Dominican Republic | Punta Cana - Dreams Royal Beach

In November 2021, after many months of forced travel shutdowns, international travel was slowly starting to resume. For Danny and me, this moment finally represented an opportunity to get away again. Our last planned trip at the end of March 2020 had been canceled due to COVID lockdowns, and the desire to travel again was stronger than ever.

Despite the still unusual context – vaccine passports, PCR tests required before returning home, and new health protocols – everything was surprisingly well organized. Some travel insurance policies now included COVID coverage, and the tourism industry had quickly adapted to allow for a safer travel restart. On our side, the excitement of traveling again outweighed our concerns, and we were ready to work around the restrictions of that time.

By then, we had already experienced all-inclusive resorts during our previous trips to Cuba in 2019. We loved this type of travel, but our budget had limited us to more affordable destinations. With tourism gradually reopening and prices dropping significantly, a rare opportunity appeared. For the first time, we were able to consider resorts that were normally outside of our usual budget range.

After doing a lot of research and watching many YouTube videos, we finally chose Dreams Royal Beach Punta Cana. And as if the timing couldn’t have been better, the price dropped again between our first contact with the travel advisor and the final booking. The result was an all-inclusive stay at this level of resort for a price that would normally be unthinkable.

Looking back now, and after experiencing several other trips since then, I can honestly say that we treated ourselves to a truly luxurious experience at an exceptional value. It was within this very specific context -the post-COVID travel restart, a rare opportunity, and a strong desire to escape – that our stay at Dreams Royal Beach took place.

When to Go to Punta Cana

Punta Cana is a popular sun destination year-round, but certain periods offer much more comfortable conditions to fully enjoy a beach vacation.

The most pleasant time to visit Punta Cana is generally between late fall and early spring, from November to April. During these months, the weather tends to be more stable, with more sunny days, warmer but more comfortable temperatures, and lower humidity compared to the summer season. This is the ideal time to spend long days at the beach, enjoy the pools, and explore the resort without dealing with excessive heat.

From May to October, the climate becomes hotter and more humid. Rain showers are more frequent, usually short but sometimes intense, especially later in the day. This period also coincides with hurricane season in the Caribbean, which can make weather conditions more unpredictable. That said, many travelers still choose this time of year to take advantage of lower prices and better deals.

We visited Punta Cana in November, which is considered a transition period between the wet season and the dry season. Overall, we experienced very good weather conditions: plenty of sunshine, pleasant warmth, and only a few brief rain showers, mostly in the evening or at night. Nothing that prevented us from fully enjoying the beach and the resort.

If you want to maximize your chances of ideal weather, December through April remains the safest choice, with March and April often considered the best balance between sunshine, warmth, and overall comfort.

Entry Requirements for Dominican Republic

For Canadian travelers, entry requirements for tourism in the Dominican Republic are generally straightforward, but it’s still important to be aware of them before departure.

Visa and Passport

Canadian citizens do not need a visa for short tourist stays (30 days or less). If you plan to travel for other purposes or stay longer, different visa requirements may apply.
Normally, travelers are required to hold a passport that is valid for at least six months beyond the date of arrival in the Dominican Republic. This helps avoid potential issues at check-in or upon arrival.

*Update (January 15, 2026): Until December 31, 2026, Canadians may enter the Dominican Republic for tourism purposes with a passport that is valid for the duration of their stay only. If you are traveling for non-tourism purposes, the standard six-month validity requirement still applies.

Entry and Exit Form: E-Ticket

Even though a tourist visa is not required, all travelers must complete the electronic entry and exit form (E-Ticket) before traveling to the Dominican Republic.
This form is free of charge and must be completed prior to arrival or upon entry. 👉 Official form link: https://eticket.migracion.gob.do/

Tourist Card and Departure Taxes

A tourist card is required to enter the Dominican Republic (USD $10). In most cases, this fee is already included in your airline ticket or vacation package and is provided by your airline. Travelers entering by land or sea can purchase the tourist card directly at the port of entry through immigration services.
A departure tax of USD $20 per person is also required when leaving the country. This fee is usually included in vacation packages – with the exception of some carriers such as Sunwing. It is recommended to confirm with your travel agent whether this tax will need to be paid at the airport on departure day. For stays longer than 30 days, additional departure fees may apply depending on the length of stay.

