17 Cheapest Overwater Bungalow Resorts around the World in 2024

Overwater bungalows in Bora Bora and water villas in the Maldives, which are different names for the same things, are at or near the top of bucket lists around the world. Anyone who sees a photo of a bungalow perched over a turquoise lagoon immediately dreams of staying in one of those places themselves. There are now over 250 resorts around the world with overwater rooms, but the bad news is that almost all of the really nice ones are over US$1,000 per night. The good news is that there are still some more affordable ones and we’ve got that list for you below.

Thanks to the overwater bungalows and water villas guide, which lists every overwater resort in the world, we know that there are some affordable options out there. The cheapest water villa or overwater bungalow resorts tend to be in Malaysia and nearby, but the Maldives itself has over 130 water villa resorts and many of them make this list even though they are full luxury resorts. You’ll also find some more basic places in the Caribbean, and some modest resorts in and near Bora Bora as well. The list below shows the cheapest options in all of the main regions for overwater bungalows and water villas as of 2024.

Note: This article was last updated in November, 2023.

Updates for 2024

There are now over 250 resorts around the world with overwater bungalows and villas and they range from fairly basic to unbelievably luxurious. The good news is that we have more choices than ever, but the bad news is that room rates for these places have gone WAY up in the last two years so as of 2024 you’ll have to pay over US$1,000 per night for almost all of them in Bora Bora and even most of them in the Maldives. There are some exceptions though.

In case you were wondering, about two-thirds of the 9,000+ aquatic rooms are water villas in the Maldives, spread around more than 130 resorts. The overwater bungalows in Bora Bora are the next biggest group, and as of this update only one is affordable enough to make the list below. There are also smaller groups in Moorea, Tahiti, elsewhere in the South Pacific, plus over water bungalows in the Caribbean, Mauritius, Thailand, Malaysia, and the Philippines.

If you are mostly just interested in an affordable holiday in the tropics you should check our list of the cheapest Caribbean destinations.

All rates below are per night for 2 people including all taxes

When you are looking at individual resorts you’ll very often see a room rate that doesn’t include local taxes or service charges. Most resorts raise prices when they don’t have many water bungalows left for a given date, so you’ll often see higher room rates if you are checking on shorter notice.

  • Maldives cheapest months: June and July
  • Bora Bora, Tahiti and Moorea cheapest months: March and April
  • Caribbean cheapest months: May through November

Full board and half board resorts are included

At least a couple of the resorts on the list below include 3 meals a day with the room rate, and several of those offer all-inclusive (alcohol included) packages for not much more per night. These resorts are even better deals than they first seem because food and drinks are quite expensive at nearly all of these resorts around the world.

Video showing all of the resorts below

This year I started making videos to go along with my most popular articles and this one is my favorite so far. Please watch it if you want to see actual video footage of all of these places.

5 Major overwater bungalow regions around the world

With so many new overwater resorts opening in the last few years, we’ve decided that instead of just listing the absolute cheapest ones, which mostly are in just two of the regions, that we will list the cheapest few in each of the major regions.

  1. Southeast Asia (Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Philippines)
  2. South Pacific (excluding Bora Bora, Moorea, Tahiti)
  3. Maldives
  4. Bora Bora, Moorea, Tahiti
  5. Caribbean

On the list below you’ll find the cheapest resorts in each region so you can get an idea of the general price ranges.

The 17 Cheapest overwater bungalow and water villa resorts around the world

Southeast Asia (Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Philippines)

There are water villa resorts in all four of these countries, but this year (as usual) the cheapest of them are all in Malaysia. There are a few cheap “Eco-resorts” in Indonesia, but they are more for divers than honeymooners.

1AVANI Sepang Goldcoast Resort – Malaysia

  • Low season from US$105 (for 2 people, including all taxes)
  • High season from US$139

Open since 2011, the AVANI Sepang Goldcoast Resort has 392 water villas, which until 2016 was by far the most in the world (see #2 below). The water villas range from large to enormous, with the largest having 3 bedrooms. The cheapest water villas are 4 to a structure, though they are huge and surprisingly luxurious for the price. The one main caveat is you can’t swim beneath the villas, unlike the popular ones in Bora Bora and the Maldives, because they are high above the ocean instead of perched just over a calm lagoon.

