Tucked away on the palm-studded Uvero Alto Beach where flamingos roam free and dreams come true, Dreams Punta Cana Resort & Spa delivers award-winning style and luxury. Located on the pristine coast of the Dominican Republic, just 20 minutes from Punta Cana International Airport, Dreams Punta Cana resort is the perfect getaway for everyone. Is there a casino? Yes, Dreams Punta Cana has a casino in the same building as the welcome center. Is alcohol included? Yes, beer, wine and spirits are included. Premium wines are available for purchase. Does Dreams have room service? Yes, Dreams Punta Cana has 24-hour room service. Are wristbands required? No, the resort does not use wristbands.

Situated along the eastern “Coconut Coast” of Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, Dreams Palm Beach and Dreams Punta Cana provide a relaxing backdrop of palm trees, thatched roofs and the sparkling blue water of the Caribbean. While both resorts are part of the Dreams family, they each have their own take on family-friendly activities and all-inclusive amenities.

The best overall solution in this vs roundup goes to Dreams Punta Cana for its tropical landscaping and dining, entertainment and activity options. Dreams Palm Beach comes in at a close second due to its beautiful beach, kid and teen clubs and more compact layout.

If you are weighing the pros and cons of Dreams Palm Beach vs Dreams Punta Cana, keep reading as I go into detail on which resort is the best choice for most situations.

Quick Comparison

Dreams Palm Beach

The 500-room Dreams Palm Beach is located along a calm stretch of water near Laguna Bavaro. It’s about 10 miles from Punta Cana International Airport (PUJ) and 15 minutes from downtown Punta Cana.

What We Love

• Calm water at the beach
• Small resort atmosphere is nice for families traveling with young children and grandparents
• Kid and teen clubs with activities, games and social events
• Closer to activities and shopping in downtown Punta Cana

What We Don’t Like

• Small pool and no kiddie water park
• Rooms can appear dated and worn

Dreams Punta Cana

Dreams Punta Cana is located further north on a large beach near Playa Macao. It’s a bit larger than Dreams Palm Beach and has 620 guest rooms and suites within nine connecting buildings. It’s about 25 miles to the airport.

What We Love

• Lots of dining and entertainment choices
• Beautiful winding pool with shade trees and swim-up bar
• Outdoor play area with a pool and pirate ship for kids
• Teen Club with video games, social events and parties

What We Don’t Like

• Water can be too rough for kayaking and paddleboarding
• Large resort and multiple buildings mean more walking to get where you want to go

Full Comparison: Features and Amenities

• Price
• Packages
• Family Interests
• Check-In Time
• Amenities
• Family Activities
• For Mom and Dad
• Wheelchair Accessibility
• Resort Reputation

Price

Since they’re from the same resort family, both Dreams Palm Beach and Dreams Punta Cana have the same all-inclusive package. It includes accommodations, food and beverages (including top-shelf alcohol), 24-hour room service, concierge service, mini bar, free Wi-Fi, daily activities, nightly entertainment and taxes and gratuities.

Dreams Palm Beach is approximately $299 a night.

Dreams Punta Cana is approximately $398 a night.

Price Winner:Dreams Palm Beach for its affordable rate and wide variety of amenities.

Packages

Both Dreams resorts currently have special rates for weddings, honeymoons, anniversaries and winter getaways and as well as kids-stay-play-eat-free deals.

Packages Winner:Dreams Palm Beach for its lovely location and all-inclusive package rates.

Family Interests

Guests at Dreams Palm Beach can go hiking and nature watching at Bavaro Lagoon, visit the cenotes at Scape Park or take an excursion to the coral reef at Catalina Island. Downtown Punta Cana is about 15 minutes away for those who want to go shopping. There are several nearby golf courses, as well as other resorts for casinos and entertainment. The concierge can help you with booking tours and other off-site activities.

Dreams Punta Cana can set you up with sightseeing excursions to Catalina Island or a catamaran trip to Saona Island, which is located in the National Park of the East. There are four nearby golf courses as well as ziplining, sailing and kayaking. Spend some time checking out the cenotes, caves and caverns at Scape Park.

Family Interests Winner:Dreams Palm Beach for its proximity to off-site activities and natural attractions.

Check-In Time

Check-in time at Dreams Palm Beach is 3:00 p.m. Check-out is at noon.

Check-in time at Dreams Punta Cana is at 3:00 p.m. Check-out is noon. Late check-out is available for an extra fee.

Check-In Time Winner:Dreams Punta Cana for the option of a late check-out.

Amenities

Dreams Palm Beach has eight dining options that include bars, lounges and five restaurants serving Italian, Mexican, seafood and an international buffet. Bordeaux is the adults-only French restaurant. There’s a spa with a beauty salon, two pools, a fitness center, a kids’ club, a teen club and a theater for nightly entertainment.

Dreams Punta Cana has nine dining options that include five a la carte restaurants and several bars and lounge areas serving seafood, Italian, Mexican and a buffet. There are several bars and lounges areas as well as an adults-only French restaurant. Other amenities include a large winding pool, a spa, a business center, a theater and a fitness center with cardio and weight equipment.

The kids’ Explorers Club at both resorts is for kids ages 3 – 12 and offers arts/crafts, campouts, games and more. Dreams Palm Beach has an outdoor play area with a water feature. Dreams Punta Cana has an outdoor play area and a kids’ pool with a pirate ship.

The Core Zone Teens Club at both resorts is for ages 13 – 17 and has video games, a batting cage, social events and disco parties.

