Previously published in the 2015 Fall Issue. By JG Walker, continued article.
Sea Horse Ranch is a 250-acre oceanfront resort and residential community located on the Dominican Republic’s North Coast near the town of Cabarete. For vacationers, fully furnished and equipped villas and homes with three to six bedrooms are available on a nightly, weekly or monthly basis with complete concierge services. Homesites and villas are also offered for purchase. Sea Horse Ranch amenities include The Beach Club with its ocean view restaurant and an adjacent oceanfront park with three private beach coves and two split-level pools. The Tennis Club offers play on five clay courts and the Equestrian Center features seven miles of riding trails along the beach and through tropical forests.
Judith Fox-Hogg and her husband, Paul Hogg, have been Sea Horse Ranch residents for 11 years. British citizens from Berkshire County outside of London, they were looking for a warmer and more laid-back lifestyle when they discovered Sea Horse Ranch. “But when we got here,” Judith said, “we decided that we just weren’t ready to retire. There’s so much opportunity and potential in the Dominican Republic.” Both now work in the local real-estate industry.
“We knew we had found the right location here at Sea Horse Ranch,” she said. “It’s really very much like a gated American community. It’s very quiet, the grounds are perfectly maintained and the security is great. We can walk anywhere here—even at midnight—and feel completely safe.”
Formerly an avid golfer, Judith now spends most of her recreational time at the community Equestrian Center where, “You can ride right out on the beach and through the countryside,” with the occasional match at the Tennis Center that is just a five-minute walk from their home. She and Paul also enjoy dining and special events at the Beach Club. “Our son got married on the beach,” Judith said, “and we had the reception at the Beach Club. It was just lovely.”
In addition to the very low cost for utilities, locally grown produce and transportation, Judith was especially pleased to find that the Dominican Republic offers high quality health care at a reasonable price. “We each pay about $50 a month for private health insurance and that covers more than 80% of our costs. There are two good hospitals in the immediate area and a fabulous hospital in Santiago, which is just an hour and a half away.” After more than a decade in the Dominican Republic, Judith and Paul have no regrets. “We’ve found that the people are extremely friendly,” she said. “If you treat people with the respect they deserve, they’ll treat you the same way. We love it here.”
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