To anyone from Canada who is booking a wedding at this resort, please think twice. I started planning my wedding in January of 2011 for a November wedding. I used the company the resort had recommended for my papers to be legalized, which got screwed up. Once they were corrected, the papers were sent to the resort and they had them in hand for over a month and 3 days before my party was to fly out they told me that they were not correct due to the fact that the regulations had changed and the Judge was asking for the long form birth certificates, which of course we did not have and could not get in this short amount of time. We had to fly out not knowing whether we were going to have a wedding or not, when we met with the wedding co-ordinator on the Monday we still did not have everything finalized. In the meantime we come to find out that this resort cleaned house of their staff and the person we had been dealing with was not there anymore. After the Air Canada Rep stepped in we were told that the Judge would accept the papers as is....after 2 days of undo stress we were going to have a wedding. We did not know what was to happen the day of wedding after our meeting so my maid of honour had to go to the wedding co-ordinator and ask if we could at least have a rehearsal to walk through what would happen the day of the wedding. I don't know if the new people hired were just new but you would think that holding a wedding the staff would be a lot more helpful. We thought that we had covered everything at the meeting, but apparently not because when I had returned home I was asked if I wanted an offical "Registered Foreign Affairs Marriage Certificate" which I thought we had covered in our meeting. Of course this was going to cost us another $250.00 US to get. After going back and forth with the resort for 3 months, we finally got what I needed. This was to be our dream wedding and it turned into alot more of a stress wedding, which I would have liked to enjoy alot more. I have never been to a Gran Bahia resort and I don't ever plan on going to another one again which is sad because our group has decided to go on a yearly vacation and this chain of resorts is losing out. Anyone planning on complaining to the head office don't bother because apparently once they have your money they don't feel the need to respond to complaints about their resorts. But I guess that is what big business is all about!!!!

We went to Gran Bahia Samana Roulette Plus (Air Canada Vacations) from January 21, 2012 to February 04, 2012. It was our 5th All Inclusive and 2nd time at Gran Bahia Resorts. All people from our plane who bought Roulette package were sent to El Portillo. We were given a junior suite because we had a Roulette Plus.
What made our vacation special and excellent was outstanding service of Gran Bahia customer service staff – CARLOS – manager at reception, SAIDA and GEORGINA (client service). They did everything possible and beyond for us, very helpful and professional. And this makes a huge difference. Thank you . What happened was that El Portillo resort was completely full and overbooked. But in spite of this they accommodated us in junior suite in nice location (villa 3) close to the beach. They also offered us to stay in Gran Bahia Cayo Levantado for 3 days ( beautiful 5 plus stars hotel on Baccardi Island)and we were very happy to accept it. At Cayo Levantado we got absolutely stunning Deluxe Superior junior suite in villa 9 with 2 Jacuzzis and two TVs, separate living room with ocean view.
There are three Gran Bahia resorts in Samana area open at the moment. (Gran Bahia Samana on renovation). We have seen all of them, they are all different.
El Portillio – GOOD -absolutely gorgeous beach – clear turquoise warm swimmable water and a lot of trees on the beach – so if you did not get early in the morning to get palapas, you can always find a space under the trees. Layout of the resort is very comfortable – everything close to the beach – 2 buffets, bars, main building with inside bars. One snuck bar (buffet) located directly on the beach. Main buffet also has a very nice patio – we ate mostly there – just outside buffet . Grounds of hotel are beautiful gardens. Night entertainment was pretty good – we enjoyed it. A la carte did not impress us. This is family resort ( there were a lot of families)
El Portillo – BAD – there were a lot of smokers ( we never seen that many at any All inclusive). Most of them have been from Argentina – they did not care if you smoke or not – they just smoke directly in your face. First suite which we got at El Portillio had smoke smell, we could not sleep at night, but upon approach to reception. we were given different suite . What also really upset us – was Air Canada Representative – EMILIE - Very rude, absolutely not helpful, snobby. Never was able to help us . To all our issues was only one answer from him – NO. We are really wondering how so reputable company as Air Canada could hire such a man with absolutely poor , bad customer service. We believe that all those representatives at resorts paid from travellers money, and they have to be helpful . In the future we would avoid travelling by Air Canada.
Cayo Levantado – very different ambience from El Portillio. Grounds absolutely amazing, rooms in main building and suites in villas – much larger, newer. Swimming pools very beautiful with luxurious beds, quite, with separate bar area. Private beach a bit of disappointment – on the small size, and not that clear and quiet waters – was wavy. After El Portillio beach and water in ocean - you would be disappointed at Cayo Levantado. Buffet has more variety , and more deli staff that El Portillio. But whole feeling when you at Cayo is that you are exclusive. This is definitely first class vacation. You just feel different up there . It is more suitable for couples.

This was our 4th trip to E Portillo and it did not disappoint. We travel here to have a relaxing quiet beach vacation and it was as expected.....wonderful. The only downside was that tipping is more of an expectation rather than for good service.

We were in the 3rd villa on the second floor. Everything was spotless and hot water on request. Beds were fantastic. TV was older but then, we dont go to El Portillo for the TV.

Food was good. After all, they have to accomodate europeans, canadian, south americans, and americans. My disappointment was that I love the way they do pumpkin, and not once was it available. darn.....

The New ROAD was fantastic. Cuts the trip down by half. New ROAD is scenic, paved, quick......and smooth. Previous posting said one needed Gravol.....NOT.

All in all.....it was a relaxing time. Choose this hotel......for a rest.

My husband and I recently returned from a one week vacation at El Portillo Jan26th-Feb 2nd)
This is our third time to Samana and each time we stayed at a different Gran Bahia hotel. This one was quiet nice and we only had a few little issues.This is the first time I have stayed anywhere that you could walk off the beach and snorkel without having to put on the flippers. You could put on a mask and walk out waist deep and check out the colorful fish in the coral. Our room was beautiful and in very close proximity to everything. The cleaning staff was very capable but we found that our facecloths and soap were not restocked on a day to day basis, neither was the coffee creamer. This was not a big deal. The food in the main buffet was very good. It was nice that they had a different theme everyday. The beach buffet was a different story. The food itself was tasty, but there was no variety. (same thing everyday). We ate at three of the ala cartes. The first night it was the Italian. The food was so so but we were served quickly. The second one was the Asian which we both enjoyed immensely. The third night was the Gourmet. This one we found to be our least favourite.The service was very slow. Our waitress was almost unfriendly and had we enjoyed our main course, we would have walked out before desert. It was the very best part. Other than these little issues, I would definately recomment this resort. My husband and I love Samana and we would definately return. Of the three times we visited Samana, our all time favourite hotel is the Gran Bahia Samana. We stayed there 4 years ago and have not been able to rebook it since. Last year we stayed at Gran Bahia Levantado. It is absolutely beautiful, but pricey. We liked the ambiance at the Gran Bahia Samana better (its a smaller hotel, with just over 100 rooms ) and the price was much more affordable.