Reviews
Mike Mangan
posted on Tripadvisor
"Third year in a row"
My third January at Hooked, and, once again, more good times. I stayed alone (travel buddy cancelled last minute) and hooked up w/some great folks. Surfed every day and went for some long walks when the wind came on (discovered path to beach so that I could've walked on the beach all the way to Cabarete). Flo took good care, as always, and Tino--the local yogi-guru gave some classes in the yard. Good to stretch after a surf....See you next year, dudes.
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Surfer Frank
posted on Tripadvisor
"Next year again at Hooked Cabarete"
We stayed at Hooked for 3 weeks. Best beach for surfing right on your doorstep and town close by. Great experience driving the scooters. Thanks guys and see you next year. Say Hi to the dogs.
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Frank & Kazou
posted on Tripadvisor
Ich war im Mai gemeinsam mit einem Freund im Surfcamp Hooked bei Cabarete. Alles in allem war der Trip super - der Strand ist nur wenige Gehminuten entfernt sodass man mit dem Brett unterm Arm driekt hinlaufen kann. Wem die 5 Minuten zu weit sind, der kann sich im Camp für wenig Geld einen Roller leihen und runterfahren.
In Cabarete ist ein bekannter Kite Surf Spot, der ebenfalls ca. 5 Minuten mit dem Taxi oder Scooter entfernt ist. Dort kann man günstig Anfängerkurse buchen oder auch als Kite-Surfer für wenig Geld Equipment leihen. Wenn man in der Gegend ist sollte man das unbedingt ausprobieren.
Surf Kurse (inkl. Material) werden vom Camp organisiert sodass auch Anfänger oder Interessenten keine Probleme bekommen. Wer keine Lust auf surfen kann, kann entweder am Pool relaxen oder über das Surfcamp neben Mountain Bike Touren, Reiten, Rafting, Canyoning oder Wander-Trips organisiert bekommen. Zusätzlich sind Sosua oder Cabaraete direkt in der Nähe (Cabarete 5 Min mit dem Taxi & Moto Scooter, Sosua 5 - 10 Min). Dort kann man lecker essen, shoppen oder einfach nur am Strand entlang flanieren.
Der Vorteil dieser Anlage ist definitiv neben der Lage und dem Rund-um-Programm das Preis-Leistungsverhältnis. Die Appartments sind spärlich eingerichtet, jedoch groß geschnitten und direkt am Pool. In dieser familiären Atmosphäre fällt es einem leicht Surfer aus der ganzen Welt schnell kennen zu lernen sodass man auch als Single-Urlauber nicht lange alleine ist.
Die "Herbergsväter" organisieren mindestens 1 x pro Woche einen BBQ mit allen BBQ-Begeisterten, geben gute Tipps für Discos, Bars und Restaurants und stehen quasi 24 Stunden bei Fragen, Wünschen oder Problemen zur Seite.
Auch wenn es in der Anlage WLAN gibt, eignet sie sich nicht für Stubenhocker oder Menschen mit großem Wunsch nach Privatsphäre. Fernseher gibt es keine - das Internet ist wie überall in der Dom. Rep. langsam und eignet sich nicht für Video on Demand. Bücher kann man sich zwar im Pool House leihen, da die Inhaber aber Holländer sind und zahlreiche holländische Gäste das Camp besuchen sind sie überwiegend auf Holländisch. Besser ist es daher wenn man seine eigenen Bücher mitbringt.
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Francis
posted on Magic Seaweed
Hi, i already visit 3 times in the last 6 month Playa Ecuentro for the surf camp condition at Hooked place and also the quality of the wave. Each day, it's possibile to go down the street-10 minutes- and jump in the wather before 6h30. The sun at this time it's very beautiful. In my last visit, every day a get wave of 4-5 feet, very clean and not to crood...Also the Local are very friendly and you can leave your sotck in the place whitout fear...Hooked Cabarete it's a good place for to stay. The manager :Nino and Freed are very hot. Nino it's a pro of mountain bike and you can visit the mountain whit him! The last time i arrived the saturday, it's the best day for to be there, big barbecue night the other person. Realy clean place whit good activities: 27 falls, souper at cabarete etc... I realy recommand this place, i was there 3 times in the last six month! See you there!
http://www.hookedcabarete.com/
Version francaise:
Hooked est vraiment génial, c'est a 10-15 minutes de la plage et du spot. Les gens responsable du site sont très bien organisé et ils offrent des activités a chaque jour autre que le surf. Le levé du soleil est extraordinaire a 6h30 am dans l'eau. De plus, le matin, la place n'est pas trop occupé et vous pouvez vous pratiquer. Lors de mes 3 dernier voyage, chaque fois j'ai eu de bonne condition, 4-5 pieds. Je fais du boogie depuis 3 ans, et ca doit faire 5 fois que je visite cette endroit, dont 3 a Hooked place. Je vous recommande de contacter les gérants pour connaître les prix, ce n'est pas dispendieux et avec un moyen de transport, l'acces aux villages voisin sont facile.
Au plaisir de vous y voir!
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Matt & Lora
My wife and I stayed at Hooked with our 3 and 6 year old daughters. Hooked is a boutique hotel that is about 2000 feet away from the surf break Encuentro.
We wanted a vacation where we could go surfing in the morning, go to the beach or out for activities with the kids during the day and go out to eat in the evening. We got to do all of this and more. There is so much to do in the Cabarete area.
The hosts Nino and Frieda were great and a pleasure to work with. They were nothing short of spectacular in terms of recommending activities, arranging a rental car, taking us to great restaurants and providing us with great advice about the local area.
When we come back to the Dominican Republic we will stay at Hooked.
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Will Hallet
I had the great pleasure to stay at Hooked Cabarete for just a couple of days in late February this year - and couldn't have been more pleased with the accommodations and the welcoming, friendly environment provided by Florian, the property manager.
Hooked Cabarete is a boutique resort featuring just a handful of attached 'apartments' set in L shape, surrounding a small courtyard area with a pool. It's quiet by design, and the compound's high walls offer both privacy and security. Well placed shrubbery makes each room feel very private, and each room gets bottled water and juice/muffins for breakfast. An all-inclusive it is not, but for the price, it's unbeatable.
The compound is located just a short walk (5 minutes) from Playa Encuentro, which while not right on the beach, is still easily accessible. The walk takes you around a dirt road past horses and other local flora and fawna, and the break becomes visible within seconds of leaving the place, so there's no chance of getting lost. It's very wide open, and there is no fear whatsoever of danger, at least there wasn't for me. For that matter, the people of the Dominican Republic could not have been friendlier - as nice as anywhere we've ever traveled, as nice as you could ever want. The local merchants in town will try to hustle you a bit, but even that feels very good natured.
As for the surf, well we caught it pretty good for the short time we were there. Encuentro gets crowded for sure, and yes, the trade winds come up early, but the beauty of being at Hooked is that you can get up and on it early, before the "commuters" get there. The locals divide Playa Encuentro itself into a few different sections, all of which have their own unique characteristics depending on the tides and the swell. Our first full day their we caught a section call Coco Pipes doing it's thing pretty well. It was a bit of a paddle to get out, but it was a fast, really fun wave. On the inside you'll find a surf school doing it's thing, so if you're a beginner, Playa Encuentro is still a great place to be - you don't even have to travel with a board, Florian will hook you up with a great rental deal.
