Piece O Heaven, Sereen beach, Fishboat-Kayaks FREE
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| Details | |
|---|---|
| Bedrooms | 3 |
| Bathrooms | 3 |
| Sleeps | 8 |
| House | |
| Suitability |
|---|
| Pet Friendly |
| Smoking Allowed |
| Suitable for Children |
| FlipKey traveler rating |
| 15 reviews |
| Stayed here? Write a review. |
Get the real scoop!
All reviews are written by verified travelers
Details
| Rental type | House |
| Minimum Stay | 3 nights |
| Bedrooms |
3 Total
Show Details ►
|
| Bathrooms |
3 Total
Show Details ►
|
| Sleeps | 8 |
| Suitability |
Pet friendlyYes Smoking allowedYes Suitable for childrenYes Suitable for the elderlyAsk Wheelchair accessibleNo |
| Theme | Adventure, Romantic, Away from it all, Beach, Rural |
Description from the owner
This property (formerly named "The Beach House") is on a sereen and very private beach and overlooks the bay of Samana. With 3000 sq. meters of lush garden and fruit trees, it offers you a sereen tropical ambience, yet with all the comforts of a modern home ( this is not a luxury villa, it is a casual and comfortable home). This property has its own fresh water spring, thus always ample hot and cold water, also back up battery inverter and 7 kilo generator, thus always electricity. The property is in a rural area, surrounded with coconut plantations, with a hilly landscape. There are numerous hiking trails into the surrounding hills, and a s...Read more
Amenities
Location
Piece O Heaven, Sereen beach, Fishboat-Kayaks FREE
Samana, Dominican Republic
What's Nearby:
Additional Location Information
Property is located 3 miles from the town of Samana, in a rural hilly farming area, surrounded by coconut plantations. It is a 2hr. 10min. drive on a new and scenic toll road from the St. Domingo arpt. "Las Americas", to the house.
Location Type Away from it all, Beach, Rural
Rates
Rates shown in $ USD (change)
| Date | Weeknight | Weekend Night | Weekly | Monthly | Minimum Stay |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rate Summary | $200 - $250 | $200 - $250 | $1,200 | $0 | 3 nights |
| Oct. 2 2010 - Apr. 30 2012 Standard occup. 2 pers. |
$200 | $200 | $1,200 | - | 3 nights |
| Dec. 20 2012 - Jan. 6 2013 | $250 | $250 | - | - | 5 nights |
| All Other Dates | $200 | $200 | $1,200 | - | 3 nights |
| Can't find rates for your travel dates? Contact the owner | |||||
Rental fees
- Over stand. occup. of 2 - $15 / person - Other - Under 18 - 1/2 price
Additional notes from owner
The rates listed, are for standard occupancy of 2 persons. There is an additional fee of 15 USD per person per night (children under 18,- half price) when occupancy is over standard. When there are guests under the age of 4, a damage deposite of 300.00 is required, returnable on departure. There are no other fees, taxes, or hidden costs. A deposite of 25% will reserve, another 25% (to complete 50%) is required, 3 mounth prior to the arrival date. The balance, APON arrival, when you find everything to your satisfaction. PayPal or pers. check or bank transfere for the deposite.
Availability
AvailableUnavailable Last updated: April 02, 2013 ◀▶
What Past Guests Are Saying
Overall Rating
ExcellentVery Good
Average
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Linda P
Roseville, MNWe have a wonderful time in our own Little Piece O Heaven
Left on 11/23/2012 for a stay in October 2012
Tropical Storm Sandy couldn't dampen our good time at Piece O Heaven. The beach wasn't really useable, but that was all Sandy's fault. The pool was fantastic, and we awoke to find it clean and sparkling every morning. Richard and his caretake Bamboo made sure we had everything we needed and took very good care of us. Richard even acted as our personal guide on an excursion to some caves and a wonderful restaurant across the bay. Fantastic time! Also, Bamboo climed one of the Palm Trees and we each received a very fresh coconut which he then opened for us. We drank the coconut water, and then Bamboo cut the coconut shells so the white meat could be consumed. Everyone really enjoyed this special treat. We would all certainly recommend this wonderful, spacious retreat above the water. A good time was had by all.
