The restaurants are laid back, catering to a beer and sandwich crowd that also likes an occasional lobster with wine. Nightlife centers on New Wave, a beach-front bar that has live music almost every night. Another attraction is cheap lodging. The beach-front hotels on the commercial strip can be a bit like New Orleans' Bourbon Street, noisy all night long. Puerto Plata's airport is only 20 minutes from Cabarete.
Several carriers have direct flights there from the United States and Europe.
Cabarete is a four-hour drive from Santo Domingo, the capital. For people unfamiliar with the country, it's probably easier to take a Caribe Tours bus from Santo Domingo to Sosua and a taxi from there. Don't miss the crab and dill sandwiches at Onno's. For seafood, Casa del Pescador is a good choice, with tasty paella and rock lobsters cooked just right. Miro's is a good bet for just about anything.