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Topic: Dreams Riviera Cancun Part 1 (Read 506 times)
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Mike in OKC
Olympian Gold
Posts: 1927
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Dreams Riviera Cancun
Dec 16-23. 2009
Location:
North of Porto Moreles approximately 1.5 miles. It is next door to the Excellence Riviera, a quick twenty (20) minute drive from the airport. The short drive is a DEFINITE PLUS!!!
Lobby:
It is long & rectangular in shape. Check-In is immediately on your right as you enter the lobby about 1/3 down the north side. Check-In, Gift Shop, & Travel Reps take up the entire west end of the lobby. There is a canal like pond running most of the length of the lobby with several fountains.
The Lobby bar “Rendezvous” is along the south wall toward the east end of the lobby. It is halfway inside/outside the building. They have huge electrically controlled louvers on the exterior portions of the outer walls for ventilation. A broad Grand Staircase descends out the east end of the lobby that opens up to the rest of the resort. The pool area, beach area, and ocean can be seen from the lobby. Once the palms mature this view of the ocean will be obstructed.
Along each side of the lobby are chairs and sofas surrounding tables for individual personal spaces for a large family or a group to cubby up and enjoy the evening.
The Bordeaux and El Patio ala cartes are accessed by the same alcove on the north side of the east end of the lobby. A quartet sets up on the east end and entertains guests from 6pm until 9pm. They are very good and perform many different songs that I recognize.
Size:
Moderate in size. Probably covers about the same area as the Robinson Club Tulum (Closed). It is a quick five (5) minute walk from the lobby to the beach & ocean. Short five (5) minute walks will get you anywhere on the complex.
Layout:
Pretty much rectangular running east and west. The room buildings are on either side of the teak central avenue Boardwalk. As you exit the lobby, the 2000 series rooms are on your right in the shape of the letter “J”. The 1000 series rooms are on your left in a mirror image backwards “J” on your left. Both are five stories tall.
Landscaping:
Well done and tasteful. They need a little growing in to fully blossom but as they are they are beautiful!
Bugs & Critters:
Never once used bug spray or got bitten or stung.
Room & Bathroom:
Comfortable and very well appointed. Very large walk in rain shower that is separated by the enclosed toilet by a narrow three door closet. This is directly opposite a long two (2) sink vanity. There are two (2) sets of vertical louvers in the wall that separates the open plan bathroom from the bed area.
Two (2) twin beds bookend the lamp/phone bedside table. Both beds face the sliding glass doors to the balcony. In the angled alcove to the left is a two (2) person couch, the one on the right contains the desk & chair. On the desk is a 32” Plasma screen Satellite HDTV atop a DVD player.
My only complaint about the entire trip would be the lack of adequate storage & closet space. There is a reason that most hotel rooms are long and rectangular. Square and semi-square rooms have some inherent structural space usage deficiencies.
Flooring:
Marble is everywhere & neither of us ever had a slip/fall/possible slip where you catch yourself. Dreams Riviera Cancun has a very safe and stable walking surface. The marble is not highly polished and has a semi-rough texture. It is comfortable to walk on barefoot but you don have a slip and fall worry here due to the flooring. This is a FIRST for every resort I have ever stayed at or visited.
Cleanliness:
Spic & Span…Spotless, Staff is everywhere picking up and keeping the resort tidy. The public bathrooms are among the cleanest and have incense pots burning in each of them.
Game Room:
Never used.
Spa:
Never visited. It is located immediately to your right as you exit the lobby. The medical center is located here also.
Gym:
Co-Located with the spa. The gym is on the second floor.
Business Center:
Located on the upper floor across from the meeting rooms. It is large and well appointed; kids appeared to monopolize the computers for gaming.
Preferred Club:
We were not Preferred Club guests so I have no info.
Internet:
Never used.
Bars:
Lobby “Rendezvous” This is the hub for pre-dinner and post-dinner activities. It is very well stocked with a huge selection/variety of Premium and Super-Premium brands. Bartenders are very quick/efficient/very knowledgeable. Waitress service is phenomenal as you never get to an empty glass before they are asking to bring you another.
Beach Bars:
Swing Bar “Barracuda” Located at the beach near the wedding gazebo. This is the realm of Jose, Salomon, and Eloy. They are fantastic bartenders and got to know Nick and me very, very well. This is where we spent the majority of our time at the beach.