How to Get to Punta Cana

For our stay at Dreams Royal Beach Punta Cana, we chose an all-inclusive vacation package, an option we especially enjoy for sun destinations. This type of package allows you to travel with peace of mind, since flights, accommodation, meals, and airport-to-hotel transfers are usually bundled into one price.

In our case, we booked our vacation package with Air Transat, which made the planning process much easier. Once we arrived at Punta Cana International Airport (PUJ), everything was well organized and easy to navigate. After collecting our luggage, on-site representatives quickly directed us to the appropriate transfer buses assigned to each hotel.

The drive from the airport to Dreams Royal Beach is relatively short – about 20 minutes depending on traffic – which is a big advantage after a flight. Unlike some destinations where transfers can be long and involve multiple hotel stops, the quick access to the resort allows you to start your vacation almost immediately after landing.

Hotel : Dreams Royal Beach

Dreams Royal Beach Punta Cana is part of the Dreams Resorts & Spas chain, known for offering all-inclusive resorts that are a step above basic, budget-friendly properties. Based on our experience, this resort falls into the upper mid-range category with a touch of luxury – clearly higher in quality than entry-level all-inclusives, while still remaining more accessible than ultra-luxury resorts.

The hotel is located in Punta Cana, in the popular Bávaro area, directly on the beachfront. It is approximately 20 minutes from Punta Cana International Airport, making the transfer relatively quick and convenient after arrival.

The resort layout is well-designed and easy to navigate on foot. Unlike some very large resort complexes where getting around can become tiring, Dreams Royal Beach maintains a more human-scale layout. From our room near the lobby, it took us about eight minutes to walk to the beach, which felt very reasonable and allowed us to enjoy the property without spending too much time moving from place to place. There is still a shuttle service available for those who want it.

The overall atmosphere offers a great balance between entertainment and relaxation. The resort attracts both couples and families, with lively areas around the pools as well as quieter spaces for those looking to unwind, creating a versatile and pleasant vacation environment.

Dreams Royal Beach

Rooms

During our stay, we booked a Deluxe Room, which was the most affordable room category available at the time, with a garden view. Even though this was the entry-level option, we were pleasantly surprised by the overall comfort and quality of the room.

The room was spacious and well laid out. In addition to the main bed, there was a separate sitting area with a large sofa bed, creating a small lounge space before the balcony. This layout gave the room a nice sense of openness and made it easy to move around. While this was not a must-have feature for us, it was definitely appreciated during our stay.

We also had a private balcony, which was perfect for getting some fresh air in the evening or simply relaxing between activities.

The room included several convenient amenities as well. A complimentary in-room safe was available, and the mini-bar was restocked daily with water, soft drinks, and beer, which was very practical for staying refreshed after long days in the sun.

Our room was located near the lobby and the evening entertainment area, meaning it was slightly farther from the beach. However, because the resort is easy to navigate on foot, the distance remained very reasonable and was not an inconvenience for us. In fact, this location placed us close to many services and nighttime activities, which we found quite convenient.

One feature we especially appreciated was the twice-daily housekeeping service. The room was cleaned during the day, and in the evening, staff would prepare the room for bedtime while we were out for dinner or attending shows. This extra attention added a nice touch of higher-end hotel service, especially for a standard room category.

About the “Preferred Club” Section

Dreams Royal Beach offers several room categories, including the Preferred Club, which provides additional perks such as butler service, access to reserved areas (beach, bar, or lounge), and exclusive dining options for breakfast and selected meals.

