Our family recently experienced a seven-day getaway at the all-inclusive Dreams Sapphire Resort & Spa. After months of brutal Michigan winter weather, our family was ready for some fun in the sun.
We've been fortunate to visit various all-inclusive resorts in Cancun and other parts of Mexico over the years. In this Dreams Sapphire Resort Review, I'll share our family's pros and cons with this specific resort and whether or not we'd return for another visit.
Dreams Sapphire Resort Overview
The Dreams Sapphire Resort & Spa is located in Puerto Morelos in Quintana Roo, Mexico. There are 488 suites at this beachfront resort nestled inside of a beautiful jungle which is home to a variety of animal species I've never seen in my entire life.
The resort is a 25-minute drive from the airport and around 40 minutes from the downtown Cancun hotel zone. With the extra evening noise we experienced at the Paradissus Cancun last year, staying outside of the Cancun Hotel Zone was a treat.
This family-friendly resort features a kids' club with water slides, beautiful white sand beaches, and a luxurious spa.
We traveled in February and the weather was perfect. Our days had temperatures in the low to mid-80s and at night, the temperature only dipped slightly. We were wearing T-shirts and shorts all day and night.
Dreams Sapphire Resort Review: Best Features
We had six family members with us this year. During one of our final dinners, I asked everyone to share their favorite features of the resort. Here are some of the pros of the Dreams Sapphire that came up within our group.
Resort Layout
When we approached the exterior of the Dreams Sapphire, it felt a bit understated compared to other resorts we've visited. It didn't have a grand entrance or a multi-story building that greeted you. Surprisingly, that's one of the main features we grew to appreciate the most. The overall campus felt more approachable with a friendly neighborhood vibe.
In the center of the resort, we had our own town square. It was surrounded by a series of shops including a cafe, smoothie shop, sports bar, video game parlor, and much more. In the morning, we would meet for coffee and greet our neighbors from around the world. As the sun set, we would play games and have a cocktail while our kids roamed the campus making memories with new friends.
Our rooms were a 5-minute walk from the main resort area. Along that walk, you would be greeted by adorable jungle animals. We heeded the warning of not feeding these little guys but man were they cute. The Coatimundi was our favorite by far – like a monkey mixed with a cat and then again mixed with a raccoon.
Family Friendly
Although we've visited many all-inclusive resorts in the past, the Dreams Sapphire felt especially accommodating for families. They had a kids club for the young ones. Next door, they had three different water slides. My son tried them all over a hundred times. He loved it.
Their game room had fun for the preteens and teens. Billiards, air hockey, ping pong, old-school stand-up video games, and even the newer video games on Xbox were available until 10 pm each night.
There was a variety of kid-friendly food options at the restaurants that had kids in mind as well. And when they wanted a special treat, our kids would visit the smoothie shop or the cafe and get whatever they wanted. After all, it's an all-inclusive!
Customer Service
The kindness and energy level of the staff at Dreams Sapphire was top-notch. We felt welcomed, included, and taken care of during our time there.
Each day, the staff would encourage us to try out different activities including beach volleyball, water aerobics, Zumba fitness, cornhole and so much more. And in the evening, we watched excellent musical performances, fire shows and even got to do karaoke on stage!
The amount of things to do at the Dreams Sapphire was plentiful. We were never bored. There was one slightly rainy morning during our seven days there. To keep the positive energy level going, the staff decided to set up a series of games inside. Kids and adults all got involved and the smiles continued. They even ended that morning with a parade to brighten everyone's spirits as the sun began to come out again.
One special surprise and delight moment happened on Valentine's Day. They had a wedding vow renewal ceremony for all the guests. My wife and I took advantage of it and renewed our wedding vows after nearly 15 years together.
The Beach
This part of Mexico has beautiful beaches. The beach outside of our resort was clean, quiet and peaceful.
We took advantage of morning runs, quiet meditation moments, and volleyball with family and new friends. I miss sticking my feet in the soft, white sand already!
