Ali and I just returned from a week at the kitesurf/windsurf mecca of
Cabarete in the Dominican Republic. We really lucked out by having
fantastic weather, a good resort, and lots of fun things to do. We
stayed at the Azzurro Club Estrella, took kiting lessons from Kite
Excite, snorkeled at Sosua Bay, and went mountain biking with Iguana
Mama. Overall, the trip was great, with only minor annoyances, and I
would highly recommend visiting Cabarete if you get the chance.
I uploaded a number of photos of the <a href="http://www.guydavis.ca/photos/viewer.jsp?cat=119">resort itself</a>, <a href="http://www.guydavis.ca/photos/viewer.jsp?cat=120">kitesurfing</a>, and of <a href="http://www.guydavis.ca/photos/viewer.jsp?cat=118">our trip</a>
in general.
The resort <a href="http://www.starzresorts.com">Azzurro Club Estrella and Azzurro Club Cabarete</a> are actually the same place. This
all-inclusive resort was previously known as the Estrella del Mar. It
has been discussed extensively on the DR1 trip report forum due to a
great deal of construction there from late November until now. Ali
and I lucked out in that the main construction had all finished just
before we got there. The main pool, for example, had just been filled
the week earlier. There is still some construction and landscaping
going on, but is barely noticeable. It was rated a 3.5* when we
booked, but it will likely be a 4* or 4.5* by next season.
The food at the resort was quite good, though I think the buffet at
the sister-hotel in Sosua looked better. With two beach bars, a
buffet, an Italian restaurant, and a tea hut, there was always
somewhere to get food. The Spanish restaurant on one building's roof
was not finished yet, but will be nice when finished. I think another
restaurant is being built behind the buffet as well, but I'm not
certain of this.
The beach is very nice with a reasonable amount of shade and lounges.
When the wind is blowing the kitesurfers and windsurfers put on quite
a show. The boogie boarding is a lot of fun when the waves are
strong. If you're looking for calm water though, you're better to go
the Sosua Bay Hotel via the free daily shuttle. Sosua has a very nice
beach as well as good opportunities for snorkeling. (Gear is
provided by the hotel.) The Azzurro does advertise 1 hour of
windsurfing per day for all guests, but you don't get it from the main
equipment shed. You need to go next door to the "Happy Surf School"
and ask for the free hour. Also you can get a free lesson on Monday,
Wednesday, or Friday but you should book in advance. The Azzurro also
has a beach volleyball court, boogie boards, and sea kayaks.
As of the end of February, the new main pool is complete. It is quite
large with a swim-up bar (currently uncompleted), water volleyball
net. It has a shallow end suitable for small children as well as a
deeper section with a water fall. The smaller pool also provides two
large hot tubs which are great for watching the stars at night from.
As we booked the Estrella "version" of the hotel, not the Cabarete
"version", we were in building 5. I believe the room you end up in is
the only difference between the two "versions" or brands. The
Cabarete guests stay in the newer buildings (6&7) I think. Our room
had hot water, good air-conditioning and decent room cleaning. We
didn't get a fridge so we made a few trips with a jug to the bars to
fill up on drinkable water. As well, the old TV we had only got one
English channel, CNN. I was so sick of hearing about Martha Stewart
by the end of the trip
The other rooms had many more channels we
discovered. In our case, it didn't bother me as the weather was
fabulous so we hardly watched TV at all. However, if you're stuck
with an old TV and the weather is bad, you might want to consider
asking for a better one.
I signed up for some lessons from Kite Excite on Kite Beach. Gerd, my
Austrian instructor, was quite helpful. I really lucked out with the
wind as well, getting four straight days of strong winds in the 15-25
knot range. I didn't get as far as I'd hoped as I couldn't master
sustained periods on the board, but I did gain practise water starting
and controlling a big 4-line kite. The location of Kite Beach and the
nature of the winds makes it an ideal spot to learn. I'd highly
recommend this school to anyone interested in kitesurfing.
