The resort boasts nine pools, including an adults-only pool and a kids' splash zone with slides. Whether you want a lively atmosphere or a tranquil spot to unwind, there's a pool for every preference. The calm ocean waters are ideal for swimming, although the beach itself is a bit minimal and rocky. The abundance of versatile pool options will satisfy many, but if a beach is a priority for you I suggest considering another resort.

Thanks to the calm, shallow waters of the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef, two of the top activities at the Hyatt Ziva include enjoying a day on the water kayaking or paddle boarding. The two-story Zen Spa complete with a hydrotherapy pool, provides options for ultimate relaxation, and the pool and water activities will keep the energetic entertained all day long.

Dining and Entertainment

With nine restaurants and bars to choose from, there's no shortage of dining options. The breakfast buffet also serves dinner, and casual outdoor restaurants provide several easy options for lunch. There are specialty restaurants to satisfy every craving, and only the Japanese restaurant requires reservations, allowing for ultimate flexibility. For those looking to relax with a drink, there's a bar in the check-in area, a sports bar (no food), and a coffee shop offering delightful pastries and ice cream.

As a popular resort destination, only one room was available to see, but it certainly was impressive! The club-level suite with two bedrooms is ideal for families, featuring a master bedroom with a king bed and a luxurious bathroom, plus two sofa beds for the kids with their own bathroom. Club-level suites also come with an in-room mini bar. Given the Hyatt All-Inclusive Collection’s reputation, it's safe to say all rooms are clean, comfortable, and well-appointed.

The main pool is definitely a popular spot for the kids, and easily accessible from all rooms. Unfortunately for me, after a long day of travel I was not excited to find my room overlooking the pool and found it to be a bit noisy. While I did not have the chance to truly enjoy the beach, I did locate the unique walkway featuring some unusual animals to check out the beach. The water was beautiful and calm, and while the sargassum was present it was cleaned up well. For those looking for quiet relaxation, I recommend the beach or the Reserve pool. 

Despite the less than ideal location, my room was impressive. In addition to a comfortable and spacious living area, the large balcony featured a jacuzzi, and the bathroom just blew me away. The jacuzzi, rainfall shower head, dual sinks with lots of counter space and abundance of plush towels made for an incredibly enjoyable stay.

Dining and Entertainment

Although I didn’t get to explore all the dining options, my experience at the buffet in The Reserve was positive and I thoroughly enjoyed breakfast at The Lunch Box, which featured both an a la carte menu as well as a buffet.

During my brief stay at Paradisus, I managed to hit the gym and found it quite satisfactory. My one evening there coincided with their Mexico-themed event, where local vendors set up in the hotel to sell handmade products. This event provided the feel of street shopping without leaving the resort and I was instantly fascinated by the decorative piece pictured above that spins in the wind and has garnered many compliments since setting it up on my back porch. If you're looking for a souvenir, be sure to check out one of these themed evenings.

At the Iberostar Paraiso del Mar and Paraiso Beach resorts—the first two mirror-resorts—you'll find a large, welcoming lobby area. The nature theme I noticed at the Punta Cana resort is evident here as well, complete with flamingos strolling around the spacious lobby. The theater and buffet for both resorts are spacious and conveniently located. The pool is impressive, starting as a calm, narrow, almost lazy-river type area before expanding into the main pool full of activities. While guests at Paraiso del Mar and Paraiso Beach do not have access to the children’s water park, there is a designated baby pool for families with children under the age of 3. The rooms are comfortable, though not large, and it's important to note that there are no elevators at either resort.

If you upgrade your stay to either Selection resort, you’ll enjoy a larger main pool, a moving lazy river, an excellent kids' zone with slides, as well as access to the Paraiso resort pool areas for variety. Guests also have access to three additional exclusive restaurants, such as the popular American Under the Sea, which offers many sustainable fish options. You’ll find more spacious rooms and additional in-room perks like plush bathrobes and slippers. The Selection Maya Suites really blew me away, with a unique lobby designed as a reproduction of the legendary Chichén Itzá pyramid, reserved exclusively for Maya Suites guests.

