Is Hyatt’s New All-Inclusive in Mazatlán Better for Families or Adults Without Kids?

My butler brings me up to my serene room at Dreams Estrella del Mar Mazatlán Golf & Spa Resort. Explaining the amenities, he mentions that the building I’m in — number four, above the lobby — is angled for the best sunset views and that the balcony soaker tub is an ideal spot for watching it. I arrive with hours of sunshine left in my day. Still, I step out to the balcony to see what’s in store for me.

Distracting me from plans for that tub are the salty tinge of the breeze, the warm sun on my face, and the waves at the beach below. I breathe a big “I’m so glad I’m here!” sigh. The curves of the turquoise pools draw my eyes, including a swooping lazy river plus a pool with two waterslides twisting above it. I’m keen to give them a try, though I’m without a just-doing-it-for-my-kids excuse. I’m even more thrilled that no shrieks of delight from excited sliders reach my balcony — I can only hear the crash of the waves.

My first impression of Dreams Estrella del Mar is that it’s very geared to families. But will grown-ups without kids like me fit in, especially those of us who like our fun in the sun but also want some peace and quiet?

Dreams Estrella del Mar Mazatlán for Kids

Off I go to explore this 358-key all-inclusive (dubbed “Unlimited-Luxury” in Hyatt-speak). The year-old hotel sits on an almost empty beach southeast of the city of Mazatlán.

Priority stop — the poolside ice cream parlor. It has a dozen flavors to choose from, plus kid-friendly toppings for sundaes. I select lemon and mango (the other two adults in line agree they’re the best choice). I do wish that paletas — Mexico’s fabulous fresh fruit popsicles — were also on offer; their deliciousness in the heat is unparalleled and they can be served much faster than scooped ice cream.

My lunch is at the resort’s buffet restaurant, World Café, clearly popular with families. Several kids tell me their fave of Dreams’ eight restaurants is the Barefoot Grill, which serves burgers, pizzas, and other treats near the main pool. Dreams Mazatlán’s other restaurants are more focused on grown-ups, but kids should find something they’ll like at every one.

However, it’s under-18 only at the kids’ and teens’ clubs. I wish I were allowed to learn harness-controlled flips on the trampoline, try the Masterchef Junior collabs like the Mystery Box Challenge, and vie in sand-castle competitions.

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If some attractions are off-limits to adults, the wildlife isn’t. There is appeal for everyone. Dolphins play in the waves year-round and humpback whales swim by between mid-December and mid-April. When there’s a sighting, there’s a bell to ring. Next door to the hotel is an Olive Ridley turtle sanctuary — sometimes with baby turtles present — run by biologist Eréndire González Diego. She tells me they have protected 4.6 million eggs and released 3.5 million hatchlings (visit by appointment; turtle releases are from September to November and nesting season is July to December). Later, I’m surprised to spot a hawk perched on a man’s gloved arm near the main pool. Dreams Estrella del Mar participates in falconry-based bird abatement — the hawk flies around periodically to help keep food-stealing nuisance birds away. More welcome are the brown pelicans that soar above the waves and the harder-to-spot yellow-bellied great kiskadees and shimmery blue-green broad-billed hummingbirds.

Next on my list: checking out the main pool, the lazy river (several staff members encourage me to float with cocktail in hand), and the waterslides. I’m surprised to realize that my kid-at-heart credentials seem about to expire — even the slower slide is a bit too fast for my taste, though both are sure to please actual kids.

Dreams Estrella del Mar Mazatlán for Adults

While I like Dreams Estrella del Mar’s kid-friendly options, I am more attracted to their adult experiences.

The adults-only pool, with its Sugar Reef swim-up bar, is blissfully calm and quiet. My ceviche and mojito from the Barracuda Beach Bar are perfectly prepared, as is my iced Americano from Coco Café. Portofino (kids welcome only on the outside patio) serves great antipasti, secondi, and pastas like scampi linguine — after all, Mazatlán is a renowned shrimp port. Meraki features poke bowls, sushi, and Mediterranean-Asian fusion dishes. Mexican restaurant El Patio has tacos, ceviches, and Oaxaca-cheese-stuffed chicken. My fave is Oceana — so many tuna options! — and where à-la-carte breakfast is available in high season. Bars are easy to find, including a combo sports bar-nightclub. Do note that some restaurants close for a day or two, so if you have your heart set on one, plan around its open days.

I take very long walks on the beach in both directions from the hotel. Beachcombers will prefer low tide — I find a couple cool-looking jellyfish, some pretty shells, plus a few estrellas del mar, the neighborhood’s namesake sea stars. At high tide, my eyes dance between the pelicans gliding above and the golden sand that sparkles as if it were embedded with diamonds.

You’ll see more sand on Estrella del Mar’s 178-acre golf course — and I don’t mean just bunkers. The par-72 layout designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr. features six holes next to the beach. The lush course, dotted with lakes and palm trees, hosted the 2011 Canadian Championship and three other PGA events.

But it’s the immense spa that really makes me treasure Dreams Estrella del Mar Mazatlán. First, it has an excellent hydrotherapy circuit featuring a sauna with a giant picture window and a perfect-temperature pool with geysers, hydromassage chairs and beds, waterfalls, and jets that pummel the knots in my shoulders (I’m not brave enough for the cold plunge, though). It and an exceptional deep-tissue massage evaporate my chronic tension headache. Next time, I’m absolutely trying the hammam — not merely a steam room, as at most resorts that advertise the feature, Dreams Spa’s version is traditional Turkish with exfoliation, olive oil soap bubbles, and massage.

So, my verdict on whether Dreams Estrella del Mar Mazatlán Golf & Spa Resort is better for families or adults? Gotta say both … though adults with kids old enough to be left on their own (or with an uncomplaining spouse) have the best of both worlds.

MORE ABOUT VISITING MAZATLÁN

Getting There: Both WestJet and Sunwing include Dreams Estrella del Mar Mazatlán Golf & Spa Resort in their vacation packages. WestJet flies direct to Mazatlán from Calgary, Edmonton, Kelowna, and Vancouver.

The hotel is a 20-minute drive from the airport. Transfers are included with vacation packages. Other options: book a shuttle or private transfer via the resort with Amstar or take an airport taxi. The hotel is within the gated community of Estrella del Mar with several security checkpoints.

Notable: Unlimited-Luxury inclusions for all guests include meals and drinks, a mini bar refreshed daily, and 24-hour room service (delivered via a cubby hole from the hallway, if you like). Reservations for the four à la carte restaurants aren’t needed. Preferred Club guests also have a private lounge (open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.) for check-in and -out with a small buffet of breakfast items and hors d’oeuvres plus an exclusive bar stocked with premium liquors. Other Preferred Club enhancements include upgraded rooms in the best buildings for sunset (adults-only building 1 and building 4), extra amenities, butler service accessed by phone or WhatsApp, discounts at the spa, and a round of golf per person per room.