At Dreams Villamagna Nueva Vallarta, guests who wish to learn how to paddle surf can participate in a clinic in the pool at our resort. From there, they can choose to rent the board per hour or take a private lesson from Pacific Paddle. For more information, simply stop by our activities desk upon arrival! In the meantime, enjoy these photos of some guests who recently tried paddle surfing.

Named Manatees Bar, this one of a kind swim-up bar is located in the resort’s large free form pool that winds its way from the stunning lobby all the way down to the beach. In fact, it’s so fun and unique that Trip Advisor recently named it as one of 10 refreshing swim-up bars.

In our minds, a swim-up bar screams vacation and we want our guests to feel relaxed at all points of their stay with us. Our friendly bartenders will make any drink to your liking as you sit on bar stools submerged in water or stand by the side of the pool and take in the views of our resort. Can you think of anything better? We didn’t think so!

Our Entertainment Teams are also gearing up for Super Bowl XLVI on February 5^th  Cheer on your favorite team while watching the game on a large screen on the beach. Imagine the sand at your feet and our staff serving cold drinks during the game.

Part of the traditions included drinking hot chocolate and cutting pieces of the traditional sweetbread topped with candied fruit, Rosca de Reyes. This special sweetbread is a tradition that has been going on for years. The shape of the bread is in an oval representing the kings’ crowns and the colorful candied fruit on top represent the jewels of the crown. Each guest cut their own slice of the bread and inside one of the pieces is hidden a figure of baby Jesus. It is said that the person who finds the figurine is responsible to host a party and prepare tamales to be enjoyed on February 2^nd.

Take a look at the fun photos of our guests enjoying the traditions of Dia de Reyes at Dreams Cancun Resort & Spa and Dreams Puerto Aventuras Resort & Spa!

Three Kings visit Dreams Puerto Aventuras

 Rosca de Reyes at Dreams Cancun

A guest of Dreams Cancun discovered the baby Jesus figurine.

I’m guilty. I’m guilty of forming opinions about certain experiences before I actually do them. I know I’m not alone, because whenever I talk to someone about travel I hear the same refrain, “Oh, I don’t like all-inclusive resorts, well I don’t think I do, I’ve never actually been to one.” I get so confused when I hear statements like that because vacationing at all-inclusive resorts is one of my favorite travel styles. So I’m here to set the record straight, address some concerns I have heard and share with you the best ways to truly enjoy an all-inclusive vacation. 

Photo Credit: Matthew Long

1. As active as you want to be - As an active, independent traveler, I always make sure that there’s plenty to keep me occupied when I travel. A popular misconception of all-inclusive resorts is that aside from the beach and pool, there’s nothing to do. Like any other travel style though, guests can be as active or as lazy as they want, depending on their mood. I recently visited the beautiful Dreams Puerto Vallarta Resort & Spa, which works hard to keep guests entertained. Sure, there is an amazing beach and several pools and believe me, I made good use of them. But they also help you coordinate city tours, snorkeling excursions, whale watching expeditions – anything you want to do, you can have arranged. You can even stay active without even leaving the resort itself. Every day at Dreams there was a full schedule of events for every interest and activity level, from Spanish lessons, baby turtle releases and jet skiing. Of course a day or two doing nothing but lounging by the pool isn’t bad either.

Photo Credit: Mattew Long

2. What about the food? – Food is important when we travel, in fact it may be the most important part of the travel experience. We all have to eat and we want every meal to be good and hopefully memorable. Not every all-inclusive resort is made the same, which is why I was pleasantly surprised at the quality of the food offerings at the Dreams Resort & Spa in Puerto Vallarta. First, Dreams doesn’t rely on endless buffets to feed people, sacrificing quality for quantity. Yes, there are buffet options for breakfast and lunch, but guests aren’t limited to those choices. At lunch and dinner, the amazing Dreams restaurants are open for delicious and reservation-free dining. Every day during my stay I was constantly surprised at how good and interesting the food was. There were regional favorites, standard classics and innovative new dishes created by the chefs just for the Dreams experience. The minds behind the Dreams menus realize the importance of food in the travel experience and instead of giving it a marginal position, they have elevated it to the forefront where it belongs.

