6 Things You Should Know About Dreams Madeira, an All-Inclusive Hyatt Property in Portugal

This was my first visit to a Dreams property, an all-inclusive brand in the World of Hyatt portfolio, and my first time on the Portuguese island of Madeira.

Visiting in the off-season in December 2025, I expected low occupancy and shorter hours at Dreams Madeira Resort, Spa & Marina. Some amenities were closed entirely, and service, while generally good, had a few issues. Despite these setbacks during my 3-night stay, I’d like to return in high season for a fuller experience. Between the excellent room, varied food, and friendly staff, it’s a property I’d happily revisit.

Booking Dreams Madeira

Dreams Madeira Resort, Spa & Marina is a Category B property in World of Hyatt. Hyatt opened this property in October 2024, marking the first Hyatt all-inclusive in Portugal.

As it’s a Category B property, you pay 17,000 to 23,000 points per night for a stay here, based on Hyatt’s peak and off-peak calendar.

I booked a 2-night stay in early December, during Madeira’s off-season, so standard rooms started at $303 per night, though preferred rooms were available for $363 and suites for $469 per night.

Award nights cost 20,000 Hyatt points, yielding about 1.52 cents per point on a $303 rate, slightly above average value for Hyatt points. When the airport closed on my departure day, I added a third night at the standard cash rate instead of using points so I could seek travel insurance reimbursement.

Hot Tip:

If you pay for a stay at Dreams Madeira or another World of Hyatt property, you can earn up to 9 points per $1 spent on your stay if you use The World of Hyatt Credit Card or World of Hyatt Business Credit Card, thanks to 4x points earned on the card and 5x points earned from being a World of Hyatt member.

Location of Dreams Madeira

Dreams Madeira is on the eastern edge of Madeira, near Caniçal/Machico and a marina, about 20 to 25 minutes by car from Funchal or Cristiano Ronaldo International Airport (FNC). Taxis are available at the airport, or guests can prebook transfers through the hotel, starting at €27 ($32) each way for up to 3 people and rising to about €135 ($160) for a luxury car.

6 Things To Know About Dreams Madeira

1. The Resort Felt Like a Village

Dreams Madeira was designed to feel like a village, preserving existing buildings and the on-site church while fully renovating interiors ahead of its October 2024 opening.

The village feel was furthered by the plaza with a fountain (in front of the main building and lobby entrance) and by the way each block of guest rooms felt like an independent apartment building.

Given the size of the property, golf carts were available near reception to drive guests to their rooms.

The village definitely had a small seaside-town vibe, with steps down to the beach and an open layout around the property.

2. There Were Multiple Pools, but Using a Hot Tub Had a Cost

Dreams Madeira offered a beach with ocean access and 2 pools: an all-ages pool and an adults-only one near the spa.

Both of these were pretty calm during my off-season visit, and the adults-only pool was smaller.

Neither was heated or had a hot tub, so the only heated pool and hot tub were in the spa, which cost €25 ($30) for a 3-hour visit and included access to lockers, showers, sauna, and steam room, but no treatments.

3. My Suite Was Massive

When booking, I applied a Suite Upgrade Award to confirm a suite in advance rather than rely on availability at check-in. While I was supposed to get a 485-square-foot Preferred Club Suite, I was instead upgraded to the 1,100-square-foot honeymoon suite, just below the presidential suite — no complaints there.

The bedroom featured a comfortable king bed and glass doors opening to a small balcony with a table and 2 chairs.

The wall opposite the bed had a large TV with a folding luggage rack below.

The corner had a full-length mirror, shelves, and drawers, plus a metal bar for hanging clothes on. The opposite side of this walk-in closet had more shelves, hangers, and bathrobes.

Hot Tip:

You can choose Suite Upgrade Awards from Hyatt’s Milestone Rewards as you move up through the status tiers each year. Suite Upgrade Awards are available as a choice starting at 40 nights. You’ll also receive 2 of these awards automatically upon qualifying for Globalist status.

Bathroom

The suite’s main bathroom was also very large, featuring dual sinks and mirrors, a backlit magnifying mirror, individually packaged toiletries, and pump bottles of lotion and soap.

The left side of the bathroom featured an enormous walk-in shower with dual rainfall showerheads. The right side had a door that led to the toilet.

Living Room

The living room felt very open. It had a sofa and a pair of plush chairs around a wooden coffee table. These faced a large TV on the wall.

Sitting Room

Between the living room and bedroom, there was a sitting room with a sofa, end tables, and a large mirror. This room connected to the bedroom, and there was a small closet.

Second Bathroom

Opposite the sitting room, there was a second, smaller bathroom. It had a toilet closet and a walk-in shower. There were also a few shelves and a sink in here.

Kitchenette

The kitchenette sat beside the living room with a small table for 2, where I found a welcome letter, fresh fruit, and a bottle of wine.

Coffee and tea supplies were on the counter, and the minifridge was stocked with complimentary sodas and alcohol.

Balcony

The balcony was enormous — the largest I’ve ever had — with lounge chairs, a table for 4, 2 sofas, and both covered and open areas.

4. Not Everything Stayed Open Year-Round

Visiting in the off-season, I expected fewer guests but was surprised by how many venues were closed, mostly because of the weather. The beachside Você shut at the first sign of wind or rain, the pool bar and snack shop never opened, and live music moved into the lobby bar.

Only some of these closures were updated in the Hyatt Inclusive Collection app (iOS, Android), which lists hours and locations, so I occasionally arrived at restaurants to find them locked.

