Hello gar598
I live in Cabarete. If you travel from the airport of Santo Domingo at once to Cabarete, I mean without overnight in the city it can ve as following:
You should pay the taxi cab to the "Caribe Tours" Bus station terminal, it is about 20-30 USD. Last scheduled bus leaves the station at 6 PM, they had 7 PM too, I don't know if it is available now. Time travel between airport and Bus Station is like 40 minitues. You should buy the ticket for "Sosua", it is 7 USD, pay in local currency. The best exchange rate is right in the change office at the bus station. Do not change money at the airport, the rate is lower than there.
Travel time to Sosua is approximately 4 hours 20 minutes, there are many beautiful sights by the road, but if you travel at night you won't see it. Bus is comfortable, has bathroom, good seat and TV. From Sosua to Cabarete you must use taxi, the price will be like 8-10 USD one way. Bus company is good. No other bus lines offer S Domingo-Sosua direct service.
I strongly recommend you to fly to P Plata airport, it is just 20 minutes away from Cabarete. Actually AA's fare to POP is almost the same as to SDQ.
Taxi from SDQ to Cabarete is like 120 USD one way.