There has been talk for a while about a brand new adults-only concept at Dreams Curacao. Beachfront? Check. Butler service? Check. Futuristic-looking pods? Check. Adults-Only? Check. It’s called Il Mare at Dreams Curacao, fans of Hyatt’s ever-growing Inclusive Collection are buzzing about it, and I’m here to share all the details with you!

I had the pleasure of touring the new Il Mare at Dreams Curacao a couple of weeks ago. While the bold futuristic-looking bungalows may pose a striking contrast to the surrounding Caribbean aesthetic, there are several reasons why this might be the right choice for your vacation. Keep reading to find out more!

Location

The new Il Mare section is located at Dreams Curacao in Piscadera. I like the Piscadera area since it’s only a 10-minute drive to downtown Willemstad and offers a beautiful beach, one of the best seafood spots on the island (De Visserij), and my favorite place to get happy hour drinks. This area is also home to sister resort, Zoetry, just 5 minutes away, and the Marriott Beach Resort.

While there isn’t yet a sign or formal entrance to the Il Mare section, it’s easy to find just past the Dreams swimming pool and tennis courts.

First Impressions

I’m not going to lie, the first time I stepped into the Il Mare area and saw the pods, I thought I was on Mars or something. The pods/bungalows definitely stuck out, and my initial thought was that I wished the design felt more Caribbean and blended into the surroundings more. I love that Dreams is taking a bold new approach to an elevated all-inclusive experience on the island. I also know that this type of experience is exactly what some travelers are looking for. Is everyone going to love this new concept and design? Definitely not, but I’m here to help you make an informed decision and decide if this will be right for you!

Style

I would describe the bungalow style as futuristic-minimalist (totally my made up term). There isn’t much of a discernible character to the pods at first glance. Technically, the pods are supposed to be Italian-inspired as the materials and furniture are all from Italy, but I didn’t get that Italian feel inside, personally. The new infinity pool area, however, definitely feels distinctly Mediterranean with the addition of a new restaurant and open-air bar.

Bungalows

There are 52 standalone bungalows at Il Mare, and they are all adults-only and Preferred Club. I’m also glad to say that there are only two categories of bungalows you can choose between so it’s easy to make a decision. The pods are laid out in the pattern of a U-shape, and there are three of these “neighborhoods” named after various Italian concepts.

The Preferred Club Mare Beachfront Bungalow is slightly smaller than the Premium category and is located by the more rocky side of the beach. This category still receives beautiful ocean views, though guests will need to walk a few steps to the sandy beach entrance.

The Preferred Club Mare Premium Beachfront Bungalow is the superior category and offers about 60 more sqft. of space while being in a more desirable location right in front of the sandy beach. The interior design is identical in both categories, and they both come furnished with an outdoor seating area.

The actual interior of the bungalow is cozy, bright, and minimalistic. The design is focused on muted neutral tones with pops of color from the abstract artwork on the walls. The shiny roof with long inner tube lighting is reminiscent of being on a spaceship or airplane – they definitely could’ve done more here. The star of the pods is the floor-to-ceiling sliding door at the foot of the bed with ocean views and a private terrace on the sand.

Amenities

Each bungalow is furnished with a king bed (no twins available), a seating area, dual vanities, a rain shower, a separate toilet closet, a minibar, two closets, a safe, and every other standard hotel amenity you can think of. The outdoor patio also comes furnished with beach loungers and an umbrella. There aren’t any iPads or superfluous technological features in the bungalows in case that’s your thing.

The new amenities in the Il Mare section also include a new restaurant called Battellino, a Preferred Club restaurant with a Mediterranean menu, and a large adults-only ocean-view infinity pool dotted with cabanas and pool loungers. I can tell that the new infinity pool is going to be a hit, especially since there’s a brand new bar, Blu, that opened right by the pool.

Butler Service

In my opinion, the biggest perk of booking an Il Mare Bungalow (any category) is the personalized butler service. With butler service, you can order drinks and food any time from Dreams and Zoetry. If you want to go to Zoetry for dinner, for example, your butler will make your reservation and take you in a golf cart to the resort. This is a somewhat similar experience to the Sandals Butler services, though that’s a conversation for another day.

The butler service is a smart move since Il Mare is meant to cater to those who want a secluded and intimate experience. There’s nothing worse than leaving your cozy bungalow only to stand in a line filled with screaming kids to eat at Portofino. The idea is to order food from your butler who will set it up inside your bungalow or outside on your patio and you can watch the sunset with a glass of wine and a bowl of pasta without ever having to leave.

Privileges at Zoetry and Dreams Curacao

This is where the value comes into play at Il Mare. When you stay at Il Mare, you have access to all of the amenities at both Dreams and Zoetry. That means a total of 8 restaurants to dine from between Dreams and Zoetry. Tired of the beach and looking to cool down in a lush tropical pool setting? A day swimming at Zoetry would fit the bill nicely. Need your afternoon coffee and pastry fix? Your butler will swing by Coco Cafe at Dreams and bring those right to you.

Il Mare offers the value of staying at 3 resorts, and that is incredibly appealing for all-inclusive lovers.

Who Would I Send Here?

I had the thought while touring Il Mare that this isn’t going to be for everyone, but some travelers are going to love it. Between the advantages of being beachfront, having access to 2 other resorts, and having butler service, travelers who enjoy Caribbean all-inclusives will enjoy this experience. This is exactly who I would recommend Il Mare for:

• Travelers loyal to the Hyatt Inclusive Collection and/or Dreams brand and want to tick another resort off their list
• Vacationers who appreciate the comfort and familiarity of an all-inclusive
• Honeymooners looking for a unique hotel concept right on a beach with butler service
• Groups of friends, and even retreat groups, looking to buyout beachfront accommodations with a dedicated infinity pool and bar
• Guests who want an elevated adults-only all-inclusive experience without breaking the bank
• Adults who need a break from kids and want to be in a dedicated adults-only area

Currently, the Il Mare bungalows are priced below the Preferred Club Suites at Dreams, starting at around $660 per night in January (peak season). I can only imagine that the pricing will gradually increase after the grand opening period tapers off.

Anyone looking for a more authentic island experience with Caribbean-style accommodations, this probably isn’t for you. All-inclusives can provide great value and make trip planning less of a hassle, but I always suggest to my clients to pair it with a split stay at another local property on the west side. This way they can get the authentic island experience before heading to the all-inclusive for the remainder of their trip. If that sounds like something you’d like to do and need assistance from a professional travel planner to make that happen, feel free to reach out!

What do you think of the new Dreams Il Mare? Let me know in the comments below!