RIVIERA NAYARIT — Riu Vallarta has reopened its doors after a complete renovation.

Fully refurbished in a contemporary and elegant style, the five-star resort offers 678 rooms and RIU’s 24-hour all-inclusive service.

Guests enter through the hotel’s spectacular new lobby, where the reception desk is set under a large central skylight. RIU says the resort, originally built in 2006, has kept its high ceilings and columns, complemented by huge lamps and works of art. Guestrooms have been decorated in warm tones, contrasting with the green plant motifs on the upholstery.

Three new culinary options include the new Italian restaurant ‘Il Gusto’, ‘Pepe’s Food’ and a steakhouse. RIU says the ‘Kulinarium’ and Asian ‘Nirvana’ restaurants also survived the refit and were updated, as was the main dining venue ‘Don Rafael’ with a larger terrace and an air-conditioned area. Guests can also enjoy drinks and aperitifs in the lobby bar ‘Astoria’, the lounge bar ‘La Boheme’, a sports bar, the ‘La Plaza’ bar and the swimming pool bar ‘Mezcal’.

More renovation work took place at the outside area by the swimming pools. The hotel now has a total of five pools, one of them with a swim-up bar and another with slides for younger guests to enjoy. There’s also a Club RiuLand for kids.

Riu Vallarta’s strong entertainment lineup for adults includes the RiuFit area and a range of sporting activities on offer, like windsurfing and beach volleyball. There are also shows and live music, plus adults can join the RIU parties held once a week at Hotel Riu Jalisco.

RIU resorts are offered exclusively in Canada by Sunwing Vacations.