As for Florian, the property manager, what can I say - the guy is outstanding. From the moment you arrive, he's welcoming and very, very interested in making sure you get exactly what you're looking for - whether it's a quiet stay to just relax, or making sure you get to go out and see some things that you'd never get to experience on your own, unless you somehow luckily stumbled on it. He definitely takes advantage of all his local hookups and knowledge, so whatever you need, he'll get you a good rate or simply work it out himself. He took our group to a really interesting Indian/Caribbean restaurant in the mountains and took us also to a beautiful beach on the far corner of the island in search of waves. If we had stayed longer, we would have taken part in a barbecue on the property, and undoubtedly have had Florian arrange for kite surfing lessons for us. While I didn't specifically ask, I'm quite sure Florain could have arranged for JetSki and Hobiecat rentals for us as well less than the usual resort fees, just by using his local contacts.
The resort also offers 125cc (more or less LOL) motorbikes for rent at a nominal fee. Motorbikes are all the rage in the Dominican - it's cheap and convenient - and you better be paying attention while you're driving, they zip around like crazy! If you prefer, the local bus transport is incredibly cheap (about $0.25 US) - we didnt try it, but others did and said it was just fine.
The town of Cabarete itself is just a few minutes away, and if you walk to the top of the hill from Hooked, there's a small "all inclusive" hotel where you can find a cab. The cabs are a bit pricey at about $24 round trip, but it's convenient, and the cabbies are VERY accommodating- they will either stay and wait for you, or come back for you at a pre-set time - and they trust you: they don't charge you until the end of your trip! As mentioned earlier, the local tourist trap merchants will try and hustle you, but just smile ans say no thanks, and they'll slap your hand and smile and laugh with you for free - everyone is VERY nice. As for where to eat or go in town, that's where Florian comes back in: ask him, and he'll make sure you get to the right - and the right priced - places.
Money: The exchange rate can be a bit confusing, but once I nailed down this simple conversion, it came back into focus and made life a lot easier: 100 Pesos RD is approximately $3 US. Now of course the exchange rate is ever changing, so I recommend that you do a simple search on it before you leave and get it set in your head before your trip even starts.
All in all, I loved Hooked and the Dominican Republic in general. On the downside, Encuentro can get crowded and the trades come up early, but on the plus side, while it doesnt feature as many surf spots, it's a great alternative to the traditional trip to PR that many of us make - and if you hit the airfare deals right, it's a great value for the travel dollar. It's also an adventure of sorts and makes for great alternative to the traditional "all inclusives" that many people frequent year after year.
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Marieke Broekman
I had the pleasure of visiting Hooked for 5 days in December, which I really enjoyed! I loved its location close to the best surf spots of Cabarete, which allowed me to have siesta's at my apartment or in the great and quiet garden at noon every day. The service was great and so was the atmosphere with the other guests. It was easy to get into town, while we still had space and quietness unlike in town. Everything at Hooked made me feel very much at home and I wish I could have stayed longer! If you're in for surfing or a very relaxed holiday away from the big crowd, Hooked is the place to be!
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Yuki Inoue -
Hooked cabarate is not an all-inclusive luxurious hotel, but for someone who wants simple and laid-back stay, it is a wonderful place. Florian, the manager, is such a cool guy and he did whatever he could do to make our stay enjoyable. It was fun to hang out with him and his personality was a big plus:) Although not located in the center of main tourist place, we could take a bus, scooter, or taxi to the cabarate center, so for the person like me who prefer quiet and not-touristy place, it was great. The room is spacious and clean with full kitchen. Lovely garden with a swimming pool. I truly enjoyed my stay and hope I can go back.
Yuki
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Hey all just back from a great trip to Dom Rep. let me break it down in a few words. and then in some more.
In a few words: $350 jet blue. 3 hour flight. surf 20 minutes from airport. cool town. great place to stay. perfect for the surfer who needs a quick trip. we literaly surfed the day we arrived, and the morning we left.
We were greated by Florian (hotel manager) the moment we arrived. Florian ("flo") is a cool guy around the same age as us (35?) and he really is doing his best to make sure your stay is great. When you are in a foreign land its important to have a point man, and he fits the bill from recomendations for dinner, to tours, to letting you know where to be for the most waves. Hooked Cabarete is a diamond in the rough, or shall i say a fortress in the rough. huge walls and a huge wooden gate with two big dogs guarding the hotel (and you) from any intruders. I have been all over central america and other places so i know all about getting things stolen and the security needed. its safe, or at least as safe as can be. we didnt need to lock stuff in a safe or anything like that. the rooms are comfortable. very clean and sheets and towels tended to every day by the maid. we didnt notice any critters or mosquitos either. we didnt need A/C as the temperature at night was perfect. i'd say about 60 degrees. Hooked is not "on the beach", nothing is, but it is the closest to the break, indeed you could hear the surf pounding in the morning, always a good thing. overall I would describe hooked as a small intimate hotel with beautiful grounds, good for anyone from a guys trip to bringing your girlfriend to bringing little kids, to flying solo. also I am note a kiteboarder but nearbye is a worldclass kiteboard beach. so there is lots to do. nothing is pushed on you but everything is there if you want to try it.
the surf: The first day was nice and clean. I rode my egg and grabbed a bunch of waves. we surfed every day we were there. there is always "something" to surf. a small walk or ride down the street to the surf beach and you can be in the water before the sun comes up, which is important, because this break is no secret. the crowds are nothing you havnt seen before. there is about 5 peaks so you can spread out. its a nice set up. good for beginners and for intermediate. and if a real swell comes it looks to hold nice. mostly rights, but lots of lefts too. the wind comes onshore about noon, but if your lucky it may stay calm and you can sneak in a session late day with hardly anyone out. you dont need a car considering the surf is right there, and if you are on a budget there is a bus that comes along the main road and takes you to town. If you want you can rent a scooter with the hotel just to get to town (cabarete) for food. We rented a truck so we also traveled up the coast and surfed another wave completly by ourselves. we brought our own boards but the surf shops have decent stuff if you want to rent.
Warm water, waves, sun, palm trees, chill safe scene. I was very happy with this trip. I dont wanna turn this into a PR rag, they definatly have more waves, but when im on vacation i want to feel like im somewhere else, not see a bunch of long beach people and lots of punks. Maybe its cool if your 18. otherwise i dig culture. PR is zooed out and if it is flat there is not much else to do. In my opinion that is where the Dominican rises above.
Cabarete: the nearbye town. very cool. think Jaco costa rica but nice. very nice beach and lots of great restaurants and bars. sure it can be touristy on the beach, and pricey, but you can also find a lot of local food and cheap places to drink.
I want to say thanks again to Flo. Great times bro. you have a place to crash in new york if you ever wanna freeze your ass off in our water 
~Andrew
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Luis Gomez
Guys I would like to thank you for recommending Hooked Cabarete at Encuentro Beach, DR. The accomodations were clean, living up the description. The entire property was very neat and well maintained. The Beach is about 1/2 Mile walk and the Surf Camp with best Board option is 3/4 Mile. Antonio and his staff at the surf camp were extremely helpful. The surf was consistent 3-4 Ft with Bigger Sets. When we left Sunday it was solid 7 plus. During our down time Florian the site manager organized a group trip to water falls which was a freakn blast. He was also very good with the recomendations for eating and shopping. The town of Cabarete is 10 minutes away via Taxi. The Night life is wild with plenty of beach front bars including there own NIKKI BEACH. I'll be back soon for sure. Less than a 2 hr flight surfing within a couple of hours from arrival and a night life. You can't go wrong With HOOKED cabarete.