The resort is located off the coast just south of the Kuala Lumpur Airport, so it could actually be a very cheap getaway when combined with an Air Asia flight from anywhere in the region. Reviews for the AVANI Sepang Goldcoast Resort were “mixed” for the first couple years, but are now very good, which reflects the most recent management change. Check out the overwaterbungalows.net pro review of AVANI Sepang Goldcoast Resort if you are seriously considering this one. It’s far nicer than you’d expect in this price range.

>>>Check rates at the AVANI Sepang Goldcoast Resort


2Lexis Hibiscus Port Dickson – Malaysia

  • Low season from US$207
  • High season from US$224

Opened in 2016, the Lexis Hibiscus Port Dickson has 522 overwater villas, each with its own private splash pool. This is obviously now the largest overwater resort in the world, and it’s located a bit south of the AVANI Sepang (#1 above), and still quite near the Kuala Lumpur Airport. Similarly, you can’t swim below the water villas here, but even the cheapest room class here are in freestanding structures.

Considering the huge and luxurious rooms with the private splash pools, the room rates here are amazingly low. Everything here is new, well built, and very well appointed with luxury amenities. The sheer size of the resort might be off-putting to some, but there is still a lot to like even if you don’t factor in the novelty value. In fact, the distance from the shore to the remote water villas requires a ride in a golf cart.

>>>Check rates at the Lexis Hibiscus – Port Dickson

More overwater resorts in Port Dickson near Kuala Lumpur Airport in the same price range:


3Berjaya Langkawi Resort – Malaysia

  • Low season from US$286
  • High season from US$351

The 47 overwater chalets at the Berjaya Langkawi Resort are more tightly packed than most other resorts, but they are luxurious and quite large on the inside. This resort has 350 total rooms, including Rain-forest Chalets that are similar inside except they are perched among the trees on the side of a mountain.

The complication for most people could be the location, which is on Langkawi Island in northern Malaysia. It might sound hard to reach, but it’s actually similar to the Maldives in that you have to take at least two flights to reach most resorts. Especially if you are in or near Southeast Asia, this is one to consider. As of 2024, rates have come down for off-season stays. It’s worth checking if this one looks interesting to you.

>>>Check rates at the Berjaya Langkawi Resort


South Pacific (Not including Bora Bora, Moorea, Tahiti)

The resorts in and near Bora Bora are the closest ones to North America and they are all extremely expensive. The ones on the list below are cheaper and are all closer to Australia than to the United States.

1Holiday Inn Resort Vanuatu

  • Low season from US$292
  • High season from US$292

The Holiday Inn Resort on Vanuatu is another place that would be ideal for many people if not for its fairly remote location. Vanuatu is technically in the South Pacific, but it’s far closer to Australia than it is to Hawaii or even Tahiti. The resort has 10 overwater lagoon villas among its room types, along with dozens of water activities and even a casino.

Recent reviews have been excellent and the value is quite good for the amenities and features the place offers. The main problem will be getting to Vanuatu, unless you are starting in Australia.

>>>Check rates at the Holiday Inn Resort Vanuatu


2DoubleTree by Hilton Noumea Ilot Maitre Resort

  • Low season from US$312
  • High season from US$312

With 25 overwater bungalows, the DoubleTree by Hilton Noumea is on a small island just off New Caledonia, which itself it fairly close to Australia. Since it’s currently part of the Hilton chain, you can expect things to be done professionally, which isn’t always the case of the cheaper overwater resorts in this part of the world.

The overwater bungalows are fairly large and well appointed, with plenty of great water sports and activities on offer, but the location makes it a challenge for those not starting in Australia or New Zealand.

>>>Check rates at the DoubleTree by Hilton Noumea Ilot Maitre Resort


Maldives

The Maldives now has over 130 water villa resorts. First we will list the cheapest overall followed by two of the cheapest all-inclusive resorts.

1Safari Island Resort and Spa – Maldives

  • Low season from US$337
  • High season from US$395

One of the Maldives resorts that always has great rates on water villas, Safari Island Resort and Spa can be a good choice for those who want luxury on a modest budget. They have 39 water villas as well as 15 waters-edge bungalows that are even more affordable. Each one has a glass coffee table for viewing the sea life directly below the villa.

