Plug Into Paradise: The Ultimate Caribbean Remote Work Experience
With the increasing popularity of remote work, more individuals are seeking a perfect balance between their professional responsibilities and a fulfilling personal life. The desire to break free from the monotony of traditional office settings has led to a rise in the concept of remote fitness vacations, where professionals can work remotely while enjoying the benefits of a tropical setting. Cabarete, known for its stunning natural beauty and vibrant atmosphere, has emerged as an ideal destination for those seeking a productive and rejuvenating work environment combined with fitness and wellness activities. Extreme Hotel Cabarete stands out as the ultimate haven for remote workers looking to strike a balance between work and play. This Caribbean fitness camp offers a range of amenities and services tailored to meet the unique needs of remote professionals. Its serene location, nestled amidst picturesque beaches and lush landscapes, creates an inspiring backdrop for increased focus and creativity. At Zen Cabarete remote workers can enjoy a variety of fitness and wellness activities to enhance their physical and mental well-being. From invigorating workouts at the on-site tiki fitness gym to rejuvenating yoga retreats, there are ample opportunities to incorporate a healthy lifestyle into the workday. The dedicated staff is committed to providing a supportive and motivating environment that promotes productivity and work-life harmony. The remote work experience at Extreme Hotel Cabarete is further enhanced by its emphasis on health and wellness. With a focus on providing nutritious meals and access to wellness amenities, remote workers can maintain a healthy routine and maximize their productivity. Whether it’s participating in fitness classes, unwinding with a massage, or enjoying the therapeutic benefits of yoga, every aspect of the remote work experience is designed to foster well-being. In addition to the work-related advantages, Cabarete offers a range of outdoor activities, cultural experiences, and opportunities for exploration during downtime. Remote workers can immerse themselves in the vibrant Caribbean culture, indulge in delicious local cuisine, and part Seamless Work-Life Integration Zen Cabarete prides itself on being an all-inclusive destination where every aspect of your stay is taken care of, allowing you to focus on your work, wellness, and relaxation. From meals to fitness and yoga classes, everything is thoughtfully provided to ensure a seamless and convenient experience. When it comes to meals, Extreme Hotel Cabarete offers a delicious and nutritious menu that caters to a variety of dietary preferences, including vegetarian and vegan options. The welcoming kitchen staff serves up flavorful and healthy dishes made with locally sourced ingredients, providing a farm-to-table experience that supports sustainability and promotes a healthy lifestyle. For fitness enthusiasts, the hotel offers a range of fitness and yoga classes to keep you active and energized. With an open-air tiki gym and ocean view yoga Shala, you can enjoy your workouts while immersing yourself in the breathtaking natural beauty of Cabarete. Whether you prefer high-intensity interval training, strength training, or yoga sessions, there is something for everyone to enhance their physical well-being. Extreme Hotel Cabarete understands the importance of staying connected in today’s remote work environment. That’s why they provide strong and reliable WiFi throughout the property, ensuring uninterrupted connectivity for remote work and online collaborations. Whether you need to attend virtual meetings, conduct research, or communicate with colleagues, you can rely on the hotel’s robust internet infrastructure to support your work requirements. In addition to the on-site amenities and services, Extreme Hotel Cabarete also offers co-working spaces that are designed to foster productivity and collaboration. These dedicated work areas provide a comfortable and inspiring environment where you can concentrate on your tasks while being surrounded by like-minded professionals. The all-inclusive nature of Extreme Hotel Cabarete eliminates the hassle of arranging meals, fitness activities, and reliable internet access separately. Everything is conveniently provided, allowing you to make the most of your time and focus on your work or wellness goals. With the comfort and convenience offered by the hotel’s amenities and facilities, you can seamlessly combine work and leisure in a picturesque setting. Caribbean Paradise and Cultural Immersion Nestled along the stunning northern coast of the Dominican Republic, Cabarete captivates visitors with its natural beauty and serene atmosphere, making it an ideal destination for a fitness holiday. With its pristine beaches, crystal-clear turquoise waters, and lush tropical