I recently stayed at Dreams Sapphire in Mexico and had a wonderful time!
This is a family-friendly, all-inclusive resort on the east coast of Mexico that is located about 15 miles south of the Cancun International Airport (CUN).
Dreams Sapphire is loosely considered to be in the Riviera Maya, but this particular area is more specifically referred to as the Riviera Cancun.
First, here are some of the resort highlights:
Medium-sized resort with 488 rooms
Short transfer ride from the airport (about 20-25 min)
Eight dining options with seafood, Italian, Asian (with Teppanyaki tables), French, and more
Five bars including a swim-up bar and a super cute beach bar with swings for seats
Three pools: main/activity pool, adults-only pool for Preferred Club guests, and small kids pool with waterslides
Two whirlpools
Daily activities including a variety of land and water sports
Nightly entertainment with shows in the theatre, live music in the open-air lobby, and late night dancing in the sports bar
Explorer’s Club for children 3-12 years old
Small waterpark with three slides for big kids
Pevonia Spa and beauty salon
Fitness center with air-conditioned yoga room
Complimentary WiFi and 24-hour room service
No wristbands
And now for a breakdown of the pros and cons:
PROS of Dreams Sapphire:
Lush tropical resort with Mayan-inspired architecture – hacienda-style makes it actually feel like you’re in Mexico (loved this!)
Located on a long, walkable stretch of soft, white-sand beach
Great resort layout that is spread out enough but super easy to get around
Grounds are kept very clean and landscaping is well-maintained; attentive housekeeping services
Staff are very friendly and provide a high level of service
The main pool is massive so there’s plenty of space and it never feels crowded
There is an awesome adults-only pool (18+) for Preferred Club guests that is large, secluded, and peaceful
The wait service by the pools and beach was fantastic
There are oceanfront swim-up rooms that are so close to the ocean you can hear the waves from your room
I ate at several restaurants and enjoyed the food; it’s not going to impress a true foodie but it was the average type of food you get at an all-inclusive resort
You’ll see wildlife like coatis here; they have signs up along the walking paths that tell you more about each animal which I thought was cool
The entertainment team is very engaging and does an excellent job with activities/games at main pool
There is a weekly fire show performed over-the-water at the main pool
Complimentary bike tour to the quaint nearby town of Puerto Morelos
There are tons of fun excursion possibilities in the Riviera Maya area of Mexico – a couple of favorites are visiting a cenote and checking out the Tulum ruins
CONS of Dreams Sapphire:
The ocean tends to be murkier in the Riviera Cancun area so this isn't the place to go if you're looking for clear turquoise water
This part of Mexico has a lot of issues with sargassum (basically seaweed) during the warmer months; it can make the beach unusable at times when it's bad
There is a sargassum barrier out in the ocean (common at most resorts in this area)
My room didn't have a ceiling fan so it felt a bit warm at times
The rooms were recently refurbished and refreshed with modern décor, however, they still feel a little dated/bare – more basic than super luxurious – but nice overall
Dreams Sapphire Wedding Information:
I love this resort for destination weddings in Mexico! There are so many incredible venues to choose from, and the wedding team is one of the best I’ve worked with.
Wedding Group Size: 2-300 guests
Ceremony types: Legal, Symbolic, Catholic, LGBTQ
Wedding venues:
Beach | Ceremony & Reception: 300 guests
NOTE: There are three beach location options to choose from so the ceremony can be close to your reception location to make things super easy/convenient
Vista Del Mar Pergola & Terrace | Ceremony, Cocktail & Reception: 200 guests for ceremony, 120 guests for cocktail, 80 guests for reception
NOTE: This is an oceanfront venue on a wooden terrace that also has an indoor, air-conditioned space adjacent to it (works great to have ceremony at the pergola, cocktail hour indoors, and then reception on the terrace); it is located at the far end of the resort so aside from the room building next to it, it gives you a lot of privacy.
Preferred Pool | Cocktail & Reception: 200 guests for cocktail, 120 guests for reception
NOTE: The pool closes for resort guests at 5:00 p.m. so you have the entire area all to yourselves with a private bar; the pool deck is large and the whole space is surrounded by trees and foliage so it feels very secluded/private
Beach Terrace | Ceremony, Cocktail & Reception: 300 guests
NOTE: Ocean view backdrop without having to deal with the sand; one-of-a-kind entrance walking across a beautiful bridge that starts from a Mayan-inspired building
Wedding Gazebo | Ceremony: 80 guests
NOTE: Covered outdoor area so it provides lots of shade; great backup location in case of rain
Pool Gazebo | Ceremony: 15 guests
NOTE: Located in the middle of the main pool
Catholic Chapel | Ceremony: 50 guests inside, 100 guests outside
NOTE: Can be used for non-religious ceremonies; very private and surrounded by greenery
Ballroom | Reception: 250 guests
NOTE: Great for those who want an air-conditioned reception
The Mayan-inspired architecture at Dreams Sapphire creates lots of unique photo op spots for your photographer/videographer to take advantage of, and guests traveling without children will enjoy the adults-only features.
Room rates are reasonable and their Beyond Memorable wedding package includes SO MUCH for larger groups.
Dreams Sapphire is an excellent resort for wedding couples looking for an affordable destination wedding in Mexico!
Want to learn more about planning a vacation or having your wedding at Dreams Sapphire? Reach out to me and let’s get started!
Related blog posts:
Unico Riviera Maya Wedding Resort Review (Riviera Maya, Mexico)
Beaches Ocho Rios Wedding Resort Review (Ocho Rios, Jamaica)
