5 Things I Loved About Staying at Viva V Samana by Wyndham, A Trademark Adults All-Inclusive, in Dominican Republic [Review]

The author stayed as an invited guest of Viva V Samana by Wyndham, A Trademark Adults All-Inclusive. All opinions are the author’s own, and Viva V Samana by Wyndham had no input in any part of this review. 

If you’re planning a trip to the Dominican Republic and are looking for an affordable, off-the-beaten-path, all-inclusive option, check out Viva V Samana by Wyndham, A Trademark Adults All-Inclusive. 

My travel partner and I visited in late August 2025 as a last-minute trip before I returned to school as a full-time graduate student. I wanted an opportunity to clear my head and unwind from a hectic trip to Italy a few weeks prior, and I knew I wanted to avoid large crowds and tourist traps. Given its quiet and remote location, Viva V Samana by Wyndham was the perfect resort to unwind. 

Here are 5 things I loved about Viva V Samana by Wyndham, and why I’ll be back to this gorgeous, secluded resort.

1. It’s Remote, and That’s a Good Thing

When planning my trip to the Dominican Republic — my first visit to the island — I wanted to avoid the back-to-school crowds at peak season. Many of the resorts are clustered in the Punta Cana area, which is home to ultra-luxury (but busy) resorts such as Hyatt Ziva Cap Cana and Finest Punta Cana. For this trip, I wanted to be somewhere considerably less busy, to immerse myself in nature fully, and to be away from the heavy commercialization that can often be the all-inclusive experience.

Viva V Samana by Wyndham, on the Samaná Peninsula, was the perfect place to unwind. It’s one of the island’s best-kept secrets. There’s a distinct lack of tourists, major developments, and chain restaurants. Best known for its gorgeous green mountains and unspoiled beach coasts, this area is a fantastic alternative to busy Punta Cana or Santo Domingo.

The resort is remote, especially if you’re flying from the U.S. Samaná has 1 airport, Samaná El Catey International Airport (AZS), just a 25-minute drive from the resort. It is served by only 2 airlines: Air Canada and Air Transat.

If you’re based in the U.S., you can fly directly from the U.S. to Santo Domingo (SDQ), with service from U.S. airlines such as American, Delta, and JetBlue. From Santo Domingo, it’s an approximately 2-hour drive to the resort. The easiest way to get to the resort is by arranging a taxi, either at the airport (which will likely cost more, given the long drive) or by arranging a ride from the resort, which will cost around $100 each way. Alternatively, you can opt to rent a car from the airport. You can expect to pay around $100 per day for a rental.

The drive cuts through the middle of the Dominican Republic and is breathtaking. You get to see the heart and essence of the island, from fruit fields and beautiful beaches to stunning mountains.

Viva V Samana by Wyndham is considerably quieter than other resorts I’ve visited in the Caribbean. It isn’t a party resort (but there’s lively entertainment), and caters to adults looking for a relaxed, low-key vibe. A remote resort may not work for everyone, but if you’re looking for a quiet place to reset, you’ll enjoy Viva V Samana by Wyndham.

Hot Tip:

Viva V Samana by Wyndham is part of the Viva Resorts by Wyndham collection, which has a portfolio of all-inclusive resorts in the Dominican Republic, Mexico, and the Bahamas. 

2. Rooms Are Spacious and Comfortable, and the Vibe Rooms Shine

Viva V Samana by Wyndham boasts 208 spacious guest rooms and bungalows arranged in apartment-like blocks that are 3 stories tall. The resort opened in 2015 and underwent renovations in 2019.

The rooms on the second and third floors boast private balconies, and some offer sweeping views of the nearby beach. If you want to enjoy your coffee or mimosa in the mornings with a view, you’ll definitely want to book one of these rooms.

However, if you want a room with a private pool, you’ll want to book a room on the ground floor. I think these rooms — called Vibe Rooms — are the best at the resort. They feature private plunge pools, and some also have direct beach views. 

Our room, 3109, was a luxury private pool room featuring comfortable seating areas and a pool. A cool feature we discovered was that the pool can light up, which was a nice touch at night.

We found everything we needed inside the room for a relaxing stay. The 2 beds in the room were extremely plush and comfortable.

Our minibar was restocked daily with snacks like Pringles and plenty of booze.

While the rooms could use a slight refresh, our experience was that they were comfortable, clean, and offered everything we needed for our stay. When I visit Viva V Samana by Wyndham again, I’ll book a Vibe Room.

3. The Beach Is the Star of the Show

A good beach is the key to any 4- or 5-star all-inclusive resort, and Viva V Samana by Wyndham absolutely shone here. 

Viva V Samana by Wyndham sits along Bahia de Coson, an unspoiled strip of beach. I’ve visited many beaches in the Caribbean, and this one is the best of the best. Think pillowy, white-sand beach, warm water, palm trees blowing in the wind, and calm waves.