Restaurants
Buffets (World Café)
Rather on the small side but more than adequate for the job. A dress code is enforced here to my delight. No swim wear or sleeveless shirts for men. T-Shirts are okay as long as they have sleeves. Most days we saw guests turned away for improper dress, Hooray to DRC!!!
One strange aspect about eating at the DRC. As you enter the door you are asked you room number and name and it is written down on a list. Sometimes they check their master guest list and most times they do not. I am curious what this is all about.
Breakfast:
Three (3) different cook stations Crepes, Omelets, and Empanadas. Large pastry bar with different pastries each day. Fruits/vegetables/fresh meats and cheeses. Breakfast was always very good. Just inside the door each day they had champagne and orange juice for Mimosas. Nick and I had one each day with breakfast.
Lunch:
Never ate here for lunch.
Dinner:
Never ate here for lunch.
Pool/Beach Grilles:
We ate at the Seaside Grille for a late lunch upon arrival. Very good and filling. We however preferred the Oceana for lunch, because of the menu selections. There you had the option of sitting out on the deck under the sun or using am umbrella table.
There is the “Barefoot Grille” next door to the Entertainment Center. It serves quick & easy finger type foods. Hotdogs, Hamburgers, Pizza, and French Fries make up the daily fare. It is a quick and easy small lunch buffet that was mainly patronized by families with small kids.
Serving Staff:
Absolutely beyond belief. If you dropped a utensil they had you a new one before the dropped one quit ringing. They check you constantly, bring you additional drinks, and taking care of your every need mostly before you can even ask they are there taking care of what you were about to ask for. I thought Barcelo staff was quick and efficient but they can’t hold a candle to Dreams serving staff.
In general Bordeaux, Himitsu, Oceana, and Seaside Grille are open for dinner service every night. El Patio and Portofino alternated with one being closed while the other was open.
Gourmet: “Bordeaux” (Wednesday & Monday)
Tuna Sashimi/Escargot
Salmon Cream x 2 (Wed)
Asparagus Cream x 2 (Mon)
/Onion Soup
Filet with Béarnaise Sauce/Filet with Béarnaise Sauce
Chocolate Mouse/Crème Brule
We received impeccable service along with great attitude. The Escargot was so creamy/garlic flavored. Onion Soup was very flavorful and the onions were firm and not mushy. Filets were fork tender approximately 8-10oz in size and the sauce was heavenly. I was impressed with the potato puree layered with sautéed mushrooms under the filet.
We ate the same choices both nights. It was just as good the second time around.
Japanese: “Himitsu” (Thursday/Table…Saturday/Hibachi)
Thursday
Sashimi Platter (Tuna/Salmon/Yellow Tail/Sea Bass/Scallops) x 2
Salmon Nigiri/Spicy Tuna Roll
Won Ton soup x 2
Mahi Mahi in Honey Glaze x 2
Chocolate & Sake Truffles with Lime Sorbet
Sashimi was flavorful but a bit on the dry side which is strange since it was made to order at the sushi bar. Tuna was a low fat variety. The soup was tasty and very flavorful, full bodied and filling. Mahi Mahi was “Tempura Style” and the breading was a bit thick and kinda soggy. The Honey & Ginger Sauce made the difference. Chocolate/Sake Truffles were very rich and sweet. I very much liked the Lime Sorbet. It had ground coconut in it and was sweet with only a hint of the underlying lime base.
Saturday
Hibachi Dinner of Beef…Chicken…Shrimp
Miso Soup
Vegetable Medley
Fried Rice
Salad with Ginger Dressing
Ginger salad dressing was strong and good. Typical Hibachi Japanese dinner you get most anywhere. Two things stood out and that was the very large shrimp used and the fact that the beef was a bit too fatty and chewy in sharp contrast to the very high quality beef at the Bordeaux & Seaside Grille.
Italian: “Portofino”
We did not eat here for dinner as we did not see anything on the menu we wanted to try.
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In Harms Way...That is where I live...That is where I thrive...Until you have almost died you don't truly know what it means to live!!!
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OK Steph
Olympian Gold
Posts: 1067
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Did you have "twin" beds? I have never seen twin beds at a resort.
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Pages: [1]
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Mike 
