This was the first time I have ever rented a home instead of a hotel. Very glad I did. From the first email I sent Claire, she responded right away. The Grounds Manager, Coco was great. We were in constant communication. He even assisted my family in planning a trip, we brought him along, to Salto del Limon, YOU MUST VISIT Salto del Limon. The grounds are great, security amazing and the view is superb. Only Con is lack of typical restaurants. In the Galeras you will find some but nothing amazing!!! Enjoy...

We had a wonderful vacation and the Cove was a great place to stay. Claire was very helpful in advice before the trip and Coco was very helpful while we were there. He helped us find some locals to take us to Playa Fronton & Playa Rincon by boat and it was really fun. We met several neighbors at the pool and they were kind enough to make restaurant & tour recommendations too. Carmen, the housekeeper, made dinner for us twice and it was fantastic. Las Galeras is a short drive away and was our favorite town. If you want to sit on the beach and have someone bring you fruity drinks while you surf the internet, this isn't the place for you. If you want to explore the DR and disconnect for a while, definitely go to Samana & Las Galeras. (Although I will say that I was able to do a couple WebEx meetings from the condo and the internet connection was fine. We didn't turn the TV on so I can't say anything about that.)

Our family of five stayed here for a week and it couldn't have been more perfect! Our kids are ages 5, 7 and 9, and they loved the pool and the beach. My wife and I loved exploring the local beaches and eating at the local restaurants, but by the end of our trip we couldn't get the kids out of the pool. The pool has a zero-entry slope that was great for our 5-year-old, and our 7-year-old loved playing leap frog on the built-in bar stools. The other residents/guests were very helpful and gave great tips on where to visit and eat. The Texaco gas station just up the road had almost everything we needed in terms of food and drink for the condo. Overall it was a great trip! Our favorite stops were La Playita, Playa Rincon and El Monte Azul restaurant. All the locals were very friendly and always ready to help give directions or interact with our family. The condo was clean, cool and well-stocked - it had everything we needed for making meals and relaxing between pool/beach runs. Coco and the other staff at the condo were always helpful and it was reassuring that there was always somebody around that could answer our questions and greet us with a smile and a wave. This was a great vacation and we definitely recommend this property!

We had a wonderful vacation and the Cove was a great place to stay. Claire was very helpful in advice before the trip and Coco was very helpful while we were there. He helped us find some locals to take us to Playa Fronton & Playa Rincon by boat and it was really fun. We met several neighbors at the pool and they were kind enough to make restaurant & tour recommendations too. Carmen, the housekeeper, made dinner for us twice and it was fantastic. Las Galeras is a short drive away and was our favorite town. If you want to sit on the beach and have someone bring you fruity drinks while you surf the internet, this isn't the place for you. If you want to explore the DR and disconnect for a while, definitely go to Samana & Las Galeras. (Although I will say that I was able to do a couple WebEx meetings from the condo and the internet connection was fine. We didn't turn the TV on so I can't say anything about that.)

Our family of five stayed here for a week and it couldn't have been more perfect! Our kids are ages 5, 7 and 9, and they loved the pool and the beach. My wife and I loved exploring the local beaches and eating at the local restaurants, but by the end of our trip we couldn't get the kids out of the pool. The pool has a zero-entry slope that was great for our 5-year-old, and our 7-year-old loved playing leap frog on the built-in bar stools. The other residents/guests were very helpful and gave great tips on where to visit and eat. The Texaco gas station just up the road had almost everything we needed in terms of food and drink for the condo. Overall it was a great trip! Our favorite stops were La Playita, Playa Rincon and El Monte Azul restaurant. All the locals were very friendly and always ready to help give directions or interact with our family. The condo was clean, cool and well-stocked - it had everything we needed for making meals and relaxing between pool/beach runs. Coco and the other staff at the condo were always helpful and it was reassuring that there was always somebody around that could answer our questions and greet us with a smile and a wave. This was a great vacation and we definitely recommend this property!

We had a lovely experience staying at The Cove and visiting the surrounding areas. The condo is located very close to both Samana for Whale Watching and to Galeras and the amazingly beautiful Playa Rincon. On our last day we chose to stay around The Cove and relax poolside. We spotted a whale from shore and watched for another 30 minutes as it went by. The condo itself could use a few upgrades, but everything is in working order. Claire was very gracious and flexible with us about checking out leisurely on our last day. All in all a fabulous weekend!

