Sabana de la Mar Holidays from £1,276

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The property was nice and well maintained, lots of stray cats, but it didn't affect my allergies. The staff was wonderful. The housekeeping staff kept the rooms clean and ensured we had plenty of water. Elba at the spa provided a great massage service. I think if everyone knew about her magic hands she'd always be booked. Jojander, beach bartender, greeted us and made us feel like family. The beach and pool areas were crowded, you have to get a chair before 8am or you're out of luck. There's always room for improvement so I rate the resort 4/5 stars. We didn't get the room we booked with a beach view; the room we had was nice, but not what we wanted. It was on the 1st floor, away from the beach, and was the only room in the complex without a rail around the back terrace. We couldn't open the curtains or people walking along the path could look in. We were told we would have something "special" to celebrate our 30th anniversary and that never happened. We also weren't happy about the dinner reservations. We were only allowed to make 2 reservations for our 5-day stay, and they didn't permit walk-ins so we had the buffet on multiple nights.

The most distinctive feature of this hotel is its views of Samaná Bay. Although the hotel seems somewhat old, it is well-maintained and clean. They close the pool and limit access to the elevator to the beach at 7:00 p.m., which might be a bit early for some guests.

Overall, I’d give this resort 3 out of 5 stars. The staff was friendly, and the property itself was nice, but the food and drinks were a major disappointment. The biggest issue was the lack of dining options. There was only one à la carte restaurant and the buffet, so after a couple of days the meals became very repetitive. The food quality was average at best, and there simply wasn’t enough variety for a resort. The drinks were another letdown. Even with the VIP package, the liquor selection and quality were poor and didn’t feel premium. I expected a much better experience considering the extra cost. The resort has potential, but it really needs to improve its food variety and beverage quality to justify the price. Until then, I don’t think I’d choose to stay here again.