddle of water on floor leaking from ceiling close to the King sized bed, and the moldy smell became worse lingering everywhere because the area on ceiling appeared to be completely damp. We immediately phoned front desk and the manager quickly made arrangements to change room. In fact he graciously upgraded us to 5th floor Sea View room (at no extra cost incurred to us). It was much appreciated, because our 8 yr old is asthmatic and the moldy smell would not go well with his asthma. The new room had no moldy smell and had 2 twin beds and a great Sea View! During our 7-day stay, the Sea View room was clean, and comfortable. Kids were also happy with high speed Wi-Fi.

HOTEL OCCUPANCY:
We arrived on a Thursday and hotel occupancy appeared to be 50%-60%. The only negative was on the Saturday. We realized that the hotel quickly doubles in volume during week-end because of locals that come to stay for Saturday and/or Sunday. This meant the pool, beach and buffet area was quickly filled to capacity. Particularly the pool. Especially during week-end, the swim-up bar was always filled with people seeking alcoholic beverages. Saturday and Sunday did feel over crowded and noisy. There were no pool lounge chairs available due to influx of people at pool, but mainly because other guests pre-claimed the lounge chairs by placing their towels or personal effects in advance. We experienced the same on the beach mainly because the beach is particularly small in size (as compared to other resorts). The main beach with the elevator was always quite busy on week-end. The locals stayed to the left side of the beach. Big plus is that CLEAN beach towels were always available as opposed to other resorts where they ran out.

POOL:
The pool had occasional bird poop droppings floating on the water surface. Pool staff tried to skim it a few times a day but it didn't change much. The small local (sparrow like) birds seem to be nesting in the roof of the swim up bar hut. Because the swim up bar hut eaves hangs over the pool, the bird droppings are inevitable to fall into the pool.

FOOD:
Overall, we really enjoyed the food during our week, at the buffet and a-la-carte restaurants (we received a friendly tip from other guests from Europe to book a-la-carte as soon as possible). Even our extremely fussy kids enjoyed the food. Overall the food was very good and there was always plenty of variety. The entire hotel staff we encountered was excellent. Always polite and helpful.

BEACH:
The beach was nice but seaweed appeared on the fourth day but wasn't so bad because the beach staff did a great job to remove it and carted off by wheel barrow.
The only issue we experienced was in the Sea, we didn't expect jellyfish but kids got stung. Even though we were extremely careful when entering the water, both my kids were stung by small jellyfish. There was no warning, it started with pain and itching on my son's arm and daughter's hand. They were quickly treated with sea water and vinegar sprayed on affected area by the Hotel on-site Life Guard. As a pre-caution, we were directed to the hotel on-site medical center that also applied hydrocortisone cream (as pre-caution).

We LOVE Samana and would stay again in this hotel primarily because of the friendly staff, amazing views, great food, clean & secure hotel. [Details]

Very relaxing , more adults than children. Clean , food is good. [Details]

This hotel impresses on all accords. The location is unique and spectacular. Sweeping views from all around. [Details]

Tucked away in a lot of green is this wonderful spot. The beach is a little small but certainly good enough. It was so so clean everywhere you went.
The food was just fine, only one alacarte a night but they got us in anyway. All staff were kind and helpful, the water was nice and clear. I was really surprised for a smaller resort how much lobby space inside and out they had. [Details]

Room great. Food very very good. Staff pleasant and service oriented.
Just too many stairs there is not a flat piece of walkway for a 15 minute walk. Everything accessible but by elevator. [Details]

No holiday is without problems, but it was definitely an amazing experience,beautiful scenery [Details]

We booked our accommodation in October but ended up being placed in a junior suite with a king size bed instead of the two doubles we asked for. The hotel told us that all junior suites had one king bed and there were no doubles. We decided to check with our travel agent and found out this wasn't true .We were offered a downsized room which we declined. 3 nights later we were given a junior suite with 2 double beds.
We asked about an upgrade while still with one bed and were not accommodated. We later discovered that several others in the resort were offered the chance to move to the Luxury Bahia Lavantado : we weren't . After sleeping three nights on the couch I have to question why we weren't offered the chance to move to the Lavantado. Our Gold Club representative had no answer for us, claiming it was up th hotel management who is chosen. [Details]

We whole family really enjoyed the 7-day stay at GBPC resort. The resort gives you a very decent view every morning since you wake up, and it is very clean everywhere. The staff are helpful and friendly. The weak sides include the water of the beaches are not that clear, and you will get less options than the other Bahia Principe resorts in supper. [Details]

We had spent days and days looking at a bunch of resorts but when Grand Bahia principe Cayacoa came up we knew this was where we should go! Reviews are true it was a phenomenal experience. Staff was great, rooms beautiful and cool, entire hotel always spotless we even watched staff climbing ladders dusting out lanterns and polishing little accents on the lattice between the lobby bar and hallways. Food was awesome!! Always something for everyone! A la cartes were beyond amazing, food so delicious! Staff is super friendly always smiling. Beach is a wee bit small but overall beautiful. 110% will go back [Details]