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Tiki Yates
I have just returned from three glorious weeks staying at Hooked Cabarete.
By way of my background, I have for some years part-owned a hotel in the Caribbean which has pleasingly won some awards and also was a founder of Low Pressure (the Stormrider Guides).
It is hard to overstate what an excellent place Hooked is. It operates on many different levels and accommodates everybody equally. During my stay there, there were a great collection of fellow surfers, some of whom have become real friends. There was a guy filming a documentary about Hooked/Cabarete/Encuentro and a couple of charming families with young children. Hooked, although by nature a small and quite intimate place, absorbed all of this masterfully.
The location of Hooked is also particularly good in that you can walk to the surf if you so desire every day (I did) and it is also a short distance from the town of Cabarete itself. Cabarete is, or can be, something of a non-stop party shop and there is a good assortment of funky bars, beach clubs, etc., and some world-class restaurants.
The reason why Hooked works so well is in large part due to Florian Lang, who runs it brilliantly. He takes enormous trouble with all the guests’ needs and that care and attention makes a huge difference to any holiday.
Would I return to Hooked? Absolutely. It is comfortable, very reasonable and gives you all the latitude you want according to your desires.
So people, if you don’t go – you won’t know.
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A.Hill
Thanks Flo for the great hospitality. Hooked was perfect for me, my wife, and my 3 year old daughter. I will recommend Hooked to my Amigos in California. Your place is great close to the main surf breaks and not in the middle of the hustle and bustle of Cabarete. to anyone who may be thinking of staying at Hooked S...tay at Hooked if you: want a place close to surfing beaches, real relaxing, quiet, friendly host and other guest, not far from the hustle and bustle of Cabarete, family atmosphere......
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After a broken thumb and a surfers-ear infection my girlfriend and I decided to go to Cabarete.
I’ve been here twice before, once for a PKRA in 2006, this time I stayed at Hooked Cabarete, which was so good I definitely preferred this to come back to instead of for example a all-in down at the beach in Cabarete. Here in Hooked Cabarete its so quit and relaxed with a lot of space for kites to dry ready and pack, excellent services and fun scooters which will drive you downtown in 10 minutes, where its busy, loud and even warmer at day. That was perfect for us, we were on holiday so no rush to be somewhere at some time to do something. Florian (from hooked) made sure everything was around what we needed it was just the wind we were missing when we arrived. 3days of bad weather and some rain showed us the wet Cabarete from above the water, and finally when the sky got cleared up we were able to check out Cabarete from within the water! From here we could every single day in the Dominicans great conditions, nice and warm water, friendly people and stable wind as soon as more people got off the water at the end of the day. Not us, we continued tricking and cruising around in the beautiful sundown just in front of us, which made our one of those kitesurfingdays complete! Quickly pack, hit the Jacuzzi in another hotel and speed back to Hooked to see what’s for dinner, either we cook some of just go out for dinners, it was all the same price, difficult decisions..
I noticed everyday on the water that I haven’t lost the skills yet with those highly irritating injuries I kept on going trough but I just needed something like this 2 weeks to get full sure of every trick. Switch tricks are going better and singles are back to 100procent guarantee of a landing. Cabarete made it so easy with the waves and easy winds, good vibes and the perfect gear to rely on. If the board gives such a boost when you take off you are half way there. The harnass will give you all movement you need to bust a trick and the kite smoothly pulls you all the way up there, give you the time you want for the trick and just waits for you to be landed and ready to go for the next one. Just us doing it!
Check out some pictures in the folder “Cabarete “ and keep watching the ozone and lexduzit site for the new video which will come up soon!
check: www.lexduzit.nl for more!
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Hey Florian,
Just wanted to thank you again for an excellent stay. I had a total blast. I left a couple bars of wax on your door for you, also, left the guest feedback form in my room on top of the white binder. Thanks for such a warm welcome. If I ever come back to DR, I'll definitely be at Hooked.
Brian
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I had a great time in Cabarete, thanks to Hooked! Starting with a pick-up service at the airport and a nice welcome by super bueno Florian at hooked. When we arrived everything was showed and possibilities were explained. We decided to rent scooters, this gave us a lot of freedom and is really worth the money. Cabarete is very small, but all Dominican people are very friendly and helpful. We did a three day course of kite surfing at EH, this was GREAT! Very good and nice teachers, equipment and service! Hooked also arranged a trips like eating Thai food and jump and slide waterfalls, which were also was fantastic. The atmosphere at hooked was very good!
So, now I look back, I had as Florian said a Super Bueno time!!! (and will come back, alone or with friends for more kite surfing)
Tamara from Netherlands
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I just wanted to pass along a thanks from myself and Jen for your hospitality while we there last week. Hooked is a wonderful place and it was both a fun and very relaxing vacation for us. I have already recommended Hooked and Cabrete to some friends of mine here in Boston who are looking to get away from the ice and snow this winter. Jen I and hope to get back sometime soon as well. The surf was great, the weather was perfect, and there was nothing more enjoyable than spending our time out of the surf at the pool or in our patio hammock.
Thanks again and we hope to see you in the not so distant future.
Matt
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I just wanted to let you know that Matt, Jen, and I had a great time at your place! We will recommend your property to all our friends and family…have a great 2009!
Cheers, Stephen Varraso
Jen, Matt & Steve,
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Hi, just wanted to write a quick message to say thanks for a great week staying at Hooked. My girlfriend Rebecca and me had a great time and everything went smoothly. Special mention to Florian who was really friendly, helpful and a great host. we could only stay a week but because of Florian's info we knew where everything was from the first day. Great location, great people, great Holiday, thanks again. We're already looking into when we can come again. Russ
Russel & Rebecca,
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I stayed at Hooked the first week of November and I wanted to say I had a great time and the room was very nice. Florian was managing the hotel and he was very helpful and very nice. He made sure everything was just right. I would definitely stay again.
Billy Hale
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We have settled back in to London routine (just about). We wanted to say thank you for making our stay so relaxing and pleasurable - we have lots of wonderful memories.
Alex and Kat
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Grant, Luzita and Emma Kennedy"
Dec 2007 - Jan 2008
Toronto
" If you are looking for a place to reconnect with life,
To hear the waves crashing in the distance,
To see the palm trees playing in the breeze,
To lie lazily in a hammock, where time is of no consequence,
Hooked Cabarete is the place to be.
I would highly recommend Hooked Cabarete over any 5-star all-inclusive resort. The place is immaculate, the gardens beautifully manicured, warm bread is delivered to your doorstep every morning, and Ybo and Chantal are charming, warm and hospitable hosts.
Hooked is a stone's throw away from the beach, is a great spot for both surfers and kite-surfers, and is a 10-minute drive into Cabarete where the most delectable restaurants are to be found.
You will be hooked!!!
