Dreams Tulum Review
The Dreams Tulum Resort and Spa is an all-inclusive resort situated on the eastern coast of Mexico in Tulum. You can enjoy your meals, drinks, and activities without worrying about additional charges as they are included in the price of your room. The resort is located along Riviera Maya, which is about 90 minutes south of Cancun. You can only reach the resort by car.
Although the drive from the airport to Tulum has flat roads and clear signs, I suggest avoiding self-driving unless you are proficient in Spanish and well-versed in Mexican law. I recommend booking a pre-arranged shuttle instead, as it is the most convenient option.
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Although the Dreams Tulum Resort and Spa is not very expansive, there are still plenty of activities to keep you entertained throughout your entire stay. However, there isn’t much to explore on foot in the resort’s immediate vicinity, but you can reach the town of Tulum in just 10 minutes by car. Moreover, the nearby Mayan ruins, cenotes and other local attractions are also conveniently accessible by car.
This resort is situated in a dense jungle area with a beautiful beachfront. It features impressive architecture and cozy rooms that have whirlpools and hammocks. There is a peaceful white-sand beach to enjoy, along with two pools overlooking the ocean, a kids club, and a spa surrounded by jungle. The resort is conveniently located just a 15-minute drive from Tulum and is close to popular attractions like the Coba ruins and Akumal Bay.
The all-inclusive package offers various benefits, such as limitless food and drinks, admission to both pools on the premises, access to the Explorers Club and the Teen Core program, beach sports, the fitness center, and additional perks. Full details can be found here.
You can enjoy various activities on the beautiful 2-mile white-sand beach such as beach yoga, beach soccer, and casual swimming. If you prefer to relax under the sun, apply sunscreen and visit the heated pool. Your kids can participate in activities organized by the Explorer’s Club like playing video games or going on a camping adventure on the beach.
Please book a massage in one of our themed spa bungalows, which are located in a lush jungle.
Don’t forget to check out our Spa Pantry on your way out. You can make your own body scrubs and lotions using Mexican flora available at the pantry. Additional charges apply for this unique amenity.
In the evenings, you can enjoy themed dinners and watch movies on a big screen that is set up right on the beach. And if you’re interested in the Turtle Release Program, you can witness the incredible sight of baby sea turtles making their way from their shells to the sea from a reserved area on the beach (September-October).
During our visit to the Dreams Tulum Resort and Spa for my friend’s wedding, I initially booked the cheapest option, which was a deluxe garden view room. However, upon check-in, I was pleasantly surprised to receive an upgrade to a deluxe garden view junior suite. This was made possible through my Expedia Rewards VIP Access hotel benefits. These suites are quite spacious and offer either one king bed or two double beds. They can very easily accommodate up to three adults, but please note that adding a third person would lead to an increase in the room price.
The en-suite bathrooms are roomy and have two sinks with sufficient countertop space for two people. They comprise an enclosed toilet stall and an exposed shower and jacuzzi tub. You will be given 4 oz size bottles of Dreams branded bath and body products, sunblock, toothbrushes, toothpaste, and shaving kits, among other essentials.
The bathroom has a window blind that provides privacy. However, it’s important to note that the blind doesn’t fully cover the window, which means that people can still see in.
The room comes equipped with a range of amenities for your convenience such as an LCD television with international channels, a DVD player, a mini-bar that is all-inclusive, 24-hour room service, WiFi access, a coffee-maker, and an in-room safe. Your mini-bar will be restocked daily, and anything ordered from the room service is already covered by the cost of your stay.
Even though the resort seems big on paper, it is actually easy to walk around. The main corridor has most of the stores, restaurants, and amenities. The resort is well-maintained and easy to navigate. For families with younger children, there is a kids’ club and teenage social club for entertainment. The resort has two on-site pools and a private white-sand beach with direct access.
The pools and beach offer all-inclusive wait service, but you must pay extra for water recreational activities, spa services, and cabana rentals. However, there are free entertainment and activities like salsa dancing and yoga on the beach.
To know the schedule for the day’s activities, you can check the entertainment program board or the in-house TV channel.
There are 16 dining options and bars available, so guests will not go hungry or thirsty. You can try different flavors at six a la carte restaurants, such as French dishes at Bordeaux, Italian dishes at Portofino, and Pan-Asian dishes at Himitsu. If you need to eat something quick, you can go to the Barefoot Grill nearby without leaving your poolside lounger. You can also enjoy iced coffee or ice cream from Coco Cafe.
At the venue, there are many drink options available to suit every taste and preference. The Lounge bar features lively decor and elaborate chandeliers to create a certain ambiance. Over at the Sugar Reef bar, you can savor tropical cocktails and chilly daiquiris while relaxing on the beach. For those who prefer non-alcoholic choices, the Smoothie Bar serves up fantastic blended drinks on a sunny deck, while the Revive juice bar specializes in nourishing and invigorating beverages.
I would like to express that I found the Dreams Tulum Resort and Spa to be average. Despite the spacious rooms, there was a sense of outdated decor.
The quality of food, refreshments and drinks was not noteworthy and the service was lacking. Although the amenities and entertainment were satisfactory, the negatives surpassed the positives. During our stay at the resort, we faced some service issues that affected our experience.
The wait staff at the restaurants seemed forgetful as we had to remind them multiple times to bring us our orders, leading to delays or missing items. Additionally, one of the yoga instructors didn’t arrive for the beach class as scheduled. Moreover, the bars were understaffed, causing delays in receiving our drink orders. Although these may seem like minor problems, the combined effect left us feeling underwhelmed with our overall resort experience.
What we loved about the resort:
What we didnt like:
Have any of you stayed at the Dreams Tulum Resort and Spa? If you have, feel free to share your thoughts in the comments section. Thank you for your time!
I recommend these travel resources for Mexico that I personally use:
🏨 Hotels: I have found that Expedia and Booking.com consistently have the best deals on hotels and resorts in Mexico. If you prefer to stay at a vacation rental, check VRBO that is usually cheaper than AirBnB’s added fees!
✈️ Flights: To find the best flight deals to Mexico, I always use Kayak. Remember to subscribe to their price alerts for the travel dates you want. Another great alternative for flight deals is Expedia.
🚗 Rental Cars: I always use and highly recommend Discover Cars because it allows me to compare several car rental companies and view ratings on various factors such as overall value, pick-up procedure, agent efficiency, car condition, and total time taken.
🚙 Cancun Airport Transportation: For the fastest and easiest way to travel, I suggest arranging a private transfer with Cancun Airport Transportation. Honestly, no better way to travel from the airport to your hotel or resort.
🤿 Tours & Activities: For tours and activities in Mexico, I highly recommend using either Viator or GetYourGuide. These websites offer a full refund if you cancel your booking 24 hours before the start of the tour, and they also provide excellent customer service in case of any issues.
🚨 Travel Insurance: I always suggest purchasing travel insurance as a precaution before traveling, especially after a recent accident in a taxi in Mexico. For short trips, I recommend Travel Insurance Master, whereas for digital nomads, Safety Wing is a better option.
📷 Best Camera for your trip: I always carry with me a GoPro, It’s light, compact, takes great video and pictures, and most importantly, it’s waterproof! You just can’t go wrong with one. If you are interested in higher quality video and photography, I always carry with me on my trips and highly recommend the Sony A7IV which I think is the best travel DSLR Camera out there.
☀️ Biodegradable Sunscreen: Remember to include a good sunscreen to protect yourself from the summer sun. I always use and suggest Sun Bum Sunscreen, which is vegan, reef-friendly, and cruelty-free.
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