Staff is amazing!!! (front desk, customer service, room attendants, daily staff ( especially , Anyori & Amanda )
Hotel is great, clean and inviting. Lots of steps, but there are elevators everywhere, or a shuttle, so no problems. Food was great!! and always something different
The ONLY downfall was the beach :( , ( around the Bay from the beach, is the town, so there seemed to be some garbage floating around). So, if you can look past that, it was an amazing place to stay!! [Details]

The good: With one notable exception the hotel was fabulous. It was small and compact so it did not have that crowded feeling. Every room had a view of either the ocean or Samana across the Bay. The food was excellent. The staff were friendly and helpful. The main beach and pool were small but they were great. However, they also had a more secluded pool and beach in a little nook of the resort that was quiet, peaceful and 30 seconds from the snack bar. I usually began the day at the main beach but ended it at the secluded one.
The bad: My expectations of the evening entertainment were low and they met them. In my opinion the biggest weakness of the All Inclusive business model is the lack of decent entertainment when the sun goes down.
The ugly: The plumbing at the resort was sub-standard. I lost count of the number of times I encountered clogged sinks, urinals and toilets. In addition, all of the toilets in the place had signs indicating that you were not to flush used toilet paper in order to prevent clogging. There were waste paper baskets next to each toilet for it. Needless to say that sometime the smell inside the toilet stalls in the common areas could be quite nasty. I generally ignored the signs although I almost regretted that decision a couple of times.
All in all, I would give the resort an 8 out of 10 and I would go back. [Details]

Had a very exellent experience during our stay. All the staff were very friendly and made us feel welcome. Bartender Jordy and Alexander always greeted us with a smile and provided excellent service. Alex on the animation team was beyond exeptional when it came to putting a smile on our faces and constantly leaving us laughing. Not only was Alex kind and welcoming but always looked out for our well being. [Details]

the hotel was amazing. Staff was accommodating and friendly. We had everything we needed/wanted in our vacation. I will go back again and cannot wait! [Details]

The hotel setting was gorgeous and mostly well kept. Some damage from the hurricane but they did well to keep it hidden while working on it. It was super clean and well run. Our only issue was the shower in the room was very weak. Sometimes we could not shower as there was no pressure. We were not the only guests to experience this. One of the restaurants was also closed due to damage. The staff were super friendly and accomodating. We felt welcome by everyone who worked there. There was a fun party pool and then 3 other pools if you like it more quiet and relaxing so something for everyone. [Details]

Very clean. The resort it self was nice but showing its age.

There is a wide variety of foods to chose from, but if you should have allergies like me (to milk) you are limited. A lot of items with milk, cream etc. [Details]

On Tuesday, April 11th 2017 my wife and I started our vacation at this resort. I planned this trip to be special, for our 25th anniversary. On Easter Sunday, April 16th at 4:20 am we woke up absolutely petrified. I was woken up by my wife screaming at the top of her lungs "WHAT THE F*** ARE YOU DOING HERE!!!!!!". I thought she had a bad dream. When I looked at what she was screaming at, I saw a person standing by our TV table, digging through our suitcase. He was slim, 5'3, bald and with no shirt on. As my wife screamed in horror, he ran to the washroom and jumped out of the window. In that moment we realized we were just robbed. I walked over to the washroom and the window was open. The mesh screen was carefully cut open. The window was small and it seemed like there was someone else on the other side receiving our valuables that he was taking. I stayed in the room as my wife went to the security room for help. Security came and one of them jumped over the fence and started looking in the forest. The other security shot his gun in the air, for whatever reason. The security supervisor was called in and we explained what happened and what was stolen. My jewelry was stolen (necklace, bracelet, ring, watch all together valued at about $7000.00 USD). One of the security guards that went to the forest was searching through the woods in the dark and in the bushes found my watch. He later on found my wife's bag. $70 USD was stolen from the bag. Scattered throughout this forest were her electronics - iPhone, and eBook. Her tablet was not found. Her jewellery and clothing was also stolen. In about an hour, a hotel representative and other associates came over and collected evidence. We told them what was stolen. We always store our valuables in the safe whenever we are not present in the room. Usually we feel safe, the way we should be feeling in a reputable resort room. We did not think to feel unsafe while we were sleeping, so I took off my jewelry and put it beside me on the night stand. The rest of our vacation was spent reliving this horrific experience several times a day, explaining it to countless number of people, those who spoke English and those who didn't. Our days were spent at the police station making reports, with hotel management filling out paperwork and being interviewed.

After the initial shock was gone, we came to realization that besides the fact that our valuables are gone, we may have been exposed to physical violence or a life threatening situation. Moreover we realized that for the couple nights prior to robbery, we have been watched by somebody through the window which makes this experience even more creepy - something we have never felt at an all inclusive resort. I shudder at the thought of my two daughters experiencing something like this.

