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
(17-31 March 2008)
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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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Nov 2007
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!
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 there 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. Were Hooked...
Willem en Liesbeth
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Review Marino and Marije, August 2006
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, summer 2006
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, September 2006
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 (vacation December 2005)
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, summer 2006
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
For the Dutch version of this review, klik below:
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Reisverslag Sebastiaan www.kiteshots.nl
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Review Lies, Yvette and Leontine (vacation March 2006)
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 & Bas, June 2006
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!
Bruno, Essi, Saimi & Telma
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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 (Nov. 2005)
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.