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Kwilde nog even vermelden dat we een supertijd beleefd hebben bij Hooked. Ferry en Dion hebben dat heel goed gedaan (en Bill en Zita ook). We proberen af en toe eens naar hun blog te gaan. Jullie trouwens ook proficiat met jullie 'guesthouse' (mag ik het zo noemen?). Het is voor ons 2 weken het paradijs op aarde geweest.
Ook het surfen heeft alvast enorm aangeslagen. We gaan er zeker mee door!
ENGLISH:
I needed to let you know that we had a more then great time at Hooked. Ferry and Dion did a wonderful job (so did Bil and Sita). We are checking their blog on regular base. You also congrats with your hotel. For us it was a paradise on Earth for 2 weeks.
We liked the surf and surfing very much and definitely will continue. We are Hooked...
Willem en Liesbeth, Nov 2007
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Review Marino and Marije
We had a great time at Hooked Cabarete. The small-scaled set up and friendly owners Chantal and Ybo make it a charming place. Most guest at Hooked come to wave/kite or windsurf; from advanced riders to beginners. Frequently everybody chatted around the pool about the daily experiences. We took kite lessons at the Kite club in Cabarete. You can book them at Hooked and the lessons are very professional and the atmosphere at the school is relaxed.
The best thing is that besides surfing there is also much more to do in and around Cabarete. At Hooked you can rent a scooter or motorbike and Chantal and Ybo can recommend many nice restaurants; also on locations that you don’t find in the travel guides. This makes you experience the real Dominican atmosphere and of course the fine Dominican dishes. We also did two excursions which Chantal and Ybo organized. Both days were definitely worth while and it was especially great to see more of this wonderful country. The most beautiful beaches at the beach trip and the canyoning trip from 27 waterfalls are definitely trips to recommend.
Hooked is a great location to do active things, but definitely also perfect to relax.
Dutch version
We hebben het prima naar ons zin gehad in Hooked Cabarete. Het appartementencomplex dankt zijn charme aan de kleinschaligheid en de leuke eigenaren, Ybo en Chantal. De meeste gasten in het complex komen om te golf/kite of windsurfen, van beginners tot gevorderden. Regelmatig werd er aan het eind van de dag met z'n allen bij het zwembad nagekletst over alle belevenissen van de dag. Wij hebben zelf kitesurflessen genomen, bij de Kite Club in Cabarete. De kitesurflessen zijn te boeken via Hooked Cabarete en de kitelessen waren zeer professioneel en de sfeer bij de kiteschool zeer relaxed.
Het leuke is dat er naast surfen nog veel meer te doen is in en rondom Cabarete. Bij Hooked kun je een brommertje huren en Ybo en Chantal hebben genoeg aanbevelingen voor leuke restaurantjes, ook op locaties die niet in de reisgidsen staan. Zo ervaar je de echte Dominicaanse sfeer en natuurlijk het goede lokale eten. Daarnaast hebben we twee excursies gedaan die door Ybo en Chantal zelf georganiseerd werden. Beide dagen waren zeer de moeite waard, vooral leuk om meer te zien van dit prachtige eiland. De mooiste stranden bij de beachtoer en canyoning is echt een aanrader, een prachtige tocht langs heel veel watervallen!
Al met al is Hooked een prima locatie om lekker actief bezig te zijn, maar ook om heerlijk te relaxen.
Groetjes van Marino en Marije
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Review Daan en Ferry
After hearing many stories and reading a lot, Ferry and I were doubting about several destinations for our holiday. Every spot on this planet has its own charm, which doesn’t make it any easier.
Cabarete/the Dominican Republic has been know for a bit longer, which makes that there is more information available to focus on the kiting and the country. Cabarete has waves, flat water, wind, strong wind, downwinders, culture, nature and rum.
When we arrived we first both had to get used to how things go around here. And you realize that Europe is absolutely not comparable in any way to how things go around here……terrific!
We loved the concept Ybo and Chantal set up with Hooked! Because of the small setting, you automatically more or less hang out with everybody and get to know all the people staying at Hooked. On a super relaxed way.
The trips are unforgettable; you experience the country on a way that gives whole other vacation pictures than any other person that went to the DR.
At Encuentro you are away from the noise, but with one of the state-of-the-art motorbikes/scooters (rent one - rent one - rent one!!!!) you are close to everything and you are definitely the most flexible in traffic.
A great mixture for any surfer or non surfer
Recommendations:
- the caves of Cabarete (sounds boring, but is really cool)
- one of the trips with Ybo or Chantal (or like we did, several trips!)
- downwinders!!!!!!!!!!
- eating in Dominican restaurants
ciao!
Daan and Ferry
Dutch version
Na veel verhalen gehoord te hebben, en veel gelezen te hebben zaten ferry en ik te twijfelen over meerdere bestemmingen.
Elke spot op deze aarde heeft zijn charme's en dat maakt het niet makkelijker.
Cabarete/de dominicaanse republiek is al wat langer bekend, en daarmee is er ook wat meer informatie waardoor je je sneller kan focussen op het kiten en het land.
cabarete heeft golven, vlak water, wind, harde wind, downwind en cultuur, natuur en rum.
eenmaal aangekomen moeten we allebei wennen aan hoe alles gaat, en je realiseerd je dat Nederland op geen enkele manier valt te vergelijken met hoe de dingen hier gaan.... geweldig!
verder vind ik het concept van Ybo en Chantal prachtig!
Door de kleine opzet ga je automatisch met iedereen meer of minder om, en ken je heel snel iedereen bij Hooked, op een superrelaxede manier.
De tripjes zijn ook een onvergetelijk, je ervaart het land op een wijze die zorgt voor hele andere vakantiefoto's dan wie dan ook die naar de DR geweest is.
Je zit bij Encuentro weg van de herrie, maar met één van de state-of-the-art brommers (huren-huren-huren!!!!) zit je overal dichtbij en je ben je veruit het flexibelst van alles in het verkeer.
Een supermix van elementen voor elke surfer/ niet-surfer
aanraders:
- de grotten in cabarete (klinkt duf, is erg tof!)
- een van de trips met ybo of chantal (of meerdere, zoals wij)
- downwinders!!!!!
- eten in de dominicaanse restaurantjes!
ciao!
Daan en Ferry
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Review Jacco
Sunday morning 5.30 feels even for me terribly early and above that my taxi driver has an over natural interest in ITC. And let ITC just be the last thing I want to think about the next 2 weeks. Actually I don’t want to think about ANYTHING, and with a surftrip to the Caribbean this might be a possible mission.
My morning mood is not ready yet for all the activity at the airport and I decide first to take a coffee. Armed with a ‘Jurassic size’ cappuccino I try to arouse some holiday feeling. It doesn’t work. Worse than that, the local soccer team from ‘Swifterband’ is standing at my gate with bottles of beer and conversations that don’t go further than “Heeeey, Hoooo”. An inspecting look at my fellow passengers teaches me that on first sight there are no other surf-dudes or babes on this flight to the Dominican Republic. What have I started?
Luckily the phenomenon ‘Comfort Class’ from Arkefly also means a qualitative separation of passengers. The department ‘Swifterband’ is nicely stored in a for me not viewable part of the plane and I have three seats only for me available which with a little fantasy easily can be seen as a single bed. So time flies.
