A New Start at Riu Palace St. Martin

The view from the top of the hill overlooking Anse Marcel on St. Martin was classic Caribbean: a sparkling, crescent-shaped cove dotted with a smattering of sailboats flanked by a hillside of tiled rooftops, bougainvilleas and red poincianas in bloom.

When the taxi pulled up to the resort entrance, I recognized the porte cochere with its grand white pillars and blue trim and the smartly uniformed bellmen and attendants. What had changed since my last visit in 2010 was the name above the door.

I've seen the Riu signage in the Caribbean and Mexico and have stayed at Riu properties in the Bahamas, the Dominican Republic, Jamaica and Cancun. They are massive properties whose exteriors tend toward a subtle shade of lavender, at least in the Caribbean.

Not so at the Riu Palace St. Martin, a storied property that was previously a Radisson and before that L'Habitacion de Lonvillers.

The property reopened under the Radisson flag in December 2008, following an $80 million renovation and conversion of L'Habitacion.

The resort converted to the upscale Radisson Blu brand in 2010, following a seven-month, $10 million renovation.

Riu purchased the 252-room Radisson Blu St. Martin in June 2014 for $45 million, kept the overall white-with-blue-highlights color scheme, renamed it a year ago and officially launched it as an all-inclusive resort last December. Riu added two restaurants to the property, for a total of four, and a host of amenities, including complimentary, propertywide WiFi.

Transforming from a room-only European Plan property into an all-inclusive resort was and is a challenge. The island has only three all-inclusive resorts; there are two Sonesta properties on the Dutch side of the two-country island, and the Riu Palace is the first on the French side.

Riu's renovations included an expansion of its Renova Spa and upgrades in the three room categories as well as in the marina suites. More interior upgrades are planned, especially in the corridors and hallways of the two main wings of guest suites that extend toward the beach.

The Riu has an on-site dive center and all manner of kayaks and snorkeling gear. Rack rates in June start at $378 per room, per night, double, but Riu has several promotions running throughout the summer, including family, wedding and honeymoon packages.

Source: Travel Weekly