Vacation Rentals by Owner

Charming beachside condo in a wonderful country.

Guest: maine nurse (Denmark, Maine, USA)
Date of Stay: 04/21/12 Review Submitted: 05/23/12

Steve's condo was a wonderful place to spend the week. We walked several times to town: about 20-25 minute amble for us, but I did look for seaglass and shells to add to the lovely collections in the condo. The condo was well furnished with tasteful and artistic touches throughout. The main area is larger than it looks in the pictures; there's seating for six at the dining area table, and the couches are roomy and comfortable. We found everything we needed in the kitchen to make some wonderful meals with ingredients from Janet's grocery, just down the road. We often chose to eat dinner out, however, as Cabarete sports some of the best restaurants we have ever eaten at in a plethora of styles and price ranges. I highly recommend Embocca, which is just down the road (away from town). The atmosphere there is amazing, and the food and service impeccable. Steve was friendly and easy to deal with, providing lots of information for us as this was our first trip to the Dominican. I would recommend flying into Puerto Plata instead of Santa Domingo. The taxi from or to the airport will insist on bringing you back over the mountain road; we had a very late night flight out of Santa Domingo and with the rain, a very poor excuse for a mini van, excessive speed and Sunday night partiers on the road, I'm little surprised we lived to tell the tale! We took private taxis to and from town at night especially; we had one driver who was friends with the security guard and who picked us up and was there to take us back nearly every night! Security at the condo is great as well. They guard the road entrance and walk around the back to protect the beach side, which made us feel very secure. They are also very friendly and let us use their cell phones a couple of times for local calls; we tipped them of course. More about the condo; the master bedroom is magnificent; the ocean breeze cools it wonderfully all night. The bathroom is huge with an open tiled shower great for cleaning up and cooling off. Linens are ample and clean. The guest bedroom, which we did not use, is very cute too and will be great if we come back with our two little girls. We enjoyed the clean and lovely pool to ocean area everyday, except sunday, as that is the dominican's party day, and there was quite a party down there! Peggy, the manager, was very responsive to our needs and emailed me several times during the week. Do bring your computer; it is wonderful resource in Cabarete and the wifi was great.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

An unforgettable week in the Dominican Republic

Guest: Julie and Ben (Seattle, WA)
Date of Stay: 01/05/12 Review Submitted: 01/17/12

My husband and I just returned from an amazing vacation in Cabarete. We had never been to the Dominican Republic and our stay at the Victorian condo was just what we needed. The property was beautiful, clean, and safe. It is a little bit outside the center of Cabarete, which was great for our purposes. Most mornings we would enjoy the 15-20 minute walk into town for some of the best coffee we have ever had. My husband is notoriously hot and usually dreads vacationing anywhere warm. However, the ocean breeze in the upstairs bedroom at this condo kept us both perfectly cool and comfortable. For those of you who want something different that the all-inclusive resort......this is definitely a property for you. Steve, the owner, was very responsive and helpful in answering all of our questions before arriving and giving us some great suggestions for restaurants and things to do. We will be returning to stay at this property again, and next time will bring the kids with us.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Condo in Cabarete

Guest: Kristen (Flower Mound, Texas)
Date of Stay: 11/19/11 Review Submitted: 12/31/11

The condo was exactly as described and the photos were current and relative. We had no problems getting into the condo and any incidentals were handled by the staff at the gate. I had a long conversation by phone with the owner the night before we arrived and he gave us lots of info about what to do and where to eat. What we enjoyed the most was that is was not the resorty kind of place. We had the beach to ourselves a great deal of the time and were able to walk down the beach to the restaurants in town. It was a beautiful walk and gorgeous setting. We used Iguana Mama to book a tour to the 27 waterfalls and they were wonderful. Came and picked us up at the condo and returned us there. Very informative and wonderful to work with. We also booked a snorkel cruise out of Playa Dorado and had the best time! The only thing we would change if we go back (and we desperately want to go back) would be fly into Puerta Playa. We flew into Santiago and drove to the coast. Not a bad drive, but the rental car was more expensive than we thought and we found it wasn't necessary. There is plenty of local transportation. Can't wait to re-book, I highly recommend the condo, Cabarete, and the Dominican!

