Riu Resorts Is Reopening This Dominican Republic All-Inclusive

You know Riu. The drink dispensers in your room, the international restaurants, the always-fun, always perky ambience. In recent years, the Spanish hotel chain has grown even more in the Caribbean, from Jamaica to the Riviera Maya. 

But Riu’s Caribbean activity hasn’t just been new debuts (like the recent opening of its Aquarelle resort in Montego Bay. The company has been quietly transforming a number of its hotels in the region with sweeping renovations. 

The newest upgrade? The Dominican Republic’s Riu Palace Bavaro, which is reopening this month after a large refurbishment and expansion project, Caribbean Journal has learned. 

And that was no small undertaking: the Riu Palace began the project with about 620 rooms in its Arena Gorda resort, with amenities ranging from nine different pools to one of Riu’s signatures: a Splash Water World.

The project actually included Riu’s demolition of the adjacent Riu Naiboa hotel, meaning extra space on the property. 

So what’s new? 

Riu is adding its Elite Club service for adults staying at the resort: that gives you extra amenities, dedicated check-in, guaranteed late check out and an elevated mini bar, among other touches. 

But most notably, the resort is adding an extra 380 rooms, largely in the place of the old Naiboa. 

The goal, Riu says, is to make families an even bigger focus at the resort: more pools (including a pool for the youngest travelers), a new swim-up bar and another for Elite Club travelers. 

Food is also a big priority, with the launch of a new “food court” that will offer a pizzeria, Asian food, ice cream and tacos, among other cuisines, along with a buffet. This is the first time Riu has undertaken this kind of culinary concept at one of its all-inclusive resorts. (There’s even a new chicken spot called RFC, or “Riu Fried Chicken.”

So what will the resort cost?

A sample itinerary for two adults in a junior suite showed a price of about $222 per night, for dates in the first week of September. 

If you’re planning a trip, check out the resort at Riu.