Spend five nights at the Hotel Acaya and had a wonderful time there. It's right on the beach of Playa Bonita away from the ongoing crazinest of Las Terrenas. We had a wonderful room with A/C of which you don't really need as you get the ocean air of which found it better than the dry A/C. The food was good at the restaurant but we would have preferred to get a more diversified breakfast. The hotel manager Maxime Couston is very fun and helpfull to give you tips for all the local attractions. We would like to thank him for his warm welcome. Would defintely recommend this gem if you seek some nice settings and quiet nights. FYI, the hotel is not too far from the town 5 min by car or use the moto concho's (motocycle taxis) very cheap ride and there you'll find all the nightlife good bars and clubs. Recommend to have lunch at the Oassis beach bar (Dulce's).

Small but comfortable and friendly hotel. No luxury but you feel like being in your friend's house . Rooms are very spacious, beds are large and comfortable.
Very good French food, the breakfast is copious and included in your fees.
Directly on the beach and you have miles of virgin Caribbean landscape just from your doorsteps.
Reasonable prices and charming staff.

We spent our 3rd Xmas vacation in a row at the Acaya hotel and were still as enchanted as the first time. The hotel is simple. The location is great. The hotel is practically on the beach - seperated from the beach by a small path - which has been unfortunately paved since last year - but progress is inevitable... The Playa Bonita lives up to its name. It is a narrow beach fringed with coconut trees. It is a well known surf spot so there are a lot of waves but if you walk to the end of the beach it is calmer and good for swimming.
The Acaya is a place to relax and unwind. The rooms are in 3 different buildings surrounding a lawn with coconut trees. There are "superior" air conditioned rooms, "standard" rooms with ventilators and then a few older rooms that are used when the other rooms are full. Our first year we stayed in the superior room and then the last 2 years, as we reserved last minute, we stayed in the standard rooms with ventilators. We did not need to use the ventilator at all this year. The rooms are simply furnished with basic furniture. They could do with an extra chair and better lighting for reading in the evening.

Breakfast every morning is fruit juice, plate of fruit, eggs and bread. We ate there practically every meal time as the food is very good and reasonably priced. My favorites are the guacamole salad, the ceviche and the linguine mariscos. The chef, Dany, does a really good chocolate dessert ! One night we had a paella for 15 - I have never seen so many lobsters in a paella.

Maxime, the charming French owner from the South of France, makes everyone feel at home. There were quite a few single ladies staying at the hotel. It is the kind of place where a woman can go by herself and feel at home.
In the evening guests mingle at the bar drinking and dining together.

The Spanish speaking staff (except maybe one !) are all very welcoming. Marie the receptionist speaks French. Maxime speaks a smattering of English.

We hired a car on internet from Santo Domingo airport and drove to Las Terrenas. It takes around 2 hours as there is a good motorway. Car hire in the town is unreliable as other guests had problems renting cars and quads (they were not delivered on time). I would recommend transport while staying there as it is not within walking distance of the village of Las Terranas. Las Terranas itself is a sprawling town - not the most attractive of towns - but with character. If you are into night life - you will have to go in to town at night as there is not much to do at the hotel besides watching the waves while having a drink.

For those of us who cannot quite get away from real life, there is a free WIFI connection which is handy as there is no televison in the rooms - accessible in the bar area.

The Samana peninsula for sure was one of the highlights of our trip. A variety of amazing and tranquil beaches, the lush vegetation, rolling hills, all these shades of green and blue and sooooo many palm trees!!! And just outside of Las Terrenas, away from the huzzle and buzzle, we found this charming little hotel at Playa Bonita . Our rooms were basic but comfortable and tastefully decorated ( we chose the no ac option ) and we just loved the conopy bed and the creative towel rack in the bathroom. And the manager Maxime and his assistant Mery were great to talk to and very helpful.
I would not recommend Playa Bonita to night creatures, but it is truely magnificent for nature lovers, beachwalkers, romantic couples, relaxation seekers... and gourmets!!!
The few small hotels all have restaurants and I would have loved to stay much, much longer just to try more of the fantastic food of Hotel Acaya, Casa Grande and Atlantis.
Great cuisine directly under the stars, palm trees rustling and the surf breaking in the background...just magical!!!!