The Iberostar Paraiso del Mar complex offers a variety of experiences across its different resorts. While it may not match the grandeur of the Punta Cana location, it still provides a mix of activities, dining options, and comfortable accommodations. The ongoing renovations hint at potential improvements, making it a worthy consideration for families and travelers seeking a diverse resort experience. Looking for the Iberostar adults-only experience? Check out my review of The Paraiso Grand in my blog about the adults-only resorts I visited.

The main lobby features live music daily, all family-friendly and not too rowdy. There's also a sports bar with billiards for entertainment. The highlight, however, is the extensive activities for kids, allowing adults to relax while the little ones are engaged in the kids' club. With a plethora of dining options, my top recommendation is to take advantage of the kids' program or splurge on the babysitting service and indulge at The Bordeaux—an adults-only dining experience. The poolside dining options are fantastic, with some of the most extensive all-day food choices I’ve seen at any resort, although the restaurants don't open until 6:30 PM for dinner.

Overall Impressions

Dreams Riviera Cancun is perfect for families seeking both relaxation and adventure. The resort caters wonderfully to families with children but also provides a memorable experience for adults. It’s a versatile place where both older and younger guests, with or without children, can fit in well and have a fantastic time.

The resort features three distinct pool areas. The main pool, close to the lobby, hosts daytime poolside activities. Another pool, slightly off to the side, boasts large and impressive slides for the kids, or those young at heart. My favorite was the incredible infinity pool overlooking the beach, complete with a convenient swim-up bar. While not officially adults-only, its depth and the abundance of kid activities elsewhere make it a relaxing oasis primarily for adults. The beach is spacious and offers multiple beachside bars, relatively calm waters, plus a private, designated club-level area for Star Club guests.

Accommodations

The private plunge pools are truly private, not just one giant connected swim-up pool. The main difference with club rooms is the inclusion of a jacuzzi. The resort’s design maximizes views, so room categories are primarily differentiated by the view. However, some rooms are situated with outside hallways overlooking less desirable areas to ensure the room itself has a great view, which is a bit of a catch-22.

The resort's spa offers unique treatments, and club-level guests enjoy complimentary access to many spa amenities, including the intriguing fish pedicures. The spa layout is very relaxing, with an outdoor hydrotherapy pool designed to relieve tension in specific body parts. Other features include saunas, steam rooms, outdoor rainfall showers, and massage therapy rooms located outside; a rather unique characteristic. Activities abound, with an arcade room, basketball court, outdoor ping pong, trampoline, and archery. The kids' club provides supervised fun, and babysitting services are available. The poolside activities are slightly less extensive than at some other resorts but still offer a variety of daily options such as yoga classes, dance lessons, and guacamole making.

There are a wide range of pools available to suit all types of pool-goers. For the partiers, you'll find the adults-only pool has excellent party vibes. If you're looking for a quieter experience, I reccommend upgradeing to the Star Club so you can enjoy the Star Club pool and designated beach area. If you're somewhere in between, don't worry, there are three additional general pools to choose from ranging from full of activities to more reserved. Not only that, but there is a lengthy lazy river with a swim-up bar along the way so you can stop to refresh your drink while floating around the resort! There is a large and impressive water park for the kids, plus a flow pool available for all day access for a small fee. The beach is quite large with plenty of lounge chairs and the waters are generally calm. 

The resort offers diverse dining options and entertainment, including a Chef's Table restaurant, a hookah lounge, and several specialty restaurants. The restaurants are arranged in a unique manner compared to many resorts, meant to feel more like walking down the strip in a city, with all the restaurants located in a central and bustling area. This is great for convenience and simplicity, and you can stroll by to see the restaurants before settling on your choice for dinner, although reservations are required for the teppanyakis restaurant. Live performances and events occur nightly at the large outdoor entertainment start, and movies run all day in the indoor theater. Kids can also enjoy Planet Play trampoline park and arcade for a small fee. 

Rooms are spacious and well-appointed, with Star Club guests enjoying additional in-room amenities. The Planet Hollywood theme is evident throughout the rooms. All rooms have the capacity for 4 guests, which is refreshing. The liquor dispenser frequently associated with RIU resorts is present but you must purchase a bottle of liquor from the resort to fill.