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car, romantic getaway.

Highly recomended property, with everything you could ask for and more

Guest: Viki (North East Pennsylvania)
Date of Stay: 11/04/11 Review Submitted: 12/30/11

From my first conversations with Steve, the property owner, I felt at ease. He gave us the low down on all the great things to do in the area. There were so many restaurants to choose from, and most were very inexpensive and had really great food. Even though Steve's place had a beautiful, well equipped kitchen, we ate most of our lunch and dinners out. We ate in Cabarete and Sosua. We rented a car, which I regretted. We only used it two times, to go food shopping and visit Santiago. Most of the time we grabbed public transportation, which was cheap and abundant. So, on the few days we didn't spend running around, we basked in the sun, lounging around the pool with our plastic picture of margaritas!. The water was a little rough swimming for me, but my teenagers loved it. And what a great beach for walking. The pool, staff and grounds were kept impeccably clean. The same with Steve’s condo. The furnishings were from out of a catalogue, yet so comfy. The place made us feel very welcome. I don’t know when I’ve had a better night sleep when I was on a vacation. The condo, the views, the complex, were all A+ I don’t think there was one thing I could complain about. Steven, Thanks again for allowing us to share your wonderful home. We are already looking at dates for next year’s vacation! Thank you and God Bless!

Recommended for:Families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Had a great time in a fantastic condo

Guest: DANA (Keene, NH)
Date of Stay: 10/01/11 Review Submitted: 10/10/11

I just returned from cabarete, I had a great trip, and I must say that I am very happy that I decided to contact steve, before I left and decided to stay at his ocean front penthouse, it was everything he said it would be and more. It is located in a beautiful gated complex, The condo is fantastic, very very clean, and very nicely furnished, the upstairs penthouse bedroom is awesome, it has a nice view of the ocean and swimming pool and jacuzi, and to sleep listening to the waves crashing on the beach was fabulous. I would very much recomend this condo to anybody considering a trip to CABARETE, steve is a great guy and was very helpful, with restaurant suggestions and more.If any one has any questions, i found some great places that i would be happy to pass on, dtwfoote@gmail.com give this place a try i am very happy i did, and you will be to......

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, romantic getaway.

EXCELLENT - STAY HERE

Guest: KK (CA)
Date of Stay: 08/15/11 Review Submitted: 09/02/11

We had 4 buddies stay at Steve's place for a week. He was a phenomenal host and this apartment has everything you could ask for - views, private beach, pool access, etc. No hesitations - you need to stay here.

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Great Vacation

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 05/05/11 Review Submitted: 04/05/12

Was just thinking about our fantastic vacation last year and realized I never sent a review. I am sorry. We had an excellent time. Location was great. Steve was easy to deal with. All of the personnel at the condo from the managers to the security and gardners were, nice, polite and very helpful. Pool was always clean. Unit is very nice. The condo is very convenient to town. We walked there most everyday and felt very safe. Could use a little more kitchen utensils but we made do. We would definitely come again. Wish we were heading back now.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Way better than going to a resort! Great condo, location, and town!

Guest: Judge (Boston)
Date of Stay: 04/18/11 Review Submitted: 04/25/11

Just got back from a week of vacation with husband and 2 daughters ages 9 and 14. We were there for semana santa (holy week) and met many DR families who came to Cabarete to celebrate - and oh what a party it was. Condo was perfect for our family - location, size, on the beach, and easy to get into the town but a little outside from the hustle and bustle. Ocean had big waves and a lot of fun for our family. You do need to supervise children as it is rough and can have strong undertow. We spent a lot of time in the pool area where my children met other children from Santa Domingo and Santiago. We spent a lot of time in the center of Cabarete - walked there and drove as well. Beautiful walk on the beach but need to be aware of high tides. Janet's is nearby supermarket for everything you need and you can get fresh fruit at various side stands. Pineapple, mangoes, bananas - plenty and cheap. Recommend Claro for breakfast, Marisco for lunch as well as Serenades and Pommodoro for dinner. Took a lovely jungle river tour with Wilson which brought us to where the atlantic ocean meets the fresh water river. Fresh lunch was prepared and we saw many beautiful trees and flowers, Property managers Bill and Sue organized the trip and where great hosts and on site if you need anything. The dollar is very strong so you can have a very inexpensive vacation for a week. The complex is very relaxing, safe community, and if you did not want to leave you do not have to. However - we enjoy meeting local people and learning about culture. Dominicans are friendly and kind people - proud of their country. Only draw backs are the vendors on the main beach that bug you to buy stuff and many stray dogs on the beach. Trip exceeded our expectations and we would love to go back and explore more towns.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, families with teenagers, families with young children, tourists without a car, sightseeing.