At check-in, we were offered the option to upgrade to the Preferred Club for an additional fee. After considering it, we decided to keep our standard room, since we were already very satisfied with the level of comfort and felt that the upgrade was not necessary for our type of vacation.

Looking back, this turned out to be the right decision for us. Even without the extra privileges, our overall experience exceeded what we had previously experienced at other all-inclusive resorts – and even compared to some trips we took afterward.

Restaurants & Food

Overall, our dining experience at Dreams Royal Beach was very positive, mainly thanks to the flexible dining concept offered by the resort.

The main buffet features a large dining area, but the actual food station section is somewhat more compact compared to some very large resorts. While the selection may not have been as extensive as what we’ve seen elsewhere, the quality was consistently good. The dishes were tasty, well presented, and reliable throughout our stay. For breakfast, the buffet offered everything we needed to start the day on a good note.

What truly stood out for us – and made a big difference in our overall experience – was the resort’s unlimited à la carte dining with no reservations required. In practical terms, this meant we could enjoy à la carte restaurants every evening without having to plan ahead or compete for limited reservation slots.

During busier times, there may be a short wait, but the system is well organized. Guests can either wait on-site or use a pager-style notification system while their table becomes available. Since we preferred to have dinner relatively early, we rarely had to wait, which made the experience even smoother. It’s also worth noting that we were traveling during the post-COVID reopening period, so the resort was likely not operating at full capacity.

We tried several à la carte restaurants during our stay. Some of our favorites included:

Fusion (Asian restaurant), which offers a teppanyaki section with live cooking and entertainment. This was the only restaurant that required a reservation specifically for the teppanyaki experience. We enjoyed it so much that we went twice and had no difficulty securing a booking.
Portofino (Italian restaurant), where we also enjoyed excellent pizzas during lunchtime. We returned several times thanks to the consistent quality.
Seaside Grill (steakhouse-style restaurant), located near the beach. It served daytime meals for Preferred Club guests and transformed into an à la carte restaurant in the evening. We really enjoyed both the atmosphere and the quality of the food.

There were also casual snack options near the beach, which made it easy to grab lunch without going back to the main buffet. As a result, we ended up using the buffet very little for lunch and dinner, preferring to take advantage of the variety of à la carte dining options.

Looking back, this no-reservation dining concept has become an important criterion for us when choosing all-inclusive resorts. It offers more freedom, reduces daily planning stress, and clearly enhances the overall vacation experience.

Bars & Drinks

Dreams Royal Beach offers several bars spread throughout the resort, making it easy to grab a drink no matter where you are. From what I remember, there was a beach bar, a pool bar, a lobby bar, and another bar located near the evening entertainment and show area. Bar hours varied depending on the time of day.

Personally, I’m not a big alcohol drinker. I don’t drink beer or wine, and at many resorts, cocktails can sometimes be overly sweet or made with artificial mixes, which isn’t always appealing to me. However, at Dreams Royal Beach, I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the cocktails, especially the strawberry daiquiris, which quickly became my favorite treat of the trip.

Another highlight was the beach chair service. Servers regularly came by to take drink orders, cleared empty glasses, and brought our drinks directly to our loungers without us having to get up. This added a real sense of relaxation and a touch of luxury to the experience. Over time, some of the staff even remembered our preferences, which made the service feel more personal and enjoyable.

Honestly, this was probably the resort where I allowed myself to indulge the most when it came to drinks compared to other all-inclusive resorts I’ve visited. Even as someone who doesn’t usually drink much, the cocktail quality and attentive service made it easy to enjoy the experience a little more than usual.

Beach & Pool

Dreams Royal Beach stands out for its unique pool design, which is quite different from what you find at many traditional all-inclusive resorts. Instead of having a single large central pool, the resort features a long, winding pool that stretches from the lobby area all the way to the beach. It is divided into several sections, with lounge areas, sunbeds, and small bridges connecting different parts of the property.

