Review: What it's like staying at Dreams Flora Resort & Spa near Punta Cana - The Points Guy (2024)

With each trip I take to the Dominican Republic, I fall more and more in love with the tropical country's beautiful beaches, picturesque palm trees, great weather and friendly people.

I've also fallen in love with a few of its many great all-inclusive resorts, which range from family-friendly spots to adults-only properties and even resort-within-a-resort experiences where you can get the best of both worlds.

On a recent trip to the Dominican Republic, I had the chance to check out one of Hyatt's most recent additions to the country, the family-friendly Dreams Flora Resorts & Spa in the greater Punta Cana area, where all-inclusive resorts of all shapes and sizes can be found lining the beaches for miles and miles.

Related: The best all-inclusive resorts in Punta Cana for every type of traveler

As a travel expert who has spent a lot of time at all-inclusive resorts in Mexico and in the Caribbean, I usually have a pretty good idea of what to expect from these types of resorts — but this one surprised me for the better in some ways most other properties haven't, particularly when it comes to design and amenities.

Here's my review of the Dreams Flora Resort & Spa — and what you should know before booking a stay there.

What is Dreams Flora Resort & Spa?

Situated in Cabeza de Toro, about a 25-minute drive from the Punta Cana International Airport (PUJ), Dreams Flora Resort & Spa is a family-friendly all-inclusive resort that participates in World of Hyatt, meaning that members can earn or burn points at the property. Formerly the Natura Park Beach Eco Resort & Spa, the resort underwent a dramatic transformation and reopened with a fresh and contemporary design scheme under the Dreams umbrella in early 2023. Today the resort has 520 tech-forward and modern suites, all with balconies or terraces, alongside multiple pools, eight restaurants, thirteen bars and lounges, day and night entertainment, a spa and even a small water park.

How to book Dreams Flora Resort & Spa

In Punta Cana, you can find all-inclusive resorts that range from bare-bones budget to high-end luxury. Dreams Flora falls somewhere in the middle, with advertised rates starting at $160 per person, per night or $320 per night for double occupancy. It's a pretty good deal, I'd say, but it's important to remember that rates can fluctuate significantly throughout the year, and the busy winter season is likely to be more expensive.

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Preferred Club-level rooms have advertised rates starting at $208.50 per person, per night or $417 per night for double occupancy. Club-level rooms come with access to a private check-in area in the chic Preferred Club Lounge, which offers drinks and food throughout the day, exclusive pools (including an adults-only option), an exclusive a la carte restaurant open for breakfast and lunch, suites in premium locations, upgraded bath amenities (more on that later), a pillow menu and a concierge who can assist with making reservations and any other need via WhatsApp.

For World of Hyatt members, booking an award stay at Dreams Flora can be a great use of points as it's a Category B property on Hyatt's all-inclusive award chart, meaning that award nights can be found starting at 17,000 points per night, based on double occupancy. However, finding award availability can be tough, so try to book as early as possible.

When booking the Dreams Flora Resort & Spa, you'll want to use one of the credit cards that earn the most points for Hyatt stays, as well as one that possibly offers automatic World of Hyatt elite status for value-added benefits. These include:

• World of Hyatt Credit Card: Earn 4 points per dollar spent at Hyatt hotels and resorts, automatic Discoverist status, and five elite night credits per year toward a higher tier.
• World of Hyatt Business Credit Card: Earn 4 points per dollar spent at Hyatt hotels and resorts, automatic Discoverist status, and five elite night credits per year toward a higher tier.

A chic and modern suite

For my two-night stay, I was placed in a Preferred Club Junior Suite on the ground floor with huge glass floor-to-ceiling windows looking out to our private terrace and one of the pools with a swim-up bar. Walking in, I was immediately taken with the contemporary feel of the suite, which featured a pale blue and green color scheme that reflected the tropical plants and ocean outside, all mixed with modern wooden touches and furniture.

At 582 square feet, the suite was quite large, with lots of space for my partner and me to spread out. The backside of the room had a small couch to enjoy looking out at those lush views, though I do have to say the pathway in front of the outdoor lounge chairs was rather busy.

The front of the room had an efficient bar space with outlets and USB ports, which felt very practical for getting some work done, plus a coffee maker, the minibar and some shelving space. Working remotely one day, I used the table as my vacation office until I decided to WFB (work from beach) later in the day. Right by the door, a small bench served as a great place to drop anything that might be sandy without tracking it into the room.

Like most all-inclusive resorts, the minibar offered standard drinks and snacks like co*ke, co*ke Zero, Fanta, Sprite, juices, bottled water, Presidente beers, M&Ms and a Milky Way.

I really enjoyed the leafy, plant-inspired wallpaper design above the sleek headboard, and accent lighting made the space around the bed feel even more contemporary. The bed itself was comfortable, and I slept like a baby both nights of my stay. I slept even better knowing that the headboard was fitted with standard USB and new USB charging ports, plus standard power outlets, so all of my devices were charging within arm's reach.

