Dagexcursie op het eiland Saona

This trip was around £60 less than what Tui tried to charge and included gift shop stop, natural pool and soana island including buffet and sprite coke and rum. It was a lot of traveling. We originally got picked up in a small mini bus travelled around an hour to be put onto a big coach of around 50 people. This bus took us to the gift shop for 20 minutes then to the port. We were waiting for around 30/40 minutes in the port to get on the boat which was a long time to wait in the sun with nowhere to sit. Every time we tried to walk of to find somewhere shaded the tour guide would shout quite bluntly at us and that seemed to be a running theme across the trip. In the port they say you must have a ‘security’ picture taken for free we declined as didn’t think it was necessary and knew there would be a charge somewhere along the line, they took one of us with our bags waiting for the boat at the port then when u get on the coach home they try sell you the picture on a used bottle filled with wood so you can make your own mamajuana for $15 each. The speed boat took around 30 minutes to get to the natural pool. There were no fish, starfish, turtles or any sea creatures but it was pretty cool and refreshing. We stayed here for for 30/40 minutes. There was sprite, rum and coke to drink in the sea. We got back in the speed boat and went to soana island. When getting on and off the boat you do have to get in the ocean and the waves are pretty big so do expect to get wet, I would have probably brought a waterproof bag if I knew. Once on Soana island we were taken for food they served a chicken, some other meat, tomato spaghetti, creamy pasta, rice, bread and fresh fruit. I did eat everything other than the meats and I did get unwell around 12-18 hours later and I’m the only person in our group who ate at the buffet so unsure if this is what made me unwell? After that we laid on the sun loungers which where included. We had about 2 and a half hours on the beach, there’s a lot of people trying to sell you things but if you politely say no they will leave you be. Getting on the speed boat to get to the catamaran was very difficult due to the waves and I did actually slip on the stairs and hurt my arm which left me with bruising. The speedboat takes you out to deeper water where you have to step across the boats to get on to the catamaran. As someone with mobility problems this was very difficult. We had to do the same to get on the speed boat back to the port. The catamaran also served rum,coke and sprite. The staff where great at getting everyone up and dancing on the catamaran playing a good mixture of mostly Spanish and some English songs. There wasn’t many places to sit other than the floor on the catamaran and it was pretty slippy. Towards the end of the trip they went round putting durag style hats on people then once you’ve worn it dancing they come back to you and say $5 each. Once everyone has paid up the staff stop smiling and dancing and stand and count their money together. The transport back to the hotel was a little quicker but we did drop lots of the staff off home on our way. In total we were out of the resort over 13 hours and we spent 20 minutes at the gift shop, 40 minutes at the natural pool and about 2 and a half hours on Soana island. I’m glad I’ve done it but it was a very long day for very little stops and I’ve been unwell ever since.

Essential excursion for those going to the Dominican Republic. It was an incredible day. I recommend this operator.

It is terrible, the whole day you just spend traveling, where they stop they give you limited time, the food is very, very bad, and worst of all is that everywhere they don't ask you, they force you to tip them. It is an absolute abuse the way they ask for the tip.

Everything was perfect! Picked up from resort lobby, was about an hour drive to boats. Stopped at a gift shop along the way. Once on the boat it was about a 30 mins ride w drinks and lots of fun that stopped at a natural swimming pool that was beautiful. An additional 30 mins to soana island. Food was great and island was beautiful

Overall we had a wonderful day on a beautiful island and had an amazing time. The price was well worth it but we found that the cheaper price warranted high pressure sales for so many additional items including photos, jewelry, hats, etc. we were the only people that spoke English, and the staff spoke very little. We felt as though being the only Americans we were charged much higher prices for additional items because of the communication barriers. The ride home was actually scary because the driver spoke no English and did not remember where he picked us up. None of the guests spoke English and could help us. They actually mocked us singing in a language that we understood very little but what I did know was that their singing and chanting was targeted towards us being Americans and not in a good way. I’m pretty sure the driver was drunk as he was behaving the same as all of the other drunk passengers. The only reason we got back to our Airbnb was that there were other passengers who got off close to where we were staying and we jumped off the bus as fast as we could. I gave it a 3 because the place itself was beautiful and we truly had a great time but being the only Americans, we were treated like lepers. Thank goodness we were on our own on the island. I would not recommend if you cannot speak Spanish fluently.

+4

A lot of propaganda, but nothing extraordinary... There are many better places... Cansative, bad food, common place, poorly educated catama crew. For those who don't want to go perrengue, don't go The only thing that "saves" is the quick stop at the natural pool

Bigger hole. Just terrible from beginning to end. DON'T DO IT!!!

We had the best time on this excursion -- dancing, blue waters, blue skies and the swimming was amazing.

great experience, contacted days before the tour, the transfer arrived at the agreed time, all within the scheduled and promised.

I booked this as it states English speaking guide. Once picked up in a van we were transported to another area after an hour of driving and transitioned with more people into another bus. Not one person including the guests and drivers plus the guide spoke English. Me and my husband had no idea what was being told to us as we were transported. They then began putting pink string on our wrists. Still no idea. We stopped picked up one person off the highway. Then stopped a separate time to wait for a car to pull out in front of us and jump out to give the driver a package then we took off. Again we started to drive another hour when we went off the way to the boat and were dropped at a souvenir shop. Once again we could not understand a word that was told to us on directions on how to get from the van to the boat and back from the island. It was honestly terrifying. Then once on the island there was trash everywhere which was really sad. And your constantly bothered for sales and massages. Even after repeatedly stating no. We almost got on the wrong boat to go back because we seen some from the trip getting on it but then figured out wrong color wrist band and hopped back off. If this was an upfront and honest place who stated Spanish speaking guide me and my husband would have never booked and stayed on the resort. This was a very uncomfortable situation to be put in.