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No advice, just a question (and something that might be worth considering) about the city of Samaná: with the fabulous newly renovated malecón, and other construction (a cruise ship dock and highway widening, I think??), it seems like there must be big plans for the place. It's a very small town and I wonder what the thinking is on how / how well it's likely to absorb the increased tourist traffic? Personally, I really like how it is now, though I'm sure any future added jobs will fill a need. I wonder how the changes will be managed,

Las Terranas lots of new construction happening

@DRVisitor

And infrastructure has not kept pace! LT has major issues with electricity, water supply, and traffic.

@Steverino7777

I don't know much about the areas in Samana outside of Las Terrenas. I have heard from folks in Samana town and Las Galleras that they have to come to Las Terrenas for shopping. There are colmados and small grocery stores elsewhere, but for weekly shopping, they drive to LT.

During high season, the streets in LT and the store aisles get pretty busy.

If you have any specific questions about LT, let me know!

@ddmcghee

What are the new developments doing? Using existing? expanding?

@DRVisitor

Using existing! So more homes, apartments, and hotels with the same electricity, water supply, and roads.

Never good as here they are always behind the actuaL demand.

The new Marriott hotel here has had its opening delayed several times. I know for sure that the first delay (of the March 2025 opening) was because a planned update to the sewage system on Playa Ballenas was never done. The city provided pipes for them to connect the hotel's sewage to, but those pipes went nowhere! All that sewage would have been in the ground, leaching into the street, the beach, and the ocean.

They were supposed to open in July, then September, and their website is now showing November. Hopefully, they get the 💩 sorted by then!

@ddmcghee

Are there affordable 1 bedroom / studio apts for rent seasonally? We currently rent a 4 bedroom villa in Buena Vista Norte for $1000 /mth.

I am not looking for ocean front or ocean view for that matter. Just affordable, clean safe accommodations for 7 months each year. I am thinking about $500 / mth

@wondering9

Do you live in Samana?

@Steverino not yet.