As a smaller resort (they only have 20 island villas), Safari Island doesn’t have quite as many activities on offer as some other resorts, but they do have a diving center, a water sports center, and a gym. They’ve got one restaurant, bar, and coffee shop, all located on the lagoon itself.

>>>Check rates at the Safari Island Resort and Spa


2Ellaidhoo Maldives by Cinnamon

  • Low season from US$404
  • High season from US$404

Part of the upscale Sri Lanka-based hotel chain, Ellaidhoo Maldives by Cinnamon offers excellent value for a smaller Maldives resort. They’ve got 24 overwater bungalows in 12 separate structures, so each shares a wall, but is otherwise totally private. They’ve got 3 buffet restaurants and the usual long list of water sports and included activities.

The resort has 88 rooms and bungalows on a small private island in addition to the water villas, with really good snorkeling in its house reef. Reviews are surprisingly strong for a resort that seems to be such a bargain, although most similar resorts don’t have a shared wall so that is one thing to consider. You also have to factor in the sea-plane ride from Malé Airport, which is a thrill unto itself but will set you back around US$400 per person round-trip.

>>>Check rates at the Ellaidhoo Maldives


Cheapest All-inclusive Maldives resorts

The two resorts below are the cheapest of the all-inclusive resorts, which are a popular category and can be great value for those who like to enjoy than one or two drinks per day.

1Riu Atoll Resort Maldives

  • Low season from US$576
  • High season from US$914

Built and opened in 2019, the Riu Atoll Resort has 36 water villas in 12 separate structures, but it like they are very private in spite of some shared walls. This, along with its neighboring sister resort Riu Palace Maldives, are the first ones from the Spanish hotel chain that specializes in all-inclusive resorts in sunny parts of the world.

As you can expect in the Maldives, they’ve got a full-service spa (costs extra) and a long list of water sports that are included. With 254 total rooms and villas, this is a larger resort with 3 restaurants and 3 bars and lounges. This could be a great choice for those looking for an affordable Maldives all-inclusive with a lot going on every day.

>>>Check rates at the Riu Atoll Resort


2Adaaran Club Rannalhi – All-inclusive

  • Low season from US$615 (all-inclusive)
  • High season from US$615 (all-inclusive)

The cheapest all-inclusive resort in the Maldives is the Adaaran Club Rannalhi, which has 26 water bungalows in 13 structures over its gorgeous lagoon, so again, they each have one shared wall. As you’d expect, the food comes from an international buffet with theme nights and there are two bars running from morning until midnight. They’ve also got a full spa and a long list of included water activities, so this place does offer fantastic value for those looking for an affordable Maldives all-inclusive.

The Adaaran chain operates 5 total resorts in the Maldives and that’s it, so they specialize in this area and that helps them offer a rare combination of value and quality. Reviews for all of their resorts have been good for years so this one is definitely worth considering if you are the all-inclusive type.

>>>Check rates at the Adaaran Club Rannalhi


Bora Bora, Moorea, Tahiti

There are about 20 resorts in Bora Bora, Moorea, and Tahiti itself. Most of them start over US$1,000 per night and there are no all-inclusive resorts in this area, but the few relatively cheap ones are listed below.

1Hotel Maitai Polynesia Bora Bora

  • Low season from US$597
  • High season from US$839

An older and more traditional Bora Bora resort, the Hotel Maitai has 19 overwater bungalows that are sometimes available as low as US$597 per night, which is over US$400 per night less than the second most affordable one on this famously pricey island in paradise. The water villas are a bit on the small side, but they are private and perched over a gorgeous lagoon just like you’ve always dreamed of.

Reviews of the place are good to very good, but rarely better than that. Everyone knows that Bora Bora is one of the most beautiful islands on earth and if you book the most affordable overwater bungalows there you can’t expect the Four Seasons (which is not far away actually and triple the price!). You might also have to try quite a few dates to find this room rate, but as of late 2023 it WAS available and includes all taxes and fees. Good luck!

