We saved around $900 on our trip by booking a jetBlue vacation package with a rewards credit card.
There are a lot of ways to save money on a trip to Dreams all-inclusive family resort in Punta Cana. Even so, the resort is expensive and may not be worth it for some families. Our family had a fun trip and we managed to save around 15% because of airline and credit card rewards.
Here are some tips (and links) for getting a good deal on a trip to Dreams Punta Cana.
Off-Season Bookings
Dollar for dollar, we think April is the best month to visit Punta Cana. A trip taken between January and March may cost as much as 30-40% more than a trip taken during the off season.
Promo Codes and Promotions
Dreams has a deals section on its website. Unfortunately, many of these "deals" are just different ways of saying that you'll receive $200 in resort coupons (that everyone gets anyway). These coupons are denominated and restricted so that it is impossible to use them without spending more money. (E.g. Save $20 on a $120 massage.)
We weren't able to find any legitimate promo codes for Dreams Resorts. That doesn't mean they don't exist, but beware: There are a lot of deceptive offerings on coupon sites.
Loyalty Program
AMResorts, the parent company of Dreams, has a great loyalty program...for travel agents. In theory, this means that a travel agent may be able to offer a family a better price or vacation package than they could book for themselves. This may be something to explore if you use a travel agent.
Airline Vacation Packages (our discount of choice)
Many airlines offer vacation packages that are a good deal for frequent flyers. Our family is part of the jetBlue True Blue program and we also have a jetBlue credit card. The combination of these two things allows us to earn more than 15% in rewards by booking our trip on the jetBlue Getaways site.
Here are links to various airlines that offer vacation packages for Dreams Punta Cana:
Reward Credit Cards
Some websites are dedicated to maximizing credit card rewards like miles and cashback. We're no experts on the subject, but there are two credit cards that we like for travel rewards.
The Barclaycard Arrival® Plus World Elite Mastercard® has an $89 annual fee (which is waived in the first year). The card offers 70,000 bonus miles after spending $5,000 in the first 90 days, which is easy to do when booking a family trip. Those 70,000 miles can be redeemed for a $700 travel statement credit on your next trip (to anywhere). The card has other perks for travelers, too. We'd apply for this card if we didn't already have a jetBlue Mastercard.
We have the JetBlue Plus Card (which is another Mastercard offered by Barclays). The card has a $99 annual fee, however, new customers earn 50,000 points after spending only $1,000 on purchases in the first 90 days. The card also offers a $100 statement credit once per year when it is used to purchase a JetBlue vacation package. On top of that, every dollar spent with this card on jetBlue's website accumulates 12 points and there is a 5,000 account anniversary bonus each year.
That's a lot to keep track of, but let's say a new cardmember books a $3,000 jetBlue vacation package: That purchase will result in a $100 statement credit and 91,000 TrueBlue points (worth around $1,365!). Not bad for a $99 annual fee!
Military, AARP and AAA Discount
Dreams Resorts offer a 10% discount to U.S. military personnel, AARP members and AAA members who use the links at the bottom of this webpage. The discount is only applied to a single room and a valid military ID or membership card is required at check in, otherwise the discount is rescinded.
Group Rates
You can almost certainly negotiate a better rate if you’re traveling with a large group (e.g. weddings, family reunions, work conferences, etc.). For example, Dreams offers every 6th room for free, which is nearly a 17% discount.