landscapes, Cabarete offers a picturesque backdrop that enhances focus, creativity, and overall well-being. Cabarete is renowned for its action-adventure water sports, attracting fitness enthusiasts and adrenaline junkies from around the world. From kiteboarding and windsurfing to SUP (paddleboarding) and surfing, there are plenty of opportunities to challenge yourself and engage in thrilling fitness activities. The combination of the warm Caribbean waters, consistent trade winds, and stunning coastline creates the perfect playground for outdoor adventures. Beyond its physical beauty, Cabarete also offers a unique cultural experience for visitors. Exploring the local markets allows you to immerse yourself in the vibrant colors, scents, and sounds of Dominican life. From fresh produce and tropical fruits to handcrafted goods and artwork, these markets offer a glimpse into the local culture and provide opportunities to support local artisans. One of the highlights of experiencing Cabarete is the chance to savor the authentic and mouth watering cuisine of the Dominican Republic. From traditional dishes like mangu (mashed plantains), sancocho (hearty stew), and tostones (fried plantains) to the freshest seafood and tropical flavors, the local food scene is a delight for the taste buds. Trying these authentic dishes not only nourishes the body but also deepens your cultural immersion. Cabarete is a community-oriented destination that welcomes visitors with open arms. Engaging in community activities allows you to connect with the locals and gain a deeper understanding of their way of life. Whether it’s joining a local dance class, participating in a beach clean-up, or attending a cultural festival, these activities provide a sense of belonging and enrich your experience in Cabarete. The natural beauty, serene atmosphere, and cultural immersion opportunities of Cabarete contribute to a holistic fitness holiday experience. The combination of engaging in action-adventure water sports, embracing the local culture, and enjoying a healthy lifestyle in this
Tipping and Haggling: A Guide to Money in Cabarete
No one wants to be ripped off on vacation. Here’s a handy guide on how to handle your money in Cabarete. Read up before your trip, so you can focus on enjoying your adventure when you get here. It pays to be prepared! Carry cash Cash, or ‘efectivo’ in Spanish, is the norm pretty much everywhere in Cabarete and the nearby area. I’ve only ever been to one restaurant that took credit card in Las Galeras, down the coast. Suffice it to say, there were some extra charges. It’s best to pay with cash. When I say cash, I mean Dominican pesos. Almost everywhere will take USD, but beware of bad exchange rates. Stick to banks, exchanges and supermarkets to buy your pesos, anywhere else will likely not give you a very good rate. (I’m talking to you, guy in the photo.) If you’re coming from Europe, don’t bother to buy dollars before you leave home. You can bring cash in euros or pounds and exchange it here just as easily. There are a good few banks around town, all with ATMs. They all charge steep withdrawal fees, so plan a little in advance according to what you need. Stick to Dominican pesos (DOP) and always pay in cash. Around town, you’ll see prices written as ‘150RD’ or ‘RD$200’. Don’t be thrown, this is pesos ‘Republica Dominicana’. Carry a mixture of notes. Keep remembering to break your 1000RD bills at supermarkets and dinners to avoid paying a 30RD moto trip with a 1000RD bill! Coins are useful for small tips and street vendors, as well. © Dominican Republic Ministry of Tourism Know yo’ stuff Take some time to learn what prices to expect for common things. Breakfasts, taxis, sun loungers, fruit – that kind of thing. It’s good to at least know a ball-park figure. You’ll quickly find in local places that prices are not fixed. They depend on how polite you are, whether you make an effort to speak Spanish, and how savvy you seem. So, take the time to be friendly! Who knows, you might stop for an interesting chat with a Dominican. Here’s a few basics to get you started: Moto across town: 50RD per person. Sometimes more by night. 1.5 L bottled water: 30RD Black coffee: 45-100RD Milky coffee: 75-130RD Presidente beer (small): 85-135RD Presidente beer (large): 135-160RD Cuba libre: 100-135RD Pina colada: 120-200RD Bunch of limoncillos (green little ball fruit): 20-40RD Sun lounger for the day: 35-100RD – they will also watch your stuff while you swim © Dominican Republic Ministry of Tourism Day trips and excursions (caving, waterfall jumping, ziplining, boat trip) cost $40-100 USD per person. This is pretty pricey, but usually includes food and drink and transport, as well as a guide. If you want to be more independent in your exploring, we can help you find a cheaper option. At eXtreme, our friendly concierge staff will take care of arranging your trip for you. They know how to