>>>Check rates at the Hotel Maitai Polynesia Bora Bora


2Manava Beach Resort and Spa – Moorea

  • Low season from US$889
  • High season from US$1,170

With 28 overwater bungalows along with 66 garden and beach rooms, the second most affordable overwater rooms in the area are at the Manava Beach Resort and Spa on Moorea, which is close to Tahiti itself. You can see in the photos that the lagoon here is clear, but it drops off quickly at the edge of the outer bungalows, so it’s not the same swimming-pool-style lagoon you’ll find at the Bora Bora resorts costing twice as much or more.

The vibe here is very Polynesian, unlike the top-end resorts that are more set up like a European spa. Reviews are very good and they’ve got a full service spa and the usual water sports on offer. Moorea isn’t quite as beautiful as Bora Bora, but it’s much nicer than Tahiti and if the place above isn’t available this would be my second choice in the area if it fit my budget.

>>>Check rates at the Manava Beach Resort and Spa Moorea


3Le Taha’a Island Resort & Spa

  • Low season from US$998
  • High season from US$1,141

We are calling this the second cheapest overwater resort on Bora Bora even though it’s set on the nearby island of Le Taha’a (with great views of Bora Bora). The Le Taha’a Island Resort & Spa has 48 overwater bungalows set over a stunning turquoise lagoon that rivals those below the most expensive resorts on Bora Bora itself. The overwater bungalows are each huge at over 1,100 square feet (100 sq. meters) including a private terrace for each.

They’ve got 3 restaurants and 2 bars and of course a full-service spa. This place gets mostly excellent reviews for everything and it’s had a great reputation for at least a decade. While $998 per night may not sound like a bargain, this place is similar to and as nice as the high-end chain resorts on Bora Bora that literally start at twice the price or more. Of the three Bora Bora-area resorts on this list, I would absolutely choose this one if I could afford it.

>>>Check rates at the Le Taha’a Island Resort & Spa


Caribbean

Believe it or not, there are almost 30 overwater resorts in the Caribbean, but the majority of them are tiny “eco-resorts” and “aqua-resorts” in Panama. Below are the cheapest of those plus the cheapest of the honeymoon overwater bungalows.

1El Faro del Colibri

  • Low season from US$132
  • High season from US$154

Even though it’s only a few years old, the El Faro del Colibri is currently the cheapest overwater bungalow resort in the Americas. It bills itself as an “Acqua lodge” and it’s one of many similar places in Panama and specifically in the Bocas del Toro area. It’s obviously pretty basic and I wouldn’t book a surprise romantic weekend to this place, but technically it does have overwater bungalows and a very good location as well.

It’s worth noting that the US$132 per night room rate only seems available on its own website and Expedia starts at US$149 per night. In fact, the official website is still under construction so I’d be tempted to book with Expedia just in case. From the photos you can see a tiny flat-screen TV and an A/C unit in each cabin and reviews are quite good. Long story short, this is by far the cheapest overwater bungalow that isn’t located in Malaysia and it could be a fun choice for some people.

>>>Check rates at the El Faro del Colibri


2Punta Caracol Acqua-Lodge – Panama

  • Low season from US$248 (half board)
  • High season from US$291 (half board)

A very interesting “eco-resort,” the Punta Caracol Acqua-Lodge has 9 overwater suites in 3 different categories, and no other rooms. The best news might be that breakfast and dinner are included in the room rate, so this place is a better deal that it first appears and really is a fantastic bargain compared to many of the other places around it.

Even the smallest class of overwater suites here is 2 levels with a king-size bed in an upper loft area, and a large private terrace out front. The main downside (for some people) is that this resort is quite remote, so it’s not the sort of place you can just pop by and get a room.

>>>Check rates at the Punta Caracol Acqua Lodge


3Hotel Eclypse de Mar Acqua Lodge

  • Low season from US$285
  • High season from US$362

Yet another Acqua Lodge in Bocas del Toro, Panama, the Hotel Eclypse de Mar Acqua Lodge has by far the best photos of the resorts in this area and it looks very nice for the price. It’s set over a calm-looking lagoon with clearer water than the others, and their units have glass floor sections so you can observe the sea-life below from your cabin.