5. Service Was Inconsistent

Most employees were excellent, though maintenance lagged, and service at the lobby bar was painfully slow.

Overall, staff were friendly and helpful from check-in to departure, with thoughtful touches like nightly turndown service and clear communication during the airport closure, when staff actively engaged guests to ease frustrations.

That said, 2 areas need improvement: lobby bar service and property upkeep. I noticed cracked, peeling paint in my suite and rust and a broken soap dispenser in a public restroom. These issues didn’t affect my stay, but they suggest maintenance isn’t a top priority.

Bottom Line:

The property looked incredible at first glance. Upon closer inspection, several defects were noticeable, and maintenance could address them to elevate the guest experience.

6. Food Was Varied and Good

Dreams Madeira offered plenty of places to dine and drink, though none truly qualified as fine dining, with some venues clearly nicer than others (with dress codes to match). As this was an all-inclusive, food and drinks were included, but only house wine came with meals; premium wines were available for an extra charge.

Preferred Club Lounge

Guests with Globalist status or Club room access could use the elite lounge on the top floor, which featured indoor seating, central tables, and an outdoor balcony overlooking the lobby entrance.

It offered a small breakfast buffet, light bites like pastries, cold cuts, fruit, and bottled drinks, and was open daily from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Hot Tip:

This elite lounge also handled my check-in, with bellhops directing eligible guests there. The friendly staff clearly explained on-site benefits and dining, and helped book dinner reservations.

World Café

In the main building, the resort’s main buffet served as the primary breakfast spot, open from 7 to 11 a.m. with an impressive spread.

Hot dishes included made-to-order eggs, beans, meat, and potatoes.

Cold items ranged from cheeses, fruit, and yogurt to cold cuts and pastries, with allergen signage posted throughout.

The space also featured large, self-serve coffee machines, fresh juices, and a smoothie station, and it doubled as a lunch (1 to 3 p.m.) and dinner (6 to 10 p.m.) venue.

Carvão

Carvão, the resort’s steakhouse in the main building, served dinner from 6 to 10 p.m. with a “casual elegance” dress code.

The grill-focused menu, clearly labeled for allergens, included steaks, burgers, grilled mushrooms, and a few desserts.

I tried the veggie burger, which tasted better than it looked, but my favorite was the grilled vegetables and mushrooms, which I ordered twice.

Oishii

Also in the main building, Oishii was the resort’s formal Japanese restaurant, serving dinner from 6 to 10 p.m. daily.

It featured teppanyaki show cooking on one side.

There was also a standard dining room with a menu offering dumplings, soups, tempura, yakisoba, stir-fries, teriyaki salmon, and a small sushi bar.

The food was fresh and flavorful, though the sushi selection was limited and rolls fell apart easily, making it decent rather than standout.

Moments Lobby Bar

On the ground floor, Moments served as the lobby bar, open daily from 9 a.m. to 1 a.m. with a casual dress code. It offered a full bar with varied seating, and during my stay, live music was moved here because of weather and low occupancy. Unfortunately, the performances were consistently poor and drew visible cringes from multiple guests.

Cocoa Café

On the middle floor of the main building, this cozy coffee shop was busy throughout the day, serving coffee, tea, and pastries from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., then switching to a bar menu from 7 to 11 p.m.

Clube de Fado

Set in the central plaza with outdoor seating, Clube de Fado served dinner nightly from 6 to 10 p.m., featuring traditional Madeiran food and fado music with a formal dress code.

Sabor

Near Clube de Fado off the central plaza, Sabor offered Mediterranean fare in a casually elegant setting, serving dinner from 6 to 10 p.m. daily, with menu highlights ranging from salads and pasta to pizza, veal, and a standout za’atar-inspired pie.

Nouvelle Brasserie

Housed in an old lighthouse at the ocean’s edge, this French restaurant featured a formal dress code and served dinner from 6 to 10 p.m. daily, with reservations strongly recommended because of its limited seating.

Pesqueiro Pool Bar

This poolside bar usually runs from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., offering drinks and snacks. However, wind, rain, and low occupancy meant I never saw Pesqueiro open during my visit.

Sugar Reef

This bar sat beside the adults-only pool but never opened during my off-season stay. It normally operates from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily.

Você

Named for the formal Portuguese word for “you,” Você sat next to the beach and offered light bites and drinks with ocean views. It typically operated from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., with a casual dress code, but frequently closed during rain or wind, since all seating was uncovered.

Hot Tip:

Você, Desire Sports Bar, and Flip Flop Ice Cream Parlor were open to non-hotel guests. Hikers and marina visitors could dine at these outlets and pay by credit card.

Desire Sports Bar

Set next to the marina, this small restaurant had just 2 TVs and wouldn’t pass for a U.S.-style sports bar. It was open daily from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., serving salads, soups, sandwiches, quesadillas, and hot dogs, including a vegetarian dish — though my order initially arrived with meat and had to be corrected.

Flip Flop

By the marina and sports bar, Flip Flop was the resort’s ice cream shop, offering about 20 flavors with indoor and outdoor seating, open daily from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Final Thoughts

Overall, my off-season stay at Dreams Madeira — Hyatt’s first all-inclusive in Portugal and my first Dreams resort — had more positives than negatives, with varied food, strong service, and plenty of amenities, though some were closed for the season.

Service was mostly good, other than at the lobby bar. And while I enjoyed both the numerous offerings available for guests and the “small town” setup, the best part of my stay was my incredible suite upgrade. I would return here, despite the negatives, but I would definitely mark my return visit for a time of year when all of the facilities were open.