Riu Hotels & Resorts expands in Mexico, Caribbean and Costa Rica

Apple Vacations' exclusive vacation flights, Riu service provide huge value

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May 04, 2012, 01:48 ET

ELK GROVE VILLAGE, Ill., May 4, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- In the 2011/2012 vacation season, Riu Hotels & Resorts will open four new hotels in Mexico, Caribbean and Costa Rica and overhaul four more. Riu Hotels & Resorts is one of Apple Vacations' most popular hotel chains. In 2011, 10 Riu Hotels in Mexico, the Caribbean and Costa Rica were awarded the Golden Apple Award for exceptional service, quality and value, as rated by Apple Vacations' customers.

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"Apple Vacations has had a long and successful partnership with Riu Hotels," said Sandy Babin, Apple Vacations' Vice President of Marketing. "Since 1998, Apple Vacationers have enjoyed Riu Resorts, referred their friends and returned time and again to experience Riu's exceptional service and consistency."

In late 2011, Riu Ocho Rios enhanced its deluxe wing, expanding the services and amenities in its higher-category rooms. Enhancements include private check-in, luxurious junior suites and suites with luxurious hydro-massage tubs and Jacuzzis, free Wi-Fi, concierge service for restaurant bookings and complimentary dining at the "Sir Richard" gourmet restaurant and "Tushima" Japanese restaurant.

In addition to the beautiful alabaster sand beach, this spectacular hotel features two swimming pools, and world-class dining in a variety of specialty restaurants with endless tropical concoctions at the bars. An array of top-quality facilities and breathtaking ocean-view accommodations complement the exclusive Deluxe Wing.

In December, the Riu Hotels & Resorts family welcomed Riu Palace Bavaro, located on the beach of Arena Gorda in Punta Cana. Buildings are surrounded by lush gardens and provide amazing views. Enjoy all of the fine qualities that RIU vacationers love: excellent service, a beautiful beach location and fine dining. The Eternal Spa creates a calming atmosphere, providing body and beauty treatments, massages and a free sauna and Jacuzzi. Dining options are plentiful, with buffet, "Krystal" Fusion, Japanese, Italian and grill steakhouse available.

This summer, Apple Vacations' exclusive vacation flights to Jamaica depart from Chicago O'Hare, Dallas-Ft. Worth and St. Louis. Exclusive vacation flights to Punta Cana depart from Baltimore, Boston, Chicago, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Dallas, Denver, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and St. Louis. Apple Vacations also sells scheduled air packages from cities nationwide.

About RIU: The international RIU chain was founded in Mallorca by the Riu family in 1953 as a small holiday firm and is still owned by the family's third generation. RIU Hotels & Resorts now has more than 100 hotels in 16 countries which welcome over 3.2 million guests a year and provides jobs for a total of 25,000 employees. RIU is currently the world's 30th ranked chain, one of the Caribbean's most popular and the fourth largest in Spain.

About Apple Vacations: For more than 40 years, Apple Vacations has provided affordable, top-quality vacation packages from U.S. departure cities nationwide to vacation destinations throughout Mexico, the Caribbean, Hawaii, Costa Rica, Panama and Europe, as well top U.S. ski resorts. With the support of travel agents, Apple Vacations has delivered more passengers to Mexico and the Dominican Republic than any other North American tour operator. Apple Vacations is consistently voted "Best Tour Operator to Mexico" by readers of the leading industry trade magazines.

SOURCE Apple Vacations