The Honeymoon Over The Water Bungalow in particular actually does look like the kind of place suitable for a romantic getaway, especially if your partner has a fondness for sustainability and the nearby nature reserve. Obviously there’s a very big difference between a place like this and the ones on Bora Bora mentioned above, but there’s also a huge difference in price and these are cheaper and easier to reach for most people.

>>>Check rates at the Hotel Eclypse de Mar Acqua Lodge


Cheapest luxury all-inclusive resort in the Caribbean

If you are looking for a honeymoon-style overwater bungalow in the Caribbean, the one below is the cheapest option, believe it or not. There are only about 6 total resorts that are in this category and half of those are Sandals resorts.

1NAYARA Bocas del Toro – All Inclusive

  • Low season from US$1,254
  • High season from US$1,650

By now you’ve seen that this place is more than four times more expensive than the one just above. For many people it will be worth it as this one is actually the cheapest all-inclusive overwater resort in the Caribbean that compares to the places in Bora Bora or the Maldives. Like the others above, it’s also in Bocas del Toro, Panama, but this one is nothing like the others.

As of January 2024, each of the 16 huge overwater bungalows here will have its own private splash pool on its deck. The place is Balinese in design and style and it looks like they’ve spent a fortune on making these places properly 5-star, including a glass floor section in each unit to see the sea life below. Again, it’s all inclusive and that even includes airport transportation. Seriously, if you want something REALLY nice and you can’t afford the Sandals one below, this is a place to consider.

>>>Check rates at the NAYARA Bocas del Toro – All Inclusive


Cheapest luxury all-inclusive with butler service in the Caribbean

If you want the best overwater bungalows in the Caribbean, the one below is it. Fortunately it’s all-inclusive and provides private butler service.

1Sandals South Coast

  • Low season from US$3,437
  • High season from US$3,437

There were no luxurious overwater bungalows anywhere in the Caribbean until Sandals completed them at three of their resorts starting in 2016, and this is the cheapest and arguably the nicest of the three. I’ve actually been to all of them and toured the overwater rooms and these were my favorite. The 12 overwater bungalows here are huge and behind a security gate at the pier, so this is a 5-star +++ experience in every way, including the private butler service.

The other Sandals resorts with them are the Royal Caribbean near the Montego Bay airport and one in St. Lucia. They all would go for around US$2,200 per night until 2022, but now those other resorts are going for US$4,000 per night and these are a bit less. You can get something similar in Bora Bora for about US$2,500 per night, but that’s a very long flight for most people. It appears that demand for these places is so strong that they can charge this much and still sell out every single night. Are they worth it? Obviously they are to those who can afford them. I wish I could as well.

>>>Check rates at the Sandals South Coast


Note: This article was first published in 2012 and has been fully updated and expanded each year since.

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All Comments

  1. Jerry says:

    Roger
    I really like the info about the overwater bungalows, however I think I may have been mislead or given false or bad information in the past. You seem to have a lot of knowledge on these bungalows, so maybe you can help and assist me to get the issue cleared up.
    Are there any over the ocean bungalows in Bali, Ike the ones you have listed?
    Thanks.

    1. Roger Wade says:

      Jerry,

      It’s strange because many people seem to be under the impression that there are overwater bungalows or water villas in Bali, but there aren’t and never have been. There are a few overwater diving resorts on other Indonesian islands, all a long way from Bali. And there is an old resort in Moorea called the Bali Hai Resort that has a few overwater bungalows along its shore.

      Not only do I do a lot of research on overwater bungalows, but I’ve also spent a lot of time in Bali, including a month there in February. I can assure you that there are none there at this point, unfortunately. And I don’t think the lagoons there are the kind that would be good for them in the future either. -Roger

  2. Parind says:

    Hello Roger! Really liked your research and every detail about these hotels. I went through each and every hotel/resort in Maldives that you have mentioned here but could not really find budget deals for over water villas. I am planning to go to Maldives in March 1st week 2017 for my honeymoon. Could you suggest any particular resort in the range of 3000£-3500£ for 7-8 nights?

    1. Roger Wade says:

      Parind,

      I think one problem might be that you are checking the Maldives room rates too early. In my experience, the resorts will show their higher prices starting 11 months out, because anyone searching that far in advance for specific dates is usually not looking for a bargain. What happens is they book very few rooms at the higher rate, and then about 7 or 8 months out they start discounting once they see how many rooms they have left for any given period. March isn’t one of the busiest months in The Maldives, so almost none of those water villas are booked now.