If you want to stay on a strategic location with all you need this is the place. The Apartment is great well stock with all you need. We had a great time. Definitely need a car if you want to move around. Downtown Samana is about 25 minutes from the condo, and Las Galeras about 15. The beach is really a private beach with nice clear sand, however you can not get into the water to snorkel due to some rocks and water moving strongly. You can enjoy about 3 meters from the shore to the water, not bad, but don't expect a typical sandy beach of RD that you can snorkel or swim into. The pool, excellent, super clean. Look like your own private pool. The manager Coco was always ready to help as well the owners who keep in touch with us all the time. I definitely recommend this place, I would say the Best on the area.

If you want to stay on a strategic location with all you need this is the place. The Apartment is great well stock with all you need. We had a great time. Definitely need a car if you want to move around. Downtown Samana is about 25 minutes from the condo, and Las Galeras about 15. The beach is really a private beach with nice clear sand, however you can not get into the water to snorkel due to some rocks and water moving strongly. You can enjoy about 3 meters from the shore to the water, not bad, but don't expect a typical sandy beach of RD that you can snorkel or swim into. The pool, excellent, super clean. Look like your own private pool. The manager Coco was always ready to help as well the owners who keep in touch with us all the time. I definitely recommend this place, I would say the Best on the area.

My wife and I spent a week at The Cove recently and were delighted with the beautiful setting and the great customer service. If you are looking for tranquility, magnificent surroundings, privacy, and a touch of the tropics, book now!

We flew in from NY on Jet Blue (Which has direct flights) and stayed for 4 nights late February with another couple and my teenage daughter. Upon arriving, we were very happy with the villa. It was clean and neat and very comfortable to stay in. The loft was a nice size but it did get a little warm at night. Beds were very comfortable. The kitchen was well stocked and everything worked good. The view is very pretty from the balcony and we even saw whales off in the distance while sitting outside. The beach and pool is a close walk. There is a hammock by the beach that was great to relax in. Even though we never got to swim in it , the beach was very calm and private to just the villa. There is a guard always on duty which makes you feel safe and the manager, Coco, was very friendly. We got to meet the owners while there and they were very kind and helpful. The people we met by the pool were very nice as well. The activities we did were all pretty close (ziplining, horseback riding, whale watching, Playa Rincon beach and El Limon waterfall) So overall, the experience was very good and I recommend it. A relaxing getaway!

This was by far the best place we stayed on our week long vacation to the Dominican. My only regret was we did not stay here longer! The property itself is beautiful. If you are looking for a huge tourist town or a full-time bar tender, this is not the place for you. If you are looking for a private beach, a pool almost all to yourself, a quaint little community, and natural beauty then this would be an ideal place to stay. I was a little concerned about the location and wondered if we would rather be in the town of Samana. I'm so glad we went for it. It was the ideal location. We loved the town of Galeras. It is small and quaint and has a great local vibe. There are maybe a dozen restaurants but they are all good. The town is safe and provided a good outing for dinner. It is maybe 10 minutes away. Carmen (the house keeper) also made us dinner one night in our condo and it was wonderful! Our favorite things were ziplining and body boarding at El Valle...keep going past the zipline and you will come upon it. You might be one of a handful of people on the entire large beach. It is gorgeous!! We brought our own body boards and a skim board and my kids were super entertained. The riptide was pretty intense. Not for little children, but my 11 and 13 year old had a blast. We were in the water with them and helped navigate the waters. We also went to Rincon beach. So awesome. I would highly recommend the condo. Would go back again in a heart beat. Thank you Claire!!

We had a good time in the cove. The weather was perfect and the water just right for swimming. We had a lot of excursions to interesting places within an hour. The people in the complex are super friendly and happy to be in that beautiful place. Oh and a bonus is that we saw whales.breaching from the beach.

We spent 4 days in December in this comfortable condo with our two boys, 13 and 6. Very spacious second floor condo with a nice view of the gardens, pool and the ocean beyond. The complex is gated and very secure (they installed a remote key entry while we were there). It is 10 mins drive from the town of Las Galeras and about 20 mins from the town of Samana. Las Galeras has nice beaches (La Playita was our favorite) and some really nice restaurants. The condo is well furnished and the kitchen is well stocked for cooking breakfasts and simple meals. AC and water heater worked great, washer dryer was really nice to have. The owners were vacationing there at the same time and were very helpful with recommendations, making reservations and providing directions to restaurants. We really enjoyed the El Valle zip line and the tour of Los Haitises National Park with Terry (Tour Samana with Terry).

