If you are looking for a getaway for the family, this is a great option! This was our first family trip to an all inclusive and it definitely got us excited about doing land based vacations. Don’t get me wrong, we still love our cruises, but every once in awhile it’s nice to mix it up a little bit. Dreams Natura is practically brand new, it just opened up in September of 2020. It’s located about 20-40 minutes from the Cancun International Airport depending on traffic. Here is everything we liked and the few things we did thought could be improved about our trip here.
Let’s start with the few things we were not crazy about. First and foremost the beach. I am a beach person, and I’m not ashamed to admit as I advance in my years I’m becoming a bit of a beach snob. Yep, I said it out loud. The water here is not the beautiful turquoise blue, clear water you see in other places in the Caribbean. It’s more like chocolate milk. A little more concerning are the stumps from the remnants of the mangrove trees that used to be here. While you can swim here, you need to be careful as you walk out. It is a nice walking beach though and you can go pretty far in either direction.
The next thing we did not like is that you cannot reserve rooms together. We requested rooms next to each other and were told we would have them. I arrived before my family and confirmed at check-in and then double checked the day they were arriving and assured all would be well. Unfortunately, that was not the case. They were put 2 floors above me, not even close. We eventually were moved to the same floor but still 4 rooms apart. Just be aware that this is a possibility if you are travelling in groups where you want to be close. Now on to the good, and there is a lot of it!
So many family oriented activities. There are 3 waterslides, a lazy river, 4 pools, 2 kids clubs (1 is for teens), a climbing wall, kids splash pad, a sports bar with foosball and pool, and more. Not to mention the sky glider which is like a zip line. All is included. There is also an onsite entertainment staff organizing beach volleyball, corn hole, bocce, and other activities during the day. I can’t tell you how many times I went down the water slides, but I can tell you the stairs were a great leg workout. The Skyglider was the only place where we had to wait in line, but it was definitely worth it. The lazy river was a huge hit with our older kids, as was the infinity pool. We did a yoga class one morning with a travelling instructor who could not have been nicer. The kids club was great. My 9 year old said “I just want to go for a half hour, come get me then.” 2 more trips back and 3 hours later we got her out so we could go to dinner.
Speaking of food, I don’t think I had a bad meal. The restaurants were all amazing, especially Portifino the Italian restaurant. We have picky eaters and one of kids still talks about it. It has become the benchmark with which all other dining experiences have been compared since. The Bluewater Grill by the pool also stood out. Try the wings, seriously, they might have been the best I have ever had. The only challenge here was on the weekend they were a bit understaffed and since the buffet was not self serve, there were occasional backups. That will get corrected as we come out of Covid.
The spa here is one of the most beautiful anywhere. It was constructed to look like a cenote (cave). There is a hydrotherapy section (not pictured), saunas, steam rooms, and multiple massage rooms. My wife and I both opted for massages and really enjoyed it. The staff were so nice and very professional. Before the massage you get to sit in the main cenote area and relax as soothing music and the sound of water surround you. Not gonna lie, pretty sure I fell asleep.
Overall we would definitely recommend staying here, unless your primary goal is to be in a beach with crystal clear water. It passes the “kid approved” test and the adults loved it too. If you like more information please contact us or check out the following sites below.
Northern Kentucky: http://expediacruises.com/florence
Central Ohio: http://expediacruises.com/polaris
View a slideshow of our trip here: https://www.facebook.com/ecflorenceky/videos/315825390043027
Polaris Travel Experts 5 Minute Review:
Polaris Travel Experts 360 Tours
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtlvBLdERjJIDbC-WtkhQWg