Dreams Playa Esmeralda Resort & Spa - All Inclusive

The stay was full of problems, and nobody in our group of 20, adults and children, would return. The second room wasn’t ready until 8 pm, and when we got into our room there was a giant cockroach. The second room had no deadbolt, and requested replacement snacks never arrived. One night the smoke alarm went off twice, then kept going on and off the next day. The preferred pool backflushed into itself and was unusable for a day. There was no batting cage despite it being advertised, and our butler couldn’t get us into the Japanese steakhouse. We paid extra for preferred ocean view rooms after calling 15-20 times to confirm adjoining rooms for our 13- and 16-year-old daughters. Someone finally said the upgrade would get us adjoining rooms, but at check-in there was no note of that and the rooms were in separate buildings. We spent hours trying to get the extra payment refunded, showing confirmation numbers and the contact details of the person we’d worked with. They dragged it out until departure day and never refunded a penny. We were charged adult rates for the kids, but they couldn’t eat at the adult restaurant or use the gym. The ocean was rough with big waves, not really swimmable or relaxing, and the language barrier made things difficult more often than not. Service was subpar, and the Dreams side food was poor. We did have one adults-only dinner at the steakhouse on the Secrets side, where the food, drinks, and service were excellent, much better than Dreams.

The breakfast and lunch buffets were great, but dinner at the restaurants wasn’t as outstanding as we expected for the price. The staff were very friendly and attentive. The resort is beautiful, though the bathroom divider was a screen with white panels, which we didn’t understand. If someone needed to turn on a light to use the bathroom at night, it lit up the bedroom and disturbed whoever was sleeping. Rainy evenings were another drawback. There was no backup plan for the shows, and the piano bar was too small for many people, so there was very little to do.

The resort looks lovely, but the ocean conditions make swimming difficult, so it may disappoint anyone wanting a beach-focused trip. Room service was the worst experience we’ve had, and I strongly recommend avoiding it. Meals arrived without cutlery twice after room service orders, and it also happened on two occasions in the restaurants. Forks, knives, or spoons were missing, and after this happened four times, it felt like an ongoing problem rather than a one-off mistake. By the time we got utensils, the food was cold. The shower drained slowly. When maintenance came to fix it, they left obvious boot prints in the shower, which was unacceptable. Hyatt should look into these service problems. The food and repair service at Dreams Playa Esmeralda are hurting the brand’s reputation.

Our dog was welcomed at several dining options and even got thoughtful amenities. There are lots of green spaces for walks and time outdoors, and it was clear pets are genuinely welcome here, not just put up with. We had an amazing stay with our dog. The staff were respectful and welcoming from the moment we arrived, and Miguel helped get us settled and made sure everything was right. He and the rest of the team made it unforgettable. This hotel is truly pet friendly, and we’d absolutely stay again.