      My advice is to search for resort prices for this coming October or November and see what the rates are looking like. Chances are that if you wait until August or September, you’ll see those same rates for next March. And I hope you are seraching on Agoda.com, because they have all the best online rates in the Maldives.

      Personally I can recommend Meeru Island and Cinnamon Dhonveli as great choices that are also within a speedboat ride of the airport. Most resorts are only reachable by sea-plane and that adds about US$500 per person to the total, where as a speedboat will be around US$200 per person, return. Congratulations and best of luck with your honeymoon. -Roger

  3. Fiona says:

    Thank you Roger!!

    Sorry last question -do I need to carry much cash with me on the resort? From past experiences, I’ve often found that a lot of resorts allow you to charge food/drinks/activities to your room or take credit card. Plus I prefer not to carry too much cash around and a lot of the resorts in Maldives include food in accomodation depending which option you select.

    1. Roger Wade says:

      Fiona,

      The Maldives resorts typically operate in that you charge everything to your room and then pay by credit card as you leave. It’s a generally safe country, but they don’t want to deal with a lot of cash either. Also, all the prices will be in US dollars and everyone accepts USDs, so you won’t need to change money at all. Bon voyage. -Roger

  4. Fiona says:

    Hi Roger,

    Thank you so much for your informative website -you have literally cut my honeymoon planning time in half! I have literally bookmarked all your articles because they are that helpful!

    We are planning to go to the Maldives in september 2016 for our honeymoon and I’ve always dreamed of staying in one of those water bungalows!!

    Only thing is that I can’t swim -would this be a problem?

    Also we are coming from Australia via Singapore so our flight lands in maldives at 10.30pm. We are thinking of staying in a resort nearby (not a fan of seaplanes to be honest) considering Cinnamon Dhonveli. Do the speedboats operate this late? Or do you recommend staying 1 night in male/singapore and go to the resort in the morning?

    Oh and roughly how much are speedboats for a 20 min ride?

    Thanks so much in advance!

    1. Roger Wade says:

      Fiona,

      Those overwater villas in the Maldives are amazing and you’ll love them. Fortunately, swimming isn’t at all necessary. The decks and piers are all very safe, so it would be easy to do a whole holiday without getting wet. And even if you did somehow fall in (extremely unlikely), you’ll be happy to know that the water is usually between .6 meters to about 1.5 meters deep, depending on tide. In other words, even shorter people can almost always just walk on the sand over to one of the many ladders or just straight up the beach. There’s nothing to worry about.

      Cinnamon Dhonveli would be a great choice for a place reachable by speedboat, and Meeru Island is another excellent choice nearby. The speedboat to Cinnamon Dhonveli is US$168 per person return, and to Meeru it’s US$220, I think. Some of the speedboats do operate late at night, but I think it’s a waste of money to spend around US$500 for a night at a resort where you wouldn’t get to your room until midnight or later. I’m actually going to write a full article soon to explain the best option for this. The short version is this: Fly into Male and book one of the hotels on the island of Hulhumale, which is connected to the airport island by road. I can personally recommend a hotel called the Maakanaa Lodge, which I stayed at a few weeks ago (and it’s the #1 rated hotel on the island on TripAdvisor). The hotel will have someone to meet you at the airport to bring you to the hotel, and they will make you breakfast in the morning before taking you back to the airport for your speedboat ride. It will cost around US$100 for the night, including pickup, dropoff, and breakfast, and you’ll get to your resort by speedboat by around noon the following day, so you can make full use of it. I’ll link my article describing this once it’s published. Feel free to ask other questions if you have them. -Roger

      1. Fiona says:

        Thank you for your response Roger! Are we able to book a speedboat once we land in Male or should we book it beforehand when booking flights and accomodation?

        1. Roger Wade says:

          Fiona,

          The speedboat booking is done along with the resort booking. In other words, when you go to book a resort (Agoda.com has the best online rates) then they will also ask you for your flight details. When they see that you are coming in late, they will contact you to give you details on when your speedboat will leave in the morning. It’s part of the process for every guest they have, and they will make it easy on you. The resorts own and operate the speedboats, so it’s just a matter of determining the best time to schedule you and the other guests arriving from the airport that morning.

