Dreams Vallarta Bay Resort & Spa Review: Is It Worth It for Families?

• Facebook
• Instagram
• Amazon
• Pinterest

If you’re considering staying at Dreams Vallarta Bay Resort & Spa, you’re probably wondering if it’s actually worth it—especially for a family trip. We recently spent a long weekend here, and I’m sharing exactly what we loved, what surprised us, and what you should know before booking.

What made our visit unexpectedly even more enjoyable was the timing. Because of the events that took place in February in Puerto Vallarta, tourism was still a bit quieter than usual when we arrived. The resort was operating at about 50% capacity, which meant plenty of open lounge chairs at the pool and very short wait times at restaurants. So even though there was a lot of uncertainty leading up to our trip, it ended up being a huge bonus for our all-inclusive stay.

That being said, we felt completely safe in Puerto Vallarta. This is one of our favorite cities to visit in Mexico, so we are happy to see it bouncing back nicely.

Here’s a look at what our experience was like at Dreams Vallarta Bay and why it’s a great choice for a Puerto Vallarta vacation.

Quick Take: Is Dreams Vallarta Bay Worth It?

If you’re looking for a family-friendly all-inclusive resort in Puerto Vallarta with great food, a swimmable beach, and easy access to downtown, Dreams Vallarta Bay is a fantastic option. We especially loved the pools and service, though there are a few things to consider before booking.

First Impressions of Dreams Vallarta Bay

This Hyatt Dreams all-inclusive beachfront resort is located just a short drive from downtown Puerto Vallarta and the Malecón. It’s central to many of the best things to do in Puerto Vallarta, making it a convenient resort option. One of the things we loved right away was how easy and compact the resort feels. Everything is within a short walk—from the pools to the restaurants to the beach.

The property sits next door to its sister resort, Secrets Vallarta Bay Puerto Vallarta, which is the adults-only side of the property. While the two resorts share some amenities, Dreams Vallarta Bay is designed primarily for families, so you’ll see kids splashing in the pool, families hanging out on the beach, and lots of relaxed vacation energy.

Even though it’s family-friendly, it never felt chaotic during our stay. With the lower occupancy, the atmosphere was laid-back and uncrowded, which made the whole experience feel extra relaxing. We were also surprised by how many groups chose to stay on the Dreams side even though they didn’t appear to have children traveling with them.

Rooms and Suites at Dreams Vallarta Bay

All accommodations at Dreams Vallarta Bay are suite-style rooms, which is a big plus for families. The resort has over 300 suites, all located in a single tower with either ocean or garden views. And every room includes a private balcony or terrace, a hydro tub, and 24-hour room service. The garden view rooms also have a hot tub on their balconies. And most garden view rooms actually have a pool and ocean view as well.

Unfortunately, no rooms can accommodate more than four guests, which isn’t ideal for larger families.

The entry-level option is the Junior Suite, which is surprisingly spacious (around 580+ square feet). These can sleep up to four guests with either a king bed or two doubles—making it a great fit for families.

From there, you can upgrade to swim-out suites, which offer direct pool access from your patio, or ocean-view rooms with beautiful views of Banderas Bay. I was envious of these swim-out rooms every time we were at the pool, and can see how that is a huge advantage on busier days.

For an elevated experience, the Preferred Club suites come with upgraded locations, enhanced amenities, and access to a private lounge with food, drinks, and concierge service.

At the top end, larger Master Suites and the Presidential Suite feature separate living areas, expansive terraces, and even private plunge pools. These are ideal for a more luxurious or adults-only style stay.

The Pools and Beach

Like most all-inclusive resorts, the pool area is where everyone tends to gather, and Dreams Vallarta Bay has a few different options depending on the vibe you’re looking for.

There’s a large main pool where activities happen throughout the day—things like games, music, and water aerobics. That’s also where you’ll find the swim-up bar. But there are also quieter areas where you can relax with a drink and look out at the ocean.

Because the resort wasn’t at full capacity, we never had to play the dreaded “save the pool chair at 7 a.m.” game. We could wander down mid-morning and still find good seats, which made the whole day feel more relaxed.

The beach is right in front of the resort with beautiful views across Banderas Bay. Like much of Puerto Vallarta’s coastline, the sand is a little darker and the waves can be stronger, but it’s still a beautiful place to walk or watch the sunset.

Food and Restaurants at Dreams Vallarta Bay

One of the perks of staying at an all-inclusive resort is not having to think about meals, and Dreams Vallarta Bay has a solid lineup of restaurants.

There are several options ranging from casual to sit-down dining, including Mexican cuisine, Italian, seafood, and a buffet. One thing we appreciated is that most restaurants don’t require reservations, which makes it easy to decide where to eat on the fly.

Our favorite restaurant was Himitsu, the hibachi restaurant. This one DOES require a reservation, as there are only three hibachi grills. Reservations need to be made with the concierge at 10am each morning, and they offer same-day reservations only. It’s definitely worth it!

During our stay, the shorter lines made the dining experience even better. We were usually seated quickly, even with our group of 8 people, and service was relaxed but efficient.

There is one adults-only restaurant on the Dreams property, which can be a nice option if you’re traveling without kids or want a slightly quieter dinner. It has a bit stricter of a dress code as well, so plan ahead if you want some finer dining options.

