During a recent visit to Huatulco, I was a guest at the Dreams Huatulco Resort & Spa, an all-inclusive, family-friendly Mexico hotel. This is a review of my experience.
THE STYLE: A 421-room all-inclusive resort on Mexico’s Pacific coast, Dreams Huatulco Resort & Spa has operated since 2008 with its current name, and has benefited from multiple upgrades and improvements. The style is fresh, casual and family-friendly, with a colorful, giant alebrije sculpture gracing the entrance and plenty of space and a children’s program making this a popular choice for vacationers with kids. Guests here don’t have to wear the bracelets that many all-inclusive resorts require, which is a nice touch.
GUEST ROOMS: Guest rooms are attractively decorated with clean, contemporary style and colorful accents. Rooms are furnished with either one king-size bed or two double beds, as well as a private balcony or terrace, bathrobes and slippers, coffee maker, DVD/CD player, WiFi (extra fee of U.S.$15/day or cheaper if you pay for four or more days; free with Preferred Club rooms), alarm clock with MP3 docking station and minibar restocked with beer soft drinks and water daily. The bathroom is well equipped with amenities including hair dryer, bathroom scale, toothpaste, SPF 15 sun screen lotion and even incense. Ceiling fans in every room are a nice touch.
HOTEL FEATURES: There are six swimming pools, including one for adults only. Other on-site activities include kayaks, snorkeling, Spanish classes, cooking classes, archery and aerobics. Admission to the Explorer’s Club is included in room rates, for children age three to 12.
Seven restaurants satisfy a variety of different tastes, including Mexican, pan-Asian, seafood, steak and grilled specialties and international buffet cuisine. The Italian restaurant, Portofino, is for adults only, and reservations are not needed for the five a-la-carte restaurants (if the venue is full, they’ll give you a beeper and let you know when there is an opening). 24-hour room service is also available and included in the room rates.
I enjoyed a better-than-average aromatherapy massage at the 12,900-square-foot Dreams Spa by Pevonia & Fitness Center, which also has an attractive, semi-open-air relaxation lounge with hydrotherapy pools.
Nightly entertainment includes live dance and music performances, outdoor theme party nights and big-screen movies on the beach.
BEST FOR: Families seeking lots of amenities, including a children’s program, in a beachfront all-inclusive resort setting.