find the best price! Just let the team know where you want to go, and they’ll make the calls. Prices in cafes and comedors vary quite a lot. In a more Western-style spot, you can pay 250-500RD for breakfast, and 400-700RD for dinner. In a comedor, it’s more like 75-150RD for a lunch plate of chicken, rice and beans. I’d recommend exploring local and more ‘Westernised’ options in Cabarete, but take care that you have around the right bills to hand over. Be aware that everything costs a lot more on the beach. That ocean view will cost you! Also, imported goods are way more expensive than local products. It is an island, after all. Haggling Once you know the rough prices to expect, you can haggle to your heart’s content! Haggling is part of the culture in the DR. Apart from supermarkets and banks, pretty much every price is up for negotiation. Look out for flattery and classic lines like ‘This item costs $25, but for you I’ll do $17’. It’s all part of the game. Be wary of anyone trying to rush you into buying something right now. Some cheeky taxi drivers like to open the car door and try to rush you into the vehicle, as if traffic is building up by the second. It’s not. Don’t fall for it. Negotiate a fair price with the driver before you get in! Start by offering about half of the seller’s first price, then barter up to meet him somewhere in the middle. If they won’t play ball, you can always try walking away to look somewhere else. You’ll often hear the seller shouting lower and lower offers at your back as you leave! Above all, have fun and be good-humoured. © Dominican Republic Ministry of Tourism Tipping Sales tax in DR is 18%, and many hotels and restaurants will add an additional 10% service charge to the bill. These taxes are required by law, which is why you’ll often see them labelled on the bill as ‘Ley’, Spanish for law. If you’re North American, this probably won’t alarm you. Everyone else, be warned that the price you imagine could well increase by nearly 30% when the bill comes around. You might have read that you should always tip above the 10% service charge because this money is split between the employees, so your server would lose out. This is misleading. Remember that your server will get a cut of the charge from all the tables they didn’t serve that night, as well. Also, surely the chefs and bartenders deserve part of the tip for preparing your meal? Of course, it’s up to you to use your own judgement. If no extra charge is added onto the bill, tip 10-20%, depending on the quality of the food and service. Taxi drivers are a bit different because they tend to own their business. Just negotiate a price for the journey before you get in, and pay that amount when you leave, with a smile. Those little things Don’t
Animals of the DR: Cabarete Spotlight on DCDR
In recognition of International Animal Rights Day, which is celebrated annually on December 10. Are you a dog person or a cat person? With this charity, it really doesn’t matter, everyone is welcomed! Dogs and Cats of the DR (DCDR) does amazing work to look after animals around Cabarete. These heroes rescue furry friends in dire need of care and nurse them back to health. DCDR find new loving homes for their cats and dogs. They also spay and neuter strays in town to keep the dog and cat population under control. If this weren’t already incredible, Dogs and Cats of the DR visit and assist pet-owners who are living in impoverished neighbourhoods. They educate owners how best to care for their pet and provide essential medication for the animals. Take a look at the stray dogs around Cabarete, you’ll notice they all look pretty healthy and happy. This is in large part down to DCDR’s efforts since 2013. Animal protection legislation The DCDR are also doing important work to urge the government to bring dog and cat abusers to justice. In the Dominican Republic it is against the law to harm or neglect an animal, but these laws are rarely enforced. In fact, dog poisonings are relatively common occurrences here. Sometimes, these crimes are even carried out by the authorities to clean up areas for tourists. Education and more awareness of how to treat animals is sorely needed in this region. Help a pet in need You can support the work of Dogs and Cats of the DR by sharing their animal transformation stories and spreading the message that pet abuse is not okay. Check their wishlist of supplies for something you could bring to donate. You can join their Facebook page to keep up to date with the Cabarete rescues, or browse their adoption album. Get in touch with DCDR if you are flying between the Dominican Republic and the US and Canada, especially New York. There might be a chance for you to make a difference by transporting a pet to their new owner abroad! Plus, you get a cute furry companion on your trip. Win-win. You can donate and find out more about their important work through their website.
