Dreams Playa Esmeralda Resort & Spa

My husband wanted to get away from the cold Nebraska winter so decided to try Playa Esmeralda. It was an amazing experience!!! It hasn’t been open a year yet so we weren’t sure what to expect! We found the staff to be friendly and helpful. Its beaches were absolutely beautiful and the waves fun to play in. We are planning to come back again and possibly bring our kids and grandkids! Thank you Playa Esmeralda, it was a perfect getaway!!!

Dreams Playa Esmeralda was a fantastic place for our family with teens! The resort is about 1.5 hours from Punta Cana airport - a decent drive though, not rough, lots of jungle, mountains & scenery. The resort is very secluded and it feels like you are on a private beach. The ocean is gorgeous, had a lot of waves and wind was steady. You could walk a ways and have nice gentle lapping waves around the point. Beaches with chairs were fantastic ! Always enough space and plenty of chairs to choose from. Pools are very nice. Swim up bars were not crowded. Food was excellent. We especially enjoyed the Mexican restaurant and the hibachi! Our teens loved the water slides! There were two big slides and then a smaller area with 3 slides for toddlers/smaller ones. Entertainment team did great! Julia from Tierra restaurant was fabulous. Perfecto, Joel & Maria were great! Beds and rooms were extremely comfortable and so nice! If we had one complaint, it would be the service is a little slow. But if you slow down and expect it, it’s not too bad. We did do preferred club and I would recommend here as there is only one pool area (two pools) for non preferred.

Firstly the staff and the Children’s Explorer Club were amazing and incredibly welcoming to our 3 and 5 year olds. Our children felt at ease from the moment we arrived, even though we were unsure how they would take to kids club. The staff were warm, welcoming, and friendly. Activities were well organised and fun. The team kept us updated about our just turned 3 year old, who can get emotional when tired (Wily, Lily, Ashley, Ana, Greiby) you were all simply amazing. Thank you! Butler: Wandi Wandi was also amazing! super helpful, friendly, and kind. When we had a shower issue, she took care of it and even noticed the problem recurred, arranging a room swap for us. Not only that she arranged table bookings and organised birthday cakes for us (the birthday cakes are incredible!). This level of service was fantastic. Nothing was too much trouble for her... A big thank you to Wandi for her outstanding care. Replacement butler Francesco (for the final two days) who took over from Wandi for the final two days made checkout stress-free. Thank you to both team members for their excellent service. Pool Attendant Francis at the Dreams preferred pool was the busiest and one of the hardest working staff we have ever seen. He ensured guests found sunbeds and shade, and helped people order food and drinks by coordinating with waiters. He was friendly to everyone and assisted the bar staff when needed. What a great guy! Overall Holiday Experience: We had a fantastic holiday, facilities are great and there’s always something going on. The food and restaurant experiences were excellent. Despite concerns from other reviews, we were very pleased. My husband has a shellfish allergy, every restaurant asked about allergies and listened carefully, which was reassuring. Beach and Surroundings: The beach is so beautiful. There are areas to swim along the shore, and we enjoyed watching three weddings during our stay. Areas for Improvement / Minor Niggles Excursions: When looking at booking, we were quoted a price that later changed, leading us to book with a different tour company. Preferred Pool Bar: Staff at times were not very friendly. On occasions, when I was with my 3 year old trying to order a drink, some staff would look at us, turn away, or go on their phones, even when the bar wasn’t busy. This felt rude and frustrating when we were the only people there. After this lovely holiday experience we would definitely book to visit again or another Dreams hotel.

For our 1st all-inclusive stay, this was such an amazing experience! My husband and I went here for a wedding and to celebrate our honeymoon. The room is so beautiful and clean. Housekeeping comes 2x a day to tidy up the room, beverages are always restocked. Although room service, isn't as appetizing. The Secrets (side buffet) is our favorite! The restaurants are so delicious, lots of options although as the days go - we feel that food is somewhat the same. (not sure if that is typical for all inclusive stays). The pool, beach, amenities are gorgeous! We didn't bring our kids with us, but we know that the kids will love this resort (daycare facility, tons of activities for the kids, water park, child pools, shows).

Beach at this location is 10++ . Despite other reviews, yes you can swim in the ocean you just have walk around to cove area if waves are too big (depends on the day). Hotel is still working out some of the service issues given it is relatively new. We switched to preferred section upon arrival which I highly recommend. More intimate, nicer pool section and dedicated restaurant. We have travelled to many Dreams & Hyatt resorts and noticed that the services, experiences and food is definitely not the same in DR. Butler services are not like other resorts. Didn't make reservations for all restaurants, and didn't provide extra perks you would typically receive as preferred guests in other resorts. The staff overall were amazing! Very responsive and made our stay extra special, especially those working at Windows restaurant (Delhina is a star and made our grandson's bday extra special!) Frances in the pool area is also fantastic!! Preferred Concierge front desk staff need more training on customer service and put a smile on your faces! Offer guests a big welcome, it will go a long way! Most restaurants the service was excellent! Food is just average. I had one major complaint that the our hamburger was undercooked (raw inside) - Manager said you need to request the meat well done?! Coffee shop offered an assortment of sandwiches and pastries. World cafe buffet dinner was the only one night that was totally disappointing and we never returned. Cocktail prep and liquor brand selection varied depending on the bar area which isn't good as consistency is most important. Terrible house wine (you can however order from a wine list for an additional cost). Spa services were amazing - our group used the hydrotherapy section, sauna and steam room. Facial was great too! Nightly entertainment - loved the magic show, Dominican musical, neon party!