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I travel constantly, and finding a resort that offers the perfect balance between luxurious relaxation and genuine fun can be surprisingly difficult. Usually you have to compromise on something. The food is mediocre, the transit time takes half the day, or the pool scene is completely dead at sunset… it happens more often than you think.
My wife Liz and I just returned from Puerto Morelos, and I can confidently say that we have found a property that ticks all the boxes. If you want the convenience of flying to Cancun but absolutely hate the crowded, shoulder-to-shoulder chaos of the Hotel Zone, Dream Puerto Morelos Resort & Spa is just the right place.
Even better: I had the chance to stay at this resort, and… we’re also giving one of our readers the chance to enjoy the exact same vacation spot for free! Stay tuned to the end of the article for more information on how to get involved.
From the amazing food and wild waterslides to ripping ATVs through the jungle, here’s an in-depth look at our stay and why this resort should be on your radar.
The 25-Minute Miracle: Skip the Transit Nightmare
I can’t stand landing in Mexico, clearing customs, and then sitting on a crowded shuttle bus for two hours, stopping at six other resorts before finally reaching the lobby. That is the absolute beauty of Puerto Morelos.
After packing our bags and going through customs at the Cancun International Airport, we walked straight outside to the transportation area and immediately saw our Amstar DMC driver in his signature royal blue polo shirt. We bypassed the chaotic taxi lines, boarded our transfer, and pulled into the resort lobby just 20 to 25 minutes later. That closeness is a convenience that you don’t often encounter.
Our room wasn’t quite ready yet because we got there a little early, but there was a guacamole making class that we jumped into for a fun time (plus a snack!). By the time we packed up, our room was ready and it did not disappoint.
When it was unfortunately time to go home, the logistics were just as seamless. We were lucky enough to have a late checkout and our Amstar transfer didn’t pick us up from the lobby until 2:30pm, giving us a few extra hours to enjoy the sun without rushing to the airport.
The ultimate suite installation
When we finally got into our room we were completely blown away.
We stayed in a Preferred Club Master Suite Ocean Front room which was honestly larger than some condos I have rented. The layout was perfect: we had a great dedicated space where we could sit and eat, and a full living room, complete with a pull-out couch.
Having two full bathrooms was an absolute luxury, but the master bathroom was the real star of the show. It was huge and included a jacuzzi that we definitely made the most of after our day of travel. The separate bedroom itself was huge, incredibly comfortable and gave us the perfect quiet space to recharge.
Swimming pools, water parks and pure fun
The pool complex here is extensive and of the highest standard. Sometimes luxury resorts take themselves too seriously and forget to actually be fun, but the atmosphere here is incredible. The main pool was fantastic, and we absolutely loved hanging out at the swim-up bar for a quick drink.
If you are traveling with the family, there is a special water park with really great slides that kids would be completely obsessed with. But since Liz and I were on an adults-only trip, we also spent a lot of time in the adults-only pool, which is perfectly located in a quiet corner of the property.
The real pro move for this resort, however, is booking the Preferred Club. Upgrading to this level gives you access to a swimming pool completely exclusive to Preferred Club guests, plus the ability to reserve private Bali beds. Liz and I spent hours there lounging, completely isolated from the typical hassle of “rescuing” a pool chair early in the morning.
Butler Magic and First Class Amenities
Having a dedicated butler is a huge Preferred Club benefit that completely changes the rhythm of your day. Instead of wasting time queuing at a concierge desk to determine our schedule, our butler took care of the logistics for us behind the scenes. They seamlessly coordinated our complimentary access to hydrotherapy at the Dreams Spa, allowing us to simply show up, decompress and enjoy the water circuits.
As a Preferred Club guest you also get access to the exclusive Preferred Club Lounge. We stopped there regularly as it is fully stocked with premium spirits that are fully included in your stay.
We’re also big proponents of hotel gyms because we lift weights five days a week, so we always go to the fitness center. I’m happy to report that the gym here is super well equipped. We were able to go through our normal, heavy workout routine without a single piece of equipment missing. They even have an escape room on site (which costs a little extra, but is a super unique breakout experience if you want to get away from the sun).
The food culture: a French culinary highlight
I am very critical of all-inclusive food. It’s usually the weakest link of any resort stay, but the culinary program here completely blew us away.
During the day we loved the flexibility. We can grab a quick, casual lunch at the Coco Cafe (which is open from 11am to 11pm), head to the Barefoot Grill or join Balik for an afternoon snack.
For dinner, our schedule was packed with incredible special options. We had fantastic 7pm reservations at Vivace for Italian cuisine, Ki for authentic Mexican and Miyakoi for Pan-Asian. Each location delivered high quality dishes, but I must give a special mention to the French restaurant Rue De Rivoli.
Liz and I both agreed that this was hands down our favorite meal of the entire trip. The atmosphere, service and menu execution were comparable to those of independent fine-dining restaurants in the United States.
Extreme adventure: into the jungle
We are not the type of traveler who just sits quietly on a beach chair for the entire trip. Due to the location of Puerto Morelos you are perfectly positioned for excursions off site. Our trip was even better when we met Extreme adventure in Cancun for a full day of adrenaline, and it was easily a major highlight of our trip.
We booked the Extreme Adventuring: ATV, Zipline, Cenote and Mayan Show excursion, and it was flawless. Here’s why it stood out:
- Frictionless logistics: Round-trip transportation was fully included, meaning we didn’t have to worry about navigating or getting a taxi.
- Safety first: The certified guides provided incredibly structured, professional safety instructions before we touched any equipment.
- The ultimate mashup: This wasn’t just a one-off one-off activity. It was a full day of adventure. We tore ATVs through the dense jungle mud, flew down the ziplines, swam in a crystal-clear cenote to cool off, and capped it all off with a tequila tasting and a traditional Mayan show.
It makes perfect sense why this exact excursion has been recognized as Mexico’s Leading Adventure Tourist Attraction by the World Travel Awards for four consecutive years (2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025) and is included in the National Geographic Caribbean Collections. If you stay at Dreams Puerto Morelos Resort & Spa, you absolutely must book this day trip.
Nightly entertainment (that doesn’t feel lame)
At all-inclusives, I usually skip the after-dinner entertainment. Half the time it feels like a forced, cheesy cruise ship routine, and the rest of the resort turns into a ghost town by 9 p.m. But the evening shows at Dreams Puerto Morelos were really entertaining.
Liz and I even stayed for the performances; they performed a fantastic magic show and an energetic circus show that completely exceeded our expectations.
And the energy doesn’t stop when the curtain falls. After seeing the shows, we loved that the resort kept the momentum perfectly. Every evening the atmosphere shifts to the Sports Bar and the Breeze Bar, where they have a live DJ from 11:00 PM.
It gave us exactly the vibe we were looking for: a great place to have a few cocktails, listen to good music, and actually enjoy the nightlife without feeling like we were trapped in a chaotic, shoulder-to-shoulder Spring Break megaclub. It was absolutely the perfect way to end a day of jungle adventures.
I promised you a giveaway, and here it is. We’ve partnered with Dreams Puerto Morelos Resort & Spa to give one lucky reader a chance to win a 5 day/4 night Unlimited Luxury® getaway for two at Dreams Puerto Morelos Resort & Spa.
Watch our video below for more information check out the official giveaway page here.
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