Along the Dominican Republic’s northern coast, perched between two of Canada’s favourite winter havens, Puerto Plata and Punta Cana, a new treasure awaits your discovery: the Samana Peninsula.

Samana has the look and feel of a truly authentic and unspoiled holiday destination, but with a thoroughly luxurious air. Here you’ll find miles of pure, white sand, pristine beaches; long, rolling mountain ranges splashed by cool, sparkling streams; rich, vibrant coral reefs, ideal for snorkeling; and lush, tropical rainforests overflowing with an abundance of thick vegetation. You’ll also find an impressive array of first-class accommodation.

The cliff-side Gran Bahia Principe Samana is a Victorian style, boutique resort of about 150 rooms. The Royal Golden concept, exclusive to Transat Holidays, provides the added luxury of private check-in, deluxe accommodation in suites closest to the resort’s private beach, room service, additional à la carte dining and additional VIP amenities such as spa essentials in the room.

Geared more towards families, the five-star Gran Bahia Principe El Portillo, a 24-hour all inclusive, serves up 4 fabulous restaurants and bars, a large freeform swimming pool with Jacuzzi, a mini club, solarium and colourful gardens. Pueblo Principe, a Dominican style Shopping Centre, is nearby and offers additional shops, bars and restaurants. The Royal Golden concept, exclusive to Transat
Holidays, is also available at this hotel.

A short, 12-minute boat ride from the shores of Samana is Cayo Levantado, the closest place to paradise on earth. Here, the finishing touches are now being completed on the 5-star, fully all-inclusive Gran Bahia Principe Cayo Levantado. This is where Romance goes for a holiday: made up of a series of grand villas, each providing a dramatic view of the surrounding scenery, you will want to be among the first to experience this fabulous property and its exceptional spa facilities.

All of these resorts are available through Transat Holidays; call your travel agent for details or visit www.transatholidays.com. - News Canada