          By the way, the speedboat piers are directly at the airport, maybe 100 to 200 meters from baggage claim. It sounds a bit confusing the first time, but it’s very easy once you get there. I’m doing a video about this process as well, and I’ll post it soon and put the link here. Bon voyage. -Roger

  5. ashley says:

    Hi Roger,

    Great website and list! Do you happen to know which of the resorts (in the Maldives) on this list you can get to by speed-boat transfer?
    Thanks,
    Ashley

    1. Roger Wade says:

      Ashley,

      Thank you. Yes, here is a list of Maldives water villa resorts with speed-boat transfer. Actually, they will be adding Meeru Island to that list, which is the #5 cheapest and by far the cheapest full-board or all-inclusive resort. It’s 55 minutes from Male Airport by speedboat, and I just came from there a few days ago. It’s amazing. -Roger

  6. Maui says:

    This list is great! I’m not sure what you are, a local, a savvy traveler, a writer, or a sale rep of resorts, but I’ve been looking for someone like you to pick brain 😛
    I have one thing left on my bucket list, which is a Tahiti vacation in a NICE water bungalow! After dreaming about it long enough, I made that a “plan”, no longer a “dream,” and the exclusive savings I opened about 5 yrs. ago with a goal of $10K is about to fully mature! Now it’s really time for me to finalize my travel plans. EXCITED but nervous, because I don’t want to make mistakes of choosing a wrong island, hotel, season, etc. Per my initial research back then, those “fancy” bungalows (not even suites or villas) were no less than $2000 per night. The price you listed seem far below that line. Am I missing something here, or those prices have come down over the years? I don’t need a HUGE space but a private deck and a private pool will be great. Some view out the bungalow (of the resort or the shoreline v.s. absolute darkness at night) is preferred. I’m thinking about possibly moving rooms from a lower-end unit (for 2-3 nights) to THE BUNGALOW for GRAND FINALE for 2 nights. Honestly, as amazing as the bungalow experience shall be, I think I will get ‘used to it’ after a few days. Oh, also I would like to keep this trip no longer than 5 nights. (Unfortunately I have a limited time, and just to experience the bungalow is THE main objective!! (FYI: the origin of flight is LAX.) What are your recommendations for the island(s), resort(s), and particular bungalow(s)? Mahalo!

    1. Roger Wade says:

      Maui,

      Thanks for the kind words. I’m a travel writer and obsessive researcher who likes to put together lists like this, and not a travel agent. I only started researching these things about 6 years ago and I don’t think prices have changed too much since then. The room rates quoted on this list are full prices including all taxes and fees, and you can indeed get an amazing overwater bungalow in Bora Bora for around US$500 per night in low season, and only a bit higher most of the rest of the year.

      From LAX you are in a very good spot because most of these trips include a flight from LAX to Tahiti. From Tahiti you can take a very short flight to Moorea or a one-hour ferry ride, or a one-hour flight to Bora Bora. Those are the two best islands with the best choices, and both are stunning. Tahiti itself is a bit of a dud in that regard, but it’s nice enough for a short stay.

      And I think your plan to book an island room for part of your stay is a good way to save some money. Actually, you stand a decent chance of getting upgraded to an overwater bungalow for some of those days as well, because those booked in the overwater rooms for part of their trip are the first to be considered if any of them are empty.

      Here are the overwater resorts in Moorea, and the overwater resorts in Bora Bora. The overall quality is very high and I’m sure you’ll find one that suits you. Since money is a consideration you might want to focus on Moorea because the round-trip flight from Tahiti to Bora Bora is quite expensive in itself. Have a great trip. -Roger

  7. Greg says:

    I’m pretty sure this one is cheaper than any on this list: nalusuanislandresort.com

    1. Roger Wade says:

      Greg,

      You may be right about that, but a few years ago I decided to stop including the basic shacks on stilts and I only list the proper “honeymoon-style” overwater bungalows, because that’s what people reading this article are looking for. I’m aware of several other places in Thailand and nearby that are part of floating villages where “overwater” rooms start at around US$20 per night. Either way, I appreciate the comment. -Roger

      1. Greg Bloom says:

        Thanks for the response, Roger. Yeah you have a point, I actually know some $5 overwater cottages in the Philippines, but they are extremely basic, bamboo-shack-over-mangrove affairs. Nalusuan may not be quite up to the level of the ones you list, but one could argue that it should make the cut – private island, great snorkeling,and reasonably luxurious cottages, all for about US$100. Worth putting on your radar at least. Btw I have no affiliation with the resort, just reviewed it for Lonely Planet and recognize it as a uniquely good deal. .