I was a big fan of the large TV on a swivel wall mount because you could easily position it to watch from the couch or the bed. And — best of all — the TV had modern streaming capabilities, so I was able to cast a show from my iPad instead of having to scroll through channels aimlessly looking for something to watch.

The bathroom was wonderful, thanks to lots of counter and shelf space, a huge mirror and double sinks, so two people could be getting ready simultaneously. The rainfall shower had incredible pressure, and the frosted glass window in the shower provided some natural light without sacrificing any privacy (because, you know, it's a shower!).

What surprised me the most about the bathroom was the wide and varied array of amenities. On the sink, you had all of your standard goods, but also Gillette razors and shaving creams, Venus razors and even Bulgari soaps and lotions. Inside the shower, there was even more, including Dove Men+Care body wash, Dove Deep Moisture body wash (which feels amazing on your skin after hours in the sun) and Silicon mix shampoo and hair treatment.

The toilet was in a separate room, and had a small candle sitting on top of it, which was a unique touch. I love candles, but my immediate reaction was to think that perhaps in-room candles at a resort with free-flowing alcohol isn't the smartest idea ... hopefully, guests are cautious!

Wrapping the room tour, a closet with sliding doors had a safe, luggage rack, steamer (hotels, please add more steamers!), a safe, a beach bag, extra bedding and, most conveniently, a can of bug spray that ended up being very useful when some annoying flying critters decided to hang out with us on the beach.

My only complaint about the room was that our suite had a connecting door to another suite, which would be great for families or groups who need more space. But that wasn't the case for my stay, and the door wasn't very soundproof, so when afternoon nap time for the baby staying next door coincided with the time I returned to work in my room, the sound of "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star" also started putting me to sleep.

Design-forward restaurants and so-so food

Food at all-inclusive resorts has been improving over the years, and while the food at Dreams Flora wasn't necessarily anything to write home about, the restaurants we enjoyed were, for the most part, attractive and pleasant experiences overall. Across the resort, there are eight restaurants and 13 bars, spanning the core cuisine themes: Italian, Mexican, Asian and French — plus a 24-hour coffee shop and a buffet.

Here's a quick rundown of my experiences at a few:

Bordeaux

For dinner one night, we dressed up and went to the French restaurant Bordeaux. We were actually personally delivered to the restaurant by our incredible butler, Mariel, who arranged the reservation and escorted us there right before our 8 p.m. seating.

Pictures of Bordeaux online made it seem like a chic affair — and it delivered. We sat at a secluded table in a small room made of attractive white curtains, which made for quite a romantic evening for my fiancé and me.

Over the course of the evening, we enjoyed a smattering of French plates like the smoked salmon roll stuffed with cream cheese; the salad niçoise made of tuna, potato, lettuce, tomato and hard-boiled eggs; a mouthwatering scallop covered with bechamel (called coquilles St. Jacques, on the menu); and the Roquefort chicken that was, sadly, pretty dry and very thick. Next time, I'd enjoy more of the small plates because they were all delicious.

El Patio

For another dinner, we made reservations through Mariel (who was also hilarious and generally great to spend time with) at the Mexican restaurant El Patio, which had indoor seating and tables on a patio near the lobby. Though the interior of the restaurant was really stunning, we opted to sit outside to catch some entertainment that was happening nearby.

For this meal, we enjoyed a hearty bowl of tortilla soup (yes, even in the tropical heat!); a light but bland order of shrimp aguachile Nayarit style, made with shrimp, lemon, serrano chiles, cucumber and red onions; and an order of steak fajitas that were not really memorable.

Barefoot Grill

My favorite place at any all-inclusive resort is the standard beach grill — and this one was no exception. Without fail — for me at least — the combination of the sun, the heat and the alcohol make me ravenous, and on this trip, Barefoot Grill and its mix-match selection of burgers, pizza, hot dogs, salads and light sides, like a pasta salad, just hit the spot.

Seaside Grill

Our very first meal was at the Seaside Grill, a steakhouse-style restaurant open for three meals daily but exclusive to Preferred Club guests for breakfast and lunch. We were escorted here after checking in to eat lunch beachside until our room was ready, and enjoyed a simple but refreshing meal of ceviche in tiger milk and coconut fish with green plantain tostones.

A variety of bars

Like other all-inclusive resorts, Dreams Flora has many different bars, including this beautiful swim-up bar in a pool that was right outside my suite. Others included a lively pool bar (that hosted a family-friendly foam one day), a swim-up pool bar in the main pool (different from what is pictured above), an open-air lobby bar, a big theater bar by the stage where the live shows happen (where you can watch the show as well) and more.

While you can get basically any type of drink you want at these bars, from fruity and sugar-filled co*cktails to beer, wine, sodas and nonalcoholic drinks, I tend to stick to my favorites that are hard to mess up, like a margarita or Diet co*ke with coconut rum. I never found the drinks here watered down or below par, but don't expect craft co*cktails, either.

