Villa Taina has put together a guide on things you can pack to make your Cabarete vacation a more sustainable one.
Spanish Phrase Book – Cabarete is oozing at the seams with culture, so it’s quite easy to immerse yourself in it during your stay. You can start by making an effort to speak the language. This shows you respect the locals and it won’t go unappreciated. Trust us. You don’t have to be fluent to give it a go. You can even contribute to the local society and practice at the same time by shopping at local markets and other local businesses.
Reusable Water Bottle – This might seem like a hard task since the tap water in Cabarete is not potable. However, there are still opportunities in which you can fill your bottle, you just have to become more aware. Ask in restaurants and bars to have your bottle filled. Several places in Cabarete, like Claro Cafe, are serving up clean filtered water and they will be happy to fill your container for you. When the people see you are making an effort to save the planet, you will always receive a grateful response.
Reusable Shopping Bags – One thing you will notice when you come to Cabarete is there are tons of fruit and veggie stands and trucks all around town. The only problem is the plastic bags they give to carry your fresh goodies in. The solution for this is so easy since it weighs virtually nothing to pack a few reusable cloth bags in your luggage and consequently cut down your carbon footprint.
Travel Mug – The Dominican Republic and coffee are almost synonymous. So you are bound to have at least a cup, or five, per day during your stay. So why not bring a travel mug with you? Hand it over the counter in any of the local shops, and ask them to fill it up. This reduces your waste and single-use plastic.
Metal Straw – Many cafes in Cabarete have already stopped providing customers with plastic straws. At Villa Taina they are using biodegradable straws. What’s the harm in bringing your own metal straw with you? There are so many on the market today, and they cost almost nothing. Pop it in your handbag or even attach to a key chain. So simple.
Villa Taina is open to ideas from guests on how to make travel more sustainable.