A Fantastic Choice

Guest: Holly (Grand Junction)
Date of Stay: 12/29/10 Review Submitted: 01/14/11

I stayed at Steve’s Condo over the New Year’s holiday with my best friend. This condo was incredible; it was unbelievably spacious and comfortable. The views, breeze and ocean sounds from the upstairs bedroom are priceless. Steve offers to shut off the upstairs for a discounted price, save your money somewhere else; the upstairs is the BEST part of it, worth every cent. The pool was fantastic, right next to steps that take you down to the beach, the lawns are nice and it really felt like a home. There is a security guard that operates the gate in front and they walk the property at night, I felt safer here than I do in most cities in the US. The condo is right outside the hustle and bustle of town but the walk is short and even shorter with a motorbike taxi or public taxi. Steve is very helpful and will help you in any way he can. At the beginning of our travels we had to plan on potentially being 4 days late because of weather. There were a few open days between our stay and the next occupants. He told us we could stay those extra days with no charge; thankfully we were only a day late, in the end we did not need to extend our trip. If he is able to be flexible, he will be. I will be staying here the next time I visit.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Dominican Republic

Guest: Erin (Denver, Co.)
Date of Stay: 12/28/10 Review Submitted: 01/19/11

This condo was beautiful and spacious. It's close enough to town that you can walk in about ten minutes to the center. The is just ahead of both decks and the community is safe and protected. Everyone was very helpful. In town we rented equipment from Caribe Wind, and ate at Friends restaurant most mornings. The people in town were friendly and overall the trip was excellent. This condo is so worth the walk into town over renting closer. It is beautiful and relaxing. We had a great time!

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

great place to stay

Guest: Steve P. (Denver, Colorado)
Date of Stay: 12/02/10 Review Submitted: 12/09/10

I was in need of a unit on short notice. As I have a property in Colombia listed on VRBO, I decided the VRBO site would be an appropriate place to start my North Coast DR search. I found Steve's property and communicated with him. His response was immediate (via email) and within a short period of time we spoke by phone and I committed to rent the unit. My stay was from Dec 2-6, 2010. The unit is a 3rd story (also 2 level) unit with the master bedroom and good sized balcony overlooking the Atlantic. The unit has many windows and is bright and open with high ceilings. Since I was traveling alone, I only noted that it had a lower floor bedroom and full bath. Check in is with on site managers (Canadian) and they checked me in on arrival quickly (rental paid and deposit paid) and deposit was immediately returned when I departed. Security to the complex is 24 hours and the security personnel are polite and courteous. Location is great, ocean front, about 2 miles (give or take) east of Cabarete. Steve P.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Absolutely wonderful!

Guest: nz1511 (Michigan)
Date of Stay: 10/29/10 Review Submitted: 11/08/10

Wow. That sums it up in one word! WOW! We stayed at Steve's condo first week in Nov '10. What a beautiful condo. Pictures are exactly what you get, and even more. Steve was extremely helpful prior to our departure about what to see and do in Cabarete. He was willing to answer any questions we had and was very knowledgeable about the area. The condo complex is peaceful and it was like we had our own private pool. Much better than an all-inclusive where you're one of 10,000 people trying to get a chair each day. Felt very secure on the complex (they have security), and everyone was very friendly. Thank you Steve, for a wonderful place to stay during our vacation. And for those that have never been to Cabarete....well worth the experience. What a great town. Also, thanks to Francine and Kevin for their help. They are the property managers and always had their door open to answer any questions we had :) Hope to make it down again someday!

