Riu just relaunched this Punta Cana all-inclusive resort with nearly 1,000 rooms

Punta Cana – It wasn’t your typical renovation in the Caribbean. All-inclusive brand Riu demolished one of its Bavaro Beach-area resorts to pave the way for a massive expansion of the one next door.

The result? The new-look, significantly larger all-inclusive Riu Palace Bavaro just reopened in the Dominican Republic’s tourism hub of Punta Cana.

The transformed resort on Arena Gorda beach in Punta Cana now has nearly 1,000 rooms, with a shift in focus toward families: that means 255 rooms that are tailor-made for families and larger groups — from extra beds to flexible configurations.

And families are clearly the focus here: with a diverse, layered kids’ club (with different concepts for different age groups); along with a mini splash park, a “pirate ship” and a game park, among other inclusions.

On the culinary side, the resort has everything fro a new French bakery to a taco shack.

You also get access to the major water park at the neighboring Riu Republic resort.

Riu also added another nod to an increasingly popular choice for all-inclusive travelers: its Elite Club, which Ofers elevated check-in, extra amenities, exclusive pool access and upgraded drinks dispensers (a Riu signature), along with access to two swim-up bars.

In all, the revamped Punta Cana resort has 108 Elite Club rooms, and they’re worth the splurge. The company says 60 Elite Club rooms have their own private pools, along with amenities like guaranteed late checkout and priority reservations at eateries at the resort.

Riu has been renovating its resorts all across the broader Caribbean-Mexico region in the last several years; the Bavaro overhaul comes after Riu redid its Riu Palace Macao resort in Punta Cana last year, one that similarly included a new Elite Club.

Are you planning a Punta Cana vacation at this newly-upgraded Riu? What about the cost?

The starting rate is for a superior junior suite, which is priced at $1,142.40 for five nights in October.

For a swim-up room in the Elite Club level, it’s about $1,500.80 for five nights in the same time frame.

For more, visit Riu.