Saona Island Cruise & Private Beach

Don’t trust them

Awful company. Confirmed airport transportation with them 3x and they never showed up and refused a refund after we had to get a private taxi. Expedia partners with them. Be VERY careful and avoid these guys like the plague

via Tripadvisor

Scammers

I went to the Saône island on a tour that this company offered me where the guide recommends to some photographers who go with us on a trip Goey Pictures company where they charge not a smaller sum but part 300 pains the case that we pay that sum and the photos never arrived after reading the comments we realized that they are fraudsters

via Tripadvisor (translated)

Not as advertised. Find a cheaper tour than this since there is nothing private or special about it

I would not recommend this tour. I feel like I was taken advantage of with their almost false advertising. I did a lot of research into this excursion and chose this one based on it saying “private beach” also in the description it says “surf and turf” lunch. 1st were stayed in the town of Bayahibe and did not need transportation. Great. We were told to go to the port and show our confirmation. Be there at 8:20 am. Sounds easy. NO NOT AT ALL First of all there are tons of people and tons of tour buses that arrive at the same time. It’s frontless chaos. We got there at 8 am and asked about 10 different tour companies if they were our tour. I texted the tour operator thru Viator app and no response Then I try to call them and it said they don’t accept calls. Thank goodness there were 2 very nice men who stuck with us and helped us with the language and knowing who people are. I finally got through to a Viator representative who had a different number than the one we were sent. So finally at 9:05 am we found out our tour was still 25 minutes away!!! We don’t get on the boat until about 10:30 AM because they drive 3 boat loads of people out to the catamaran in the harbor. We are the 2nd boat to arrive and there are literally NO SEATS left. The tour guide spoke mostly Spanish, even though it’s says in both languages. We got stuck in the front and we could not hear anything. Ok we go. It was 2 hours on this boat. Going from the front of the boat o the bar in the BACK of the boat was a task in and of itself. There was no opening in the seating. So we had to go up and down stairs, where people were sitting and had to move and the we had to climb over another seating area , again where people were sitting and irritated they had to get up. Not once did any of the tours guides help me or not once did they come to the front of the boat and take drink orders. Oh and all the drinks are I. 6 ounce cups so in 2 drinks it’s gone and you have to trek back up and down stairs and climbs over bench seating. There were NO garbage cans except in the back so peoples cups were blowing around etc. Not nice did anyone come around with a bag for garbage or anything! So then we get to the natural pool. Absolutely gorgeous! One of the guides put the stairs down and then that was it. No one helped anyone in or out of the water or on the stairs which were slated weird and difficult to go down. There were elderly people. Then we were told we had 25 minutes. Again no one to offer to get you a drink or anything. The “professional photographers” were the only ones of the crew that got into the water. So then we go to leave and again it’s a high step up to get up to the stairs so most of the woman and older people needed help. Us and other guests were hoisting people up onto the stairs and then other guests were at the top of the stairs to help. The horrible MEN crew members were in the back of the boat under the shade on their phones or standing and watching with their ARMS CROSSED!! It was horrible. So then I said to te head tour guide “ok now we are going to the private beach on the island right?” He said “private? What do you mean private “. I said” away from the masses of people “. He said oh yes. Ok. So we get to the island and of course no it was a private beach area at all. All the other tours that I know cost 1/2 as much as this one , all went to the same place!! So now it’s 1:30 pm. We have had no food or anything to eat. We get bearded of the boat and told where to go get the food. Oh and the lobster was extra $25 cash. So much for the “surf and turf lunch included. So we had to stand on a line and were served spaghetti, rice, potatoes, ziti, then you could get cucumbers and then the protein was disgusting!! TINY PIECES OF CHICKEN WITH NO TASTE AND TO Y SHRIVELED PORK. We were starving so we just ate it. So now we finish eating and we pull some chairs up to the water at this point we are just trying to make the best of it. Ok so now the “professional photographer” that took your picture on the boat and in the water want you to come and look at your pictures. She said she took 110 pictures of us and wanted $400!!!!! For all of them. Are you kidding me. These are digital files not print outs! So then we try and bargain for 5 digital pictures and she wanted $50. Hell no. So instead of making some $$ they just said no. So now we go in the water and FYI it’s very rocky so bring water shoes. So around 3:30 PM we’re are bearded back into a speed boat to go back to Bayahíbe. As we were getting on the boat the head tour guy gave us a bottle of rum to apologize for making us wait so long in the morning. Trying to persuade us not to give a bad review?? Honestly with all the other terrible things about this excursion I had forgot about the chaotic morning trying to locate them.

Response from the operator: Dear Valued guest, Thank you for your feedback and the time you dedicated to write it. We are sorry to hear that this service did not meet your expectations and needs. Your comments really matter and help us to improve our service standards by applying the corrective actions where we can. Kind regards, Customer Service Team

via Viator

Saona Island Adventure

From the time we got on the bus to the time we returned to our hotel, the tour wass 100 percent what we expected. Our tour guide took great care of us and kept us all together. The sights were amazing, well worth the $$$ spent. We would highly recommend this if you are in Punta Cana!!!

Response from the operator: Dear valued Guest, Thank you for your very positive feedback. Your comments are very important for us to improve our services and we are glad you had a lovely experience with us and we met your travelling expectations. We appreciate your kind words for our guide and we are happy you enjoyed every part of the tour. We hope to be your choice for your future holiday destinations. Kind regards, Customer Service team

via Tripadvisor

Ronald blue travel !!! The best

Very friendly, provides the best information to have a great experience on the excursions. Very compliant with the Service

Response from the operator: Estimado cliente, ¡Gracias por comentar! Nos complace saber que tuvo una excelente experiencia con nuestros servicios. Comunicaremos al representante Ronald sobre su comentario y felicitarle por su excelente trabajó. Esperamos poder servirle nuevamente en una visita futura y ayudarlo a que sea más memorable. Le apreciamos como cliente. Cordialmente,

via Tripadvisor (translated)