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feisty54
Roseville, MN USAIt was a Peace of Heaven!
Left on 11/03/2012 for a stay in October 2012
The house was great. City electricity can be a problem, but Richard has battery back-up and a diesel generator. The pool was absolutely fantastic. Clean, just large enough, clear and deep at one end. Perfect for four adults. (My husband, our friends, and me.) There were also floats and pool toys available. Hurricane Sandy messed up the beach, but that was nothing that could be helped. We just spent more time in the pool. Also, Richard set up a personal-boat excursion to some wonderful areas across the bay. And, Bamboo, the caretake, climbed a palm tree, threw down coconuts, opened them so we could drink the coconut water, then hacked them open further to eat out the coconut meat. Wonderful! The grounds were beautiful, again thanks to Bamboo. We had plenty of room, the internet worked great, and we had a wonderful time. Thanks Richard! We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves.
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ripstardust
Las Vegas, NevadaCasual serenity at Piece o Heaven!
Left on 09/07/2012 for a stay in July 2012
My wife and I were looking for a place in DR where we could completely unwind and relax. After much searching, we came upon this property and thought that it looked like the one! And, thankfully, it was everything we were looking for and then some!
The experience at Piece o Heaven begins and ends with the amazing hospitality of the homeowner (Richard), his wife (Ana), and their 'house manager" Bambu, who all went out of their way to ensure that we were treated like royalty. Richard checked in daily to see that we were tended to and to provide his guidance around any excursions that we were considering. He recommended some great beaches, restaurants and a couple of other excursion, all of which exceeded our expectations! Ana gave us an impromptu lesson on cooking plantains and was gracious enough to shop for and prepare a complete meal for us on a night of our choosing. Bambu helped out by picking up some food and other necessities for us at the store, completing a little house maintenance here and there, and even sliced open a couple of fresh coconuts, which we enjoyed sipping in the pool! Everyone was so warm and helpful, while also not being overbearing. If you want to be left along, they are happy to do that do, but are always there to help out when needed.
The house itself is great, surrounded by lush landscape and with a great open feel. As other reviews suggest, this is a very casual home with all of the basic comforts, but not designed to be a "five star villa." For my wife and I, we thought the casual feel, beautiful views and inviting pool were perfect! The town of Samana is quaint and the roads in the area were surprisingly good, making it easy for us to get out on days that we wanted to explore some of the excursions that Richard had suggested. It was so wonderful having him to provide suggestions and we were never let down!
There are a couple of things about Samama and this property in particular that would be helpful to know. First, the utilities in the town are very unreliable, in particular the electricity that turns off/on every 4-6 hours. Richard has planned around this and has several back-up options available, which is important, especially as it related to air conditioning. The bedrooms have a/C, but not the rest of the house, which is supported by an open air layout and several floor fans. When the city power goes out, most things will still run on Richard's back-up batteries, but not the a/C, so you'll either be relying on fans at that point, or you'll want to ask Richard to power up his generator. This takes a little getting used to, but again Richard does everything he can to accommodate.
The other thing to be aware of is the bugs. My wife and I were both eaten up pretty good by the bugs, which can put a damper on things. A good bug spray or lotion is an absolutely must, and if you apply it daily, you should be okay.
But, all in all, this was a great trip and we'd definitely return! Again, Richard and his "family" made it a wonderful experience and we are very grateful to them!Response from Richard - 10/24/2012
Owner
THE 7 kilo diesel generator, remotely located for noise abbation, will power all the air conditioners, and is always available, if/ when city power is not. However, in the months of November, through March,
it is much more probable, that guests request an extra blanket, rather
then the generator for air conditioning, if/ when city power is off.
