The views were beautiful but the Villas are very outdated. NO HOT WATER. No AC during our first night either. Even after two employees stopped by and attempted to fix it. The tvs were rendered useless. We had a Sony TV with a Panasonic remote. The best thing about this place was the cats on the Villa we rented. It's the only reason why it gets 3 stars.

We had a wonderful stay at this hotel! The staff, especially Jose Alberto and Alex Manuel, were amazing. They went above and beyond to make sure we had everything we needed and made us feel really welcome. I also loved that I could easily chat with the staff through WhatsApp, which was super convenient for any questions or requests. The location is a bit away from downtown, but that’s actually a plus if you’re looking for peace and quiet. The area is nice and calm, and there’s water right on the property, which makes it even more relaxing. Plus, the price was great for everything we got. We stayed July 3rd, 2025.

I haven't been to the Bannister in two years, but I stayed in 2017 and then attended an event in their main dining area. On both occasions everything was top-notch level. Nice to see it has maintained itself with a few lower reviews but with good observations for improvement!

We’ve been coming to the Bannister since 2019 , first as a couple, now with our kids. It’s always our go to spot to relax and get away from the city. Peaceful, beautiful, and super chill. We definitely recommend it!

This hotel could be so great, but is let down on multiple levels, and I simply wouldn’t recommend it for a stay. First, the positives. The location is great, quiet, peaceful, the infinity pool is world-class, with a stunning view across the Bay of Samana, and a nice bar adjacent. However the litany of things that went wrong simply shouldn’t happen, let alone in a five star hotel (it definitely isn’t). At check in, they tried to charge us, even though we’d already pre-paid. The receptionist said, “pre paid” meant, “hadn’t paid”, and was quite insistent until we showed her manager the credit card statement. The first room was next to the generator, impossible to sleep. The second room (and all rooms 201-204, 301-304 and 401-404) hear the reception music in the bedroom & the set up morning breakfast is loud too! We went to sleep and woke up to bloody jingle bells! When we mentioned this, the receptionist seemed genuinely surprised and didn’t think it was an issue. Also No hot water in room 401. Breakfast mediocre at best. Asked for eggs without sesame seeds; came with sesame seeds. Asked for a mint tea, never came. Hardly any of the staff speak English. No biggie as we speak a few languages, but bizarre for a self-declared five star hotel. Rooms are worn, rusty lamps, rusty shower. No working phone (guy at reception gives you a number you can call on your own phone if you ask). Definitely not a five star hotel. If you don’t mind all the above, and can get a bargain, it’s a nice location. Otherwise, there are much better options. To be also featured within the Luxury Small Hotels of the World… is a big surprise. Shout out to one friendly receptionist who totally got it.