  8. Martina says:

    Hi Roger,

    thanks for this list, helps a lot! If you keep updating it people like me will be forever grateful 🙂

    What really bugs me with most of these resorts is how conveniently they charge you hugeee amounts of money for transfers and how you are not allowed to come to the island by any other means otherwise they will not let you check in (?!). I mean for the price of a 15-min obligatory seaplane ride I get halfway around the world! ughh

    1. Roger Wade says:

      Martina,

      I appreciate the kind words and that this research is helpful. And I agree that the price of the mandatory sea-plane flight in the Maldives seems high, although on the other hand, most people rave about them as one of the best experiences of their entire trip. So those Maldives sea-plane flights are like a wonderful thrill ride, that will cost you about US$900 per person. About 20 Maldives resorts are close enough for speed-boat transfers, which are only about US$150 per person. And some offer both.

      The Maldives tourism industry is heavily regulated and each of those resorts HAS to be on a private island. There are no general passenger ferry services that just go island to island, except for some used by workers to go from nearby islands to the resorts. So unfortunately, the only way to get to most of the islands is by sea-plane or private yacht. There are some great resorts close enough to the airport for speed boats, so maybe one of those will work for you? -Roger

  9. Sanne - Spend Life Traveling says:

    Nice list.
    And as much as I am a fan of traveling on a budget, I think at times spending a little more can increase your experience by a lot, especially for a luxury vacation like this.
    For example Sun Island and the Chaaya resorts in the Maldives are really not that great. Spending a little bit more, when possible, will give you a so much better experience, at least from my experience with resorts in the Maldives.

  10. Mel says:

    Hi Roger,
    Great list of over-water bungalows. Thanks for putting this all together.
    Hubby’s 50th is coming up in November ’16 and I want to take him somewhere special (the shorter the flight times from Australia the better but open to South Pacific, Maldives or Caribbean.
    We want privacy when in the bungalow/private pool, a town close by where we can go for strolls, shopping, massages and/or dinner but most importantly it should be a place where one is made feel welcome by locals. We’ve been to Bali and the Philippines and would never go there again to offer some comparison. Not sure how to put it but basically in both places we couldn’t wait to be under Western people back home again.
    Do you have any suggestions, keeping weather in November in mind?
    Thanks in advance!

    1. Roger Wade says:

      Mel,

      Thank you for the nice words. If you are looking for what I like to call “honeymoon-style” overwater bungalows, then you’ll want to go to either the South Pacific or Maldives.

      And if you prefer a town nearby, you are going to want to focus on the South Pacific. The Maldives has about 80 overwater resorts, but by law, each is on its own private island so you have to take a boat ride to get to an island where people live and work, which can be far away from many resorts. On the other hand, this also solves the non-welcoming locals problem because the only people you see are other guests and employees, so you are always treated very well and never hassled.

      And I know what you mean about places like Bali and the Philippines. I’m actually in Negril, Jamaica at the moment, and as lovely as it is, the big negative is that visitors are hounded mercilessly by nearly everyone they encounter.

      On the islands of Bora Bora and Moorea, the locals are small in number and generally very respectful, so those might be your best options if you can afford them. Each island also has several little villages and off-resort restaurants and shops, so you can actually walk around in a pleasant environment.

      The November weather is quite good in both of those areas, and it’s almost the same all year round. Both places have rainy seasons, but the rain comes and goes quickly (often overnight) and it can make for amazing sunsets. And rainy seasons are cheaper as well, so many savvy travelers prefer them.

      Best of luck on the birthday trip next year, and let me know if you have other questions. -Roger