Ali and I also signed up for the 1/2 day mountain bike downhill trip
from Igauna Mama. We were the only ones on the trip which was fun if
perhaps somewhat overpriced for what you got. Our guide Maximo took
us through the RD country-side down towards Cabarete on a mix of paved
and unpaved roads. There were two small river crossings; breakfast
was included as well as a stop for swimming in a river.
Unfortunately, both Ali and I developed the stomach flu or 'la
tourista' as it is called there after this trip. Since we didn't get sick at all
during our time eating at the resort, it was likely the food on our
bike trip.
The only other minor annoyance I found with the Dominican Republic is
that they heavily favour the US dollar. While many stores will still
take the $RD, all prices are in $US and each store charges a pretty
steep conversion on sales in $RD. As well, many places don't take
credit cards as they seem to be avoiding a tax introduced a year ago.
Combine that with the fact the only way to convert $CAN is at
street-side exchange banks for a premium (30-31 $RD to the $CAN when
the actual rate is more like $35 RD to the $CAN).
The large banks don't take $CAN at all. One of the funniest moments I
had there was in a ScotiaBank (formerly the Bank of Nova Scotia; so
definitely a Canadian bank), being looked at as if I were an alien for
suggesting that I exchange $CAN for either $US or $RD. I'm not sure
why it seemed so strange to the tellers, as while we were there, two
other Canadian couples came in and asked the same thing and where
laughed out of the bank. Debit machines are available, but they only
provide $RD, not $US.
Another catch is that it is nearly impossible to get $US dollars while
there. The place is a black hole for US currency. Everything is
priced in $US dollars, in fact some things are only purchasable with
$US as credit cards and even $RD are often rejected. Given this
situation, I have a strong recommendation for would-be travellers to
the DR: BRING $US CURRENCY WITH YOU! It is the only way to be sure
you can buy what you want and you'll also get the best conversion rate
back home. Our travel representative said even US travellers cheques
are not being accepted some places these days.
Feel free to comment on the photos or send me any questions you have
about this trip report.
Cabarete in the Dominican Republic. We really lucked out by having
fantastic weather, a good resort, and lots of fun things to do. We
stayed at the Azzurro Club Estrella, took kiting lessons from Kite
Excite, snorkeled at Sosua Bay, and went mountain biking with Iguana
Mama. Overall, the trip was great, with only minor annoyances, and I
would highly recommend visiting Cabarete if you get the chance.
I uploaded a number of photos of the <a href="http://www.guydavis.ca/photos/viewer.jsp?cat=119">resort itself</a>, <a href="http://www.guydavis.ca/photos/viewer.jsp?cat=120">kitesurfing</a>, and of <a href="http://www.guydavis.ca/photos/viewer.jsp?cat=118">our trip</a>
in general.
The resort <a href="http://www.starzresorts.com">Azzurro Club Estrella and Azzurro Club Cabarete</a> are actually the same place. This
all-inclusive resort was previously known as the Estrella del Mar. It
has been discussed extensively on the DR1 trip report forum due to a
great deal of construction there from late November until now. Ali
and I lucked out in that the main construction had all finished just
before we got there. The main pool, for example, had just been filled
the week earlier. There is still some construction and landscaping
going on, but is barely noticeable. It was rated a 3.5* when we
booked, but it will likely be a 4* or 4.5* by next season.
The food at the resort was quite good, though I think the buffet at
the sister-hotel in Sosua looked better. With two beach bars, a
buffet, an Italian restaurant, and a tea hut, there was always
somewhere to get food. The Spanish restaurant on one building's roof
was not finished yet, but will be nice when finished. I think another
restaurant is being built behind the buffet as well, but I'm not
certain of this.
The beach is very nice with a reasonable amount of shade and lounges.
