Dreams Riviera Cancun Resort & Spa

My family and I just got back from the Dreams Riviera Cancun Resort & Spa (July 17-22). My two children (6 years and 3 years old) and I were just diagnosed with celiac disease before we booked our trip. We truly feared that we would no longer be able to vacation safely given our new dietary restrictions since we now need to eat strictly gluten free and worry about even the slightest amount of cross contamination when food is being prepared. After corresponding with various staff members at the resort via email, we decided to take a chance and book a vacation at the Dreams Riviera Cancun Resort & Spa and we are so thrilled that we did. Alberto Oramas, the Food & Beverage Assistant, answered all of my questions about food preparation and available products before we arrived. His email responses were always thorough and very reassuring. Alberto met with us within minutes after we arrived at the resort and introduced us to many of the chefs and restaurant managers that would be taking care of us. We also had the opportunity to see some of the gluten free products that were specially purchased for our family. I cannot emphasize how reassuring and professional this was. I have never been treated so well (pre- or post-diagnosis). Everyone we met made us feel like our safety and enjoyment were a priority to them and this was absolutely refreshing considering that people with celiac disease often feel like we are a burden when we try to eat outside our homes. Alberto was a constant presence during our vacation. He stopped by our table at every dinner to make sure that everything was going smoothly and to ask if our needs were being met. One night, popcorn was being handed out during the nightly entertainment show. I inquired if it was gluten free (as sometimes popcorn toppings are not safe) and Alberto promptly ordered a new batch of popcorn to be prepared for our family so he could ensure that it was safe for us. We celebrated my son’s 6th birthday on our second day at the resort. Alberto and his team ensured that we had a delicious gluten free birthday cake at dinner and we were surprised with a second cake in our room later that evening. Alberto also arranged a very special private dinner on the beach for my family on our last night. We truly felt like royalty. Alberto’s genuine concern for our family throughout our stay was so heart-warming. Another stand-out staff member was Cindy at the World Café (buffet) restaurant. After a day at the resort, I ended up falling into a groove where I pre-ordered all of the meals for my children and I the day before so the chefs could make sure that everything could be prepared in a timely fashion and let me know whether my requests could be fulfilled (they always were). Cindy patiently and pleasantly took down all of my orders. Her attention to detail was amazing. No matter how busy she was, she always made me feel like a priority. She is truly a gem. Cindy even made sure that we had food to bring with us to the airport when we left since it is very hard for people with celiac disease to find safe food at airports beyond a bag of chips. I also want to acknowledge Chef Raul. He often came to our table to confirm our order before preparing it. His pride in his work was very evident and we felt very comfortable eating all of the delicious food that he prepared for us. My children definitely do not have a gourmet palate so it was wonderful that he was able to make them simple, kid-friendly (and safe) gluten free food like pancakes, pasta, pizza, grilled cheese sandwiches and cheeseburger patties. I feel terrible that I have only personally acknowledged three staff members since there were countless others that contributed to our wonderful holiday – many who work behind the scenes in the kitchen who don’t always get the recognition that they deserve. I simply cannot remember everyone’s names because we met so many amazing staff members. One of the things I really appreciated at the resort is that everyone working in the restaurants seemed to know who we were and our dietary needs. We were consistently greeted by name and with friendly smiles. It was so nice to not have to explain our needs over and over again and to not feel like we had to constantly advocate for ourselves. Prior to our stay at the Dreams Riviera Cancun Resort and Spa, my only hope was that my children and I would be able to have a good time without getting sick from consuming gluten or cross contamination during food preparation. We were absolutely overwhelmed by the level of service, professionalism, compassion and kindness that we experienced during our stay. I actually packed a full suitcase and carry-on with various gluten free food products because I was so nervous about finding safe food for my children and I (especially since we are all relatively picky eaters). I’m so pleased to report that I came home with essentially all of the food that I packed as it wasn’t necessary at all. It was an absolute privilege to stay at the Dreams Riviera Cancun Resort and Spa and to meet so many wonderful staff members. This vacation did so much to lift our spirits after a very rough few months learning to cope with our new gluten free reality.

The resort overall was pretty nice. 2 kids pools for wading and two regular pools were good. The wading pools would be super hot by the afternoon. Food was good as well. The majority of the waitstaff was nice and attentive except for a good portion of the bartenders. Seek out the few good ones because they can make a difference. Also, this is a tough place for kids to sleep because there is a loud wedding every single night. My 2 yr old had a tough time sleeping. Do not rely on the ac in the room or the wifi as they both were poor. The room had trouble getting under 78. Finally, if you have any coupons good luck, as if there is any special use on them the staff probably won't take it.

Very nice manicured property with nice people looking after you. We upgraded to the master suite which is a corner room right on the beach. 5th floor gives you an unimpeded view and it is beautiful. Room was clean and taken care of. The resort is on the small side which I like because walks are short and everything is conveniently located. Sand is nice and powdery. Water is good, not great because of seaweed but there are cleared areas to swim. They clean up the seaweed on the beach regularly. Family friendly but not too annoying for couples. Entertainment is decent. This is our second time and we enjoyed the food and the people.

Beautiful resort, great for families, lots of activities. The location is great, out of Cancun but not too far away. We hired a private driver and tour guide for 11 of us to visit Chichen Itza and a beautiful Cenote, and it was a first class tour, through AmStar.

Resort was fantastic! staff amazing! Myself, wife & 3 daughters loved the experience so much. Activities during day excellent, dinner choice in evening exceptional. Dreams entertainment team the BEST!