When walking between the lobby and the beach, you often follow the pool, which makes the walk visually enjoyable. With tropical vegetation, landscaped gardens, and evening lighting, the atmosphere becomes especially beautiful and relaxing. This was our first time staying at a resort with this type of layout, and we really appreciated the immersive and scenic design.

Even though the pool was impressive, we spent most of our time at the beach, which is absolutely beautiful in this area. Bávaro Beach is very wide, with multiple rows of loungers and plenty of shaded areas thanks to the large number of palapas. There was more than enough space for everyone, which is a big advantage if you enjoy spending full days by the ocean without having to compete for shade.

The beach is also perfect for long walks, as the shoreline stretches for several kilometers. I love walking along the water, especially at sunrise and sunset, and the scenery here was stunning. The colors of the sky, the wide beach, and the tropical atmosphere made these moments especially memorable.

The only minor downside for me was the persistent presence of beach vendors. This was the first time I experienced this in a resort setting, as I hadn’t encountered it during our previous trips to Cuba. At times, it made it difficult to walk peacefully without being approached repeatedly. Given the post-pandemic reopening period, it’s possible that this situation was more intense than usual.

That said, even though it was occasionally annoying, it did not take away from our overall experience. The beauty of the beach, the resort atmosphere, and the overall comfort easily outweighed this small inconvenience. With more travel experience since then, I now handle these situations much more easily.

Dreams Royal Beach

Atmosphere & Evenings on the Resort

The overall atmosphere at Dreams Royal Beach was one of the biggest highlights of our stay. During the day, the entertainment team was energetic, friendly, and genuinely enjoyable to be around. A variety of activities were offered daily, mainly around the pool near the beach and directly on the shoreline.

We took part in several activities such as water aerobics, pool games, and morning beach yoga, which added a nice wellness element to the vacation. The daily activity schedule was easy to access, either through on-site information boards or a mobile app, and it changed from day to day, which kept things fresh and interesting.

One aspect we particularly appreciated was how most of the entertainment was concentrated near the beach area. This allowed other sections of the pool to remain calmer, creating a great balance between lively social spaces and quiet relaxation zones.

Where Dreams Royal Beach truly stood out for us, however, was in the evening shows and performances. Honestly, we were very impressed. Every night featured high-quality entertainment such as live concerts, music groups, themed shows, and even a Michael Jackson tribute show that left a strong impression on us.

We were so excited about attending the nightly shows that on some days we actually took afternoon naps just to make sure we had enough energy for the evening. That says a lot about how much we didn’t want to miss anything.

Looking back, and after experiencing several other all-inclusive resorts since then, I can honestly say that Dreams Royal Beach remains our number one reference for evening entertainment. The quality, energy, and consistency of the shows clearly set the bar very high for our future resort stays.

Activities & Excursions

During our stay in November 2021, we chose not to participate in off-site excursions. Since this was during the post-COVID travel restart period, we preferred to limit our movements outside the resort and avoid more crowded environments such as excursion buses and organized group tours.

Even though health measures were in place and the tourism industry had adapted, we decided to take a more cautious approach while fully enjoying everything the resort had to offer. With the beach, pools, restaurants, on-site activities, and evening shows, we never felt the need to leave the property in order to have a complete and satisfying vacation experience.

That said, Punta Cana normally offers a wide variety of popular excursions, such as catamaran cruises, nearby island trips, buggy adventures and cultural tours. If you are traveling under more typical conditions, it is easy to find many interesting options directly through the hotel or with local tour operators.

Budget & Travel Costs

I’d like to share the budget for this trip, keeping in mind that it reflects a very specific moment in the travel industry. In November 2021, we were at the very beginning of the post-COVID travel restart. Many travelers were still hesitant to travel due to health restrictions, mandatory testing, and uncertainty surrounding travel regulations.

As a result, vacation package prices were exceptionally low, especially for resorts in the category of Dreams Royal Beach. Honestly, this level of value is not something you typically see under normal circumstances.