My parents, my wife and I, and our two sons really enjoyed our second stay at The Cove. Claire and Lee are excellent owners/hosts (we were fortunate to be there at the same time they were - in a different condo). I agree with all that previous reviewers have said about the condo - it was great! The kitchen is well equipped, the condo is beautifully decorated, and it has an incredible view from the patio/balcony. With its own beach/pool loungers, you don't even have to compete with others for a spot - though there were never more than a dozen people using the pool/beach at any one time. It is a second floor condo, but the stairs are easy. Since our last visit, a year ago, they have added parking spaces, making the Condo even more convenient. It is hard to decide whether to explore the beautiful area and beaches of Las Galeras or just stay at The Cove with its pristine beach, beautiful pool, and serene landscape. We haven't a single complaint, nor do we have any suggestions for improvement. We loved it!

We really enjoyed staying at the Cove as a way to see Samana and the surrounding area. The condo was neat when we arrived with everything functioning great. The kitchen is especially nice and well laid out. It was very comfortable with 4 children and 2 adults. The view is spectacular. Claire is very helpful in planning your vacation and Coco is helpful once you get there. We will be back next year.

A wonderful home in a wonderful place. We loved our time at the Cove. The scenery was beautiful, the folks/visitors were extremely friendly and helpful. The owner was available, and full of ideas to assure a great time while vising Samana. I would highly recommend this Condo for a vacation choice. If you enjoy getting up in the morning and watching nature at its best this is an awesome place.

This was our first trip to the DR and we will definitely go back. Our first morning we saw whales from the balcony of the condo. The condo was just exactly as we expected from the pictures. We spent lots of time on the balcony enjoying the view.

My wife and I enjoyed our stay in the condo very much. A real treat was to see whales breaching, flippering and spouting each day we were there from the terrace, typically as we had breakfast or perhaps dinner; for this, good binoculars are most useful, although a large whale was sufficiently close and energetic on the last evening, that no glasses were needed. The apartment was spacious, especially for just the two of us, and it would easily be comfortable for up to 6 people. We found all was in good working order, and there were plenty of kitchen goodies for dinner prep, etc. The main bed was quite comfortable. The pool was very nice, serving also as social center for meeting owners or guests staying in other condos. The Cove is on one of the prettiest parts of the peninsula, and it is far enough out that it is less crowded than much of the rest of the coast. Being so distant meant that having our own rental car was nearly a necessity to visit other interesting places on the peninsula. Well, that’s not strictly true, as I noted some people arranged to go on tours often, but it would certainly limit my freedom.

My new bride and I stayed 5 nights at The Cove for our honeymoon and had a wonderful experience. We were very lucky to have the homeowners Claire, Les and their son staying in their condo next door. They were gracious hosts showing us around the condo, giving us great advice and even feeding us dinner our first night! The condo itself is very spacious with two full baths, 3 AC units, comfortable beds (the bed in the master was very nice!) and can sleep 6 comfortably. Even a TV with cable! (although there are very few english speaking channels) There is a nice patio in front with views of the pool, beach and ocean. The previous review mentioned limited hot water, Claire said they installed a new hot water heater and we had no problems even when both of us were showering at the same time. The kitchen is fully stocked with dishes, pans, and appliances. There were plenty of towels and washcloths in the bathrooms too. We also had wifi (even on the beach!), which worked reasonably well considering the remote location. There was 24 hour armed security to give you peace of mind as well. We had grand plans for adventures in Las Galeras and on the peninsula but found ourselves lounging on the beach more often than not. Why leave paradise? The condo includes beach loungers and we put them to good use. The beach has a great mix of sun and shade, the waves were calm for the most part and with the shelter of the cove swimming was very nice. We very much liked the privacy, there were at most a dozen people on the beach or at the pool each day and one of the condo owners called it crowded! Some tips:*Bring binoculars! We saw several whales from the beach with our binoculars. The whale watching boats will tip you off on where to look. *Do everything you can to arrive at The Cove in daylight, driving at night in the DR is dangerous as it is, it would be very difficult to try to find the cove and navigate the roads at night. *Go to El Monte Azul! We ate there 3 times during our stay. When we had lunch we spotted 8 whales. Arrive for sunset then have dinner, simply breathtaking! We highly recommend the steak and also Ceviche/Tartar combo dish. Simply amazing food - so good it rivaled the views! Be sure to call ahead for reservations. *Catch at least one sunrise from the point. Be sure to wear shoes when you venture onto the point as the rocks are very sharp. The only thing that could have made it better would be if we could have stayed longer. Thanks!

Off the beaten path, comfortable, fully-equipped. Gorgeous balcony/terrace and oceanfront views from terrace. Pros: friendly and responsive owners; helpful on-site property manager; cute beach only a few steps in front of apartment; private, away from crowds. Cons: Polyester sheets; intermittent hot water; weak internet connection. Overall, we would highly recommend this property to others and would stay here again.