Health, Wellness, and Activities

Although the spa and wellness activities are a bit lacking, there is no shortage of outdoor activities. In addition to beach volleyball, there are frequently vendors at the beach offering water activities, such as jet skiing, and there are many excursion desks to help arrange off-site activities. 

Similar to the restaurant layout of the Planet Hollywood, many of the Marriott restaurants and shopping can be found immediately upon entry in an uncommon, indoor and air conditioned strip, which can be refreshing if visiting Cancun in the summer. Three additional restaurants are located just outside the main entrance, including a sports bar with arcade games. The main restaurant has a captivating and unique entrance (pictured above) from the inside as well as access from the pool area and serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. Continuing to offer more unique experiences, while there is no designated theater or large entertainment area, Marriott keeps guests entertained with "pop-up" entertainment dispersed through the resort at all times of the day.

The resort features one main pool, one adults-only pool, and a kid's water park. The kid's pool is conveniently located near the main entrance to the resort while the adults-only pool is situated on the opposite side of the main pool, near the beach, and features a swim-up bar. The beach is exceptionally well-maintained, although the ocean waves towards the south end of the Hotel Zone, where the Marriott is located, are rough and I would not recommend the area for beginner swimmers. 

Health, Wellness, and Activities

Unfortunately, at the time of my visit a few amenities were not quite open, but are expected in June of 2024 and I have no doubt they will be worth the wait. The gym is an all-new addition and, for the kid's club, Marriott partnered with Disney to ensure thorough staff training and quality service. Once opened, I expect the kid's program to be one of the most exceptional in the area.

The rooms are all updated and are quite nice, featuring modern amenities like doorbells and the option to digitally indicate when you are ready for cleaning service. I can confidently recommend guests will be happy with all levels of room category, the main difference between categories at this Marriott is simply view. The bathrooms and closets are all spacious with a unique open concept, further differentiating this Marriott from common resorts. The ocean view rooms have exceptional views, and I thoroughly enjoyed my tour of the Presidential Suite - an excellent option for groups or those looking for an extended stay.

I have to be honest here, after my stellar experience at the Paradisus Playa del Carmen and my tour around The Reserve and Nikte level rooms, I was a bit disappointed in my own room. My suggestion is any extra cost associated with a higher level room is well worth it. However, even with my room being a bit less luxurious than expected, the room was very spacious and featured a comfortable king-size bed, sleeper sofa for those with kids, and a balcony. Pro tip - request a room above at least the third floor; the pyramid layout and rolling hills of the gold course can really detract from the view on the lower levels. 

The Paradisus features four pools, of which I primarily explored the pool exclusive to and steps from The Reserve for relaxation, and the main pool, where the outdoor activities were primarily held. Noticeably missing is a water park for the kids, though they do have a designated pool. There is plenty of beach to enjoy, but as direct neighbors to the Marriott Cancun, the swimming here is not ideal for beginners. 

Health, Wellness, and Activities

Here I was finally able to enjoy rather than just look at a hydrotherapy spa experience! The treatment is both relaxing and designed to help stimulate circulation and recovery in the body - a perfect way to start your vacation. The fee for this service is quite reasonable, and one visit is included for Reserve and Nikté  level guests. For kids, there is a kids club and for a good bonding exercise, both adults and kids can take on the challenge of an escape room. 

Thanks to many days of dining, I had the opportunity to check out many of the restaurants, though not all nine of them. I found the buffet to be quite satisfactory for both breakfast and lunch, and enjoyed multiple dinners at Lemon Fish, a unique Asian-fusion restaurant located in a tropical setting in the center of the hotel. Thanks to tasty and quick guac and tacos as well as convenient location I frequented Blue Agave quite a bit as well. Agua Marina was highly recommended to me, particularly for lunch, though due to their late opening hour for lunch (1pm) I was only able to enjoy dinner there - though it was delicious. There are several restaurants reserved for adults only, such as Sal, the steakhouse (for an additional fee) and many restaurants exclusive to guests of The Reserve.