Should you stay at Dreams Punta Cana? Well, wonder no more! Here is some information from Jeff and Ashley who stayed 7 days at this all-inclusive resort in the Dominican Republic and have all the details for you!
The drive from the airport is over an hour long over some very rough roads. There is evidence that a new highway is being built, but no sign of any road crews working on it during our stay.
The reception was welcoming. We were promptly greeted at Dreams with cold champagne and wash cloths as well as a “welcome home†- very nice touch!
When you arrive at the resort, you are greeted by an absolutely gorgeous entranceway to the expansive and impressive lobby which has lots of granite and marble in soothing colors.
The check-in was smooth and, even though our room was not ready (we were early), we were invited to have a bite to eat at the World Cafe and return to the desk any time after 3PM.
The resort was formerly a Sunscape that was converted to a Dreams. There are 620 rooms at this resort. It is rather rectangular shaped with a large meandering pool along the length of the resort.
The rooms were of average size with nice decor. Each has a bed and a sitting area with desk. The beds were on the hard side, as is typical of many resorts in the Caribbean and Mexico. Our room was clean and well-appointed.
We had a great, roomy balcony overlooking the pool. There is a table and two chairs on these comfortable balconies. Many rooms have balconies overlooking the walkways or the gardens; be sure to request a pool or ocean view.
The suites are larger and some have Jacuzzi tubs. Many of the suites with Jacuzzis on the balcony are on the main walkway.
The beach was HUGE! It’s deep and wide with lots of room for walking in either direction. The sand was clean and fairly fine; there’s no shortage of space or chairs.
The staff were fantastic and very friendly. Enthusiasm and helpfulness were evident everywhere. They also genuinely seem to appreciate attempts to speak Spanish no matter how badly executed.
The guests at the resort were a nice mix of younger and older couples, families, and large wedding groups.
The activities were plentiful and well organized. Each night we got a bulletin in our room telling us the schedule for the following day. Participating in the activities earns Dreams Dollars which can be used to purchase items at the nightly auction.
The fitness center was small but passable. The equipment is fairly current and there’s a good variety of machines. A friendly staff member was on hand to help.
The casino has 25 - 30 slot machines, one roulette table, two black jack tables. Gamblers looking for a large, exciting casino should look elsewhere
The nightly entertainment in the Theater was fair and consisted of game shows (Newlywed Game) and singing/dancing performed by a local troupe.
The spa was gorgeous and the massages were great. They offered a good variety of services and had lovely gardens and fish ponds. It is very reasonably priced as well. It is cheaper than equivalent spas in Calgary, that’s for sure. We each had an 80 minute massage and spent an hour in the wellness centre and it was $170 US for both of us. They lead you on a wooden path over koi ponds to an individual massage hut. What a luxury!
The restaurants were, overall, excellent. No reservations are necessary at Dreams. The food was exceptional. It is the best food we have had at an all inclusive. The restaurants are very high end in both appearance and in the food. It was nice to dress up for dinner. The servings, except at the Sea Side Grille, which I would describe as an American type steak house, were smaller and the presentation was very nice. We never felt like we over ate and we had appetizers, a meal and a desert. The French restaurant was our favourite. We had rack of lamb there twice, mouth-watering and done to perfection. Yes, rack of lamb! At an all-inclusive! We couldn’t believe it. We had lunch every day at the beach barbecue. The barbecued chicken was to die for. There was always lots of food around and at all hours of the day. When the barbecue closed, the pizza place opened. The service was prompt. There did seem to be some instances where ingredients were lacking or different from what was listed on the menu (like no scallops in the Coquille St. Jacques, and no goat cheese in the Goat Cheese salad). The World Cafe had a good buffet with a nice selection of foods and included a special kids section for appropriate foods. The fresh Dominican coffee was excellent. I can’t say enough about the food it was AWESOME!
The wedding gazebo was very pretty and surrounded by fountains (but is not near the beach). There was a wedding just about every day we were there.
The grounds are VERY well kept. The bushes are trimmed, the grass is watered, the paths and pool deck are clean. There are flowers and flowering bushes everywhere. The pool is kept scrubbed and treated, and the water, for the most part, is crystal clear. The swim-up bar area was the only exception. I don’t know if it was heavy use, beach sand, or spilled drinks, but this area was a little cloudy.
The excursions ranged from scuba diving, to jungle tours, to horseback riding, to sailing. We did one snorkeling/catamaran excursion to the Marinarium (swim with sharks and sting rays!). This excursion left from the Caribbean side of the island, so it was a bit of a drive to get there. The water was gorgeous and clear, the snorkeling was very good, and the boat ride was fun and gave us a good view of other parts of the island.
Overall, we would say that Dreams Punta Cana is a nice 4 star resort. This is a great place for families or couples with a wide variety of food and activities. We had a fantastic time and would go back in a heartbeat! ~ Jeff and Ashley
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Muriel MacRae plans exciting getaways and customized vacations for honeymooners and families. As the owner of Del Sol Travel, she offers romantic vacations with personalized service and unique itineraries. Getting to know and understand her clients is critical in helping turn their ideas and vision into a unique and memorable masterpiece when creating their customized vacation. Located in Calgary, Alberta, she plans weddings, destination weddings, and honeymoons for couples in and around the Calgary and Banff area and throughout North America. For more information about planning your wedding, honeymoon, or romantic getaway, please contact her at travelinfo@delsoltravel.ca or phone 403-477-0643