The Dominican customs ask every incoming tourist a fee of 10 US dollar. Nobody can tell me what this is really for. I figured it is some sort of refined parking money. After a kind of friendly welcome of the customs I step into a hall with a temperature of over 36 degrees Celsius. The combination with the humidity that is at least twice as high, brings my thoughts back to the ape house in the Zoo. Only there you didn’t have a beeping luggage thing. My backpack looked a little bit lost in between some pink samsonite suitcases, beauty cases and chequered bags. I took it quickly and walked to the exit. Which easily could have been the entrance since walking in and out from different people doesn’t really matter.
Before I left I had frequently e-mail contact with Chantal. She and Ybo were my oracle for all sorts of questions and my entrance to waves, surfing, flip-flops, sun, rest and everything you expect from a holiday. Ybo is picking me up and pointing a blond Dutch guy out of a group of coloured Dominicans on the airport of Puerto Plata seems to be the least challenging thing of this trip.
It is comfortable staying at Hooked. The apartment appears to be larger than I thought, serves all needs and is properly cleaned every two days. I definitely recommend the optional hammock; nice to escape in with a book when you are tired of the salt water. The atmosphere between the other guests is friendly and informal and has something that reminds me of the pilot of Big Brother. Not because the walls have ears and also not because the sad goodbye I had to say to the inhabitants of apartment 1 after a few days. No; it is above all the shared hobby that gives me the feeling of having a ‘Hells-Angels’ kind of connection; the all-exclusive choice for an active holiday. Surfing creates a connection. A fridge full of beer, a clear blue pool and a panic fear for cockroaches also, but that aside.
Surf's up !! ...The local surf school is only a few minutes walk, but with the scooter you are even faster. It is a friendly hangout, located under big mangrove trees that serve as a giant sunscreen. The amount of relaxation I experience here is best compared to a combination of Valium and Morphine. My lack of surf experiences makes that this relaxation is transformed in no time to an exceptional work out. The apparently friendly ocean with its sweet breakers is taking the living hell out of me! The fact that the 5 feet high Dominicanitos are riding the waves almost careless and apparently without any effort proves to me that surfing practically and anatomically should be possible. And when I measure my strengths again with the white swirling foam, I hum with full glory my favourite mantra: “Don’t get mad, get even”. And yes, practice does help, but it is a heavy delivery. But I do progress!
In order to prevent a session of acupuncture done by the Stonefish alias sea urchins, it is wise to wear surf boots. A rash vest works against sunburn and/or wax in the hair on your chest. The reef is flat and depending on the tide about 3 to 5 feet deeper than where you are floating. The height of the waves varies in September from at least 4 to over 12 feet high. Left and right handers. Rides of 30 seconds are definitely possible. The first light when the sun is rising offers the best surf and most peaceful pictures of this paradise island. After 11 am, the wind picks up and the spot turns into a cake without cream. Pretty good, but not perfect.
With good conditions you can easily find around 30 to 40 people in the line-up. Which is perfectly okay considering the available space. Respect your local surfers and the Dutch proverb ‘who treats well, is treated well’ totally works here. It is a friendly bunch of Dominicans and people who think they are Dominican because they live here that long already.
In summary the biggest danger of this trip is: It asks for more and longer!
Dutch version
Zondagochtend half 6 voelt zelfs voor mij ondenkbaar vroeg en tot overmaat van ramp heeft mijn taxichauffeur een bovennatuurlijke interesse in ICT. Laat ICT nou net het laatste zijn waar ik de komende veertien dagen aan wil denken. Eigenlijk wil ik de komende twee weken helemaal NERGENS aan denken, en met een surftrip naar het Caribische gebied in het verschiet lijkt me dat in theorie een haalbare missie.
Schiphol toont een bedrijvigheid waar mijn ochtendhumeur nog niet aan toe is en ik neem mijn toevlucht tot koffie. Gewapend met een ‘jurrasic size’ Cappuccino probeer ik geforceerd een vakantiegevoel op te wekken. Dat lukt niet. Tot overmaat van ramp staat het plaatselijke voetbalteam uit Swifterband bij mijn gate. geklingel van flesjes bier, conversaties die niet verder reiken dan 'Heeeeey Hooooooo" en een taxerende blik op de medepassagiers leert me dat er zo op het eerste gezicht geen andere surf-dudes dan wel babes mee zullen vliegen naar de Dominicaanse republiek. Waar ben ik aan begonnen?
Gelukkig heeft het fenomeen 'Comfort Class' van Arke Fly als bijkomend voordeel dat er direct bij binnenkomst een kwalitatieve passagiersscheiding plaatsvindt. De afdeling Swifterband wordt netjes opgeborgen in een voor mij niet zichtbaar deel van het vliegtuig en ik heb maar liefst drie stoelen tot mijn beschikking die met een beetje fantasie best door kunnen gaan voor eenpersoonsbed. En zo vliegt de
reis om.
De Dominicaanse douane vraagt aan elke binnenkomende toerist 10 US dollar. Niemand kan mij precies vertellen waarvoor dat nodig is. Ik houd me voor dat het een soort veredeld parkeergeld is. Na een quasi vriendelijke ontvangst door de douane waan ik mij in een hal met een temperatuur van ruim 36 graden. De combinatie met een luchtvochtigheidsgraad die minmaal twee keer zo hoog is voert me in herinnering onmiddellijk terug naar het apenhuis in Ouwehands Dierenpark. Alleen was daar geen piepende bagageband. Tussen diverse roze gekleurde samsonite koffers, roestvrijstalen beautycases en geruite weekendtassen oogt mijn back-pack een beetje verdwaald. Ik pluk 'em snel van de rollende band en loop richting uitgang, wat evengoed een ingang had kunnen zijn want het in- en uitlopen van allerlei personen schijnt hier niet echt uit te maken.
Voor mijn vertrek had ik al veelvuldig elektronisch contact gehad met Chantal. Zij en Ybo waren naast vraagbaak mijn toevlucht geworden tot waves, surfen, slippers, zon, rust en alles wat je van een vakantie verwacht. Het selecteren van een blonde Fries uit een groep getinte Dominicanen op de luchthaven van Puerto Plata blijkt de minst lastige uitdaging van deze trip.
Het is prettig vertoeven te Hooked. Het appartement blijkt ruimer dan ik dacht, is van alle basale gemakken voorzien en wordt om de dag netjes schoongemaakt. De optionele hangmat is een absolute aanrader, prettig om in weg te duiken met een boek wanneer je het zoute water zat bent. De sfeer tussen de Appartementisten onderling is gemoedelijk en vrijblijvend, en heeft iets dat doet denken aan de pilot van Big Brother. Dat ligt niet aan het feit dat de muren oren hebben en de privacy soms wat verder te zoeken is, evenmin aan het wat bedremmelde gevoel van leegte wanneer ik na een aantal dagen afscheid neem van de bewoners van huisje 1. Nee; het is bovenal de gedeelde hobby die maakt dat ik een Hells-Angels achtige verbintenis voel; de all-exclusive keuze voor een actieve vakantie. Surfen schept een band. Een ijskast vol bier, een azuurblauw zwembad, en een panische angst voor
kakkerlakken overigens ook, maar dat terzijde.