Recommended for:Age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Awesome vacation

Guest: Fishsticks (Wisconsin)
Date of Stay: 03/15/10 Review Submitted: 03/29/10

Just got done with a 12 day trip to Steves condo in Cabarete. My family and I had a fantastic time. We've been to Cabarete 8 times and have rented different places each time...I would strongly recommend this condo to anyone considering a vacation in Cabarete. The location is about as good as it gets..outside the hustle and bustle of Cabarete...but, about a 10-15 minute walk to town down the beach. Very nice furnishings especially the beds~!...which is rare in Cabarete. Penthouse bedroom is very, very, nice and the views/sounds of the ocean are incredible. Safe and secure setting too. Nothing bad to say. Steve is super cool and his place is awesome.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Guest: Marsha6 (Florida )
Date of Stay: 07/08/09 Review Submitted: 07/08/09

Steve's Condo is lovely. We stayed here for a week in late June and early July. From the view of the ocean from the balconies, to the quiet beauty of the pool and property - this is where you want to be in Cabarete. This condo is great for a girl's trip with three friends or a couple or a family. Everyone was friendly and more than willing to help non-spanish speakers find their way. I would definitely rent this condo again for my next trip to the Dominican. Thank you Steve for everything!

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Guest: Ken20 (-)
Date of Stay: 05/19/09 Review Submitted: 05/19/09

Enjoyed a great couple of days at this condo during early May. The condo is beautiful and we could not have been happier. So great to relax on the balcony while enjoying the consistent breeze off the water. Love Cabarete and love this condo!

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Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 04/24/09 Review Submitted: 04/24/09

We stayed at Steve’s condo over spring break. The condo is very nicely laid out and furnished. Our daughter was happy in the downstairs bedroom and we enjoyed the spacious master bedroom with the view of the ocean. We saw pictures of other condo’s in the area that are sparsely furnished with local furniture. In contrast, Steve has done a very nice job of furnishing it with items that I’d say are “Pottery Barn” type quality. The artwork is really nice too. Overall our stay was fantastic. The pool was very nice. The hot tub isn’t all that hot, but then again, it didn’t matter. The condo is gated with a guard attending 24/7. Same for the beach access. Didn’t seem like that was really necessary, but it did make us feel safer about leaving our things in the condo when we left. We enjoyed Cabarete for the beach and dining, then retreated to the air-conditioned master bedroom to watch one of Steve’s many DVD’s before bed. The unit is set back a bit from the smaller units, so the view looks between the other condos. That didn’t bother us a bit, and you can see exactly how it looks in the photos. The beach is swimmable, but has some coral and the break can build in the afternoon. Better swimming is found in town or Playa Grande. If you know how to surf or kite, the beach will work for that. I’d recommend the condo. Best part was probably the time and effort that Steve put into making sure that we knew all about the area, where to go and what to do.

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Guest: Sue & Bill 1 (-)
Date of Stay: 04/23/09 Review Submitted: 04/23/09

We spent a fantastic week at Steve's condo in Feb/09. The condo was beautiful,clean and bright,and the beds were very comfortable. Steve even set up a book describing local restaurants and activities. We would definetely stay here again. Thanks Steve!

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Guest: Cheryl31 (Mystic,CT)
Date of Stay: 01/29/09 Review Submitted: 01/29/09

I can still hear the sound of the ocean in my mind The only noise you hear at night is the wonderful sound of the ocean outside the master bedroom. We really enjoyed ourselves and thanks for all the local knowledge and advice with kitesurfing, restaurants, and shopping it saved us a lot of time and everything turned out great. We will be back next year we are hooked!

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Guest: Jared Cohen (-)
Date of Stay: 01/13/09 Review Submitted: 01/13/09

My Finacee and I, along with another couple, spent a very enjoyable holiday break this past December at Steve's Villa. I'd highly recommend this location to others. The condo was very clean, nicely decorated, had a great view, and ideal floor plan offering plenty of privacy for 2 couples. The weather was perfect too. We really enjoyed exploring Cabarete, Sosua and the coast line. The beaches were great, people friendly, and most of all it was a rather inexpensive trip. You will not regret it.