When the wind is blowing the kitesurfers and windsurfers put on quite
a show. The boogie boarding is a lot of fun when the waves are
strong. If you're looking for calm water though, you're better to go
the Sosua Bay Hotel via the free daily shuttle. Sosua has a very nice
beach as well as good opportunities for snorkeling. (Gear is
provided by the hotel.) The Azzurro does advertise 1 hour of
windsurfing per day for all guests, but you don't get it from the main
equipment shed. You need to go next door to the "Happy Surf School"
and ask for the free hour. Also you can get a free lesson on Monday,
Wednesday, or Friday but you should book in advance. The Azzurro also
has a beach volleyball court, boogie boards, and sea kayaks.
As of the end of February, the new main pool is complete. It is quite
large with a swim-up bar (currently uncompleted), water volleyball
net. It has a shallow end suitable for small children as well as a
deeper section with a water fall. The smaller pool also provides two
large hot tubs which are great for watching the stars at night from.
As we booked the Estrella "version" of the hotel, not the Cabarete
"version", we were in building 5. I believe the room you end up in is
the only difference between the two "versions" or brands. The
Cabarete guests stay in the newer buildings (6&7) I think. Our room
had hot water, good air-conditioning and decent room cleaning. We
didn't get a fridge so we made a few trips with a jug to the bars to
fill up on drinkable water. As well, the old TV we had only got one
English channel, CNN. I was so sick of hearing about Martha Stewart
by the end of the trip
The other rooms had many more channels wediscovered. In our case, it didn't bother me as the weather was
fabulous so we hardly watched TV at all. However, if you're stuck
with an old TV and the weather is bad, you might want to consider
asking for a better one.
I signed up for some lessons from Kite Excite on Kite Beach. Gerd, my
Austrian instructor, was quite helpful. I really lucked out with the
wind as well, getting four straight days of strong winds in the 15-25
knot range. I didn't get as far as I'd hoped as I couldn't master
sustained periods on the board, but I did gain practise water starting
and controlling a big 4-line kite. The location of Kite Beach and the
nature of the winds makes it an ideal spot to learn. I'd highly
recommend this school to anyone interested in kitesurfing.
Ali and I also signed up for the 1/2 day mountain bike downhill trip
from Igauna Mama. We were the only ones on the trip which was fun if
perhaps somewhat overpriced for what you got. Our guide Maximo took
us through the RD country-side down towards Cabarete on a mix of paved
and unpaved roads. There were two small river crossings; breakfast
was included as well as a stop for swimming in a river.
Unfortunately, both Ali and I developed the stomach flu or 'la
tourista' as it is called there after this trip. Since we didn't get sick at all
during our time eating at the resort, it was likely the food on our
bike trip.
The only other minor annoyance I found with the Dominican Republic is
that they heavily favour the US dollar. While many stores will still
take the $RD, all prices are in $US and each store charges a pretty
steep conversion on sales in $RD. As well, many places don't take
credit cards as they seem to be avoiding a tax introduced a year ago.
Combine that with the fact the only way to convert $CAN is at
street-side exchange banks for a premium (30-31 $RD to the $CAN when
the actual rate is more like $35 RD to the $CAN).
The large banks don't take $CAN at all. One of the funniest moments I
had there was in a ScotiaBank (formerly the Bank of Nova Scotia; so
definitely a Canadian bank), being looked at as if I were an alien for
suggesting that I exchange $CAN for either $US or $RD. I'm not sure
why it seemed so strange to the tellers, as while we were there, two
other Canadian couples came in and asked the same thing and where
laughed out of the bank. Debit machines are available, but they only
provide $RD, not $US.
Another catch is that it is nearly impossible to get $US dollars while
there. The place is a black hole for US currency. Everything is
priced in $US dollars, in fact some things are only purchasable with
$US as credit cards and even $RD are often rejected. Given this
situation, I have a strong recommendation for would-be travellers to
the DR: BRING $US CURRENCY WITH YOU! It is the only way to be sure
you can buy what you want and you'll also get the best conversion rate
back home. Our travel representative said even US travellers cheques
are not being accepted some places these days.
Feel free to comment on the photos or send me any questions you have
about this trip report.