Surf's up !! ... De locale surfschool ligt op een steenworp afstand van Hooked maar met de scooter ben je sneller. Het is een gemoedelijke hangout, gelegen onder grote mangrovebomen die dienst doen als een soort gigantische zonwering. De combinatie van Valium en Morfine komt in mijn beleving het dichts bij de mate van ontspanning die ik hier ervaar. Mijn beperkte surfervaring zorgt er echter voor dat deze ontspanning razendsnel wordt omgezet in uitzonderlijke vormen van inspanning. De ogenschijnlijk vriendelijk ogende oceaan met haar lieflijke branding is taking the living hell out of me. Het feit dat 150 cm hoge Dominicaantjes moeiteloos en quasi nonchalant de golven berijden geeft aan dat surfen praktisch en anatomisch gezien mogelijk moet zijn. Wanneer ik mijn krachten weer eens meet met het witkolkende
schuim neurie ik vol goede moed mijn favoriete mantra: "Don’t get mad,
get even". En ja, oefening baart daadwerkelijk kunst, maar het is wel een zware bevalling. Ik boek gestaag progressie.
Om een geperforeerd voetbed en een sessie acupunctuur van de Stonefish alias zee-egel tegen te gaan is het zinnig om surfschoentjes te dragen. Een rash is prettig tegen zonnebrand en/of wax in je borsthaar. Het reef is flat en afhankelijk van het tij, 1 tot 2 meter dieper dan waar jij dobbert. De golfhoogte varieerde in september van minimaal 1 tot ruim 3,5 meter. Left en right handers. Ritjes van 30 seconden zijn zeker haalbaar. Het eerste licht biedt de beste surf, en tevens de meest serene aanblik van dit paradijselijke stukje eiland. Na 11 uur AM gaat het waaien en verandert de spot in taart zonder slagroom, wel lekker maar net niet perfect. Bij goede condities zijn er circa 30 tot 40 personen te vinden in de line-up, hetgeen prima te doen is in verhouding met de beschikbare ruimte. Respect your local surfers en het spreekwoord,'wie goed doet goed ontmoet' gaat helemaal op. Het blijft een kliek van Dominicanen en mensen die denken dat ze Dominicaan zijn omdat ze er al zo lang wonen.
Al met is misschien dat het grootste gevaar van deze trip: het smaakt naar
langer en naar meer.
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Review Andy, Martin and Chris
Cabarete is the most amazing place, it has a great atmosphere and staying at hooked was a great way to enjoy it! Being able to wake up and walk down to the beach from the front door and surf every morning is the best, especially when its an uncrowded surf break with really cool locals. The weather was awesome and the trade winds blew meaning the kitesurfing was awesome in the afternoons and the hooked locker made it so easy to rock up and kite as soon as the wind blows.
The apartment was really cool and the apartment block itself looks beautiful in the cabarete sun the surroundings are really peaceful. I had some of the best parties of my life within in my time staying at hooked, the bars are right on the beach and the drink is cheap but the nights sat outside the apartment doors watching the sunset in the surrounding fields were equally satisfying. Hooked gave us an awesome experience and staying with Chantal and Ybo is like staying with family they are so friendly!!
Andy, Martin, Chris UK (stayed at hooked dec 2005)
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Surfholiday Theo & Gré
Wavesurfing has always been a dream of me and this year we were under the lucky circumstances to make it possible to go to the DR to learn it. I became a member of the Dutch surfforum www.surfholland.nl. One of the tips I received came from Chantal and Ybo from Hooked Cabarete in the Dominican Republic. After e-mailing back and forward, this seemed like the right place for us. Including wavesurf lessons, accommodation with bread in the morning, board rental and a scooter. My girlfriend does not (yet) surf, but the surroundings of the D.R. have so much to offer that you don’t have to be bored. Also we are both sea & beach people, so it should be fine.
We fly for the first time with Arkefly, which was perfect. After landing at the airport in Puerto Plata, which has for my feeling the size of a post stamp, buying the visa (bring US$ 10 for the visa), and paying US$ 1 for a “faster suitcase check”, Ybo was waiting for us at the airport. Great because after a long flight and many impressions, we didn’t really feel like negotiating about transfer and destination. We arranged it in front with Hooked. Better because you are insured of transfer to and front the airport and a nice chat on the way. While talking we drove a bit stunned through the busy Sosua; everything that has wheels drives, with accompanying smoke plumes, and all of them honk enthusiastically. For our standards a bit messy, but we forgot that the D.R. is a 3th world country.
The apartments of Hooked are right near the beach and reef of El Encuentro, where they also teach how to surf. The location is a living area with a few houses and as far as I know, they can’t build hotels there. The area is about 4 km from the centre of Cabarete and a fantastic place, a peaceful oasis. Drinking coco from the palm trees in the garden (Carlos, the gardener, can make the coconuts ready; drink them also with Dominican rum!), quiet and relaxed and pleasant other wave- and kitesurfers in the other apartments. Ybo and Chantal are always ready to help, give advice about where to eat or what to see, or for a new watertank.
The apartments are fresh, cool, large and clean. There is hot and cold water and through the door and screens there is almost always a refreshing breeze. In front of our apartment there was a pool and large yard with some laying chairs. Really nice to lay there in the evening musing, watching the stars, listing to the crickets and talking on about the day. Especially after a few hours of surfing, you only want to chill.
With the scooter it is easy to go to the centre of Cabarete for shopping or groceries. You can also take a cap wit more people for a small price. Getting money from the cash machine is possible in Cabarete.
The nature is like a picture. We made long walks from the surfbeach to many other beaches where you hardly see anybody. Great beaches, reefs, rocks, contrasting colours of the ocean and overgrowings. Pure picture postcards!
I booked the surf lessons with Ybo and Chantal. Antonio is my surf teacher; perfect and also relaxed lessons. You are guided well and they keep an eye on you after. There is no hurry and if you take your time and persist, you will get there for sure and be confronted with the surf atmosphere, forces of nature and almost meditative moments if you’re floating in the line up with the other surfers at 7.30 in the morning. All part of surfing and even more beautiful than I thought. Finally you take your wave; the feeling is hard to describe when you fasten and stand on your board on that wave and ride…..
Enjoy the feeling afterwards, deep breading at the beach, the wind blowing through your hair. Laughing and shuffling through the sand. Talking on with Antonio about the experiences of that day.
It is best to take your own surf shoes. There are a few sea urges here and there. Tweezers (pincet) and needle are also advisable if you have bad luck. A lycra/rash guard and waterproof sunscreen factor 30 where a must for me. Burning in the sun on the water goes really fast. And bring a bottle of water to the beach. We did not use Norit or Imodium or other medicines. Maybe it is good to bring some vasiline if you have painful places on your belly or bones from the board.
The last day I caught some nice waves in the morning; another beautiful day. I had to see goodbye to all the surf dudes and from Antonio I got his personal key for assembling fins. Another look at the ocean (gulp) and back to the apartment to pack. Than saying goodbye to all the peeps and up to the airport. While sitting in the plane, I could see at the end of the airstrip the ocean…
This trip and experience changed our lives in many ways. The homesick feeling to the holiday is more strong than the happy feeling to be home. For sure I continue surfing. Probably we will come back to the D.R. and I will try to stay at Hooked again.
