Sublime Samana Hotel & Residences

The Sublime Samana's enormous, circular open-air lobby makes a striking first impression. Concentric stone circles line the floor and huge woven chandeliers hang overhead. Tasteful wood furniture is topped with white cushions. Seed balls and white sculptures add texture to low coffee tables. Outside, the beautiful and massive pool corridor anchoring the property serves as its prime relaxation and socialization hub. Private, overwater daybeds lend a distinct air of luxury, elegance, and exclusivity to the entire space. With a large pool at either end of the corridor -- one for children and one for adults only -- it’s clear the hotel’s focus is on relaxation for couples and convenience for families.The hotel’s large, pristine beach is quiet with safe, swimmable water ideal even for children. Immediately adjacent, the Beachside Grill offers a full-service bar with liquor, beer, and wine amid amazing water views, setting a relaxed tone for upscale, waterfront lounging.

Sublime Samana is situated along a well-traveled tourist road that runs roughly parallel to the Atlantic Ocean west of Las Terrenas. Numerous restaurants, shops, pharmacies, and other essentials are all a short drive from the hotel. Additionally, the central core of Las Terrenas and numerous other beaches are all within 15 minutes by car. Secure parking at the hotel is free. The hotel is 30 minutes from Samana’s El Catey International Airport by car. Alternatively, the hotel can arrange private (though pricey) shuttle service to and from the airport. With larger groups, this can prove to be an inexpensive option as rates are often determined on a per vehicle basis. Private taxi service is readily available between the airport and hotel; rates run high.From Santo Domingo’s Las Americas International Airport, the best, most affordable option is to rent a car at the airport. The two-hour drive to Las Terrenas is made via a clean, modern tourist highway with numerous gas and service stations along the way. Tolls will cost more than 50 U.S. dollars roundtrip and must be paid in pesos.

The rich, elegant simplicity of the lobby and common areas is consistent throughout the entire hotel, including the 27 guest rooms. The white-washed, Caribbean-inspired design scheme is bright, contemporary, and luxurious with hand-carved furniture, shell artwork, pebble floors, and coral and marble surfaces throughout.Each unit is enormous, starting with the entry level 1,050-square-foot One-Bedroom Suites up to the massive, 4,400-square-foot Three-Bedroom Casita Suites with private rooftop terraces. More like an apartment than a hotel room, each has a dedicated living and dining area, large, private terrace, modern electronics, and fully-equipped gourmet kitchens with Viking appliances, cutlery, and a stove-style espresso maker. Air-conditioning, free Wi-Fi, bottled water, and multiple flat-screen TVs are standard. Bathrooms have luxurious features like glass and stone shower stalls, marble wash basins and countertops, and bath amenities by The White Company. Modern, polished metal fixtures, handles, and accents round out the well-coordinated, professionally designed interior in the bathrooms.Three-bedroom Casita Suites, set along the garden pathway near the beach, offer sweeping ocean views and private rooftop hot tubs. 

The on-site Bistro restaurant offers indoor and al fresco dining in a casual, upscale atmosphere. Modern wood paneling, marble floors, and locally-inspired artwork surround an interior dining room with large windows overlooking the restaurant’s outdoor terrace. Open for breakfast and dinner, the Bistro's menu is heavy on local seafood and touted as Dominican-inspired Mediterranean. All meals are offered a la carte (there is no all-inclusive package option) and are well regarded for the quality, price, and diverse selection. A lounge immediately adjacent to the restaurant serves as a relaxing space with a full-service bar.The hotel’s second restaurant, Beachside Grill, offers additional al fresco dining in a more relaxed, yet still upscale atmosphere on the beach. The menu offers local selections such as grilled mahi-mahi and ceviche, alongside more traditional favorites like burgers, steak, and pasta.From the pools to the beach to the private terraces for each room, Sublime Samana dedicates a massive amount of acreage to relaxation. The main apartment buildings center around a large, 500-foot-long pool complex with dedicated kids' and adults-only pools. Private, canopied daybeds line the long waterway and the patios surrounding each pool offer ample wicker lounge chairs and umbrellas. The adjacent white-sand beach along the Atlantic Ocean is clean, calm, and feels entirely private. For a property with just 27 rooms, the stretch of sand offers more than enough room, seating, and umbrellas for every guest, even when the resort has no vacancies.The property lacks a traditional, indoor spa. Instead, a rustic, open-air, beachfront space constructed of straw, palm wood, and cane is reserved for all spa treatments. The spa’s three cabins -- one for singles, one for couples, and a third rain-shower cabin -- provide space for reflexology work and facials, as well as more traditional treatments. The on-site fitness center is clean and ample with modern equipment and lovely, panoramic garden views. Wi-Fi is free throughout the property.