Show a person a photo of an overwater bungalow or water villa and suddenly they have a new goal in life. Unfortunately, most of the 130 or so resorts that feature overwater rooms are quite expensive, usually over US$400 per night, even in the off season.
Well, there is a bit of good news then as it turns out that not all of them are priced only for the super-rich. 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.
In case you were wondering, about two-thirds of the 5,000+ aquatic rooms are at water villa resorts in the Maldives, spread around more than 80 private islands. The overwater bungalows in Bora Bora are the next biggest group, though they are all way out of this list’s price range. 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. Those mostly interested in an all-inclusive holiday will want to see this list of cheapest Caribbean all-inclusive destinations, with amazing deals if you know where to look.
Cheapest overwater bungalows and water villas in the world
Prices listed are per room per night for two people, in the low-season in each location.
From US$155 per night per room for 2 people
Only fully opened since late 2011, the Golden Palm Tree Resort & Spa has 392 water villas, which is nearly four times as many as the second-most in the world. The water villas range from roomy to enormous, with the largest having 3 bedrooms.
It’s 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. It’s worth noting that opening such a huge overwater resort has not been without complications, and some guests do have some minor complaints. The good news is that rates have been lowered quite a bit in 2012 so it’s a great bargain even if everything isn’t yet perfect at the hotel.
At the moment the Gangehi Island Resort has the cheapest water villas in the Maldives with their 8 Over Water Suites that are perched over the edge of the lagoon in shallow water. Considering the price, they are quite large and very well appointed. For single travelers they offer a rate of only US$140 per night for these rooms, which is also the best deal by far for the category.
The resort was totally renovated in 2008 and they also have 8 De Luxe Over Water Suites that are well out over the lagoon in a more traditional fashion. Reviews for the place are surprisingly strong for this resort considering the prices, but it’s also worth noting that high-season rates are quite a bit higher.
The cheapest of the overwater bungalow resorts in the southern Caribbean, the Coral Lodge Resort isn’t a typical “honeymoon hotel” but it is well suited to adventurous people. It has 6 overwater bungalows and no other rooms, plus two restaurants and a spa, so it does work for couples on romantic retreats.
The downside, for some people, is that it’s also an “eco-resort” and there is limited electricity, plus no TVs or internet available. On the other hand, there’s great diving and snorkeling in the area, plus loads of other activities and tours.
Sometime back in the 1960s, three friends moved from Newport Beach, California to Moorea (near Tahiti) in French Polynesia, and became the “Bali Hai Boys.” Two of them are still around, and according to their website they invented the first overwater bungalows, and still offer the cheapest such rooms in the South Pacific.
The Club Bali Hai resort is located deep within the gorgeous Cook’s Bay in Moorea, rather than out over the clear lagoon like most of the rest of them. Their overwater bungalows are also perched just off the shore, so it’s a slightly different experience, but on the other hand they are quite large and come with a full kitchenette, so they offer good value along with the stunning setting.
While the photo might look tempting, be warned that the Raiatea Hawaiki Nui Hotel features 9 overwater bungalows that have a reputation for being among the oldest and most spartan anywhere. Located on Raiatea Island, this appears to be a 2-star hotel that was once probably much nicer.
The price could be a major temptation for some people who want to sleep in a proper overwater bungalow in the South Pacific, so this place does serve a purpose as long as expectations are in line, and you don’t mind the fact that there is no air conditioning and that the service is even more “relaxed” than most other inexpensive South Pacific hotels.
Located on a small private island just off Roatan Island, which is just off Honduras, Anthony’s Key Resort has 10 overwater bungalows that also barely fit the category. Perched just off the shore, these bungalows are part of a complex with 46 other rooms, operating fully on an all-inclusive basis so the value is better than it might seem.
This is sort of an adventure resort, with a long list of activities and local tours that will appeal to active travelers (and maybe not so much to honeymooners). At least there is air conditioning, plus quite a few other nice features that are not so common in this price range.
Along the Pacific coast not far south of Puerto Vallarta you can find the Hotelito Desconocido, which has a handful of overwater bungalows perched over its estuary and more overlooking the ocean. This is another eco-resort where the power is solar-only, so guests should be prepared for romantic candle-lit evenings.
It’s an all-inclusive resort where rates seem to qualify each guest for a daily massage as well, though it’s kind of hard to tell on their confusing website. For anyone wanting to gamble on such a place along Pacific Mexico, this is worth a look.
Another Maldives resort with surprisingly appealing off-season rates, the Medhufishi Island Resort has 46 water villas built out over its stunningly clear lagoon. The water villas are fairly large for this price range, and decked out in 4-star amenities as well.
Typical of nearly all Maldives resorts, there is a diving center and a long list of water sports and beach activities available. This place gets quite good reviews, especially considering the reasonable prices, so this one looks like a nice choice for those looking for value in the Maldives.
