I am a very well traveled American that typically ...

I am a very well traveled American that typically does not prefer the all inclusive experience, however, I joined some friends that had already organized this trip to Dreams Palm Beach. My wife and I had a great time. The food was pretty good overall, with some food better than others. Our group did not agree on which foods were preferred, so this is likely a personal preference/ pickiness. There are plenty of food options though. I would think that most people could find themselves content, although some reviews suggest otherwise. The drinks flow as heavily as you desire and the bartenders are willing to make your drinks as strong as you prefer. There was never any chance that the resort was going to ride out of liquor (as suggested in other reviews). Just bring plenty of small bills for tipping the staff (bartenders, bell boys, entertainment staff, and maids).

The staff work very hard to make your experience top notch and they rely on tips for their livelihood. They also work long hours, live far away, and believe as if they are having an amazing time while trying to keep you smiling (and smiling themselves the entire time). You will likely develop a short friendship with several staff members and it will enrich your experience. Clemente, Elvis, & Willy (at the main lobby bar) were awesome and lively. Angelo (at the preferred club poolside bar) was great and very friendly. Ergie, Benjamin, and Edna (entertainment staff) were fun, inviting, incredibly energetic, and an overall good time. Adonis & Laura were great during check in and Wilner stood out along the Bell boy staff.

While at the resort, there was no mention of any timeshare presentations (as mentioned by many reviewers), but I am not sure if this was because we booked a preferred room package or that we booked through Travelocity (or something else).

We got a Jacuzzi tub room, but chose not to use it. I wouldn't book it again, as there was a slow drain, which didn't feel super clean. I am not sure if we needed to book the preferred club. The restaurant/pools are nice, but I am not positive that we really took advantage of it.

I did enjoy borrowing the Hobie Cat sailboat at no charge, although wish that I would have known about the necessary classes for the various beach side activities at the beginning of our stay. We had a great time and am sure that almost everybody would if they have a similar experience to ours.

For a small and free cultural experience, you can walk south east along the beach and out of the resort. You will pass by 2 or 3 other resorts and will find a small street at the end of the beach with some local shops. From there, you can continue walking down the street and make your way out to the main thoroughfare that the hotel shuttles and taxis use. As you get to the main street there are at least 25 local street vendors that will sell you tourist fare and sunscreen at reasonable prices. Oddly, the shops are not very visible from the shuttle vans and are not mentioned at the resort. I recommend the experience for anybody wanting at least a slight amount of culture out of the resort. Not everybody in our group (most of which have never left the U.S. before and didn't speak any Spanish) felt totally comfortable walking down those side streets, but it really felt very safe to me. There was a local barbershop, fish monger, church, and other shops. I thought that it was great and I think that everybody in our group was thankful for the experience after they returned to the hotel. This area is about 1/4-1/2 mile from the hotel.