sosua or cabarete

drstock

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Oct 29, 2010
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Cabarete
Cabarete is very dusty and consists of a 4-5 block row of strip stores.The main road which is narrow runs thru the strip stores.
The traffic often travels at high speed and is very dangerous as well as dirty.The ocean is frequently very rough and there are drownings on a regular basis. No lifeguards. There is crime in Cabarete and as a matter of fact only a short time ago an elderly couple walking the beach were victims of a strong arm robbery.
Sosua on the other hand is an older town with winding streets and friendly people. In Sosua there are many Politur which is the tourist police. Prices in general are lower in Sosua. The beach in Sosua is on a bay and the waters are calm and clear. The beach is tree lined so you do not have to bake in the sun. Stay in Sosua and visit Cabarete, its only 15 minutes by car.

I live in Cabarete and don't recognise it the way you describe it. There is more than just the main road. High speed traffic -difficult. Ever seen the motos doing wheelies down Pedro Clisante, Sosua? Regular drownings? You make it sound like on a daily basis! Sadly, there have been drownings, but it is a world famous water sports centre, so unfortunately inevitable. Yes, there is some crime but there is in Sosua too. And there is crime in Miami, Marbella and virtually anywhere where tourists visit.

For me, there is a reason why apartments in Cabarete cost a little more: it is more upmarket! And you can always get to Sosua in 15 minutes if you want a night of "excitement"!
 

jrhartley

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Sep 10, 2008
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why do we always get onto this - they are both fine go and find out for yourself, no need to run one down in favour of another- live half way between as a compromise,or live in puerto plata
 

watson56

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Jul 19, 2011
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Hi all

My name is Cosmin and i am planning to relocate in DR next month. While looking on different websites for a place to rent i found Cabarete which was very attractive due to the fact that a lot of apartments were right on the beach. Here a 1 bdr would start from 700USD.
Looking better today i found Sosua. A lot of modern furnished apartments were available starting at 400USD with some features included in the rental price.

Can someone please tell me what is the difference between Sosua and Cabarete lifestyle? Also can you tell me how much do cigarettes costs over there, so i know if i will shop it from home or not.

Thanks a lot
well I have been there lately, the 2 places...I was thinking of Sosua, but now I think I will go visit Puerto Plata...because more activities, more stores and the other towns are close by for a ride. Check the local newspaper Adscene on the internet for info on appart. You have the Puerto Plata Beach Club renting out fully furnished appart. for 299.00 a month!!...plus lot of others all over the area from POP to Cab. for cheap. Don't be afraid to bargain.
 

CFA123

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May 29, 2004
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DRob

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Aug 15, 2007
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Sosua and Cabarete are so close together, you really should think of them as a single town. You can go from the middle of one of them and be in the middle of the other, in rush hour traffic, in about 20 minutes.

I live in Atlanta and it takes that long to get to a major highway. Consider yourself lucky.
 

watson56

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Jul 19, 2011
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PPBC looks good from the road... but I've read some horrible reviews online (electrical problems, water concerns, rats...).
Puerto Plata Beach Club & Casino (Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic) - Resort (All-Inclusive) Reviews - TripAdvisor

No idea if true or not, but keep your eyes open for potential issues if you tour it and are thinking of renting.
Well ok CFA 123, thanks for the link...could be helpful... but like some say, we are in the DR...and all is possible, so beware where-ever and well I don't expect a 5 star for that price. I rented a house in Santo Domingo and got screwed so..now I am more on the watch LOL!! Here in the DR, the electricity goes off practically every day so they need back ups; sometimes they cut the water; when it rains, it pours like hell so normal it leaks in and often we get flooded when living on ground levels...so check the out the level; mosquitos, flies and bugs all over so gotta put screens in; this is the DR...but asides that, it's PARADISE!!! ha ha!!
 

FritoBandito

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Dec 19, 2009
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Hi all

My name is Cosmin and i am planning to relocate in DR next month. While looking on different websites for a place to rent i found Cabarete which was very attractive due to the fact that a lot of apartments were right on the beach. Here a 1 bdr would start from 700USD.
Looking better today i found Sosua. A lot of modern furnished apartments were available starting at 400USD with some features included in the rental price.

Can someone please tell me what is the difference between Sosua and Cabarete lifestyle? Also can you tell me how much do cigarettes costs over there, so i know if i will shop it from home or not.

Thanks a lot

I can tell you that Dominican versions of popular American brands of cigarettes like "Marlboro Lights" don't taste the same. The Dominican version tastes like a super light and the tobacco is like Rice Krispies because it "snaps, crackles, and pops" when you smoke it. I used to bring over 10 cartons of American cigs with me on different trips and the Dominican customs never said a thing, in fact they don't hardly even search you luggage when you arrive, but, in my case, they tore my s**t apart when I left, like I was an internationally wanted drug smuggler or something........

