Surfers & Kitesurfers Tropical Spot

This was my 3rd time to Cabarete. Previously I used to stay with kitesurfing buddies at the Tangerine All-inclusive, but this time I went with my girl-friend who wanted something nicer. So we treated ourselves with Laurel's 2-bedroom condo which was the perfect accommodation, at a reasonable price, specially off-season. It's on the first floor of a 6-units building (2x3), with a patio leading to the charming common swimming pool shared with 3 other similar buildings. The beach is a short walk away with no road to cross. The whole complex is called Ocean Dream and it's really beautiful, safe and well maintained. Residents are a mix of local people leaving there, and vacationers like us. We came at the beginning of the low season (September) so we could enjoy a fairly quiet Cabarete, no neighbors above us, we had the pool for ourselves very often.
The condo is very comfortable. The tube tv-set is a bit small and outdated for 2013 westerner standards, but we're not there to watch tv anyway and everything else is great. I got to meet Laurel in person at the end. She lives in this condo when she is not traveling, so this is a fully functional home. The laundry is in the apartment, very convenient and modern. The kitchen is fully equipped. Each bedrooms has its own bathroom, and the place can host up to 5 people easily.
Staff : Laurel has a full staff lined up to run the operation : property managers, cleaning person twice a week, taxi for a no-brainer airport pickup/return, gardeners and security guards taking care of the complex, and of course for kitesurfers, her company LEK is right there on the beach for your kitesurfing needs, rentals, classes, drinks, etc...
Location : I think Ocean Dream is the best location in Cabarete for kitesurfers. You can walk easily to the business area, but you are not too close to be bothered by its noise. OD is located in the middle of the beach, where the wind starts to be good, whereas the business area tend to be more sheltered. You can down-wind easily to Kitebeach, which has good reef and waves but can get very crowded on the water.
LEK area is more spacious, plenty of room for beginners to practice on the beach first, then on the water where they can body-drag safely and come back easily to the shore thanks to the orientation of the wind.
Speaking of wind, I was worried there would not be enough for kitesurfing in September/October, but I got a good 50% of perfect days (9 or 11meter kites) and 50% of no-wind days, during which you can take trips outside of Cabarete and enjoy all kind of great outdoor activities that DR has to offer.

I stayed with a friend in Laurels condo for two weeks in September. It was perfect! The beach and kite school are a minute walk and all the nice restaurants and bars are nearby. In front of the complex are always some taxi's or motoconcho's available and they can bring you everywhere.
The condo itself is big and clean. There is a terrace and a perfect swimming pool in a nice garden.
We really recommend Laurels place!
Marianne and Sanne

great place and great host!

Laurel's place was amazing. A one minute walk to the beach and restaurants and a pool right out the back door for swims back home. The listing itself was very nice and slept our whole group very comfortably. Highly recommended!

if you find yourself in need to get away to somewhere warm and close to the beach, escape to cabarete, only 3.5 hour plane ride from JFK. laurel was a great host from the start, she arranged to have us picked up at the pop airport, taken care of during our stay and introduce us to locals to procure seafood, car rental and daily essentials. the place had just about everything you need and only a 2 min walk to the beach. we really enjoyed our time relaxing and kiting with her LEK kite school. the staff there was also amazing!!! highly recommended.