There were numerous beach chairs with plenty of space to stretch out. 

There were also a few beach cabanas. However, these were typically snagged early in the mornings, so if you want one, set an alarm!

While we were worried about sargassum (seaweed), which is possible at this time of year, it wasn’t a significant problem. Staff typically cleaned it up by the morning, so the beach was spotless during our stay.

Unlike some resorts I’ve visited in the Caribbean, we could place food and drink orders directly at the beach, without ordering at the à la carte restaurant.

The beach staff took great care to address any requests during our stay. They were happy to take food and drink orders, clean up, and more.

4. There Are Solid Food and Beverage Options

If you visit, you’ll quickly find that Viva V Samana by Wyndham is a smaller resort than most in the Caribbean. But it makes up for it with its 7 restaurants and bars featuring a mix of buffet-style and sit-down restaurants.

For breakfast, we dined at Buffet La Marché. The open-air restaurant offered a mix of Caribbean and American dishes, such as jerk chicken, paella, and pasta. There’s also a full bar with spirits, prosecco, and nonalcoholic beverages.

During the day, we noshed on snacks from La Marché and drank at the Beach Bar. This bar serves the beach and pool, and was the most popular among guests. We ordered delicious cocktails, such as martinis and mojitos, bar snacks, and shots.

You have several options if you’re looking for a more upscale dining option. Fusion, which served Asian fusion cuisine in a multi-course format, was the highlight here. We started with an order of delicious spring rolls and then had fresh pasta stuffed with mushrooms.

Our third course featured a beef filet served with tamarind sauce on a bed of pumpkin puree and yucca.

We split a mango mousse for dessert, which was a nice, sweet treat to cap off the delicious meal.

Closer to the beach, Mediterrenas offered Italian fare in an open-air setting.

Here, we ordered dishes like the risotto, which was delicious.

We ordered drinks at El Hip, a lively cocktail bar that turned into a dance club at night. You could also order snacks here.

I loved that you could make reservations directly by using the Viva by Wyndham app. The app was straightforward and provided a nice change from some resorts, where reservations often require a phone call. 

5. It Has Excellent Entertainment and Amenities

I’ve previously written about resorts where the entertainment didn’t quite work — but the entertainment team at Viva V Samana by Wyndham stood out. 

There was daily entertainment by the pool, such as bingo and water aerobics, and nightly entertainment outside of El Hip. 

The team kept the energy eclectic throughout our stay, and guests enjoyed the entertainment.

The pool was absolutely stunning and one of the largest I’ve seen at an all-inclusive. We spent much of the first day just lazing here.

There’s a massive infinity pool with several cabanas and 2 hot tubs, and the staff did a great job of attending to guests throughout the day.

Just north of the entrance to the resort is a spa with a full slate of treatments. 

We opted for a 30-minute massage, a great way to work out some of the kinks from a long travel day.

Other amenities included a fitness center, tennis courts, water sports (such as kayaking, windsurfing, sailing, whalewatching, and snorkeling), and daily excursions.

How To Book Viva V Samana by Wyndham

Wyndham Rewards has 3 tiers of award redemptions: 7,500, 15,000, or 30,000 points per night. Award nights at Viva V Samana by Wyndham cost 30,000 points per night. Considering how expensive other all-inclusive resorts can be with points, that’s a pretty good deal.

If you want to earn Wyndham Rewards points to stay at this resort, you have plenty of options, including staying at Wyndham-branded hotels or transferring points from Citi ThankYou Rewards or miles from Capital One Miles at a 1:1 ratio.

Cash options are also quite reasonable, typically ranging from $200 to $300 nightly, and promotions on room rates are often available. If you book with cash, consider using one of our recommended best credit cards for Wyndham loyalists to maximize your purchase: the Wyndham Rewards^® Earner℠ Card, Wyndham Rewards^® Earner℠ Plus Card, or Wyndham Rewards^® Earner℠ Business Card.

Hot Tip:

Between December 1, 2025, and March 31, 2026, you can save up to 40% on bookings of 3 nights or more at Viva V Samana by Wyndham and other Viva resorts in the Caribbean. Check out this link for more information!

Final Thoughts

Viva V Samana by Wyndham, A Trademark Adults All-Inclusive, is a high-end resort that blends affordability, privacy, and luxury well. While it’s on a smaller scale, it more than makes up for it with diverse dining, a gorgeous beach and infinity pool, and spacious guest rooms and bungalows.

While Punta Cana may be more popular with American travelers, I think Samaná is more of my style. The resort’s remote location makes it a perfect option for guests looking for a quiet, beachfront resort to relax. 

I’m already planning my next visit to the island. The next time I visit, I’ll be staying at Viva V Samana by Wyndham — in a Vibe Room, of course.