Riu Reopens Riviera Maya All-Inclusive After $40M Renovation

By: - December 13th, 2019
riu all-inclusive riviera maya aerial beach

Spanish resort giant Riu Hotels and Resorts has reopened its Riu Palace Riviera Maya resort following a large-scale renovation project, Caribbean Journal has learned. 

The company transformed the Mexican Caribbean resort with what it called a “sleek, new modern style” following a $40 million enhancement program. 

The Riviera Maya resort now includes 460 rooms in a location close to the popular beach city of Playa del Carmen. 

riu all-inclusive riviera maya aerial

“We have not left out a single detail,” the company said of the changes, which also meant reimagined outdoor spaces, guest rooms and common areas. “This latest reopening is very special to RIU since it brings to an end a fantastic year of refurbishments.”

Other changes include an expansion to four large pools, including a kids’ pool; a new swim-up bar with poolside wait service and a new RiuLand kids club. 

riu all-inclusive riviera maya rooms
What the revamped rooms look like. Riu says “every one of RIU’s hotel renovations focuses heavily on bedroom design.” This project added a focus on blue tones, with ceramic-tiled flooring and light-tone walls.

Riu also debuted some of the brand’s newer concepts, like the RIUFit fitness area and another new Riu signature, the “Capuchino” coffee bar. 

Guests at the Riu Palace Riviera Maya can access amenities and eateries at Riu’s five neighboring resorts in the Mexican Caribbean, including the weekly parties at Riu Tequila. (The latter resort underwent a similar renovation project in the summer of 2018). 

The Riu Palace Riviera Maya now features seven dining concepts, none of which requires a reservation, led by the new Italian eatery Il Portico.

riu steakhouse riviera maya all-inclusive
The resort’s steakhouse.

Riu continues to strengthen its footprint in Mexico, whether with high-profile transformation projects or new-build resorts like its brand-new Costa Mujeres property.

And that’s not just in Mexico. 

Indeed, Riu has been transforming its resorts in the wider Caribbean region at a breakneck pace, with both renovations and expansions in destinations as diverse as Jamaica, The Bahamas and the Dominican Republic. 

For more, visit the Riu Palace Riviera Maya.

— CJ

About the author

Alexander Britell is the founder and editor-in-chief of Caribbean Journal and one of the top experts on Caribbean travel worldwide, with decades of on-the-ground travel to the region and comprehensive knowledge of the entire Caribbean Basin.
News

In St Barth, a Secret Caribbean Beach Resort

st barth caribbean tiny beach resort cover

Even a tiny island like St Barth has its secrets.  And this one is hidden in plain sight.  You can see it when you land at Carl Gustaf airport, if you look to your left as you head over the green hills and the roundabout.  You can see it if you squint from St Jean […]

News

An All-Inclusive Luxury Villa in Virgin Gorda

all-inclusive virgin gorda cover

One of the BVI’s signature luxury villas is back.  Virgin Gorda’s Valley Trunk villa, which had been shuttered since Hurricane Irma in 2017, has reopened following a complete restoration and renovation project.  The 10-suite compound, set on 19 acres in the hills above Virgin Gorda, has amenities including a pool, a cinema, a tennis court […]

News

St Thomas Is Getting A New Cigar Lounge

st thomas cigar lounge charlotte amalie

In a boost for locals and visitors to one of the Caribbean’s busiest cruise ports, St Thomas will soon be home to a brand-new cigar lounge.  It’s called The Pelican Shop, and it will be set in St Thomas’ A.H. Riise Mall in downtown Charlotte Amalie.  The Pelican Shop is set to open in January […]


Cancun Is Getting a New All-Inclusive From Royal Resorts

A new hotel is coming to the heart of Cancun’s famous hotel zone next year, Caribbean Journal has learned.  The new Royal Uno All-Inclusive Resort and Spa, is the latest property from top resort company Royal Resorts.  Royal Uno, which will make its official debut in December 2020, will be the product of a multimillion-dollar […]

A New Hotel Is Coming to St Kitts

The island of St Kitts will soon be home to a major new hotel, Caribbean Journal has learned.  A new 240-room hotel project is coming to a 350,000-square-foot site at Brighton’s Estate on the east coast of St Kitts.  The hotel, which will feature views of the Atlantic, will also include a commercial shopping mall […]

Dominica “Open for Business” Following Elections

A new hotel is coming to the heart of Cancun’s famous hotel zone next year, Caribbean Journal has learned.  The new Royal Uno All-Inclusive Resort and Spa, is the latest property from top resort company Royal Resorts.  Royal Uno, which will make its official debut in December 2020, will be the product of a multimillion-dollar […]

The Caribbean Travel Awards 2020

It’s been a stellar year for Caribbean travel. Stayover tourist arrivals are booming almost universally across the region. It seems like a new hotel opens up every week (and if you read Caribbean Journal, you realize it’s even more often than that). More and more new nonstop routes are launched every month from all over […]