To elaborate a bit on the bugs, the only bieting bugs in the area are mosquitos. and also they are never in swarms, they do appear,
mostly at dusk. Thus it is certanly advisable to apply repelant, at this time of day. As for sleeping, the bedrooms are all screened, and
insecticide is supplied/avail.. Thus a bit of spray, and closing the door,
a little time prior to retiering, will insure a bite free night. As evidensed by previous reviews, including the bad one from " Chad the Traveler", bugs/mosquitos, has not been a previously mentioned issue.
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Gary
Smithfield NCBeautiful location...Great Experience...
Left on 08/31/2012 for a stay in June 2012
It is unanimous, among our party of four that we chose a great place to stay during out 1 week trip to Samana, DR. The open-air home is very cozy and the view of the water is breath-taking. And the pool...oh,the wonderful pool...we spent many an hour at the end of each day (we ventured out and did something/went somewhere every day) in that pool with frozen concoction in hand. The location is close enough to town to be convenient but far enough away to be relatively isolated...when at the home, feels very private. All amenities are as advertised...the house is clean and the grounds well-maintained. Did I mention the pool? The owners/hosts, Richard and ana, were gracious hosts...(we are a fairly self-sufficient group) but they catered to our every need and were more than willing to assist us with anything that came up. Ana prepared us a simple bit oh-so-wonderful traditional Dominican dinner which we enjoyed by lamplight under the gazebo one evening...and that meal was the best we had during our entire stay...marvelous. Richard arranged open boat transportation directly from our beach to tour the Los Haitises National Park. Bambu, the property manager was also most generous with his assistance and entertained us one late afternoon (while we were lounging in the pool, of course), by climbing a tall coconut tree and retrieving some fresh coconuts for us. If you want to experience a very enjoyable aspect of DR culture and the town of Samana, we recommended you go into town on Sunday night and just hang out by the waterfront...and visit the pizza truck while you're there, too. We would heartily recommend this property to anyone wanting something different from a resort atmosphere and at a very reasonable price.
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SR from Minn.
CushingFun, Adventure, and Culture
Left on 03/25/2012 for a stay in March 2012
Our family of six spent two weeks at this property and enjoyed every minute. We found it to be a great location from which you can either travel by boat to explore the natinal park, go whale watching,or just go fishing and kayaking. We also took day trips by car to several area beaches to surf or swim and returned home to relax by the pool at the end of each day. The home can easily accommodate six persons is surrounded by beautiful grounds and has a commanding view of the ocean. Our hosts Richard, Ana, and Bambu were always available with on site assitance and Richard was able to give us suggestions/directions on what might be our next adventure for the following day. We found the people of Samana to be warm and accepting,even with our limited skills to communicate in Spanish.
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skad33
60086Great Dominican Experience
Left on 01/30/2012 for a stay in January 2012
This was our first time to the Dominican Republic. Richard, Ana and Bambu made it a great one. We liked staying in a very nice home and not in an all inclusive resort where we wouldn't be immersed in the culture. The house is very nice, but remember that it is an open air house so critters can get in. But there is nothing here that will hurt you. It was a long drive from Santo Domingo. We got in about 8:15 pm and we hadn't ate yet. Richard had his helper Bambu go to town and get us meals, that made our day. He even had stuff to make breakfast and sandwiches for the next day. We really appreciated getting picked up at our dock to go to the national park and the island. Richard has done a great job getting around the water and electricity supply problems. If you want a great place to stay where you can experience the real Dominican at a good price this place may be for you.
Response from Richard - 03/23/2012
Owner
Just to elaborate on the "open house, and critters" issue:
The house has Wooden doors, and wooden persian window shutters, at every opening to the outside, and thus is only an open air house, if the occupant elects to leave it open, which they frequently do, in order to enjoy the fresh sea breeze. As far as "critters", that may be able to enter the house if left open, these would consist 99% of gekos, which are abundantly all over the grounds. Snakes are very scarce, and there are no venenous snakes on this island. -
jbalders
Basking Ridge, NJExceptional view, location, and owners!
