Everything people ask us before moving in — about the residence, and about living on the Dominican North Coast. We add new questions regularly. From power cuts to Wi-Fi speed to what a normal grocery run costs, these are the real questions future tenants send us. If something you need to know isn't answered here, just write us — and if it comes up more than once, it usually ends up on this page.
Every apartment comes fully furnished with a fully equipped kitchen. Starlink high-speed internet, pool access, the backup generator and laundry facilities are included in the monthly rent.
Yes. Furniture, kitchen equipment, bedding and appliances are all there. You can arrive with a suitcase and start living the same day — nothing to buy, nothing to assemble.
Casa Estrellas Mirabal is built for long-term living. Most residents stay several months to years, and rent is charged monthly. Tell us your desired dates and we'll confirm availability.
Yes — that was the whole point. Every apartment has Starlink high-speed internet, not a shared local line. It is built for remote work and daily video calls, not just checking email on holiday.
The North Coast does lose power from time to time. The residence has its own backup generator, so your apartment stays powered, connected and cool.
Yes, free parking on the property.
Of course. We live right across the street, so viewings are easy to arrange — in person, or by video call if you are still abroad.
English, Spanish and German. Jazmin, who manages the residence, is fluent in all three, so you can handle everything in your own language.
Through the contact form, WhatsApp or email — directly with us. There is no booking platform in between and no platform fee. We reply personally within 24 hours.
Water is included. Electricity is billed separately — every apartment has its own meter, so you pay only what you actually use and there is no flat rate. The tariff is tiered: up to 200 kWh at RD$5.97 per kWh, from 201 to 300 kWh at RD$8.51 per kWh, and above that at RD$13.83 per kWh. Because the tiers rise steeply, heavy air-conditioning use costs disproportionately more than moderate use. Rates are set by the utility and can change.
One month's rent, based on the regular monthly price.
As a rule, no. In individual cases we can make an exception — please ask us before you book rather than after.
It depends heavily on the region and on whether the place is furnished. Santo Domingo and Punta Cana sit at the top end, while the North Coast around Sosúa and Cabarete remains one of the better-value areas for the quality you get. For orientation, our own furnished long-term apartments range from US$550 for a studio to US$1,550 for a two-terrace penthouse per month, including Starlink internet, pool, backup generator and laundry. Unfurnished local apartments can be cheaper, but you then pay for furniture, appliances, internet and a generator yourself — which usually cancels out the difference in the first year.
There is no legal standard, so it varies a lot — always ask before signing. "Furnished" should mean furniture, a working kitchen with appliances, and beds ready to sleep in. What often is not included, and what you should ask about specifically: reliable internet, a backup generator for power cuts, hot water, air conditioning, and laundry. In our apartments all of these are included in the monthly rent; only electricity is metered separately per apartment.
On the North Coast, most long-term expats end up in one of four places. Cabarete is the liveliest — surf, kite, cafés, a young international crowd, but also traffic and nightlife noise. Sosúa has the everyday infrastructure: supermarkets, international clinics, hardware stores, and Puerto Plata airport about 20 minutes away. Perla Marina, where we are, sits quietly between the two — gated, green, two minutes from a calm beach, with both towns a short ride away. Further east, Cabrera and Río San Juan are quieter and more remote, better suited if you want distance rather than community. Elsewhere in the country, Las Terrenas on the Samaná peninsula draws a strong European crowd, while Santo Domingo suits people who need a real city.
Perla Marina is a quiet gated residential community on the coast road between Sosúa and Cabarete. You are minutes from both towns, but away from the traffic and nightlife noise of either.
A quiet, semi-private beach is a 2-minute walk from the residence. Encuentro Beach — the surf capital of the Caribbean — is about 15 minutes on foot along a beachside trail.
The residence sits inside a gated community with security. As everywhere, common sense applies, but residents here move around freely day and night.
Not necessarily. Guaguas (local minibuses) and motoconchos run along the main road all day and are the normal way to get to Sosúa or Cabarete. A car or scooter gives you more freedom, especially for bigger grocery runs.
It has quietly become one of the Caribbean's digital-nomad hubs: international cafés, coworking spots, yoga studios and a large expat community — plus surf before your first call.
Warm all year. The North Coast is greener than the south because it gets more rain, and the trade winds keep it from feeling heavy — which is also why Cabarete became a kite and windsurf destination.
Yes. Encuentro Beach has several breaks and a number of surf schools, with gentler sections suited to beginners alongside the more serious waves.
Tell us your desired dates and apartment preference — we'll craft a personalized offer for your island stay. No booking platform, no support queue: your message goes straight to Jazmin and Philip, and we typically reply within 24 hours. Not sure which apartment fits yet? Just tell us how long you plan to stay and what matters most to you, and we'll suggest the units that actually make sense.
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