casa marina bay, attn JD

JD if you are still checking this message board could you answer some questions about casa marina bay?

Is there a dress code, or are t-shirts and bathing suits fine?

Can the dive boats take us to good snorkling sites?

Did you have any problem with stomach illness? Was the food good?

Does the resort really have a tennis court?

Are there bungalos that we should we request?

Is there anything special we should bring that we cannot get ? We are a family with small children.

Many Thanks Leslie

Hi there Leslie - I didn't stay at Casa Marina Bay but I did spend some time on the beach in front. Hence I don't know about the dress code (but a dress code would surprise me) nor the food (though I heard fromsomeone else that the beach restaurant is pretty good). I believe there are still bungalows -- see the photos on the following webpage (back when it was called the Cala Blanca resort): http://shimaron.furry.de/GraphicsArchive/HTML/DominicanRepublic2.html and http://shimaron.furry.de/GraphicsArchive/HTML/DominicanRepublic5.html

you could try emailing your other questions to the hotel casa.marina@codetel.net.do -- but make sure you specify "casa marina bay" because there are other casa marina hotels (e.g in sosua).

i think you can take dive boats to decent snorkel sites, or swim out to the reef in front of the hotel, but don't expect Hawaii. I think there's a lot of overfishing there so the reef life is light to moderate.

make sure you visit Rincon (20 minutes by boat) - it is gorgeous.

enjoy yourself; it's a beautiful place. nice sunsets, beach walks, quiet, unspoiled, plentiful palms.

Leslie,

We are going to Casa Marina Bay in April. This is what I have found out about the place: It used to be called the Cala Blanca Hotel and was remodeled in May 1998, (I think) and is now under new management. The other Casa Marina is in Sosua. I have e-mailed the resort twice since we made our reservations, but have received no response. That doesn't make me feel very comfortable, but the travel agent at Air Transat in Canada (which is the person that my travel agent made our reservations through) told us that the place is aradise". Apparently she used to live in the area. I am hoping that by the time we get there, any bugs that need to be worked out at this resort will be. Everyone that has responded to my posts about the area of Las Galeras has said that it is very beautiful, but that there is not lots of "action", which is find by me because I am taking my fourteen year old. As far as kids are concerned, we were told that the resort does have children's activities. Some of your concerns are mine, especially the concern about the water. If I can help with anything else, please e-mail me. Mia