Photo Credit: Matthew Long

3. Luxury – When one thinks of luxury, images of private planes and huge yachts come to mind, but what doesn’t always (but should) come to mind are all-inclusive resorts. I was skeptical too, but Dreams Puerto Vallarta convinced me that a popular resort and luxury travel can definitely walk hand in hand. Luxurious rooms, high quality amenities and great food are all necessary for a memorable luxury travel experience, but the most important factor are the employees. Hotels and resorts don’t get a lot of breaks and one bad experience with one guest can ruin their name. For high-end luxury properties, it is crucial that their employees are perfect, nothing less is really acceptable. Dreams realizes this and everyone I met inPuerto Vallarta epitomized this devotion to creating a quality and memorable vacation experience for their guests. Whether it’s someone handing you a towel as you walk out the door, or a concierge who goes to great lengths to help you with a travel challenge, the interactions all combine to create a feeling of individual care and attention.

Photo Credit:Matthew Long

4. What about kids? – This is a double edged sword. Vacation goers divide into two camps: those with kids and those without. The guests with kids want to make sure they aren’t alone and that there’s plenty for their children to do while on a trip. Those without children sometimes don’t want to be bothered by a lot of screaming kids when they vacation. I kept this in mind as I walked around the Dreams Puerto Vallarta property and I was honestly impressed by what I saw. There were plenty of kids, but it was never overwhelming and for most of the day they were occupied with the Explorer’s Club for Kids, any one of the countless activities or hanging out at the family friendly pool area. I also saw plenty of couples who were perfectly content in the adults only pool area, the beach bar or just on snoozing next to the roaring ocean. From a personal point of view, I myself was never bothered or inconvenienced by the presence of kids and was happy to see so many of them truly enjoying their time at the resort. Managing expectations for these two very different types of travelers is a challenge for any property, but it seems to me that Dreams has mastered it. 

Photo Credit: Matthew Long

5. Local community - Travel isn’t only about relaxing on the beach and getting away from it all. A truly great trip is about exploration and education; learning more about the local destination you are visiting. This is always at the top of my list and was honestly a concern as I began my stay at Dreams. Fusing local culture and color though is integral to the Dreams experience, as I soon learned. My first encounter was my first night at the resort when the evening entertainment was a Mexican dinner followed by a show of Mexican dancers, singers and other assorted performers. I know what you’re thinking, it sounds hokey, but it really wasn’t. The food wasn’t Tex-Mex, it was real, honest to goodness (and delicious) Mexican cuisine, and the entertainment wasn’t of the Disney variety, it sparkled with local pride and talent. Throughout the weekend I was amazed at the infusion of the local Puerto Vallarta community at the resort with local artists, menu additions and interactions with staff. It’s also very easy to hop in a cab and spend the day or evening in downtown Puerto Vallarta itself, combining the best of both worlds.

I hope this has helped dispel some misconceptions about the all-inclusive experience. I love them for their ability to fuse relaxation, luxury and exploration all in one great travel adventure.

 What’s your favorite aspect of the all-inclusive experience?

About our guest blogger:

Matthew Long, Editor-in-Chief and creator of LandLopers.com, has a true passion for travel. As someone who has a bad case of the travel bug, Matt travels the world in order to share tips on where to go, what to see and how to experience the best the world has to offer. Matt is a Lonely Planet Featured Blogger, a contributor to many other travel sites and publications including Dabble Magazine. Matt’s site LandLopers.com is listed in the Top 100 Travel Blogs, Top 100 Independent Travel Blogs, Most Influential Online Travel Personalities and Washington Flyer’s Top 100 Travel Blogs. You can also find him on Twitter: @LandLopers and Facebook: Facebook.com/LandLopers

As you can see above, we have a pinboard for each of our resorts as well as boards that represent the locations and cultures our guests experience while staying with us. Pinterest works by aggregating photos that have been pinned by users into several categories like ‘beauty & health’, ‘weddings & events’, ‘travel & places’, etc. You can use Pinterest to follow users who pin content that inspires you, and also use your own pinboards to save great photos, articles and ideas you find while surfing the web. Here’s an example of some of our favorite pins to date:

A Make it at Home recipe for Rum Punch from Dreams La Romana

El Patio Restaurant at Dreams Puerto Aventuras

An aerial view of the pool at Dreams Puerto Vallarta

 We hope we’ve piqued your interest in Pinterest! Visit our page today to check it out and follow us!

