RIU set for Costa Rica expansion

Nov. 2 will see RIU Hotels & Resorts open its second hotel in Costa Rica and the first of its Riu Palace luxury brand in the country — the Riu Palace Costa Rica. The resort will be in the Guanacaste region, famous for its natural beauty, and next to the Riu Guanacaste hotel. The seafront Riu Palace Costa Rica will offer 538 rooms with free Wi-Fi Internet and 24-hour room service. There will be five restaurants: Arenal, which will offer an international buffet, and four a la carte restaurants: the Japanese Tokio, Italian L’Anfora, Papagayo grill-steakhouse and the Krystal. Guests can also choose from five bars. The five-star resort will have four pools, one with a swim-up bar and a children’s pool, as well as a mini-club for kids and entertainment programs operating day and night. The resort also includes El Poblado, where guests will find boutiques, a kiosk, souvenirs and photography shop, as well as a Renova Spa, which will have free use of the gym, sauna and Jacuzzi. Also to be found will be a casino, the Pacha nightclub and a conference centre. (http://www.riu.com)