What happened that night was disturbing and raises concern. Since we have been home my wife has lost her peace in sleeping. She experiences disturbing nightmares. She is continuously paranoid at night and has trouble falling asleep. She has been affected both mentally and emotionally. This affects her following day physically because she is exhausted. Going forward she will require psychiatric and/or medical assessment. This hotel failed to provide basic safety to their guests, in their our own private room. Serious changes in safety and security need to be made.
We are terrified at the thought of our children or loved ones staying at this resort and would never recommend it to anyone. We would actually strongly recommend against it. This experience at Gran Bahia Principe Cayacoa has really put a dent into any desire to travel again.
We are traumatized and feel sick to our stomachs thinking about this vacation and dreadful crime. [Details]

The Hotel was Fabulous and the view is really Relaxing and Super. This resort is peaceful and also close to the main town. Its actually a 10 mins walk from the Hotel. One of greatest experience staying at Cayacoa is the friendliness of local people in the area. We felt safe walking around the town. I would recommend this resort for couples who just want to unwind and relax. For Families with small children, i would recommend the Grand Bahia, El portillo. Overall, we love our stay at GBP Cayacoa. [Details]

very friendly staff and caring staff language not a problem nice views from room [Details]

If you want somewhere to go and relax this is the place. Good food, great entertainment. It's location is unique in itself as it looks out over the ocean. Can't wait to go back again. [Details]

Hotel was clean, interesting lay out, quite beautiful in the lobby, bar area. The grounds were clean and well manicured. We enjoyed our room, both the cleanliness of it, the balcony and view of the ocean. The food was great with lots of variety. The buffet area was laid out wonderfully. [Details]

We enjoyed our stay at the Cayo Coa. I loved the location on top of the cliff. It is easy to get around the resort, there is a shuttle if you do not want to climb stairs. I went specifically for the whale watching tour which is situated in the nearby town of Samana.Both hotel and whale watching tour were excellent. I will return to the Cayo Coa again. [Details]

Travelled here with friends and we had booked the Diamond section.. for this we received the villas with their own pool,snack bar and beach area. There are a lot of steps in this resort but after dining on all the great food that was a good thing! The villas offered great views.the rooms were spacious bathrooms were all tile(very nice)..free safes in the rooms too. It was so nice to sit on the big terrace any time of the day..either to enjoy the view,watch the cruise ships come in or enjoy an evening drink. Alsoi was good to be able to walk in to the little viallga and get first hand glimpse of life there. We had a young man guise us around for $5.00USD...he was worth every penny. Also did the ATV adventure to the Playa Rincon beach ..stunning beach and very good snorkeling to be had. [Details]

It was very good but anyone with any kind of mobility issues should NOT go there. It get anywhere there were many levels of stairs. There was an elevator to the beach but two of the days we were there they didn't work until the afternoon. There was access to the beach via stairs but there were many levels of stairs.
There was an issue with hot water for a couple of days but they did manage to fix it. [Details]

We had a wonderful vacation. Everyone at the resort was friendly. The animation team were excellent. The bartenders were amazing, thanks you Emanuel, Ricardo and Dario(big pappy). The views are spectacular on this resort ,we were on the 5th floor with an ocean view. Wow. The hotel is spotless and the food was really good, a wide selection for sure. [Details]

Bien en général, mais déçu par la petite plage et la présence importante de dominicain par moment. Il faut dire que le resort est directement en ville. Belles installations avec vue imprenable sur la mer. [Details]

We had a wonderful time. Resort was very clean, well kept. Beach area was small but in a protected bay, so if long walks are your thing, this location would not work for you. Food selection was abundant. Try to avoid the high pressure sales people in the lobby touting the Privilege Club or do your research before you go to the 1 hour meeting that quickly turns into a 4 hour marathon. We are currently trying to get out of our contract. There's better things to do with a half day of your vacation like trying their Spa services. Went for a couples deep tissue massage and absolutely recommend it. The service at the front desk was definitely done on 'island time' but once you adjust to their thinking, it's relaxing. Wait staff tried hard to please, especially if you tipped a few US$ here and there. Communication was tough sometimes, but they always found someone to help translate. We only had one hour of free internet in the lobby area only. This was both good and bad. It forced us to unplug but was inconvenient when we did want to reach out to family. Restaurants are not open everyday, so make your reservations as soon as possible. This was our first All Inclusive experience but we enjoyed it, just avoid the sales people. [Details]

we had an amazing week and had the best room in the place i think. under a minute to the pool or elevator to the beautiful beach. Food was great in all restaurants.I don't normally go to the same place twice but after this trip i'm thinking of a third visit. [Details]

I loved the hotel. Great location and beautiful views. The staff was amazing. So friendly and made the trip really fun. [Details]