Tulum ruins by m_reger courtesy Creative Commons license

The allure and mystery of the Maya, an ancient civilization whose descendants continue to inhabit southeast Mexico, will be a special draw for tourists this year. The ancient Mayan Long Count Calendar is said to mark December 21, 2012 as the end of an era, which many interpret as an “end of the world” prediction.

The creators of that calendar are long gone, but ruins of their once-mighty empire still remain. Travelers will explore fascinating ruins from the ancient Mayan civilization throughout the Mexican regions of Chiapas, Yucatan, Quintana Roo, Tabasco and Campeche.  

Several of the Dreams properties are situated in the heart of the Mayan world. Dreams Tulum Resort & Spa is located only 5 short minutes from the inspirational beachfront archaeological site.-the only beachfront ruins. Dreams Cancun Resort & Spa, Dreams Riviera Cancun Resort & Spa, and Dreams Puerto Aventuras Resort & Spa all provide excellent launching pads for travelers planning their own exploration of this fascinating culture and region. Dreams Cancun even has a Mayan ruin site on property!

Visitors to the infamous Chichen Itza archaeological site, a perennial favorite hosting an average of 4,000 people a day, will enhance their experience with the new Palace of Maya Civilization, opening just a few miles away from the site. Chichen Itza is thought to be one of the largest Mayan cities, and it contains an excellent array of architectural elements indicative of the ancient Mayans, including ball courts, temples and cenotes (naturally occurring freshwater sinkholes).

Among the most beautiful of Mayan sites, the ruins of the walled city of Tulum stand sentinel on a breathtaking ocean cliff along the Riviera Maya. This site served as an important trading port for the Maya, and is filled with frescos and stucco figures portraying the deities thought to have protected this seaside fortress. The magnificent coastal setting allows visitors to take a cooling dip in the surf after their archeological explorations.

Though their original empire crumbled, the Maya people themselves did not disappear. 2012 will be a year to highlight Mayan culture and travelers in the region will have the opportunity to witness ceremonies, visit indigenous villages and immerse themselves in the cultural traditions that live on today.

The thriving Yucatan capital city of Merida was built by Spanish conquistadors atop the ancient site of the Mayan city of T’ho. Original carved Mayan stones were used as their building blocks, and can still be seen today in places such as the walls of the city’s main cathedral. Merida is honoring its Mayan heritage with the opening of the Museo del Mundo Maya in June, which aims to showcase not just the ancient world but also celebrate the active, thriving Mayan culture of today.

Community-based tourism will also bring travelers into the homes and villages of today’s Mayan people for a firsthand taste of their culture. Activities range from hands-on cooking classes, learning local crafts such as hammock making, and lending a hand on community education and building projects, providing great opportunities for travelers to make a personal connection with the Maya of today.

Angela Dollar is in love with the world and all its cultures and landscapes, and is passionate about sustainable travel’s ability to preserve and protect them. Read more of her writing on the Travel with a Purpose blog at Wanderlust and Lipstick.

Wondering what exactly this experience is like? Here’s a little bit more about it:

Delphinus Dreams Cancun gives our guests the opportunity to swim with dolphins and play with them in our sea water lagoon. The entire Delphinus experience includes a brief orientation and 45 minutes of swimming. Dolphin Experiences take place four times a day at 9 am, 10:30 am, noon and 1:30 pm.

Adults and children at least 3’6” tall may swim alone with the dolphins. Smaller children may also participate if accompanied by an adult. Lifejackets are provided and swimming ability is not necessary. Expert trainers guide your experience and assure the safety of you and the dolphins.

Our dolphins are kind and gentle and love visitors! Swimming with them is truly an experience you and your family will never forget. Be sure to book your stay today so you don’t miss out!

Wow Cocktail:

2 oz white rum

3 oz orange juice

3 oz cream of coconut

Blend with ice and enjoy!

For some extra fun and to feel like you’re at Dreams Resorts, add a cute little drink umbrella and turn on some island music while you sip on this yummy cocktail!