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Guest: Ashley & Darryl Scott (Atlanta, GA)
Date of Stay: 11/26/08 Review Submitted: 11/26/08

Me and my husband went to Dominican Republic and stayed at Steve's condo for almost two weeks for our honeymoon. We went July 28, 2008, and the weather was perfect almost the entire time! Steve made sure our stay was perfect from the beginning. Any questions we had were answered before we got there. The bed upstairs was very comfortable and the shower was really nice also. During our stay we had Santa cook for us and we absolutely LOVED everything she cooked! The staff at the condo's were very nice, and we never felt unsafe. We rented a scooter for the duration of our stay to get around...which was needed (for us anyway), although you could walk. We had dinner at the resort next door a few times. Overall, our stay was incredible! We are definitely planning another trip! Thanks Steve!

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Guest: Mrs. B. #1 (Washington, DC )
Date of Stay: 06/19/08 Review Submitted: 06/19/08

My husband, 7-year old and I stayed in this very relaxing condo from June 10-17, 2008. It's perfectly situated just outside of busy Cabarete--a one minute drive or 10-minute or less walk--into town. The loudest sound around is the ocean's lullaby. The pictures on the website are identical to what you will experience and the twin beds in the first floor bedroom are very comfortable. The full bathroom on this level has a bathtub. The second-floor bedroom--which is the entire second floor--has a very comfortable king-sized bed, and the bathroom comprises of a large open shower. There is a lot of closet space in both bedrooms and thick, soft towels and washcloths are at your disposal. The ceilings are really high and all of the rooms are spacious throughout the residence so you won't ever feel claustrophobic. We never heard any of the other residents outside of the apartment because these beautiful buildings are made of decorative concrete. The pool was warm and inviting and properly tested and cleaned daily and the beach was lovely. You can walk for miles until you get tired. Most importantly, though, the people of the Dominican Republic are very welcoming and friendly to tourists. We had the most relaxing and exciting vacation ever as there are a lot of activities that one can do. The staff on the premises are very kind and helpful. Antonia cleaned the apartment daily and was very efficient. Jose, one of the property assistants, was extraordinarily helpful and kind. We used Santa the cook who prepared our meals which all turned out tasty and healthful. As this was our first trip to the DR, I absolutely LOVED the north coast and I highly recommend staying in this beautiful condo on a beautiful stretch of beach. Thanks Steve for making it available! We truly enjoyed ourselves!

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Guest: Kevin Ricciardelli (San Diego, Ca)
Date of Stay: 06/18/08 Review Submitted: 06/18/08

Visiting the Dominican Republic, for the first time from California, my wife, and 3 year old daughter did not know what to expect, as we are used to just visiting mexico..Upon arrival, we were very pleased with Steve's villa...it is quite large, with 2 full floors of living space...my daughter was in the first floor guest room, and my wife and I absolutely loved the master suite upstairs...their is a full wall of sliding glass doors, which open up to amazing ocean views...the furnishings, linens, towels, etc, were all brand new, and very nice..every detail, from the kitchen, to the movies and cd's, made our vacation great...The Development is in a great location, we found the close proximity to town and all the action was great, yet we had peace and quiet, enjoying the beach and pool at the development...We did use Santa, the cook, she and her daughter were lovely, and their food delicious...she evn cleaned up, and for the price...you cant beat that...We did have a few meals in cabarete, and enjoyed ali surf camo, and the german rest...the best...We did go to playa grande for an afternoon, as well as ocean world..both were worth the trip...Our maid antonia, and mario were very nice, our whole stay...Before our trip, the owner steve was very sincere in wanting us to have a great trip, and we certainly did have a wonderful stay...thanks Steve....hope to book again next year....i did also want to mention that the locals in the dominican republic are all very nice we and hospitable people, which made us feel very safe and welcome...

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Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 04/03/08 Review Submitted: 04/03/08

Great vacation! Terrific condo (brand new, safe and secure and very welcoming - decks were great - all you hear is the ocean) and a perfect location. We enjoyed our stay very much. Community is kind and very eager to help. Beautiful beaches and laid-back feeling at night. Relaxing is top priority.

Owner response:Thank You Margaret, glad you had a nice vacation. Come back any time.

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