Left on 03/04/2011 for a stay in February 2011
We just returned from a week at the beach house. The property/view are truly breathtaking - by far the best I have ever seen in the Caribbean - having also rented villas in anguilla, St Martin, St John, Barbados, Bequia, Nevis and Mustique. The house is quite comfortable and was perfect for my family - my husband and I, our 3 kids ages 3. 6 and 8, and my husband's parents (in their 70s.) In addition to recommending and personally arranging wonderful excursions - Richard and ana truly went above and beyond for us as we had a few mishaps... my mother in law fell and hurt her head quite badly in a restaurant, and I sprained my ankle (misjudged a step as I was admiring the stars one night with a drink in my hand!) Ana went with my husband and mother in law to the Doctor in Samana, and completely took charge to ensure we had the right access to services and medical care. Apparently Richard and ana had originally planned to visit other properties they own during the week, but they stayed put in the caretakers cottage on the property to make sure we were okay for the entire week. We felt very, very well taken care of!! Bambu (boat captain/property manager) was also incredibly helpful and always available (though nearly invisible!)- we had the freshest fish, amazing lobsters, and lots of ice (needed for head and ankle), limes, rum and beer whenever we ran out. Overall - I can't recommend this villa highly enough for the adventurous family or couple looking for a lovely place to spend some time in the DR. One small note/caveat - there are dozens of lovely stone steps from the villa down to the beach, without a handrail. People who have trouble with steps (such as my in-laws) may have a hard time getting down to the beach/dock. But the lovely pool and tiki/gazebo are only a few steps down from the villa, and there is a railing to get there... Overall though - it was absolutely perfect, and we are so grateful that we chose this location. Thank you Richard, Ana and Bambu!!
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Denny
Norman, OklahomaGreat Experience
Left on 02/05/2011 for a stay in January 2011
I can't say enough about how much our family enjoyed our stay at Richard and ana's house near Samana. The grounds and landscaping were absolutely beautiful with a totally tropical feel. The bay even backs up to the yard. The house was roomy and had that open indoor/outdoor feel. It also had a nice size balcony with a wonderful view. I also felt that Richard had done a great job of providing consistent water and electricity even when the town didn't. He also recommended several excursions for us to take and even made arrangements for a boat to pick us up right at our dock for an amazing day trip to the National Park on the other side of the bay. Do not miss that trip, it was awesome...what an adventure! We had a nice pool with a palapa covered patio,and we utilized the kayaks in the bay. Sure the area can be a little rough around the edges, but we met a lot of nice people and the natural scenery is as good or better than any I've seen...including Hawaii, Mexico, Jamaica, Costa Rica etc. If you want an absolutely spotless, luxurious vacation, go to the Hyatt Regency in Miami and you can have a nice, sterile, boring, completely predictable experience. But if you're interested in experiencing a little of the rest of the world with a tiny bit of adventure and a trip you'll never forget, Richard's got the place. Thanks again Richard and ana, we'll be back.
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Rebecca
New York, NYBeautiful Place, Warm Hosts, Unforgettable Experience
Left on 11/28/2010 for a stay in January 2010
Richard and ana's place in Samana is indescribable. From falling asleep hearing the waves lap against the shore to waking up and seeing pink luminous dawns, our 7 night stay was filled with swimming and snorkeling right off the beach, lunch in the thatched roof patio, swimming in the hot afternoons, and napping on the balcony while soft breezes blew gently. Richard and ana's hospitality is unparalleled. We arrived late, tired, and famished. And as if knowing this, Ana had a traditional Dominican meal for us waiting and it was very thoughtful of Richard to have an ice cold beer ready too. Richard had the fridge stocked with what we needed for our first breakfast - coffee, eggs, cheese, ham, bread and juice. The property grounds are immaculately maintained and Richard gives the house all the TLC it needs. If you want a vacation stay that extends the ambience of a million dollar Hampton property yet still allows you to immerse in the local culture, give Richard a call.