If you're looking for a lively bar, you'll want to head to Desires, a sports bar during the day that turns into a nightclub in the evenings once all of the live entertainment in the lobby area winds down. The first night we went after being advised by the entertainment staff — and I'm so glad we did. The space isn't huge, but there's plenty of room to dance and everyone was having a great time and vibing with the music played by the DJ. The second night was even better, as a wedding party took over the space and encouraged everyone to dance with them. There's also an area with games and a pool table.

The other bar worth mentioning is the Preferred Club Lounge, a bright and airy space where you can get coffee, top-shelf drinks and snacks throughout the day if you book a club-level room. There's indoor and outdoor seating in the modern lounge, and it could be a great spot to work on your computer or relax with a drink in a casual setting.

Pool and beach areas

One thing that I loved about this resort is that you're never too far away from a pool, and there is a handful to choose from, including exclusive Prefered Club pools (even an adults-only pool), a large main pool, a zero-entry pool for kids and then lots of long stretches of water that ebb and flow around the resort like a river. Seating seemed to be snatched up early, so be prepared to claim a chair (but only if you plan on actually using it!).

I've long been a fan of the beaches around Punta Cana, and this one was no exception. There were many chairs to choose from across an expansive stretch of sand, including many chairs in the shade. The area is also known for having people selling excursions and souvenirs up and down the beach, which can be a little annoying, but the vendors are usually very nice and a simple "no thank you" will see them off.

There are also cabanas, daybeds and elevated lounge chairs available to rent for an additional fee. I was fine with the beach chairs we were able to snag, but you've got to admit these (pictured above) look like a nice place to spend a day reading and taking in the views.

One afternoon the resort's entertainment set up this inflatable play space on the beach and hosted a foam party, something I'd always heard about at all-inclusive resorts but never had actually seen myself. Mostly, it was just kids running around while parents and other adults watched from the sides, but after a while more and more people joined in on the experience.

The water park

Waterslides have always been my secret joy in life, and Dreams Flora happens to have a small on-property water park that's made up of a few really fun slides for people to enjoy, as well as a great splash pad area for smaller kids. Though the slides aren't the fastest or the tallest, they are really fun, so be sure to stop by for some adrenaline-fueled adventures.

Other entertainment

Throughout a stay at Dreams Flora, guests can expect a variety of live entertainment each night, including shows in the amphitheater-like space off the lobby, often followed by a fun dance party by the lobby bar. I thoroughly enjoyed it all, especially just sitting back and people-watching and joining in on fun party songs like the "Cha Cha Slide."

I'm not sure why, but I've often seen Queen tribute shows in the Dominican Republic — and I've heard "Bohemian Rhapsody" at so many all-inclusive resorts, this one included. Our second night's show was a pop variety experience with many performers, singers and dancers covering different genres of music, but a cover of Lady Gaga's "Bad Romance" stole the show that night.

Outside the live performances and parties, guests can also enjoy activities throughout the resort, like movies on the beach, kayaking, non-motorized water sports, beach games and even tennis. Kids ages 3 to 12 can spend time at Explorer's Club, while 13- to 17-year-olds can hang out together at the Core Zone Teens Club, which has a teen "bar" serving age-appropriate drinks and mocktails.

Spa and beauty treatments are available at the Spa By Pevonia. The on-site fitness center offers strength training machines, cross trainers, Nordic tracks, stationary bicycles and free weights.

Accessibility

Unfortunately, finding accessibility information at Dreams Flora is quite challenging and a disservice to people looking to book accessible accommodations. By talking to an AI chatbot on the Hyatt website, I learned that "the property is wheelchair friendly" and that there are "three fully accessible rooms" with roll-in showers. But that is all I learned. There is no information about beach wheelchairs, pool lifts or any other accessibility features for people with hearing or vision impairments.

Having spent two days at the resort and thinking about how my dad, who uses a wheelchair, would fare, I left thinking this might not be the most practical resort for him. But as always, I recommend calling a speaking with a reservation specialist as well as someone on the property to get answers to specific questions you might have about accessibility before booking.

Checking out

My two days at Dreams Flora flew by — and I've got to say that I really enjoyed it. The buildings and grounds were well-kept, pretty and modern, and the suite felt contemporary and very livable. While the food at this resort was forgettable, the experiences were lots of fun, and, ultimately, I was able to sit back, relax and enjoy a really great stay.

And while the nearby Hyatt Ziva/Zilara dual-combo property is probably one of the best Hyatt all-inclusive resorts in the portfolio, this one packs a big punch for way less money. The Hyatt Ziva, which will soon move up an Award Category, costs a minimum of 42,000 points per night for two guests, while Dreams Flora starts at just 17,000 World of Hyatt points. At that price, I would return to this contemporary resort in a heartbeat.

Related reading:

• The most award-friendly hotel program: Everything you need to know about World of Hyatt
• 7 things to know before booking a stay at Dreams Palm Beach Punta Cana
• 7 things to know before booking a stay at the Hyatt Zilara Cap Cana
• The 23 best Hyatt hotels in the world