At $60 a night including taxes and breakfast, we stayed at the German run Hotel Coyamar for two nights at the beginning of the offseason and found it reasonable and enjoyable. As way of background, Playa Bonita was beautiful and all but deserted except for a few European tourists. The hotels, boat rentals, and Pizzeria El Coco were in full operation, however. Playa Bonita is a strip of hotels about 8km to the west of Las Terrenas, a fishing village and another enclave of Euro tourists. Be warned that the ride to either destination from Santo Doming entails a 4 ½ hour bus ride to Sanchez and then a 17 km (45 minute) taxi ride through very steep, lush mountainous countryside. Argue for a price below 1000 pesos and don’t be afraid to tell the driver to drive “mas despacio” (more slowly). The road is not paved, often narrow, and downright treacherous at points. Also the poverty on the way might stay in thoughts as you rest on the beach.

Location

Coyamar is the first hotel (in reality a couple of two-storied bungalows) on the Playa Bonita strip. Because it is at the corner of the strip and the road to Terrenas/Sanchez, there can be some motor traffic but this was very light in the off season. Note, the hotel is very German. We knew this in advance and it suited us because we speak German and enjoy hearing the language. Peter, the owner, speaks enough English to accommodate his guests but his wife does not.

Room

The room was very simple and had a tile floor. The bed was low to the ground and very comfortable. There is no AC but a cold shower before bed and the fan kept us relatively cool. The bathroom had soap but lacked shampoo/conditioner etc. The place was clean but it could use another floor towel because of our wet feet and sandals. No telephone or alarm clock in the room.

On the second day, the water stopped and it took an hour or two before it was partially restored (hot water too but low water pressure). There were no blackouts.

Premises

The hotel is made up of a couple of two storied bungalows and offers ten rooms altogether. The area was safe enough although the poverty you see on the way in makes you think twice. Judith, the owner’s wife, did not recommend walking the beach at night but we walked along the unpaved strip to the Pizzeria shortly after twilight and found it acceptable. If there is trouble, you can always run into one of the hotels on the strip. It is probably even safer during the high season.

The pool is obscenely small and really meant for kids of guests. They let us take the inflatable tube to the ocean with us. The grounds are well manicured but nothing special. The restaurant and bar are open air under a thatched roof. It’s pretty enough. Every Thursday night, they show a movie (probably auf deutsch) after dinner. They bring out their own 40 inch screen and project a DVD onto it.

Finally, there were often landscape workers trolling around the premises during the day and twilight. I guess they were doing some renovations during the off-season.


Breakfast & Dining

The breakfast was a few slices of (admittedly very delicious country style bread), two small dishes of jam, and honey, some pieces of sliced fruit, juice, and coffee. It looked small but sufficed due to the tropical heat’s affect on our appetite.

The menu selection was varied but small. The prices were reasonable. The food was plain though and tasty enough. I’d suggest trying the other restaurants and the Pizzeria El Coco at the end of the strip (just past Atlantis).


Service & Attitude

European hospitality is somewhat different from American style. Peter and Judith are very friendly and laid back but you will have to speak up if you need something. They let us check out very late. Bring your own towels for the beach. Phone calls to the states are 50 pesos per minute. He kindly checked the bus schedule back to Santo Doming for us and ordered us a taxi. Likewise, the wait staff only speaks Spanish, which we found odd because locals at other places had managed to learn enough German and French.

Because the hotel is intimate, it is possible to get to know the other guests very quickly. This was a lot of fun. Plus, the Germans love speaking English, especially when drinking during dinner.

Overall, I enjoyed the Coyamar and if it weren’t for my curiosity about the other hotels, I’d stay there again. It might be the best deal on Playa Bonita. I recommend it to those who do their research.