Both resorts offer the Sip, Savor and See experience. You can dine at any of these participating neighboring resorts: Dreams Punta Cana, Dreams Palm Beach, Dreams Dominicus La Romana, Now Larimar or Punta Cana and Now Onyx Punta Cana. You must arrange this with the concierge by 3 p.m.

Both resorts also have a mini disco in the evenings. It usually takes place right before the nightly show in the theater. Each resort has a daily newsletter that lists the times.

For couples wondering which resort is better, I would go with Dreams Punta Cana. There are more bars and lounges and the larger pool makes it easier to find a quiet spot away from small children.

Amenities Winner:Dreams Punta Cana for that cool kiddie pool and pirate ship.

Family Activities

Between pools, playgrounds and activities, families could easily spend their whole vacation at either resort without ever leaving the property. Dreams Palm Beach offers beach volleyball, a tennis court, movies on the beach, a casino, snorkeling, windsurfing, kayaking and other watersports. Family-friendly entertainment is provided nightly in the resort’s theater.

Babysitting service is $15 USD per child and can be arranged through the concierge 24 hours in advance.

Dreams Punta Cana has a gigantic free-form pool that stretches from the lobby to the beach, an on-site casino, a theater, beginner SCUBA lessons in the pool and non-motorized watersports like kayaking, snorkeling and windsurfing. Kids of all ages will enjoy the tropical garden, flamingos, parrots and other wildlife at the resort’s Flamingo Lake.

Babysitting service is available through the concierge.

For family-friendly beach activities, I recommend Dreams Palm Beach. The water is calm and fairly shallow for the little ones. The beach at Dreams Punta Cana can get quite rough, preventing you from enjoying watersports like kayaking and paddleboarding (even though both are available).

Family Activities Winner:Dreams Punta Cana for the huge pool and flamingos and birds at Flamingo Lake.

For Mom and Dad

While the teens, tweens and tots are enjoying themselves at their respective clubs, Mom and Dad can hit the casino or indulge in a massage or facial. Both Dreams resorts have pool and beach wait service, comfy lounge chairs and sunbeds and a swim-up bar. Both resorts have an adults-only French restaurant for a romantic night out.

The Dreams Palm Beach casino is open from 7:00 p.m. to 3:00 a.m.

The Dreams Punta Cana casino is open from 4:00 p.m. to 3:00 a.m.

For Mom and Dad Winner:Dreams Punta Cana for the ability to enjoy the casino earlier in the day.

Wheelchair Accessibility

Does Dreams Punta Cana Have A Casino Open

Dreams Palm Beach is wheelchair accessible and has rooms with lowered sinks and raised toilets.

Dreams Punta Cana is wheelchair accessible and has rooms with lowered sinks, raised toilets and toilet grab rails.

Wheelchair Accessibility Winner:Dreams Punta Cana for its accessible rooms and grab rails.

Resort Reputation

Guests gave rave reviews to the food, staff and landscaping at both resorts. Check out what some of them had to say.

Dreams Palm Beach

Dreams Punta Cana

Resort Reputation Winner:Dreams Punta Cana for its beautiful grounds, friendly staff and entertainment and dining options.

Standout Features and Amenities

• Beach: The beach at Dreams Palm Beach has much gentler waves for the little ones and kayaking enthusiasts.
• Core Zone: The teen club at Dreams Palm Beach is in an outdoor setting with lounge chairs, game tables and video games.
• Flamingo Lake: Dreams Punta Cana has a tropical garden with flamingos, parrots and wildlife
• Pool: Dreams Punta Cana has a huge pool that winds around the property surrounded by palm trees and tropical plants.

Dreams Palm Beach vs Dreams Punta Cana: The Bottom Line

Stay at Dreams Palm Beach if:

• You’re traveling with young children and older grandparents
• You want to go kayaking and paddleboarding without worrying about rough waves and a rocky shoreline
• You want to be closer to the shopping and resorts of downtown Punta Cana

Stay at Dreams Punta Cana if:

• You’re traveling with young kids and teens
• You’re more interested in a large pool, poolside activities and a kids’ water play area than the beach
• You occasionally need the use of a business center

Dreams Resorts & Spas

Dreams Resorts & Spas offer a high level of luxury for couples and couples with children, in ideal beachfront settings. Spacious rooms and suites, graciously appointed and luxuriously equipped provide a picture-perfect vacation experience with welcoming service and romantic inclusions. The Explorer’s Club for Kids with Red Cross certified staff and Core Zone Teens Club* provide supervised day and evening activities. Beautiful and exciting destinations provide a lovely setting for a wedding, honeymoon, romantic getaway or family vacation.
Unlimited-Luxury^® includes:

• Limitless access to gourmet à la carte dining options without reservations required
• Unlimited international and domestic top-shelf spirits
• Unlimited natural fruit juices and soft drinks
• 24-hour room and concierge services
• Pool and beach wait service
• Daily refreshed mini-bar with soft drinks, juice, bottled water and beer
• Daily maid service
• Endless daytime activities and live nightly entertainment
• Theme parties, oceanfront bars and entertainment venues
• No wristbands required
• All taxes and gratuities
• Enjoy free Wi-Fi and free international calling to the US, Canada and local landlines with Unlimited Connectivity. The mobile app also allows guests to view the schedules of all events, activities and restaurants at the resort, plus to learn about local destinations, excursions, and much more!*

*Available at select resorts.

Does Dreams Punta Cana Have A Casino Hotel