I do wish the pool dining had a selection of tacos, burritos, quesadillas and nachos. They mostly served pizza, hamburgers and hotdogs. And while the food was quite good, I was hoping for more Mexican food options.

Additional Dining Options

Guests at Dreams Vallarta Bay also have the option to pay for access to the restaurants at Secrets Vallarta Bay, the adults-only resort next door. That can add even more variety, but honestly, we found that Dreams already had plenty of dining options for a long weekend stay. If we were staying there for a whole week, we’d probably enjoy that option. But with only 3 nights, we already knew we couldn’t try everything the Dreams offered.

Family-Friendly Amenities

Dreams Vallarta Bay definitely leans into being family-friendly, which makes it a great choice for parents traveling with kids.

Some of the family-focused amenities include:

• A kids club with supervised activities. My kids enjoyed the soccer field and trampoline they have.
• A teen club with games and hangout space. Even my picky 14-year old approved.
• Daily pool and beach activities
• Spacious rooms that work well for families (granted, not large families. 4 people or less per room.)
• Family-friendly entertainment options. We watched a Beatle-themed performance one night and participated in a silent DJ party another night.

Even if you’re traveling without kids, the layout of the resort keeps things balanced so it never feels like the entire property revolves around children.

The Overall Atmosphere

What stood out most during our stay was just how easy the whole trip felt.

Everything—from grabbing poolside drinks to walking to dinner to catching the sunset on the beach—was simple and convenient. We were greeted with guava margaritas upon arrival and they accommodated our early check-in request. With the resort running at about half capacity, we got to experience it at a pace that felt relaxed instead of hectic.

Sometimes all-inclusive resorts can feel crowded or overwhelming, but that definitely wasn’t the case for us during this visit.

The Not-So-Great Parts of the Dreams Vallarta Bay Resort

Because we are a family of 5, we had to book two rooms. This is never ideal, but luckily, I had enough Hyatt rewards points for one free room. So that made it a lot more affordable.

• Want to know how I got a free room? Check out my favorite travel rewards credit cards to see which cards I recommend for the best travel rewards.

I booked one king room and one double bed room and then requested they be adjoining. Unfortunately, they couldn’t get us right next door to each other while also accommodating our early check in. But at least we were just a couple doors down. The bummer was they gave us two double rooms and said they had no king room nearby. The double beds are much smaller than the king bed, so that wasn’t ideal.

The other odd thing is that both of our rooms had clothing left behind by us. We received a picture a couple days after checking out that showed us the items we left behind. But my husband always does a super thorough sweep anytime we travel. These items weren’t on the floor, under the bed, in the bathtub or anywhere else visible to us. I’m not sure if housekeeping put them in a drawer somewhere or if there was a bin in the room they put them in. But the cheapest option to have these items shipped back to us was $122 using the company the hotel partners with. It just feels a bit scammy, to be honest.

Is Dreams Vallarta Bay Worth It?

If you’re looking for a family-friendly all-inclusive resort in Puerto Vallarta, Dreams Vallarta Bay is a great option—especially if you want something close to downtown while still having that classic beach resort feel. I enjoyed that our room had a beautiful ocean and pool view from the balcony. What’s more, just outside our front door, we had a beautiful view of the city. It made me feel like we were immersed in the Puerto Vallarta city scene, even though we didn’t really leave the resort.

This Hyatt resort is particularly ideal for:

• Families who want an easy all-inclusive vacation
• Travelers who like having multiple restaurant options
• Visitors who want to be close to downtown Puerto Vallarta
• Anyone who enjoys a lively but still relaxed resort atmosphere

Our long weekend there was full of sunshine, pool time, and great food—and sometimes that’s exactly the kind of vacation you need.

FAQs

Is Dreams Vallarta Bay swimmable?

Yes! The beach in front of the resort is swimmable, albeit a bit rocky.

How far is it from downtown Puerto Vallarta?

It’s about a 5-minute drive from the Dreams resort to downtown Puerto Vallarta, or about a 15-20 minute walk.

Is it good for kids?

Yes, the resort is great for kids and families. The kids club and activities are designed with children in mind. And there were kid’s menus at each restaurant, which some of their hometown favorites, like chicken nuggets and noodles.

Is it worth the price?

This one is hard to say. I think there are other resorts that are less expensive but still provide an enjoyable experience. For families of 4 or less, I’d say yes. But for families who need to book two rooms to stay here, it’s a bit of a splurge. That being said, using Hyatt points to book a room makes it extremely afforable!

What’s included in the all-inclusive?

Food and beverages at all of the on-site restaurants and bars, plus 24-hour room service are all included in your stay. There in a mini fridge in your room that should be stocked daily and is also included. Organized activities, kids club and the gym are included as well.

Is there a waterpark at the Dreams Vallarta Bay resort?

No, there is no waterpark at this resort. However, there is one small water slide that my 9-year old enjoyed.

For more information about Puerto Vallarta resorts, check out these other posts:

• Hotel Villa del Palmar: A Family Resort
• Cheapest All-Inclusive Family Resorts

Note: Affiliate links on this page may earn me commission if used to make purchases. This doesn’t cost you a penny extra, and it helps to keep my website up and running for free.