Dreams Sapphire Resort Review: Areas for Improvement
There was a ton to appreciate about Dreams Sapphire. To give you the full picture, we wanted to share a few areas for improvement. We hope you, Dreams Sapphire, and the World of Hyatt consider these in future visits.
Inconsistent Rules and Policies
On multiple occasions, our overall group experience was affected by rules and policies we were unaware of. I'll share two “anti-surprise and delight” moments.
Arrive 10 Minutes early at Japanese Steakhouse
Through a recommendation from the front desk reception, we made a reservation at the Japanese Steakhouse via the World of Hyatt app on Day 2. Our reservation was at 7:30 pm and we arrived at 7:34 pm. After standing in line for an additional 6 minutes, we were told that our table was given away and we would have to book another reservation. According to their policies, if you arrive 5 minutes late you will lose your table.
I get it. Many people make reservations and probably don't show up for them. If this is a very rigid policy, it would make more sense to inform guests of this policy during the check-in process or when they book through the app. For my friends considering visiting the resort, make sure to arrive 5-10 minutes early for your reservation at the Japanese Steakhouse. Punctuality is key here.
Belongings removed From Beach Chairs after 45 minutes
Another more upsetting instance happened on Day 5. We secured some beach chairs for our day, left our things on those chairs, and went to eat breakfast. When we came back, all of our stuff was gone. We looked around and asked other guests what might have happened to our stuff. They told us that management was taking things off of people's chairs who weren't there.
After confronting the staff removing things from other chairs at the time, I asked what happened. I was informed they have a policy that allows them to remove belongings from chairs if people aren't sitting in them for 45 minutes.
Again, I get it. You can't hold chairs all day long, but either way, this policy would have been good to know when we checked in originally. After this, we felt apprehensive about leaving our chairs at all because we worried that our stuff might get taken. We did retrieve all of our things from “lost and found” but it was upsetting nonetheless.
The App
Overall, the app is subpar. There were missing restaurants from the restaurant list. The daily activities details were more often than not incorrect.
Booking restaurant reservations through the app was difficult and confusing.
As a guest, be aware that many of the smaller customer service tasks are being outsourced to the app, but the app is not great. This wasn't a deal killer. It's just another area for improvement.
Frequently Asked Questions: Dreams Sapphire Resort Review
If you're planning your visit to Dreams Sapphire Resort, you may have some additional questions. Here are some that you may have and we'll continue to add more as they come up.
When was the Dreams Sapphire renovated?
Dreams Sapphire Resort was renovated and re-opened in 2021 after shedding its former name, NOW Sapphire Riviera Cancun. This resort is part of the World of Group.
Does the Dreams Sapphire have an adults-only pool?
Yes, the Dreams Sapphire Resort has an adult-only pool – referred to as the Preferred Pool. They also have a family-friendly pool near the main entrance.
What Hyatt hotel category is Dreams Sapphire?
Dreams Sapphire is a Category B hotel. You can get a free night for between 17,000 and 23,000 Hyatt points.
What are some alternative all-inclusive resorts to the Dreams Sapphire?
In the last three years, our family has also visited Paradissus Cancun and the Riu Palace Mexico. Check out our detailed reviews to see if they might fit better for your family.
Final Thoughts on our Dreams Sapphire Resort Review
The week we spent at the Dreams Sapphire Resort was incredible! We've had the opportunity to visit over a half dozen of these Mexican all-inclusive resorts. Dreams Sapphire would be one of my favorites.
While there could be some minor improvements in their policy communication, overall, the trip was relaxing, fun and memorable. I would definitely return to the Dreams Sapphire in the coming years.
With that in mind, it's time for us to start saving up for our next trip! Tracking that vacation savings has become a lot easier for us with our go-to family budgeting app Monarch Money.
Check out our full Monarch Money review here and see how it can help you prepare for your next family vacation!
What do you think of this Dreams Sapphire Resort review?
Have you and your family had the opportunity to visit Puerto Morelos? Or are you considering it?
Please let us know in the comments below.
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