Dreams Dominicus La Romana

Dreams Domonicus La Romana opened in November 2016 and the still-young resort has a laid-back village vibe. Its low-slung buildings are bright white and modeled after Italian Mediterranean architecture. Think: arched doorways, porthole windows, trellised patios, and burnt orange mission-style tile roofs. The property’s shaped like a long rectangle, and the amenities -- including its three freshwater pools, multiple thatch-roofed bars, fountains, and palm-lined walkways -- are framed between the guest room buildings. The resort’s soundtrack of smooth jazz or loungey covers of The Rolling Stones or Pink Floyd always plays in the background. But the album seems to be on repeat, as we heard the same songs multiple times a day. At night, the entertainment ranges from Michael Jackson or Elvis Presley covers to circus shows to bands performing '80s and '90s hits. The resort's grounds are beautifully lit in the evening for a romantic walk to the beach at the property’s far end. Its worth noting that we heard a few reports of problems -- from leaky ceilings to language barriers -- that dim this property's shine just a bit. Dreams’ guests are a mix of American and Russian couples and families. During Dominican national holidays, domestic travelers pass through as well. 

Dreams Dominicus is located on beautiful Dominicus Beach, a sleepy stretch of sand near Parque Nacional del Este. The park is teeming with wildlife, hiking trails, caves, and virgin beaches to explore. The nearest town, Bayahibe has mini-markets, craft shops, restaurants, and a pharmacy that are all a 15-minute walk along the beach from the resort. It’s slightly longer if walking on the road. La Romana, the area's commercial heart, is a 30-minute drive from Dreams. Activity-wise, Coco Bongo -- the famed Caribbean nightclub brand with Vegas-style shows -- is a 60-minute drive away. Other activities include an adventure park with zip lines, mountain bike trails, an azure cenote, and swimming with dolphins, all of which take about an hour to reach by car as well. La Romana International airport is 20 minutes away by car or cab. Alternatively, Santo Domingo’s Las Americas International Airport is an 80-minute drive, while Punta Cana International Airport is 50 minutes away by car.

Dreams Dominicus' air-conditioned suites are sophisticated and modern, blending neutral-toned grays and beiges with wood-accented furniture. All rooms have either king or two double beds with plush beige headboards with a sheer valance draped overhead and earthy-green (or cayenne) colored bed runners with palm-frond patterns. Unfortunately, we heard reports of problems like leaky ceilings and faulty drains during our visit, so stay vigilant. In any case, it's likely worth upgrading for the rooms that have sea-view balconies -- particularly for those looking to really unplug. If you're feeling particularly flush, opt for one with a plunge pool.All rooms have big flat-screen TVs including premium channels, iHome Bluetooth alarm clocks, and wood-accented armchairs with plush gray cushions. Other standard features include coffeemakers, safes, steamers, luggage stands, irons, ironing boards, and free Wi-Fi. The latter is generally fast, though can cut out unexpectedly on occasion. Minibars are stocked with soda, water, and beer, and are replenished daily. Bathrooms aren't the fanciest we’ve seen -- and we wish they included rainfall showers -- but the gorgeous white marble adds a swish air that this resort's competition rarely offers. Toiletries include bar soap, lotion, shampoo, body wash, shower caps, and vanity packs. Keep in mind that the floors often get soaked during a shower.Preferred Club Rooms are similar in appearance to the lower-category rooms, but come with extras like robes, slippers, Nespresso coffeemakers (and coffee pods), and generous comfort amenities like sunscreen. All rooms have private balconies with plastic armchairs and tables and the pricier rooms also feature lounge chairs. Accessible rooms are available.

Dreams Dominicus’ sandy beach is lined with palm trees and has a steep grade into the ocean. It's a bit rocky under the water, but a sandy area nearby is packed to the brim with lounge chairs (though even with all of this space, it can still get crowded). There are also just a few umbrellas, so get to the beach early if you’d like shade. Free non-motorized water sports are a nice plus and include kayaks, stand-up paddle boards, and Hobie Cat catamarans. The resort has three freshwater pools surrounded by lounge chairs and umbrellas. The biggest is an oceanfront infinity pool with walk-up pool bar and sometimes has a volleyball net setup. There’s also a small kids' pool located next door. The middle pool is the activity pool, and hosts classes like water aerobics and free introductory scuba diving. The relax pool is the second biggest pool and has trellised cabanas and a built-in cold water whirlpool. Even in the DR's heat, we still wish that one of the resort's whirlpools was heated.Dreams has six bars and seven total restaurants, including beachfront snack stands and four a la carte restaurants. None require reservations and all are included in rates. The food gets mixed reviews and we were surprised by the long waits for seating -- even at the buffet restaurant. World Cafe is the resort’s international buffet. It has live-cooking stations and stands out with a made-to-order juice bar during breakfast. Seaside Grill is the ocean-view steakhouse. Himitsu serves Asian fusion cuisine, sushi, and has teppanyaki tables. Bordeaux is an adult-only French restaurant. Portofino is the resort’s Italian restaurant that, along with Bordeaux, has a dress code. The beachfront grab-and-go Barefoot Grill and La Trattoria are essentially the same restaurant with different names depending on what they’re serving. Barefoot Grill has snacks like burgers and nachos, while La Trattoria serves Italian food in the evenings. We love the 24-hour coffee shop -- Coco Cafe -- that serves sweets, snacks, coffee and, perhaps most importantly, alcohol. Premium liquor is part of the all-inclusive rates. There’s also free 24-hour room service. The spa features outdoor water therapy pools, a sauna, a steam room, and a salon. A big gym features treadmills, weight machines, ellipticals, stationary and recumbent bicycles, dumbbells, and free weights. For kids aged 3 to 12, Explorers Club has a playground, video-game consoles, and lots of activities. Core Zone is the teen club (for 13 to 17 year olds) with a foosball table, pool table, board games, and video-game systems. There’s a ping-pong table near the beach and a sad-looking mini-golf course that’s essentially a patch of grass with holes dug into the ground and placards noting their location. Other services include a medical office, car rentals, and tour organizing. Meeting rooms are available and valet parking is free.Like other AM Resort (Dreams’ parent company), a Premium Club option is available for upgraded amenities. Members-only privileges include private extras like a beach area, check-in, lounge, breakfast area, as well as upgraded in-room amenities. A nice touch for all guests is the resort app that provides free international calling to the United States, Canada, and most Dominican landline numbers. There's also free Wi-Fi throughout the resort.