Cabarete What to Pack

Luggage and bags: perhaps a small purse you don't have to carry for going out at night. i didn't have one, as i don't like them for style...but it would have been practical if i'd brought one. summer clothes don'e have pockets. well, mine don't.

i used a back pack for going to the beach (towel, water bottle, sunscreen, book, camera)

Clothing/Shoes/Weather Gear: you could wear whatever you wanted, but i wish i knew:

daytime beachwear: some surfer/athletic types. some matchy swim sets. i threw a sarong and a tank or a little dress over my swimsuit. people do not walk around in their bathing suits, only on the beach or poolside.

it is not hot at night, though not too cool. i wished i'd had cool linen drawstring pants, jeans or capri's and possibly something lightweight to cover my shoulders. i didn't even bring a short sleeve t-shirt. although i faired just fine. everyone wears flip-flops/thongs. the dress-code seemed casual, but very put together, minus the flash or polish found in US cities.

The scene here is not as casual as other beach places i've been, ( puerto vallarta, mexico or nigril, jamaica for comparison's sake), probably because of the european presense.

i found it very comfortable. my friend rolled up a pair of pink scrub pants and looked perfectly cute and comfy with a pink tank. i wished i'd thought of it.

Toiletries and Medical Supplies: sunscreen
moisturizer
mosquito repellant - for evening
you could buy these and anything else you'll need there, but you'll definately want these

Camping/Beach/Outdoor Gear: if you're going to do water sports - bring those shoes you walk in the water with. sorry, i don't know what they're called...i attempted surfing without them and regretted it. they had some there, but i didn't know i'd want them. the bottom were we surfed (playa encuentro) was hard and full of things like sea urchins. i got a little scraped up.

Miscellaneous: BATTERY POWERED clock (freq power outages)
safety pins (couldn't find one in town)
bottle opener (few, if any twist tops)
citronella candles (i hate mosquito bites)
a black marker (fixes all kinds of problems)
hair ties/elastics
small, round tipped scissors (stored them opened so they can see they're round and you can get them on the plane.)
camping set of silverware etc, if you like to go to the grocery store...or you could buy plastic there, whichever is easier.
i never bring any jewelry on vacation. i never want to look like i have anything anyone would like to steal.