Dreams Onyx Punta Cana is a lovely all inclusive resort for families in the Dominican Republic. Keep reading to find out why your family will enjoy spending your vacation here. 

Now Onyx preferred club

Have you ever considered going to Punta Cana?

I just went for the first time and it was AWESOME!

Dreams Onyx Punta Cana

Dreams Onyx Punta Cana (formally Now Onyx) is a brand new family-friendly all-inclusive resort (opened for less than a year) located near Punta Cana in Uvero Alto, just 25.9 miles from the airport. I got to spend a long day here on my most recent Gnational Gnomads trip with Travelocity.

This was probably my favorite day during my trip to the Dominican Republic. It was hard to pick a favorite because all six of the resorts I visited there were fantastic. Right next door is their sister property Breathless Punta Cana where Now Onyx guests have exchange privileges.

The beach in front of Now Onyx Punta Cana

The beach in front of Dreams Onyx Punta Cana

Massive Beach

One of the things I appreciated the most was the massive palm-studded beach in front of the resort. The sand was so soft and white. While I was there I saw security making sure vendors would not hassle you. This privacy made the experience better than expected. 

Now Onyx suite in the Preferred Club section

Dreams Onyx suite in the Preferred Club section

Luxurious Rooms

This smoke-free resort has 502 rooms all of which have 24-hour room service and air conditioning. Room layouts include either one king bed or two double beds.

If you are traveling with kids there are rooms available with pull-out sofas. All the balconies have a whirlpool and chairs to sit in. All rooms have one full bathroom with a shower and hairdryer. In the closet are bathrobes, slippers, and a safe. Along with a minibar stocked with beer, soda, juice, and water, there is a tea and coffee maker.

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5 Swimming PoolsNow Onyx Punta Cana Pool

All of the downstairs rooms have patios that open up to semi-private swimming pools. If you stay in a room on the second or third floor you give up the swim-out amenity for a view, which is fine since there are five swimming pools on the property including a large saltwater pool close to the ocean. If your kids have eczema, like mine, then they will want to stick with the saltwater pool, it’s easier on their skin.

The salt water pool at Now Onyx Punta Cana.

The saltwater pool at Now Onyx Punta Cana.

 

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Gourmet Cuisine

Pools are not the only thing this resort has lots of, because they have 8 bars and 8 restaurants! Restaurant selections include French, Italian, and Asian cuisines.

I was able to enjoy breakfast and lunch here and both were fantastic. Of course, I had to try a Dominican breakfast. It did not disappoint, although it was just a one-time thing for me. I still prefer a Mexican breakfast.

One of the perks of staying here is that you have access to all of the restaurants at Breathless as well. During your stay, I recommend eating at Breathless’s Mexican restaurant, Picante. They have an amazing spicy margarita you can’t miss!

Now Onyx Preferred Club swim out room

Dreams Onyx Preferred Club room with private pool.

Dreams Onyx Preferred Club

If you want an even more indulgent and luxurious experience you can upgrade to the preferred club for an extra nightly fee. The Preferred Club gets you into a larger room closer to the beach, a better mini bar aka top shelf, and two exclusive lounges and an exclusive air-conditioned restaurant. The Preferred club area has its own pool, Jacuzzi and swim-up bar.

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The Preferred Club rooms are for two adults only, no kids. Although there are kids in the other part of the resort when you are in this section you would never know it.

When I looked up the extra cost I found it to be around $20 more a night. That, in my opinion, is totally worth it.

Here is a video tour of this section. Luckily, they have pretty decent WiFi, so I was able to walk around and stream. 

 

Private Pool Island

lrg dsc00152Other I thing I think is worth it is paying for a private island! In the adults-only section, you can reserve a private island. I spent a few hours on one and it was awesome. Here’s a little video of Pattie from Living la Vida Loca, Ava from Spa Travel Gal, and I hanging out. 

At one point we got poolside massages. This is definitely worth upgrading for!

Now Onyx Punta Cana poolside massage

Other Amenities

All guests have access to the 24-hour fitness center with free weights and cardio that is shared with their sister resort Breathless Punta Cana.

All guests also receive free parking.

Core Zone Teens Club

The teen’s club named the Core Zone is open from 9 am until midnight. This is great because that means your teen has the option to spend little to no time with you. We all know how fun teens can be at times! They will be thrilled to go do their own thing and not be hassled by the rest of the embarrassing family. Instead, they can participate in games, sports, and other stuff with people their own age. They will be happier and in turn, you will be happier.

Explorers Kid’s Club

Now Onyx Kid's ClubKid’s club aka the Explorer’s Club is for kids between 3-12 years old. Here kids can do arts and crafts, play on the playground, go on a treasure hunt, play video games, watch a movie, and more. All Explorer’s Club staff members are certified by the American Red Cross in CPR for children.

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Other activities available for everyone including:

  • 2 tennis courts
  • Paddle court
  • Beach volleyball
  • Pool tables
  • Dance classes
  • Spanish classes
  • Aerobics & water aerobics
  • Non-motorized water sports
  • Snorkeling
  • Introductory scuba diving lesson in the pool
  • Sailing
  • Kayaks

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The Spa by Pevonia is shared by both properties as well. I did the fish foot thing. I cannot remember what it was called. They have 15-minute sessions and 25-minute sessions. Everyone should try this once! It’s an interesting experience.

Check current rates. (affiliate link)

 

Get Travel Insurance

Unfortunately, there are a lot of things that can go wrong on any trip. Be prepared for the worst with travel insurance. We use Travelex or Safety Wing (often cheaper).

Book Flights

I use Skyscanner to find flights. I use it so much, I wrote an entire guide to finding cheap flights with Skyscanner! My second favorite site to find flights is Momondo, another great site for finding cheap flights.

Book a Place to Stay

I recommend using Expedia.com or Hotels.com for most hotel bookings. I prefer to book directly with Marriott when I stay there because of their excellent military discount.

If you prefer staying in a vacation rental instead, I recommend VRBO.

Rent Clothes

Rent clothes for your trip with Travel Style Expert for only $50 a month!

Choose Activities and Tours

To find great activities in any area I use Get Your Guide and Viator. If we are visiting a city with lots of popular attractions I always check CityPass and GoCard to see if they have discount cards available.

When I want to book a full-on multi-day tour I use TourRadar. They’ve got fantastic weekly deals.

Rent a Car or Take a Lyft

More often than not Lyft is cheaper than Uber. Use my Lyft link for an $18 credit! For a car rental in any country, I recommend Discover Cars.

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