Cabarete's four-star hotel. Standard rooms begin at $96. Velero is on the beach, has a pool, and provides free breakfast. Kiting is more than 2 miles away and the hotel design turns its back on the community.
Where to eat
Miro's
On the beach at Cabarete
809-571-0888
Superb French cuisine (the beef tenderloin and the tuna Asian filet are musts). Miro's charges a pricey (by Cabarete's standards) $10 for such entrees.
Blue Moon
Los Brazos-Cabarete
809-223-0614
www.bluemoonretreat.net
A dining experience (no utensils, no shoes), located deep in the hills and serving an Indian cuisine on banana leaves. One large circular sitting where you are likely to meet anyone in the world. Don't miss the sunset. $15 without drinks.
Getting around
Taxis generally cost a ''few" dollars. Agree on a price first. The cheapest ride, and easiest to find, is on the back seat of the ubiquitous motorbikes, whose drivers charge 10 pesos (22 cents) per trip. Wearing a kiteboarding helmet will ease some of the apprehension.
Getting airborne
Lessons generally cost $30-$60 per hour depending on group numbers. Schools also may add fees for gear (kites, life jackets, helmets, harnesses). All schools are a very long walk from town on what is called ''Kite Beach"; most offer nearby accommodations.
Kitexcite
809-571-9509
www.kitexcite.com
Prokite
809-571-0878
www.kiteworldcabarete.com
Dare2fly
809-571-0805
www.dare2fly.com
KitePark
809-571-9748
www.kiteboardcabarete.com
Getting hip
The Dominicans are lovely, friendly people who enjoy hearing foreigners try their language. Take a Spanish phrase book. Make mistakes. And laugh, because they do. Very few merchants accept charge cards because of government surcharges. Cash cards and/or traveler's checks are requisite. The government charges $10 for a tourist visa upon landing. Muggings are rare in Cabarete, but not unheard of, necessitating the same precautions at night that you would take in any US city.