Are you considering a Mexico family vacation? We recently returned from a seven-day dreamy all-inclusive getaway to Dreams Tulum Resort & Spa in the Riviera Maya, which was the perfect location for plenty of fun activities to enjoy with our two girls.

From picturesque sandy beaches and delicious cuisine to non-stop entertainment, here’s our unbiased, unsponsored review on this resort rated ‘#1 Best Value of Tulum All Inclusive Family Resorts’ on Trip Advisor.

Getting There

When Jason mentioned we were flying via Interjet® for six hours, I was a little hesitant. Having never flown this new low-cost Mexican airline before I was worried about super small seats and a long journey with whiney, hungry kids. Turns out we were all pleasantly surprised by the experience. Our seats boasted spacious leg room (34 inches, which is roughly 20% more than competing airlines), AND they actually serve you complimentary sandwiches, snacks and beverages! They had me at leg room, but the icing on the cake was when I asked for a cup of coffee and they brewed a fresh hot cup for this tired Valley Mom.

Accomodations

After a smooth flight, we boarded our private shuttle for the 1.5 hour journey to Dreams Tulum Resort & Spa. Situated on a secluded white sand beach in the history-rich town of Tulum, we were all in awe as our driver pulled up to the lobby featuring magnificent colonial architecture.

This would be our first time staying at a five-star all-inclusive resort, but would it live up to our expectations?

“Cold towel Madame?” asked one of the hotel’s employees, handing us each a cool fragrant face cloths to wipe our faces.

Welcome champagne, Shirley temples and cookies for the kids were also really nice touches.

On the way to our Deluxe Junior Gardenview Suite, we couldn’t help but admire the  most beautiful lush tropical gardens that graced the property, making you feel as though you were in the midst of a jungle.

“This is so pretty,” said Molly, tucking a freshly plucked orange flower behind her ear. Like Mommy, her curly hair had already become unruly from the humidity.

Our suite, located just steps away from the main pool, beach and dining areas, had everything our family could ever need for our stay at Dreams Tulum, including:

• two double beds
• a marble bathroom with shower,
• hydro tub
• spacious living room with sofa
• privated, furnished terrace

The Beach

We saw photos of the secluded stretch of sugar-white sand beach online, but the photos truly don’t do it justice. Prior to the trip, we heard that the area had been hit by an influx of seaweed, but were pleasantly surprised by how quickly it is cleared up, daily, by resort staff.

A large tractor roams the beach every morning to keep the beaches pristine.I enjoyed morning yoga sessions on the beach as well as bean bag toss and beach volleyball with Jason.

The Pools

The majority of our time at Dreams Tulum was spent lounging around the pool on padded loungers, as well as in the pool to partake in the non-stop water activities like water aerobics, pool volleyball and our family’s favourite — a foam party.

Jason would head to the pool each morning around 8:30 a.m. to claim our seats, which was never an issue. In fact, it felt like the resort was only half full. In addition to the swim-up bar, there was pool-side service and a swing bar — a popular spot for our girls to order their virgin margaritas.

Explorer’s Club

Just like Jason and I enjoy our alone time, our girls like to spend time with kids their own age and have a break from mommy and daddy. Dreams Tulum offers this amazing Mayan-themed Explorer’s Club—a fully supervised children’s program with lots of fun activities open, daily, between 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 3 to 6 p.m.

Created especially for youngsters, the club is fully and professionally supervised and filled with adventures and activities, including:

There are also activities that take place throughout the resort in the evening like kids karaoke night, cookie baking and a scooter/bike race.

The Food

Let’s face it, resort food can be pretty iffy. When we stayed at a different resort in the area for our honeymoon 14 years ago I got a severe case of food poisoning that ruined half our holiday. Ever since, I’ve been weary of what I eat in Mexico — I was even more nervous this time around since we’d be bringing our girls.

Fortunately, it turned out we had nothing to worry about. We had the option of choosing from a variety of dining options featuring a variety of a la cartes and one buffet-style restaurant. Our girls were welcome in all of the restaurants and staff went out of their way to accommodate us.

Bordeaux, the French place, was where Jason and I had our date night while the girls watched a movie under the stars with the Explorers Club.

The food was pretty decent for all-inclusive fare, but you just had to know what to order and what to steer clear of. If you want a juicy hamburger or steak, wait until you get back home. However, I did enjoy the most delicious duck at the french restaurant, homemade pasta dish at Portofinos and fried shrimp and rice at the hibachi bar.

In addition my personal favourite — the CoCo cafe for specialty coffees, baked goods and sandwiches –you can also order free room services around the clock, which we took advantage of more than once. Hello chocolate cake and pizza at 11 pm for no reason!

Fun Factor

The Dreams Tulum Entertainment staff exceptional, providing endless fun morning, noon and night.

Since we arrived on Superbowl Sunday, they had planned the most incredible party under the stars with a giant screen and traditional game fare, like pulled pork sandwiches, burgers and hot dogs. This was the ultimate dream come true for Jason, especially since his team won!

We also danced under the stars, watched a fire show on the big stage, took part in karaoke night and salsa lessons. Since it was off season, the majority of shows were shown in the plaza and were on the smaller scale. However, by 10 pm, we were usually tuckered out in our suite so we could get an early start on our day. Such a different experience from our last trip to Mexico when we went kid-free and drank our faces off until sunrise.

Would we return to Dreams Tulum Resort & Spa again? In a heartbeat! It’s kind of like being in that Disney bubble … you know how when you’re in Disneyland and everything is pristine, there isn’t a smatter of litter in site and the staff go out of their way to make you feel welcome and comfortable? It’s a little slice of tropical paradise that I hope to return to in a few years — yes, with our kids!

Dreams Tulum Resort & Spa

Address: Carretera Chetumal-Puerto Juárez Km. 236.7 No. 1 Tulum, Quintana Roo, México CP 77761
Phone: 52 984-871-3333
Email: info.dretu@dreamsresorts.com
Website: http://dreamsresorts.com/tulum

Valley Mom