Do I need to have any previous knowledge to learn to surf or kite with Ali's Surf Camp?  Is there an age limit?

• No, you do not need any experience at all to surf or kite with us.  No, there is not an age limit, but you must be at least six years old to take a class.

How long does it take to learn to surf?

• You probably will be able to get up on the board on your first day.  You can start with the 3 days surf lesson package, see how it goes, and then decide whether you want to add more lessons or just rent equipment and practice on your own.  To get really good, many say it takes a lifetime...

What should I bring for surfing?  Do I need a wetsuit?

• You should bring your bathing suit and a good sunscreen. No wetsuit is needed, as the water is always very warm.  We'll provide you with a rash guard and surf shoes.  Don't forget your beach towel!

How I can I make a reservation with Ali's Surf Camp?

• Go to our Contact Us page and send us a message if you have any further questions.  We will always be able to help you with your reservation.

How should I pay?  Do you accept credit cards?

• No, we don’t accept credit cards. You must pay in cash upon the arrival (in $ US or $RD-pesos).  You can bring pesos, exchange dollars or any other currency in town at a bank, or you can withdraw pesos from any ATM in Cabarete.

What if I realize that I need to cancel my reservation?

• If you cancel 2 weeks before your arrival date, there will be no cancelation fee.  If you cancel less than 2 weeks in advance, you will be charged 50% of the total amount.

Is the surf camp a comfortable place for people who are traveling alone?

• Yes.  We are a perfect place for single travelers, as most of our clients are traveling alone.  You will get to the other guests as soon as you arrive!

When is the wave season?

• We surf throughout the entire year so come any time to experience our endless summer...

Can I learn surfing and kitesurfing during my vacation?

• Yes.  You can surf in the morning and when the wind picks up in the afternoon, you can go kiting.  Many people do this.

What currencies can I use in Cabarete?

• The currency in Cabarete is the Dominican Peso, but the US $ is widely accepted. There are several stands, banks and ATM’s in Cabarete that will exchange your country’s currency into pesos.  Credit cards are accepted at some places, but there is sometimes an additional surcharge.  We do not recommend that you exchange money at any airport, is the exchange rates are usually not as good as they are in Cabarete.

Do I need to rent a car or a scooter to get around?

• No, it is not necessary to rent a car or a scooter to get around Cabarete, as it is a small town.  However, if you want to drive further along the coast there are several car and scooter rental businesses in the town.
• Approximate prices are as follows:
Car rental costs around US$ 35 to US$ 55 per day.
Scooter rental costs around US$ 20 per day.

What about public transportation?  Is it safe?  How much does it cost?

• Yes, the public transportation is safe.  One of the most typical mode of transportation in Cabarete (besides walking) is the “moto-concho”.  These are motorcycles with drivers who will take you to almost anywhere you want to go.  They are one of the cheapest and easiest ways to get around Cabarete and the surrounding areas.  Depending on your destination, they cost approximately 30 – 50 Pesos per ride, per person.
• Another inexpensive form of transportation are the local buses called “Gua Gua”s. The Gua Guas are  small vans/buses that are not on any formal schedule. They stop to pick up people who wave at them from the side of the road. When you want to get off you just bang on the side of the van.  Depending on where you’re going they cost approximately 20 – 50 Pesos per ride, per person.

Is there anywhere to do my laundry?

• Yes, if you need any clothes washed during your stay you can drop off your laundry at the “Family” cleaners at the entrance of our neighborhood.  It's cheap and is only a 5 minute walk from Cabarete Surf Camp. The service is prompt and efficient and takes between one and two days.

What about shopping for groceries during my vacation?

•Janet's Supermarket, the largest supermarket in town is just a 5 minute walk from Cabarete Surf Camp. Here you can pick up pretty much everything you’ll need during your vacation – including food, water, alcohol and other sundries.

Is there a hospital nearby?

