Jasmine Placeres
While the staff was absolutely amazing and provided excellent service throughout our stay, the overall experience did not justify the high nightly rate.
There was very little entertainment or nightlife available. There is no nightclub on the property only a lobby area where guests gather, which was extremely hot and humid and not an enjoyable atmosphere.
The beach was also very disappointing. It was covered in seaweed, had a strong odor, and was so dirty that it wasn't even appealing to walk along the shoreline, let alone swim.
On the third day of our stay, my nephew was bitten by a tick on his ear. When we sought medical attention, we were held responsible for the bill. The manager stated that they could not guarantee the tick bite occurred at the resort because we have dogs at home, despite the fact that we were staying on the property at the time.
To make matters worse, two days before our departure, my sister suffered from what appeared to be food poisoning. She was charged $600 for medical care, which did not include any medication or follow-up consultation and no reimbursement for lost excursions for the inconvenience.
Overall, I am very disappointed with our experience. While the staff was wonderful, the resort itself fell far short of expectations, and I would not choose to stay at a Dreams Resort again.
G T
This resort is stunning, with wildlife frequently roaming the grounds. However, this brings some challenges, such as occasional droppings on the floors and steps, which the staff often takes a while to clean up, even when notified. Please be cautious about ticks; my son ended up with one in his ear. My sister spoke with the manager about potential compensation, but I hadn’t requested anything from the hotel despite incurring a $300 fee for a doctor visit and treatment. While I recognize that some issues are beyond control, we had already been there for three days. The manager mentioned that having dogs negates any potential assistance from the hotel, even though I never asked for compensation. They implied that the tick might have come from our home, despite him noting it would have released underwater. Felt like I was being gaslighted. After three days of enjoying the pool, I was disappointed with how we were treated and I don’t plan on visiting this hotel again.
On a positive note, the rest of the staff were incredibly friendly and remembered our names, which was a nice touch. Service from the rest of the staff, not including the manager was amazing. Unfortunately due to the managers gaslighting techniques, I cannot give the service rating of 5. Because the manager is included as part of service. Additionally after 1 AM, there was little to do as the club was closed, and only one elevator in our building was functioning, leading to long walks. The beach was unpleasant and smelled due to an abundance of seaweed.
Restaurant Reviews
**Himitsu:**
By far the best dining option. We enjoyed the Vietnam rolls, mixed fried rice, banana roll, and California roll—all delicious! The hibachi reservation was overrated, as it was a fixed menu (miso soup, mixed fried rice, and tempura ice cream) without the option for rolls, which you can order separately when you chose the sit down option. We dined here three times.
**Oceana:**
I tried the whole fried fish for lunch, which needed more seasoning. The carbs were minimal, so we ended up at the buffet afterward. The chicken and mashed potatoes for my kids weren’t great either. Long wait times and seeing other tables receive their food first made me reluctant to return, though the shrimp tostada was excellent.
**Seaside Grill:**
I ordered the healthy omelette for breakfast, but the egg whites were undercooked. My kids enjoyed their hotcakes, though. A friend had lunch there and found it delicious, so it might be worth a try for other meals.
**World Café:**
Offers a variety of choices. The Mexican hot chocolate and coffee were fantastic; I had a cup every morning with a concha. The tacos were good, and I loved the make-your-own omelette station. However, the food quality varied; the spaghetti with red sauce was oddly sweet, and I wished for more taco options beyond just pork. It’s convenient but a bit hit or miss.
**Coco Café:**
Very convenient, open late, and provided great service. I visited daily for iced coffee.
Eva Eya
We’ve stayed here at least a dozen times, and this visit felt a bit disappointing.
At our favorite restaurant on the property, Portofino, we ordered two Ossobuco. One dish came out exactly as it always does, but the other arrived with the meat completely separated from the bone and stacked into a pile. It tasted off — almost like spoiled meat. After just a few bites, I became sick and ended up throwing up.
At Seaside Grill, no one was waiting when we arrived, yet we were handed a pager and told that if we purchased wine, we could be seated immediately; otherwise, the wait would be an hour. My husband and I don’t drink, so we decided to wait. Within 15 minutes we were somehow seated — and not a single party arrived after us for the entire period we dined. The hostess was simply following instructions, but the situation felt unnecessary and uncomfortable.
At checkout, the administrator handling Globalist benefits gave us a lecture about how time-consuming it is to process cash payments — explaining that he needed to scan our passports, fill out paperwork, and that it would take over 20 minutes. I understand it may be inconvenient, but this was at 7 a.m., with no one in line. Those 20 minutes weren’t just his time — they were ours, too.
Despite these issues, we would still give four stars because of the many friendly staff members who truly make this place what it is. Feria, though gone, was the single best concierge anyone could ever ask for. Fidel was great. Victor by the pool, Roberto and Irasima at the café, and Andrea at the spa were all wonderful and deserve recognition.
Virginie Dumas
I had a great stay at Dreams Riviera Cancun. The food and drinks are good. The resort is beautiful and well kept. The staff were very kind and attentive.
One of the highlights of my trip was the cats around the property. They brought me so much joy, and I even bonded with other guests over our shared love for them, which made the experience feel extra special.
I hope the resort continues to care for them, as they truly add something meaningful to the stay. I would definitely come back!
Ed
We booked a family wedding at Dreams Resort in Cancun expecting a relaxing, luxurious all-inclusive experience. What we got instead was a serious health crisis and complete disregard from the hotel staff.
My sister ate at the hibachi restaurant on the property and shortly afterward became violently ill with food poisoning. She had to be taken to the on-site clinic, where she was clearly suffering. Her husband (my nephew) stayed behind to care for her instead of enjoying the vacation they had planned. This ruined several days of their trip.
To make matters worse, they had already booked and paid for an excursion for about 10 people. Because of her illness, they couldn’t attend. The hotel refused to offer any reimbursement or even a partial credit for the missed activity. No compassion, no flexibility, no attempt to make it right – just a flat “no.”
For a resort that charges premium prices and markets itself as a dream vacation spot, this is completely unacceptable. Food safety should be the absolute bare minimum, yet here we are dealing with food poisoning from one of their signature restaurants. On top of that, their inflexible policy on excursions shows they care more about keeping every dollar than taking care of guests who get sick on their property.
We will never return to any Dreams resort and will strongly advise family and friends to avoid this place. If you’re considering booking here, think twice – especially if you have young children, elderly family members, or anyone with a sensitive stomach. A beautiful beach and fancy marketing don’t make up for getting poisoned and then being ignored when you need help.
Stay away. There are better options in Cancun/Riviera Maya.
