Dreams Huatulco Resort & Spa

Behind the gates and walls separating Dreams from Huatulco, the family-friendly resort is vibrant with an open-floor lobby centered by the lobby bar, The Rendezvous. The spacious hotel has six pools, including two activity pools and two adult-only pools -- allowing guests to choose the level of action (and noise) they want to have. By day, the pools and common areas of Dreams are bustling with families and couples. At night, the a la carte restaurants and handful of bars are even livelier. Most of the bars are open throughout the day and into the night: casual Barracuda, trendy late-night Desires, and the relaxed Sugar Reef—giving guests plenty of opportunity to socialize. Depending on the the occupancy of the hotel and season, guests can also enjoy theme nights such as football night, karaoke night, casino night, movie night, and Mexican Fiesta. Most of the guests here are families letting loose on a beach vacation, though couples stay here too. 

Dreams Huatulco Resort & Spa has a lovely location on the golden sands of Tangolunda Beach, overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Most of the rooms at Dreams are a three- to five-minute walk to the beach. Huatulco International Airport is a 25-minute drive from the resort, and like most hotels in the area, it provides an airport shuttle for an extra fee. The restaurants and shops of downtown La Crucecita are a 10-minute drive from the hotel, including the mega department store, Super Che, which provides for all the grocery, liquor, and gadget needs that travelers might have. A handful of small restaurants and stores are a three-minute walk from the hotel as well. The 18-hole Las Parotas Golf Course is a six-minute drive from Dreams Resort and Spa. For the nature lovers, Huatulco National Park is a 20-minute drive from the hotel and features over 700 bird species and 9,000 plant species. 

The rooms at Dreams Huatulco Resort & Spa are clean and pleasant, but most guests don't use them for much more than sleeping, showering, or having a cup of coffee on the balcony. They're boldly decorated with bright orange accent walls and black-and-gray accents in geometric patterned throw rugs and abstract wall art. All rooms have free Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs, coffeemakers with coffee packets, minibars, and large furnished balconies. Rooms vary by view: some have direct ocean views, while others have a partial ocean view, and some have tropical garden views. The rooms with whirlpools are a nice upgrade. 

Bathrooms are well-appointed with ample vanity space and plenty of towels. All bathrooms have standing glass showers with rainfall showerheads. An extensive variety of toiletries is provided, along with hairdryers and incense. Evening turndown service is a pleasant touch. Past guests have complained about occasional maintenance issues. 

The best feature here is direct access to Tangolunda Beach, where there are a handful of thatched sunshades and beige lounge chairs. The beach is public, but is rarely overrun with people. Surfing, windsurfing, and kayaking are on offer and the beach is a turtle nesting ground for a large part of the year. The hotel also has six pools, three of which are infinity pools overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Two pools are adult-only, so those wanting a little more peace and quiet can choose to separate themselves from kids. All the pools have plenty of lounge chairs and sunshades for guests to use. Pools tend to get busy with families.

The fitness center and spa are located away from the main lobby and rooms. The spa offers traditional spa services such as massages, facials, and manicures -- and also has a special area with a spa pool, soaking tubs with jets, and sauna. Guests should note that spa services are not included in the all-inclusive package. The fitness center has a few modern cardio machines, free weights, and kettle balls. 

The kids’ club features a play area, a crafts area, an outdoor space with a small pool, and a TV area. The climbing wall is a fun extra for kids. Babysitting services are available for an extra charge. Dreams has a few meeting rooms for business meetings or large parties. The ample free self or valet parking is a nice addition. Wi-Fi is free throughout the hotel.

World Cafe is Dreams Resort & Spa’s main restaurant, located below the lobby and adjacent to the pool terrace. Open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, the restaurant serves an international buffet with a Mexican influence. The casual World Cafe hosts a different theme each night for dinner, such as Italian, French, and Mexican. Located adjacent to the lobby, Coco Cafe is open from early morning to late into the night, and offers light snacks, pastries, and coffee. Seaside Grill overlooks the pool terrace, and offers a casual, open-air atmosphere. Seaside Grill features grill fare with a Mexican influence for lunch and dinner. Menu items consist of nachos, beef tacos, hamburgers, and barbecue ribs. Dreams also offers 24-hour room service.

A host of a la carte dinner options are also available. El Patio offers traditional Mexican cuisine in a casual atmosphere with coral table overlays, brown-tile floors, and local artwork. El Patio has an appetizer bar, where guests can enjoy dishes of tostadas, quesadillas, ceviche, and guacamole. On the main menu, expect to see traditional Mexican dishes like enchiladas, chicken tortilla soup, and moles mixed with Oaxacan specialities of tlayudas (kind of like pizza) and spicy chapulines (grasshoppers). 

Portofino serves northern Italian cuisine in an elegant setting with sleek black-and-white chairs and charcoal table overlays. The menu features minestrone soup, risotto, and putanesca fusilli. Oceana offers fresh seafood and alfresco dining overlooking the pool terrace and Pacific Ocean. Favorite menu items include  balsamic shrimp with rice, octopus ravioli, and ceviche. Himitsu serves fusion Asian cuisine, including Thai chicken satay, chicken chow mein, and sushi rolls. Guests should note some a la carte restaurants have dress codes, and are only open based on the occupancy of the hotel.

There are plenty of places for guests to grab a drink throughout the day and well into the night. The Rendezvous lobby bar serves mixed drinks, beer, and wine in a casual, laid-back setting. Barracuda, the oceanfront bar, is also open from morning to night and serves beer, wine, mixed drinks, and frozen drinks in a casual alfresco setting. Open during the day, Sugar Reef is the beach bar and offers drinks in a barefoot atmosphere. Trendy Desires Lounge is only open late night, but guests can expect dancing, drinks, and music.