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ChadTheTraveler
San Francisco, CaliforniaGood Location, Nice view. Nature lovers paradise!
Left on 11/13/2010 for a stay in November 2010
We just returned from a four day trip to Samana and stayed in the beach house. The house was adequate for our group of four. The view was fantastic and the property was beautiful. However, That being said we chose this property because of the "free fishing-boat, kayaks, sailboat and swimming pool" had been used as a clever and effective advertising gimmick. The swimming pool has obviously been in disrepair for sometime and held about six inches of green swamp water. Every time we attempted to arrange the use of the "fishing boat" we received one excuse after another and were directed to hire a local boat. On our final day, we attempted to confirm our plans from the day before for a sailboat cruise as offered by the owner and were told it was to late to arrange it with the harbor master (11:00 am). We tried to plan all these activities well in advance for each day. The other small glitch was that three or four hungry dogs live on the property and we had an issue with them squeezing through the metal security doors and raiding the garbage can in the kitchen, leaving a mess behind. Other than that, we did enjoy our stay. If you choose to stay here I would confirm in advance that the amenities promised including the pool will be available or repaired.
Response from Richard - 11/28/2010
Owner
These were some strange folks. They lyed about everything in their review, except the swimming pool, which truely was not functioning. I explained and apologized,that this is because of the natural phenomena, Hurricane Tomas, as I had the pool only 3/4 repainted, when the rains came continuosly for one week, and stoped just the day before they arrived (how lucky for them).Although they were never at the house long enough to use it anyway, as they went on excursions every day, Non the less, they have a legitimate beef on that issue.
The kayaks were not only available, but I even told them, that there are some secluded coves with lovely white sand beaches,just 20 minutes paddling down the coast. They responded,that they were not into paddling.
On their first full day here, at 12:30 PM, they mentioned to me, that they wanted to go to, Los Haitises national park, with my fishing boat. I advised them, that with the relatively slow fishing boat, it would not be possible, to get to the park, tour the area, and get back before dark. I suggested that, they go with the fast excursion boat, at a cost of 23 USD each, they agreed, and the boat picked them up, right at my pier, 20 minutes later.
On their 2nd day, it was raining, and they elected to take a ground (car) excursion to Las Terrenas.
My 46ft sailboat is nowhere indicated or included with this property rental, however I offered to take them sailing on their 3rd and last day here. Happened that they never got out of the house before noon, and a permite to leave the harbor must be obtained before noon. So, I offered to take them out on the fishing boat, they said, that first they are going to town, to try to find an American style breakfast, they did not get back till near sunset.
Next, had they mentioned to me, that the puppy squeesed through the bars of the security gate,I would have put wire across the bottom (which I now have done) To preclude this from happening. But I was unaware of this, untill I read their review. (Strange Folks)
Now, as for their suggestion, that future guests, should insist on a guarantee that all amenities exist and function. I go along with that, from now on,
If any future guest, finds an advertised amenitie, non existent, or not functional, I will, by their choice, either return all their money, to let them get another place, or refund 50% of the total rent, in compensation for the missing/faulty amenitie.
These lying eh- folks, even lyed to me, in all their pre-rental e-mails & reservations, claiming that only 2 persons (Roberto, and his friend Erica) are coming (to avoid the extra pers. fee), however, when they arrived, it was 4 (Roberto, his roomie, Chad the traveler, Erica, and Ericas husband). They never mentioned paying the extra pers. fee, and so I did not ask for it either, just to be nice, since they all seemed so very nice and super friendly.(They never complained about a thing here, this all comes as a big surprise).
So, this pure B.S. review, and , making "Me" look like a lying swindler, is the gratitude they give.Surely they do this for kicks, every where they stay.