Theo
Review Lies, Yvette and Leontine
We were very curious at how it would be in the Dominican Republic. We counted the days already two months ahead and finally the day was there.
We would like to let you know that we had a very good time and that the apartments are fine: large, clean and every day fresh bread. Spoiling.
Especially the fond of laughing and friendly Dominicans stole our hearts: no rush, relax and most of all a sense of humour!!!!!!!
Also nice is that Cabarete still has beaches where it is really quiet and you can enjoy the beautiful nature. Getting up early and walking to the beach to see the sun come up was really great; a wonderful experience. On the way we were welcomed by a couple of loose walking horses with a young foal.
In the centre of Cabarete are many stores and affordable restaurants and going out was really nice and pleasant with the rustle of the ocean at the background.
We tried out several ways to transport ourselves; taxi, little bus, scooter and motorcycle. Most of all it was a real experience to sit with more than 20 people in one small bus! Bargaining became easy for us!
Because we are homesick to this beautiful place, we are already planning our next holiday to Hooked Cabarete. The first time we most of all relaxed, walked, went surfing and swimming. Next time we want to see more of the surrounding. Moreover we want to stay longer; 9 days is way too short.
Nerderlandse versie (Dutch version):
We waren erg benieuwd hoe het in de Dominicaanse Republiek zou zijn. We telden de dagen al twee maanden vantevoren af en eindelijk was het dan zover.
We willen graag laten weten dat we het erg naar onze zin hadden en dat de appartementen prima zijn: ruim, schoon en elke ochtend verse broodjes. Verwennerij.
Vooral de goedlachse en vriendelijke Dominicanen hebben onze harten gestolen: geen haast, relax en vooral gevoel voor humor!!!!!!!!!!!!
Ook prettig is dat er in Cabarete nog stranden zijn, waar het echt rustig is en waar je kunt genieten van de prachtige natuur.
Vroeg opstaan en op het strand gaan kijken naar de zon die opkomt, was echt te gek, een geweldige ervaring. Onderweg werden we "begroet" door een kudde loslopende paarden met een jong veulen.
In het centrum zijn veel winkels en betaalbare restaurants en uitgaan was ook gezellig en sfeervol met het ruisen van de zee op de achtergrond.
We hebben diverse "transporten" geprobeerd: taxi, busje, scooter en brommer. Vooral met meer dan twintig mensen in een busje is een hele aparte belevenis!
Het afdingen ging ons steeds beter af!
Omdat we heimwee hebben naar deze fijne omgeving, zijn we alweer een volgende vakantie naar Hooked Cabarete aan het plannen.
De eerste keer hebben we vooral geluierd, gewandeld, gesurft en gezwommen, de volgende keer gaan we wat meer in de omgeving bekijken.
Bovendien willen we dan langer blijven, negen dagen is veel tekort.
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Review Sandra & Geert-Jan
We spend 12 days in the Dominican Republic last winter and those 12 days were all good! Our main goal was (wave)surfing and relaxing. We certainly reached that goal, but much more: we discovered what a great country the DR is. Dominicans are very friendly, open people with a great sense of humour. The landscape varies from lush green mountains where a.o. tobacco, bananas and coffee are grown to paradise beaches with white sands and palm trees. But, I say all this without wanting to sound like your guidebook, but with a strong advice: step out of your all-inclusive and stay in a place like Hooked Cabarete.
You will have all the comfort ánd the breakfast, but so much more opportunity to explore and discover all the possibilities the DR offers. Set in the middle of a green environment with lots of space, Hooked Cabarete is an excellent base to set out to your journeys and activities, like surfing, kitesurfing or just walking and sunbathing.
Is everything paradise? Uh, yep! Well, as a wavesurfer you have to get up early to catch some waves without the wind spoiling all the fun. As any other tourist staying there you have to get up early too, because the bread will still be warm.. But, walking with your board, short and slippers along the dirtroad, your head still sleepy, sun rising, passing some wild horses standing under the palmtrees, greeting the friendly locals to check the waves a few minutes later: that’s pure happines!!
Meet Bill and Bob, your devoted guards who will bark to the uninvited and eat your spiders. Meet their keepers, Chantal and Ybo, who will help and tell you everything you need to know or show you nice places. Meet Lucy and Carlos who will keep your rooms and the garden in clean shape.
I guess it’s clear: we had a really good time here. We also rented a car, spend a few days in Samana and drove around parts of the island, wich I can recommend stronly! We will definetely be back and stay at Hooked again. There’s a relaxed atmosphere, room for your equipment, it’s clean and friendly. You can reach lively Cabarete easily every day for dinner, drinks or whatever, but you return to the nice and quiet Encuentro..
Sandra Gossink en Geert-Jan Middelkoop, Februari 2006.
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Review Randy Hereman & Bas Koole
A day to day review in Dutch: www.xtrmteam.nl/index.php
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Review Elze and Jeroen
We decided to spend our summer holiday (July/August 2005) at Hooked Cabarete and it turned out to be an excellent choice! The very friendly and helpful owners, Ybo and Chantal, are glad to show you around Cabarete. The transfer-service (transport from and to the airport) offered by Hooked, makes your trip so much more comfortable; no need to make a fuss about finding transport, but door-to-door service, which makes is very suitable for those carrying lots of kiting equipment!
Our clean and roomy apartment at Encuentro, was situated on a beautiful and quiet location, on walking distance from Encuentro Beach, which is not only great for wavesurfing, but also terrific for bathing and/or a days stroll.
A great start of every day was with the daily fresh bread (we can definitely recommend the bread-service from Hooked) and real Dominican coffee at the pool of the accommodation. Perfect to start your day ‘the Dominican way’ and wake up from the long Cabarete-night….
The kitecentre was located at only a 5 minute drive by scooter, which can also be rented at Hooked. The centre provided in all our needs; great shakes and sandwiches, super lessons kitesurfing and terrific material and storage! Although the kitebeach can be (depending on the weather conditions) sometimes somewhat crowded, it is always a great place to hang out, and practice or learn kitesurfing, even for beginners. Cabarete town, which is on about a 10 minute drive from the apartments at Encuentro, has also enough to offer; great meals and drinks for a good price, nice bars (especially those at the beachfront) and plenty of shops to meet your other needs (of course, always try to negotiate for a bargain!). Also make sure to visit the ‘Bon’ ice salon, Lounge bar ‘Lax’ and the very low budget ‘Blue Bar’!
Concluding; Cabarete has more than enough to offer, in particular for those who like, surfing, wavesurfing or kitesurfing; you will definitely enjoy your stay here!
For those who still want to see more of the beautiful Dominicans; you can easily rent a car up town and drive around yourself. Although Santiago and the waterfalls of Jarabacoa are all one daytrip away, a visit to the eastern shores (Las Terrenas, Playa Grande and the peninsula Samana) are probably more worth your while.
All together; our 2 and a half week stay in Cabarete was one to remember; also thanks to all the great people we’ve met. So; thanks, you guys! Hope to see you all again!