• Yes, there is a medical center in Cabarete that’s open 24/7. There is also a hospital in Sosua (10 minutes from Cabarete) that has excellent doctors on staff from Europe and the United States.  While this is comforting to know, hopefully a visit to the hospital will not be a necessary during your vacation!

What’s the nightlife like in Cabarete?

• Most restaurants and nightspots on Cabarete Beach serve food until about 10:00 p.m., and then after that the party starts! Places like Voy-Voy, Onno’s, Lax, and Ojo are open until 3:00 a.m. and sometimes even later on special occasions.

Can I drink the tap water?

• No, we recommend that you drink bottled water (available everywhere) instead of the tap water, but tap water is fine for brushing your teeth.

Are shampoo, soap, bed linens, bath towels and beach towels provided with the room?

• Shampoo, soap and beach towels are not provided. You will need to either bring these with or buy them in Cabarete when you arrive.
• Bed linens and bath towels are provided.  Please bring your own beach towels.

Do I need to get special shots/injections before visiting the Dominican Republic?

• No.  As long as you have had your regular immunizations you’ll be fine.

What documents do I need for entry into the Dominican Republic?

• All you will need is a valid passport.  When you arrive at the Dominican airport you must purchase a tourist card for US $10.  Upon leaving, you must pay a departure tax of $20.

Are there a lot of mosquitoes around because you on the lagoon?

•  Sometimes there are mosquitoes after 5:00 pm.  We recommend that you use mosquito repellent and keep the door to your room closed.  All of our windows have screens and in the cottages and bungalows there are mosquito nets for the beds.  

How do I get the surf camp? What airline should I fly with? What about a pick up from the airport (Taxis & Buses)?

• PUERTO PLATA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT (POP)

 -POP is the closest airport to Cabarete.  It is approximately a 30 minute drive from this airport to Cabarete.

-DIRECT FLLIGHTS:

From Miami: American Airline

From NYC: Jetblue GOOD DEALS , Delta

From Canada: Air Transat, Skyservice, Sunwing, Air Canada, Canjet

From the UK: Charter flights and Thomas Cook

From Belgium: Jetairfly THE BEST PRICE

From Holland: Arkefly

From Austria and Germany: Air Berlin,  Condor 

From Switzerland: Edelweiss

-TAXI: 

We can provide airport pick-up for US $35 (one way).  Notify us when you make your reservation.  Our taxi service is safe and reliable, as our driver has been working for us for over ten years.

-BUS:

There are NO public buses available directly at the airport.  The only buses are on the main street which is a 20 minute walk from the airport.  Once on that busy, you must switch to a second bus in Sosua and  walk from the main street to the surf camp. 

• SANTIAGO CIBAO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT (STI)

-STI is approximately a 1.5 hour drive from Cabarete.  You have the option of taking a taxi, our Cabarete Surf Camp taxi, or a public bus from the airport to the Surf Camp.

-DIRECT FLIGHTS

-TAXI: 

You may take a taxi from the airport to Cabarete Surf Camp.  The trip is 1.5 hours and it will bring you directly to the surf camp.  We highly suggest using our Cabarete Surf Camp private taxi, as it is the same price as a regular taxi and we guarantee reliability and safety.   Our driver has been working for us for over ten years and speaks English.   US $80 (one way).  If you'd like this service, please notify us when you make your reservation. 

-BUS:

 There are two bus companies that go from Santiago to the north coast.  See details below.

                METRO (www.metroserviciosturisticos.com)

                CARIBE TOUR (www.caribetours.com.do).

                Take either bus from Santiago to Sosua, the town next to Cabarete.  This takes about 2.5 hours.  From Sosua, take a taxi to Cabarete for US $15 or a local bus (called a “Gua Gua”) for about US $1.  Tell the driver of the taxi or local bus that you are going to “Pro Cab” in Cabarete (Pro Cab is the name of the gated neighborhood where we are located).  If they do not speak English, say “Voy a Pro Cab en Cabarete”.  Get off at the entrance of Pro Cab.  Walk through the gate and down the short road until it ends.  At the end, take a right.  Walk about 100 meters until you come to the first street on your right.  Take that right.  At the end of this short road you will see the colorful entrance of Cabarete Surf Camp (Ali’s Surf Camp).