Cabarete Casinos
In Cabarete, once the clubs close up for the night, the party moves to the casinos. If you like to play a little blackjack or dabble in poker, you’re in luck. You can play to win in Ocean Sands Casino. But, luckily, you don’t have to be a gambler to join in the fun. You can drink, mingle, and break out your craziest moves on the dance floor in the casino’s nightclub and bar area. The nightclub gets pretty lively late at night. It has a great atmosphere, and often features live DJs and special events. Keep an eye on their Facebook page to stay on top of the hottest nights at Ocean Sands. Ocean Sands is on the outskirts of town, past Janet’s supermarket. The casino company recently opened another venue on Cabarete beach, near Waves, called The Playhouse. Yes, that’s right, all the decadence and hilarity of a casino with an ocean view and your toes in the sand. You can count on the crashing waves and sea breeze to celebrate your victories and commiserate any losses. If you decide all of this isn’t quite enough to satisfy your gambling needs or just fancy a change of scenery, Sosua our neighbouring town is well known for its bustling casino scene. There are various venues that offer table games, roulette, slot machines, as well as a dancefloor and bar. There’s Playa Chiquita Casino, Coral Reef Casino, and Sosua Bay Grand Casino to try. You can also head over to Puerto Plata if you’re craving more of a ‘big city’ experience. The Kviar Show Disco and Casino receives rave reviews from regulars, and also has a fun nightclub. Remember to stay safe when gambling, both with your money and in the slippery casino environment. Be aware that there might be illegal activity of all sorts around you, so don’t be naive and get involved in anything seedy by accident! Keep your wits about you!
Beach Hair Care through the Sun & Surf
It doesn’t take long in Cabarete to realise you spend most of the time with your hair wet. Dipping in and out of the ocean and pool is something I always look forward to on vacation. But, it’s only when I get here that I remember how hard the sun, salt and chlorine is on my poor hair. There’s no denying that bleached salty surfer hair is a strong look. But it comes with its downsides. Dried out ends, colour damage and, of course, those salty tangles of doom. Here are some tips and hacks to keep your locks looking luscious, no matter what the adventure. Sun, Sun, Sun Just like your skin, your hair deserves some SPF attention. Sunscreen for your hair? I hear you cry. It might sound ridiculous, but, yes. The same UV rays you shield your skin from can wreak havoc on your hair. Especially if it’s coloured or already damaged. Pop an SPF spray in your suitcase for your hair and scalp (don’t forget, that’s skin too!). They’ll thank you for it. Warning: Short but important Chemistry lecture coming right up. Be careful to scan the ingredient list on your sunscreen. Some chemicals in sunscreen are killing or bleaching coral, and disrupting the ocean’s ecology. To preserve our beautiful ocean, we need to be alert to this potential danger and be responsible travellers. Make sure your sunscreen does not contain these common chemicals: Oxybenzone (sometimes written as Benzophenone-3, or BP-3) Butylparaben Octinoxate (Ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate) 4-methylbenzylidene camphor (4MBC) These chemicals have been shown to harm coral, even in really tiny concentrations, like one drop in six and a half Olympic swimming pools! Oxybenzone in particular is super common, found in over 3500 sunscreen brands worldwide. An estimated 6,000 – 14,000 tonnes of sunscreen wash off swimmers into the coral reef environments every year. That’s not even counting the amount that washes into the ocean from our water waste systems. Eco-warriors, it’s your time to shine! Salt of the Earth. Or Ocean. As you may have noticed, overexposure to salty water dries out your hair, causing it to clump and break. The salt in the ocean draws water out of your hair by osmosis. (Yes, that water-moving process from high school science class is back to haunt you.) In the sun, you’re dealing with water evaporating from your wet hair, too, which makes the drying effect even worse. Woe is me. Coloured hair has it the worst. The salt can give it a weird, hard texture, and make it a nightmare to brush out. The solution: moisturise, moisturise, moisturise! There are a host of creams and conditioning masks out there that carry all sorts of claims to rehydrate your lamentable crusty beach hair. You can pick one up at the store, or whip up a home