Bring plenty of American cigs, because you won't like the Dominican versions..........
 

frank12

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Sep 6, 2011
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I apologize for coming into this thread so late in the evening but i have been busy fending off a species of females that hang out in sosua--the likes of which i can only compare to a cross between a vampire and a Lycon. Allow me to count down the pros and cons of both cities in no particualr order.

Sosua;

1. Lycons and vampires come out at night to feed off the fresh blood of unsuspecting tourists. they're so profecient at sucking your blood that they have been known to rifle through your pockets while at the same time extracting the fillings in your mouth. no, really, they're that professional!

2. The mosquitos that come down from the surrounding mountains of sosua have been known to carry off small childrena and rodents. the mosquitos come down in swarms from the surrounding hills to suck as much blood as they can carry in their bellys and still make lift-off.

3. Yes, the beer and drinks are chepaer in sosua, however, one is left with either the concrete wall on the other side of the street to stare at for hours on end, or toothless females that parade up and down the streets who have invested all of their money on hair products, nail polish, beauty saloons, and perfume...and sadly no money on dental work or razors.

4. Sosua is a hub of rocket scientists whom have retired after a long career of sitting around doing nothing more than waiting for someone in the family with money to pass away, or from a recent payout from an insurance policy, or a workers compensation claim, or a divorce settlement that paid generous dividends.

5. Sosua is a hotbed of seedy characters whom would give fodder and muse to writers like Steinbeck, Hemingway, Karouac, and Ginsberg.

6. On several occassions, throughout any given night, the devil himself can be seen running out of town with his tail between his legs as a result of all the competition for debauchery, excessive indulgence of sensual pleasures, and seductions from morality.

Cabarete;

1. People here have been known to throw themselves over puddles to help strangers stay dry, safe, and secure.

2. Cabarete citizens have been known to live an extra 10 years of extended lives as a result of healthier drinking water, more profecient use of soap, and a significant increase of smoking better quality catnip.

3. Cabarete citizens have better teeth, healthier skin glow, and are known to light up the night sky like Day-Glo.

4. Cabarete citizens have been studied by respected social anthropologists--the likes of Jared Diamond and other well known social anthropologists--who have come down here and discovered that cabarete citizens sport better hair-do's, shinier hair, better hygiene, less sexual diseases, better sex lives, and just better over all healthier contagious postive, tenacious attitudes and dispositions.

Some rocket scientists just walked into the bar...i have to go now...i will finish this later.

Love Frank
 
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tanicos

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May 28, 2012
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wow so many information. you people are great. now as far as i have concluded the readings Sosua is cheaper but not so "safe" while Cabarete is more expensive but "safer". Now i'm not used to such behavior of people to attack on beaches since these things here don't happen at all. I\m not looking for a cheaper place rather than to enjoy my staying, the ocean and since i'm 28 i'd love the nightlife but of course the "cool" one and not with hos and pimps or whatever they are over some places.
i like to listen to a great music, drink a bottle of wine or champagne or cocktails and enjoy the people over a great barbecue on the beach and stuff like that...maybe i've seen too many movies i don't know but that's what i am dreaming of.

many many thanks for all your replies.

PS: frank12 i love your description;)
 

watson56

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Jul 19, 2011
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Why does nobody mention Puerto Plata???...I think personnally to live there instead, after seen Sosua and Cabarete...but donno much about the place. What attracts me is that there are more convienient stores of all kinds and the road down by the beach ( forget the name ) seems to be a nice place to take a walk...I like the nightlife and wonder what it is like compared to the 2 other. Sosua, you go around all in no time and the same in Cabarete...the living, I personnally think it will be much the same and a ride to the other towns for a couple of beer or whatever, close and the roads are in good condition.
 

zoomzx11

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Jan 21, 2006
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Puerta Plata is pretty much a dead town. Other than the cable car up the mountain there is not much going on. The govt is promising to revitalize the area and improve the port but not much so far has been done. Strictly my personal opinion. Others may disagree.
 

watson56

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Jul 19, 2011
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Gee, i would have thought that with over 200,000 population there would be more action, no?...how about the bars?..any tourists hanging around like in Sosua? I really found that the malecon was a beautiful place to go wander around by the beach.
 
Why does nobody mention Puerto Plata???...

Because OP did not asked about POP.
I must admit i was thinking of giving some "advices" of POP, but if i did, the war of the roses (Sosua versus Cabarete) would have spread like wildfires and even more of us sunburned loonies would have volunteered as an brave keyboard warrior.
Even Jesus Christ himself would have been spotted in some of the golden streets streets of POP- everything just to be better then the other two 6 star places in this thread.