With that important context in mind, here is a breakdown of the expenses per person:

✈️ Flight / All-Inclusive Package: $1,173 (tourist card and departure tax included in the package)
🛡️ Travel Insurance (including COVID coverage): $64
🎟️ Excursions: n/a
🧑‍⚕️ COVID Test (required for return to Canada): $107
🅿️ Airport Parking: $89 (total of $178 CAD for the vehicle, split between two people)

👉 Total: $1,433 per person (November 2021)

About COVID Testing Requirements (Costs No Longer Applicable Today)

At that time, a negative COVID test taken within 48 hours was mandatory in order to board the return flight to Canada, which explains the additional cost included in our budget. We completed the test directly at the resort.

Upon arrival in Canada, we were also selected for random airport testing, which was part of the government measures in place at the time. Fortunately, all of our results were negative.

Today, these testing requirements and related costs no longer apply for travel to the Dominican Republic, making current trips simpler and more straightforward.

How Much Would a Similar Trip Cost Today?

To give a realistic comparison, a similar stay at Dreams Royal Beach Punta Cana today typically falls within a range between $2,200 and $2,600 CAD per person, depending on the travel period, length of stay, and current promotions, for a comparable room category.

This clearly highlights just how exceptional our 2021 deal truly was, and how difficult it would be to reproduce similar pricing under normal market conditions.

Currency

In the Dominican Republic, the official currency is the Dominican peso (DOP). However, in Punta Cana – and especially at all-inclusive resorts like Dreams Royal Beach – the US dollar (USD) is widely accepted and commonly used on a daily basis.

On our side, we mainly used US dollars for tipping, whether for service staff, beach servers, or housekeeping. This is a very common practice at resorts and is generally well received. It also avoids the need to exchange large amounts of local currency just for small daily expenses.

For larger purchases, such as excursions booked through the hotel or additional resort services, credit cards are widely accepted. This is a simple, convenient, and secure option, especially in well-established tourist destinations like Punta Cana.

If you plan to leave the resort to explore the area, go shopping, or eat at local restaurants, having some Dominican pesos can be useful. However, for a stay focused mainly on an all-inclusive resort in Punta Cana, it is not strictly necessary.

In Summary – For a Stay at Dreams Royal Beach:

💵 US dollars for tipping
💳 Credit card for excursions and larger expenses
🇩🇴 Dominican pesos mainly useful for local outings

In Conclusion

Dreams Royal Beach Punta Cana will always remain a memorable stay and a true favorite for us. Even today, it clearly ranks in my top two all-inclusive resorts we’ve ever visited. This trip happened during a very special moment -right at the beginning of the post-COVID travel restart – and we were lucky enough to benefit from an exceptional value that would most likely be impossible to find under normal circumstances.

Looking back, I truly feel grateful to have experienced this resort. Not only because of the high level of comfort, service, dining, and entertainment it offered, but also because this stay changed the way we look at all-inclusive travel.

Before this trip, we were used to more budget-friendly resorts, especially in Cuba. Staying at a property like Dreams Royal Beach allowed us to discover a different level of experience: unlimited à la carte dining with no reservations, outstanding evening entertainment, improved overall comfort, and more personalized service. Even though we haven’t always been able to match this exact level on our following trips – mostly due to budget considerations – certain standards have now become important criteria when we choose an all-inclusive resort.

Even today, if the opportunity came up at a reasonable price or if our budget allowed it, I would happily return to Dreams Royal Beach without hesitation. And beyond this specific resort, the Dreams brand itself has become a reliable reference for us, since we now know the level of quality and experience we can expect.

This trip will always be associated with a sense of regained freedom, positive energy after a long waiting period, and bright, meaningful memories – and that is exactly what we look for when we travel.

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Dominican Republic | Punta Cana – 1 Week at Dreams Royal Beach (November 2021)

Post-COVID Travel Restart

When to Go to Punta Cana

Entry Requirements for Dominican Republic

How to Get to Punta Cana