remedy. Lots of surfer chicks (and dudes) swear by coconut oil. You can apply it before you go out as a defensive shield, or after for damage control. Natural ingredients like honey and buttermilk can do wonders to quench dry strands. In Cabarete, a local remedy for dry ocean hair is to wait for an avocado to get ripe. I mean really, really ripe. And then crush it straight on top of your head. Smoosh it around and work it down the length of your hair. Leave it on as long as you can stand it, and then rinse it off in the shower. Maybe use one of those hair-trappers in the plughole to catch the chunks. Talk about an avocado smash! If that sounds like a bit much, try mashing half an avocado up with a few tablespoons of olive oil, two eggs and some water. A hydrating guacamole to satisfy the locks! Aside from adding some much-needed moisture back in, be sure to rinse your hair thoroughly with water after going in the sea. It helps. Just Keep Swimming… As a blonde who loves to swim, I’ve always had to deal with the dreaded green swimmer’s tinge. I learnt, however, that it’s not actually the chlorine that turns your hair green. Well, not directly. The real culprit is metals in the water, like copper, that are oxidised by the chlorine. They stick to your hair, which apparently is very porous, and edge you towards Grinch territory. Think more Lady of Liberty than Ariel. The best way to prevent green hair is to soak your locks in the shower before you head to the pool. Imagine your hair is like a sponge. If you pre-soak it with fresh water, it has less room to take in pool water. The water works like a protective coat against the metallic pool water. So, make good use of those poolside showers! For green hair, check your kitchen for a remedy. Try a rinse with baking soda, lemon juice, coke, or ketchup to get your colour back to normal. If all else fails, you can always fall back on the good old-fashioned swim cap to put some proper distance between you and the water. Don’t laugh, there are some cute ones out there! Sharing is Caring! Let us know in the comments if you have any beach hair care secrets up your sleeve. Share the love. Oh, and don’t forget to use a brush that’s gentle on the tangles. Wide-toothed combs are great, as are Tangle Teezers. Some beach babes also opt for the elegant plait to keep those bird’s nests under control. The best thing is to try out different things and see what works for you and your hair. With your beach hair care routine down, you can focus on having a wild time on your adventure vacation!
Spanish lessons in Cabarete
The Dominican Republic is a Spanish-speaking country. Although it’s just about possible to get by only speaking English, your vacation will be so much more comfortable (not to mention fun!) if you have a few phrases in Spanish at your disposal. Overcoming the language barrier is essential to fully benefiting from the cultural experience available to you here in Cabarete. For instance, it helps to know the local ‘what’s up?’ greeting is que lo que? You don’t need many words to navigate the restaurant/bar situation, and it is definitely useful to know what to say to keep those mojitos coming. A supportive community There’s definitely nothing to be embarrassed about, all the foreigners are on the same journey towards communicating effortlessly in Spanish. Everyone has to start somewhere, and the bravest thing you can do is try and speak as much as you can in public. It’s scary, but this is a supportive community to learn in. It’s okay to make mistakes here, and the Dominican locals in Cabarete are very patient. They might even correct you and teach you some new words and phrases, if you take the time to stop and chat. Importantly though, the locals will most likely really appreciate your efforts to connect with them in their native Spanish. A little effort goes a long way! Spanish lessons in Cabarete If you’re feeling at all nervous about the prospect of speaking Spanish in Cabarete, taking a couple of lessons can make a big difference to your confidence. Lessons aren’t just for beginners either. You can take refresher classes, or conversation classes to get you back into the swing of speaking. This can be a great activity for the first couple of days of your vacation, as you get over your jetlag and settle into town. The team at eXtreme can help you find a good teacher, just ask at reception and we’ll put you in touch. You can take lessons right in the restaurant, by the beach. The ocean air helps with memory, I hear. You’ll be shouting orders at the empanada stand with the rest of them in no time!