Straaaange Folks
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Greg
Lancaster, OhioA real Dominican experience
Left on 11/08/2010 for a stay in March 2010
If you're looking for the all inclusive atmosphere then look elsewhere but if you want the real Dominican then Samana is the place. Richard & Ana's place is charming & comfortable. They go out of their way to make you feel at home & will likely accomodate about any request. Richard is a wealth of information about the area. Our day on the sail boat was exquisite, wish we could go everyday! The private pool was a nice plus. Richard & Ana have obviously worked hard, their pride shows thoughout the property & hats off to Bambu a fine young Dominican man who will be at your beckoning call. Thanks for a great week & a lifetime of new memories !!
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familyontheroad
VictoriaGreat Dominican adventure
Left on 10/14/2010 for a stay in July 2010
The Beach House was the perfect home base for our summer on the Samana peninsula. The city of Samana itself has all the amenities (pharmacy, supermarket, good medical care, wonderful fresh fruits and vegetables at the outdoor market), and Richard and anna were extremely generous with their time in helping us get our bearings.
The property itself is beautiful. It's close enough to town to be convenient, by far enough out to be natural and private. Fresh mangoes on the trees, coconuts, a great little pool with a deck overlooking the tropical ocean. The ocean is warm with a shallow lead-in making it great for kids. We swam out every day and looked at tropical fish right from the back yard. When we wanted to be more adventurous, Richard set up a boat to take us right from his private wharf to a tropical white sand island and a protected national park with mangroves and cave drawings.
The house has plenty of room and is nicely decorated (and air conditioned, for hot nights). The balcony is a wonderful place to sit and watch the birds fly over the palm trees. Highly recommended. -
Gloria
Cocoa, Fl.What a great vacation!
Left on 10/10/2010 for a stay in November 2009
What a great vacation! Waking up every morning with that incredable view and relaxing every evening in our own private pool was wonderful! The house was very nice and cozy. The people of Samana were so friendly. We found everything we needed in town. Richard was such a big help and full of information about the surrounding area! The house was centrally located so we were able to drive all over the peninsula to the surrounding beaches. The drives alone were spectacular! The Los Haitises National Park was nothing short of breath-taking! It was just about a 30 min boat ride from the house and the boat picked us up right there on the beach. Thank you Richard and ana for being great hosts and helping providing us with a great vacation! We would definatly go back to the Dominican and stay at Richard and ana's place again!
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Barth & Lisa
Berkshires, MADominican Oasis
Left on 10/06/2010 for a stay in March 2010
This place is a secluded oasis amidst a magnificent tropical paradise. The house and property are captivating and lush. The Dominican people are engaging and warm. And Richard and ana are supremely sensitive and gracious. When we decided to adventure beyond the extensive accommodations of their place, Richard and ana helped us to quickly navigate and integrate with the Samana culture. Our six year old son was with us and he had the time of his life! Take your shoes off, enjoy an ice cold Brahama, and stay a while...
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Tanya&Nick
MinneapolisNice vacation in Samana, Dominican Republic
Left on 10/03/2010 for a stay in November 2009
Our family of 4 (mom, dad and 2 boys age 7 and 15) stayed in Samana on Thanksgiving week and had a wonderful time. Richard and ana are very kind and friendly people. They treated us very very attentively and made us feel very much at home. Ana made dinner for us the night we arrived and Richard bought groceries to make sure we had something to eat for breakfast the next morning. It's a charming old house with nice pool and lush greenery (coconuts trees, flowers, etc) The house was easy to find even in the dark. Richard gave very detailed instruction. (although avoid driving after 6 PM: incoming cars don't dim lights and lots of motorcycle just zoom around like crazy) The city center is 10 minutes away. There you can find restaurants, Atms, markets. We did everything: kayaking, sailing, horse riding to the El Limon waterfall. Overall it's a great place with lots of things to do and see. We'll be back for sure.
Here 1 more rental located nearby.
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