Kind regards,
Jeroen & Elze, The Netherlands
PS A final note; unfortunately the gap between the rich and the poor on the Dominicans is still often very present, so, if you do not want to attract unwanted attention to yourself, make sure not to wear any excessive ‘blingbling’ and/or wave around your money/camera’s a lot…
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Review fam. Bouckaert: Bruno, Essi, Saimi & Telma
Chantal and Ybo, many thanks for a great stay at the Hooked Cabarete Appartements. The relaxing environment out of the busy Cabarete center was great for a Christmas holiday (2005-2006). The beautiful beach of Encuentro at a 5 minutes walk got me back into surfing on those windless days. For surfers, Hooked must surely be the best place to stay around cabarete, as one can have 2 or even 3 sessions a day without having to hop on a motorcycle or minibus all the time. For kiteboarding, I did prefer to go to Kitebeach after my encounter with the reef at Encuentro on my first kiting day. But also that's just five minutes away by motoconcho and you can leave your gear there.
The appartements are basic, but very convenient and fully in line with the carribean style inside-outside living. The children (1 and 3) also loved the vacation, but Saimi (3) found the water in the swimming pool at little cold.
Telma (1) couldn't be kept away from it though. With small children, an appartement is so much more convenient than a hotel room, but they are often hard to find from tour operators. Glad you guys filled the gap for Cabarete.
When we come again to Cabarete, we'll sure stay at Hooked. Wish you all the best with your business and don't forget to go kiting and enjoy Cabarete yourselves!
Tip1: for surfboard rental, I would recommend Surf's Up. I got a better price and much better service than at Take Off for a few days.
Tip2: for families with small children: Take a backpack-style babycarrier and a fully foldable stroller (paraplu-buggy). They are easier to get on the minibuses which get you to Cabarete and Sosua (it was about 1 euro for four persons). Take a cheap stroller which you can drag through the sand without a guilty conscience.
Tip3: tickets without hotel from Brussels to Puerto Plata can also be found on www.jetairfly.com
Groetjes!
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Review Bram
Hooked Cabarete 02/11- 10/11/’05
It was Thursday 27/10 and since a while I was in de mood for a sunny surftrip but my money let me not a lot of space so I went looking for a cheap last minute solution and BINGO…!! 330 Euro back and forth from Brussels for one week sun , zee palm threes and great waves… to La Republica Dominicana…, next step was searching for the right place to stay near the surf spot, and also this was BINGO Hooked Cabarete…. Apartment with pool in the yard, fresh bread every morning, and transportation from and to the airport. It is situated a few min. walking from the best waves of the island (Encuentro) and with a taxi it’s like 5 min. to Cabarete-City. So this choice was really easy…
6 days later I was on the plane with destination Hooked Cabarete, Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic.
Cabarete:
Is a nice small village where the people are really friendly and where you can find everything to make you stay ideal, little stores, nice restaurants, relax bars and enough possibilities to have a really fun evening/night… The people are all very relaxed and the most of theme speak or understand English. The only hassle you have is choosing what you want to drink on the beach, a cold beer or a Cuba libre… and this with some relaxing music on the background. One of these places was called LAX…after midnight everybody moves to one of the places where you can dance on the beach, Party…
Hooked:
The people from Hooked are really helpful and friendly with good advice for you stay, such as restaurants, places to go and many more…
The apartments are as good as new, all with a shower, kitchen, bed and couch. The pool in the back is great after a surf-session it’s great to chill over there. Every apartment has its own terrace so the evenings with the neighbors can be a lot of fun…
They have also some rooms at kitebeach, that’s the place to be for kite-surfing, they invited me to come and see this, it was a really great experience, they have learned me how to handle the kite and after 1 hour I felt me already confident with the kite in the air so It was a pitty that I had not enough time otherwise I had took some kite lessons, this will be for a next time…
Encuentro:
The surf spot of the Island where most of the good swell is picked up. It’s a reef break but it is flat reef so no sharp one, which makes it less dangerous en gives you never the less really good waves. There is also a sandbar for those who find reef not a pleasant thought. The best period of the day is before noon, so I always went from 8 AM in the morning till I was tired or the waves became sloppy. From noon of the wind is becoming stronger and the waves become shoppy and less clean. So this is Kite or Windsurf time… Once a year there is a really big contest at this spot but I was just a week too early for this…
The locals are very nice and friendly, they are very open and it’s great to hang out there.
Antonio runs a surfshop and school Take Off over there, where you van rent all kind of boards from short till long in all kind of sizes, he also gives you some advice and is so relax.
There is also a photographer on the beach, which takes really nice surfing pics from you and if you are interested you can buy this…really fun.
Hooked Cabarete = Nice, Fun, Relax, Surf, Kite, Exotic….nearly paradise for me
Hasta Luego Chantal en Ibo,
Bram
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Review Arjen, Diana en Jaap
After a long and very boring flight, we finally arrived in our apartment. We were welcomed by Chantal, Ybo and 2 super enthousiastic puppies, with cold drinks and some food. The apartments are nice and clean and you can sit nicely in the garden (sun or shade) and cool of in the pool.
Early in the morning we always went surfing and when we came back, there always was the bag with fresh bread on the table; very nice!
The surfbeach is really close and has several surfschools with rental possibilities. It is advisable to compare the prices the first day. They want to teach or rent, so it can save you money….We had good experiences with 3, 2, 1, Take Off (the same school as Hooked works together with). The school makes a lot of efford and also has the largest stock of boards. Another advantage is that they own a small bar for a drink or snack. And you can leave your things safely there.
Cabarete is small, but pleasant on the beach. You can easily get there by taxi or an overfull bus. Stand at the side of the road and within 10 minutes you got a lift.
The food is good and safe, so we didn’t need the norrit this holiday, thank god.
If you are Dutch and book your holiday at Hooked Cabarete, don’t forget to bring a pack of hageslag!
Ybo and Chantal, good luck with your apartments and surfschool. We had a good time.
In Dutch:
Na een lange en zeer saaie vliegreis, eindelijk aangekomen in het appartement. Je wordt hartelijk ontvangen door Chantal, Ibo en twee super enthoussiaste pups, met een koude versnapering. De appartementen zien er goed en schoon uit en je kunt er lekker in de tuin zitten ( zon of schaduw ) of even afkoelen in het zwembad.
's Ochtends vroeg gingen we altijd surfen en als we dan terugkwamen, stond er altijd het vertrouwde zakje met vers brood op tafel, helemaal prima!
Het surfstrand is echt vlakbij en heeft verschillende surfschooltjes met verhuurmogelijkheden. Aanrader: vergelijk ze de eerste dag met elkaar. Ze willen je graag hebben, dus dat kan geld schelen.....Wij hadden goede ervaringen met 3,2,1,take off. Deze school doet echt z'n best en heeft ook de grootste voorraad boards. Bijkomend voordeel is dat ze ook beschikken over een barretje voor je natje en droogje. Je kunt er ook je spullen veilig opbergen.
Cabarete is klein, maar op het strand is het wel gezellig. Je kunt er makkelijk komen met de taxi of een overvolle bus. Ga aan de kant van de weg staan en binnen 10 minuten heb je een lift.
Het eten is er goed en veilig, norrit was deze vakantie niet nodig, godzijdank.
Als je als Nederlander je vakantie boekt bij hooked-cabarete, neem dan wel een pak hagelslag mee!!!!
Chantal en Ibo veel succes met jullie appartementen en surfschool, wij hebben het in ieder geval naar ons zin gehad.