• SANTO DOMINGO – LAS AMÉRICAS INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT (SDQ)

-SDQ is approximately a 3.5 hour drive from Cabarete.  You have the option of taking private transportation or taking a bus from one of the bus stations in Santo Domingo to Cabarete Surf Camp.

-DIRECT FLIGHTS

-TAXI: 

 We can provide airport pick-up for US $180 (one way).  Notify us when you make your reservation.  Our taxi service is safe and reliable, as our driver has been working for us for over ten years and speaks English.  If you'd like this service, please notify us when you make your reservation.

-BUS:

You will need to take a taxi from the airport to one of the Santo Domingo bus stations -$30 US.  There are two bus companies that travel from Santo Domingo to the north coast.

                                    METRO (www.metroserviciosturisticos.com)

            Metro buses depart at 7:00 am, 11:00 am and 4:00 pm each day. It takes approximately 4 hours.  The cost is US $10 per person (one way).  Please double check times and rates on the website, as this information is subject to change.

                                    CARIBE TOURS (www.caribetours.com.do).

            Caribe tour buses depart every hour from 6:00am until 7:00pm each day. It takes approximately 5 hours.  The cost is US $10 per person (one way).  Please double check times and rates on the website, as this information is subject to change.

    Take either bus from Santo Domingo to Sosua, the town next to Cabarete.  This takes about 2.5 hours.  From Sosua, take a taxi to Cabarete for US $15 or a local bus (called a “Gua Gua”) for about US $1.  Tell the driver of the taxi or local bus that you are going to Pro Cab in Cabarete (Pro Cab is the name of the gated neighborhood where we are located).  If they do not speak English, say “Voy a Pro Cab en Cabarete”.  Get off at the entrance of Pro Cab.  Walk through the gate and down the short road until it ends.  At the end, take a right.  Walk about 100m until you come to the first street on your right.  Take that right.  At the end of this short road you will see the colorful entrance of Cabarete Surf Camp (Ali’s Surf Camp).

• PUNTA CANA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT (PUJ)

PUJ is approximately an 8 hour drive from Cabarete.  Because it is very far from Cabarete, we do not recommend that our guests fly into Punta Cana.

-TAXI:

We can provide airport pick-up.  Notify us when you make your reservation.  US $400 (one way).

-BUS:

You can take Bavaro Express from the airport or from Bavaro to Santo Domingo, or a bus from Higuey to Santo Domingo.  If you'd like more details about this, please ask us when you make your reservation.  To learn how to get from Santo Domingo to Cabarete, please read the Santo Domingo section, above.  In total the bus trip will be approximately 10-12 hours.

• ALL AIRPORTS – RENTING A CAR:

You may rent a car an any of the airports either from a rent-a-car office or online.

• HOW TO GET TO THE SURF CAMP FROM WITHIN THE DOMINICAN   REPUBLIC

If you are traveling to Cabarete Surf Camp from another part of the island by car or public transportation, tell the driver of the taxi or local bus that you are going to “Pro Cab” in Cabarete (“Pro-Cab” is the name of our gated neighborhood).  If they do not speak English, say “Voy a Pro Cab en Cabarete”.  Get off at the entrance of Pro Cab.  Walk through the gate and down the short road until it ends.  At the end, take a right.  Walk about 100 meters until you come to the first street on your right.  Take that right.  At the end of this short road you will see the colorful entrance of Cabarete Surf Camp (Ali’s Surf Camp)

  If you have any other questions please don't hesitate to contact us

Ali's surf camp is the place to be!
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