Head to head
Dreams Playa Esmeralda Resort & SpavsLUX* Belle Mare
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Scores at a Glance
Dreams Playa Esmeralda Resort & SpaLUX* Belle Mare
Overall
8.6
9.1
Beach
9.0
9.1
Food
8.2
9.0
Service
8.0
9.2
Rooms
8.8
·
Luxury
8.5
·
Value
8.0
·
Romance
8.2
·
Scores out of 10 · higher is better
Quick Stats
| Dreams Playa Esmeralda Resort & Spa | Measure | LUX* Belle Mare |
|---|---|---|
| 8.6 | Overall Score | 9.1 (better) |
| 5-star | Star Rating | 5-star |
| 4.3 (445) | Google Rating | 4.7 (2,380) (better) |
| From $172 | Price / Night (pp) | From $161 (better) |
| No | Adults Only | No |
| Yes | Kids' Club | Yes |
| Oceanfront | Beachfront | Oceanfront |
| Grand | Resort Size | Grand |
| 90 min | Airport Transfer | 60 min (better) |
All Scores
| Dreams Playa Esmeralda Resort & Spa | Measure | LUX* Belle Mare |
|---|---|---|
| 9.0 | Beach | 9.1 (better) |
| 8.2 | Food | 9.0 (better) |
| 8.0 | Service | 9.2 (better) |
| 8.8 | Rooms | – |
| 8.5 | Pools | – |
| 8.5 | Luxury | – |
| 8.0 | Value | – |
| 8.8 | Family | 8.8 |
| 8.2 | Romance | – |
| 8.2 | Quiet | – |
| 8.0 | Adventure | – |
| 8.2 | Wellness | – |
| 7.0 | Remote work | 8.0 (better) |
Of the 8 measures we call, Dreams Playa Esmeralda Resort & Spa leads on 0 and LUX* Belle Mare leads on 8.
Vibes
| Dreams Playa Esmeralda Resort & Spa | Measure | LUX* Belle Mare |
|---|---|---|
| Yes | Romance | Yes |
| Yes | Quiet | Yes |
| – | Lively | Yes |
Activities
| Dreams Playa Esmeralda Resort & Spa | Measure | LUX* Belle Mare |
|---|---|---|
| Yes | Spa | Yes |
| Yes | Diving | – |
| Yes | Water sports | Yes |
| Yes | Nightlife | Yes |
| Yes | Kids | 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
LUX* Belle Mare
- Playful luxury on east coast
- LUX* Me Spa wellness
- Beach cinema under the stars
- Street food pop-up dining
Pros · Dreams Playa Esmeralda Resort & Spa
- New rooms
- Water park and kids/teen clubs
- Strong beach
Pros · LUX* Belle Mare
- Excellent beachfront location on Belle Mare.
- Strong recurring guest sentiment for staff warmth, service and food.
- Good family and couples balance without feeling like a pure family resort.
- Wi-Fi evidence is stronger than free-Wi-Fi-only because Expedia states in-room Wi-Fi speed of 25+ Mbps.
Cons · Dreams Playa Esmeralda Resort & Spa
- Long airport transfer
- Dreams beach can be choppy
- Service still uneven
Cons · LUX* Belle Mare
- East-coast seaweed or wind can affect some beach days seasonally.
- Dining costs can be high without the right package.
- Travelers seeking a lively town setting should look elsewhere.
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