Recon mission to Cabaret Dominican Republic, Kite Beach

[Drvermin]

I've been thinking of taking the family to the Dominican Republic and naturally we would try to stay on Kite Beach. I even found a condo owner in Wyoming, MN that owns a unit in a gated community right smack in the middle of kite beach. He says the place is fantastic although he is not a kiter. My wife is not so sure about going to the DR and I worry about my kids getting sick on the water or food. My wife has also heard bad things about the humidity and such.

So it has me thinking (on this yet another cold miserable day) would a group of people be interested in going on a recon mission next winter to the DR. Maybe a group of us could go and check it out and actually find out what it is like?

Has anyone been there recently and can comment on what it is like.

As I sit here with the temps just above zero I check the DR Kite Beach web cam and I see warm waters and 20+ kites in the air and my heart breaks just a little:

http://www.cabaretekitebeachwebcam.com/

[SteveJ]

We have had 3-4 fantastic windsurfing trips to Cabarete and one as a family with our young kids before they started sailing. We have not been back in a while since Bonaire has much more friendly waters for young windsurfing kids. I would love to get back soon and play in the waves again. Attached a few pics from 2005 to let your wife know you are not crazy about taking kids to Cabarete and ours survived without any problems or sickness. Back when we went it was the tourist who stayed in the all-inclusive hotels in Puerto Plata that seemed to get sick and have never heard of that being a problem in Cabarete. No need for a recon trip, just go!!
Only had a few digital pics from 2005 to help get you interested. Not sure if it has changed but all the safety talk I hear about locally did not exist at all at Kite beach in Cabarete in 2005. Kites and lines were all over the place and riders with great skill would ride the shore break all the way up the sand beach between beach walkers and head back out. Also lots of jumping within a few feet of the beach and swimmers. I would also check on the wind. Some have said that it is not as predictable as it once was. We lucked out and had good wind on all our trips. Also many other things to do if there is a no wind day. Have Fun!!
Steve

[peterrib]

I had a great time at Kite Beach a couple years ago. Wind every day @ 1:00. I had a short drive to the beach
but found it to be safe. No ill effects from food or water. Would go back. Met a couple with a condo to rent
right on the beach for next time.
Peter

[Drvermin]

"We have not been back in a while since Bonaire has much more friendly waters for young windsurfing kids."

Tell me more about Bonaire.

[SteveJ]

Too much to tell here. There is kiting in Bonaire but it is much more of a flat water windsurfing, scuba diving, snorkeling type of destination. If you are a kiter I think there are much better places to go for kiting.

[speedsailor93]

I took my first kite lessons at Kite Beach in 07 with Dare to Fly. Went there on a Vela windsurfing trip but winds were poor all week however saw the kiters doing OK and made the switch. Accomodations & food at the beach resturants were great & cheap. Everybody around Cabarette was very friendly and seemed to be a mix of beachgoing families & water sporters. Did get sick once which I think was food related. Beach and water close to shore were pretty crowded and would not recommend for learning apart from basics as it was so busy whenever the wind did come up a bit....never did see the rescue boat they advertised! Weather in Spring was incredible but talking with people winds seem pretty unpredictable.

Probably improved and more developed now but if I go again would definitely take a big kite to cover light days.