I believe Don Frank12 mentioned the most important parts here in the sunny never wet Northcoast, so OP just have to come down himself and try to live here in the Twiilight Zone- i mean Sosua- or Cabarete.
 

Kyle

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Jun 2, 2006
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whatever you do it's not like sosua/caberete/POP is 1000 miles away from each other. just a guagua ride away.
 

frank12

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Sep 6, 2011
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Ok, so to sum up the difference between these two small towns, let's recap:

SOSUA

1. Lycan's and vampires come ut at night to feed off the blood of naive tourists.
2. Richard Simmon look-a-likes can be seen floating around town in leotards and spandex.
3. East coast rapper, in-the-hood, wanna-be's parade around town in muscle shirts and velcro--sporting tribal tattoos and other esteemed symbols of higher intelligence.
4. Except for a few exceptional restaurants, the strip is mostly made up of old, nostalgic, carnival looking booths masquerading as high end shops that sell plastic trinkets of Chinese made bubble-gum souvenirs.
5. Many of the people hanging out on the strip all day drinking are rocket scientists who, after waiting around half a lifetime for a rich relative to pass away, have run down here as fast as their little feet could carry them to squander large amounts of someone else's hard earned cash on live entertainment that sometimes include, but are not limited to--large booties (of which i have a strong weakness for), big hair, fake fingernails, lost donkeys, blow-up dolls, things that vibrate, and other assorted technologies that allow one to fall asleep quickly.

Meanwhile...in CABARETE

1. Tourists and locals participate in water sports from sun up to sun down.
2. Christian soldiers unite at beach side restaurants to watch God fearing Christian women parade up and down the beach promenade in high heels that sometimes sink so far down into the sand that they pierce the water main and sewage lines, causing toxic water to cascade over one's chicken salad and mohito drinks.
3. People are busy participating in Christian activities like apple-bobbing, pinning the donkey, etc.
4. People are busy donating their time and energy to bettering the lives of lonely men and women who come down here for a one week vacation looking for salvation and redemption in the most unusual places.
5. People attend church services on a regular basis and then make a bee-line to nearby Cabanas where good, pious Christian folks throw their legs up to Jesus and praise him in the most highly anticipated, sought after, sexually fullfilling, entertaining ways imaginable--sometimes casuing the stucco on the cielings to fall and chandeliers to sway so violently that they come crashing down on top of people participating in acrobatics.

Love Frank
 

DRob

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Aug 15, 2007
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Frank12 is a hard act to follow, especially when he's on a roll....

Cosmin, as a follow up to my earlier advice, I'd encourage you to rent some space for a month or so in one town, then do the same in the other. It'll give you a better sense of the local vibe without forcing you into a long-term commitment.

You may very well find that the beach towns are great, but a bit tedious once you get over the "beach & bikinis" island fantasy. DR has a lot of really good areas to choose from, none of which are more than two hours or so from a beach.

Puerto Plata is just ok for me, but I really enjoy Santiago (in the mountains, great weather, LOTS of stuff to do, you can be in Cabarete in less than 90 minutes taking the Moca Road).

Santo Domingo has a ton of people and horrible traffic, but by far the most options available on the island in terms of lifestyle. Once you get past Boca Chica, there are nice little beach towns all the way to top-tourist-destination Punta Cana. Cabarete and Sosua are only 3 hrs away via the new Nagua highway.
 

sabra

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Jun 16, 2007
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Cabarete has a more laid back feel to it. Both are tourist towns but Cabarete caters more to wind surfers, kite surfers and some couples. You wont escape crime in either, but Cabarete has a bit less than Sosua and the police there seem more friendly. Mind you , these are Dominican Police, so that's relative. Sosua has a better availability of foreigner friendly grocery stores, Cabarete just has Janet's but, you'll find pretty much everything you need there. Food prices are high at Janet's, Playero and City market, so it doesn't matter. That's pretty much standard all over the country.

There's not much to do in either. There's a little culture growing , some expat theater and a few other things to pass your time, but expect to be bored in both. As far as renting an apartment goes, I don't think there's much of a difference in price.

Both are different cities when the sun goes down, but Cabarete's night life is a lot tamer than Sosua's but if you're into that, there's clubs and bars along Cabarete Beach, and of course, the " stroll " in Sosua. My opinion is that if you're into bars, the beach in Cabarete is a little safer.. but you're in the D.R.

It's a matter of opinion. I prefer Cabarete. It seems a little " friendlier " to me.



Events in Cabarete: Cabarete, Dominican Republic

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