For those looking for an eco-resort with overwater bungalows in the southern Caribbean, the Eclypse de Mar Aqualodge is another candidate. The emphasis here is on diving and snorkeling, so it’s not really an ideal place for people just looking to relax in the room. There are only 6 overwater bungalows here, two of which are special Suite Honeymoon Overwater Bungalows.
The location a short boat ride away from Bocas del Toro is part of its appeal, as it’s quite isolated from pretty much everything. For divers and adventure types, this one might be perfect.
The photo to the right lets you know that this is more “rustic” than most of the others on this list, but the place is popular with consistently good reviews so it’s a great choice for some people. It’s another eco-resort that is mostly off the grid, with diving and snorkeling again being the focal point.
The rates here for the 4 overwater bungalows are all-inclusive, at least when it comes to meals and drinks, so it’s a better value than it might otherwise seem. The remote location off of Honduras adds to the solitude but is complicated to reach, so it’s best for stays of a week or so rather than a long weekend.
While the Velidhu Island Resort certainly isn’t one of the more glamorous Maldives hotels, it offers some of the best deals. It has 20 large water bungalows (semi-detached, so 2 to a structure) that are over 800 square feet each. Better still, the price includes breakfast and dinner for two people each day, and since food in the Maldives tends to be quite pricey, that can be a big deal.
The resort also has 80 island rooms and bungalows, and notoriously good snorkeling and scuba diving, but there are no family activities or a swimming pool so this is primarly a couples resort. When you read reviews of this place it’s clear that many people return every year so it has a big fan base, which says something about such an affordable resort.
Another that barely fits into the category, the KC Resort & Over Water Villa complex set on a hill overlooking Chaweng Beach on Koh Samui in Thailand has 16 “Over Water Villas” that are in pairs built on stilts over private infinity-edge pools. This appears to be the first and only resort in the world that has taken the fully “overwater” style inland.
Since it’s not practical to build the classic style water villas out in the sea in this area, these things are quite amazing in their adaptation. You can swim in a beautiful infinity pool right under your room, and thanks to a large glass section of floor in the bedroom, partners can keep an eye on each other whether swimming or in bed. And for the price, this is a very luxurious and well regarded resort.
With the best prices of all the 4-star “honeymoon style” overwater bungalows in the South Pacific, the InterContinental Tahiti Resort is perfect for those who’ve dreamed of the experience but aren’t willing to pay US$600 or more per night. There are 32 overwater bungalows here, each perched just off of a small island in the lagoon.
The location just a short distance from the Tahiti Airport is another part of its appeal. Many people going on to Bora Bora or Moorea have to spend one night in Tahiti on their way in or out of the South Pacific, so this resort can come in handy. It’s a full-on luxury resort with over 200 total rooms, so there’s a lot to like here.
The Angaga Island Resort and Spa has 20 water villas and 50 island villas, and each comes with breakfast and dinner for two included in the room price, so it’s a better deal than one might first think. This smaller island has no swimming pool or babysitting facilities, so it’s yet another that tends to be popular with couples rather than families.
Considering the room rates, you wouldn’t expect to get bathrobes and a luxurious bathroom with a full-sized bathtub, but you get those amenities here and more. The house reef here is among the better ones in the Maldives as well, so snorkeling and scuba diving are definite highlights. But there is only one restaurant and not as many common facilities as some other resorts, so it’s not an ideal pick for everyone.
With 106 water villas, the Meeru Island Resort has more overwater rooms than any resort in the world except for the Golden Palm Tree mentioned on top. There are also nearly 200 beach and island villas, so this is among the largest Maldives private-island resorts overall. The low-season rates here are great bargains for anyone looking for a tremendous number of activity and dining options.
The water villas are quite nice and fairly large so the reasonable rates seem to be due to the size of the place. There are more than a dozen restaurants and bars on the island, and even a small pitch & putt golf course. This place seems to have a lot of repeat guests, which is a good sign in this price range.
The Chaaya Lagoon Hakuraa Huraa is a particularly good value for the Maldives because it operates on an all-inclusive basis, so this price includes 3 meals a day plus alcohol. The resort is one of the smaller of the all inclusive resorts in the Maldives, with 70 water villas and only 10 villas on the island itself.
There isn’t much in the way of family activities or babysitting, so this resort tends to be dominated by honeymooners and other couples rather than by parents and young children. The rate mentioned above is for low season (June through September), which is much cheaper than high season in spite of the weather being almost the same year round.
Important note: The room rates mentioned above are for low-season bookings. During high-season some resorts charge a bit more, and others charge a lot more.
If you are interested in going to a tropical island closer to the eastern United States or Europe you should check out our list of the cheapest Caribbean islands and destinations, which reveals where luxurious resorts go for a small fraction of the price of similar resorts on other islands.