Head to head
Dreams Playa Esmeralda Resort & SpavsJOIA Bávaro by Iberostar
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Scores at a Glance
Dreams Playa Esmeralda Resort & SpaJOIA Bávaro by Iberostar
Overall
8.6
9.0
Beach
9.0
8.6
Food
8.2
8.7
Service
8.0
9.3
Rooms
8.8
8.6
Luxury
8.5
8.9
Value
8.0
8.6
Romance
8.2
9.0
Scores out of 10 · higher is better
Quick Stats
| Dreams Playa Esmeralda Resort & Spa | Measure | JOIA Bávaro by Iberostar |
|---|---|---|
| 8.6 | Overall Score | 9.0 (better) |
| 5-star | Star Rating | 5-star |
| 4.3 (438) | Google Rating | 4.9 (16,719) (better) |
| (better)From $172 | Price / Night (pp) | From $251 |
| No | Adults Only | Yes |
| Yes | Kids' Club | – |
| Oceanfront | Beachfront | Near coast |
| Grand | Resort Size | Mid-size |
| 90 min | Airport Transfer | 25 min (better) |
All Scores
| Dreams Playa Esmeralda Resort & Spa | Measure | JOIA Bávaro by Iberostar |
|---|---|---|
| (better)9.0 | Beach | 8.6 |
| 8.2 | Food | 8.7 (better) |
| 8.0 | Service | 9.3 (better) |
| (better)8.8 | Rooms | 8.6 |
| 8.5 | Pools | 8.5 |
| 8.5 | Luxury | 8.9 (better) |
| 8.0 | Value | 8.6 (better) |
| 8.8 | Family | – |
| 8.2 | Romance | 9.0 (better) |
| 8.2 | Quiet | – |
| 8.0 | Adventure | – |
| 8.2 | Wellness | – |
| 7.0 | Remote work | – |
Of the 11 measures we call, Dreams Playa Esmeralda Resort & Spa leads on 3 and JOIA Bávaro by Iberostar leads on 8.
Vibes
| Dreams Playa Esmeralda Resort & Spa | Measure | JOIA Bávaro by Iberostar |
|---|---|---|
| Yes | Romance | Yes |
| Yes | Quiet | – |
Activities
| Dreams Playa Esmeralda Resort & Spa | Measure | JOIA Bávaro by Iberostar |
|---|---|---|
| Yes | Spa | Yes |
| Yes | Diving | – |
| Yes | Water sports | Yes |
| Yes | Nightlife | – |
| Yes | Kids | – |
| – | Golf | Yes |
Dreams Playa Esmeralda Resort & Spa
- Guests 18 and over get free access to the neighboring Secrets Playa Esmeralda, which adds adult-only dining and bars
JOIA Bávaro by Iberostar
- Adults-only all-inclusive
- 3 pools
- 8 places to eat
- Full-service spa
- Butler service
Pros · Dreams Playa Esmeralda Resort & Spa
- New rooms
- Water park and kids/teen clubs
- Strong beach
Pros · JOIA Bávaro by Iberostar
- Butler on every suite
- Bávaro position
Cons · Dreams Playa Esmeralda Resort & Spa
- Long airport transfer
- Dreams beach can be choppy
- Service still uneven
Cons · JOIA Bávaro by Iberostar
- Sargassum season
- Rooms not newest on the strip
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