All Inclusive Overwater Bungalows (2023 Update)

Why We Recommend These Overwater Bungalows: Sun Siyam Iru Fushi is an award-winning 5-star all inclusive with water villas on a stunning private island in The Maldives’ Noonu Atoll. The resort has a great reputation for family vacations, winning the World Travel Awards’ category of Best Family Resort in the Indian Ocean for three years running from 2016 to 2019, while also being nominated multiple times for the world’s best family resort. It is also a popular place for a romantic getaway though – this being the Maldives adults/couples dominate anyway, there are also dedicated adults-only zones and the resort is large enough to find plenty of space for rest, relaxation, and romance. It offers various options – b&b, half board, full board, and all inclusive. For a multiple award-winning, 5-star resort in The Maldives Sun Siyam Iru Fushi is pleasantly very reasonably priced, with the all-inclusive being overall the best value package. Water Villas & Other Accommodation: It has a nice choice of accommodation on offer, villa style, around the beach or overwater. All of them fit a maximum of two adults and two children up to the age of READ THE REVIEW

Why We Recommend These Overwater Bungalows: Veligandu Private Island, just twenty minutes by seaplane from Male Airport, is possibly the best value all-inclusive water villa resort in the Maldives. Though it lacks the full 5 Star Wow factor of Lily Beach Resort or Ozen Maadhoo, for what you are getting here you might expect the prices to be almost double what they are. As such it is extremely popular and sees return visitors year after year. Water Villas & Other Accommodation: You have two main room categories at Veligandu – Beach Villas and Water Villas, all of which are doubles with King-size bed though you can order extra beds/cots for children. These are in turn sub-divided into standard and jacuzzi villas. None of these accommodation choices will disappoint though the jacuzzi villas, even disregarding the added jacuzzi on the terrace, are more spacious and open and definitely worth the extra fee. All villas have that nice, traditional Pacific thatched roof look but inside they are modern and sleek. Amenities include satellite TV, Nespresso coffee machines, air con, generous minibars, and, if not a terrace jacuzzi outside then a spa bath READ THE REVIEW

Why We Recommend These Overwater Bungalows: Soneva Jani is one of The Maldives’ most exclusive private island resorts and has water villas that are almost uniquely spacious, stylish, and luxurious. The very largest of them, the two and four-bedroom ‘water reserves’ around the end of the walkway, being really quite extraordinary. These opulent wooden palaces come with private pools, water slides, and retractable roofs that allow stargazing direct from the master bedroom. All-inclusive packages have been available here since 2021. Check below for details as to what is included. Most of the island is left natural and wild so, anytime the feeling takes you, you can have a wander through mangrove forests and deserted beaches, and feel yourself enticingly detached from civilization. Water Villas & Other Accommodation: The first stand-out feature of Soneva Jani’s water villas is their sheer size – all of them are spread over two floors and their very smallest one-bedroom units still cover 4477 square feet/416 square meters while their largest, the four-bedroom water reserve, covers a whopping 15295 square feet/1421 square meters. There are five other categories between those two extremes none of which will READ THE REVIEW

Why We Recommend These Overwater Bungalows: Stella Island Resort in Crete is a 5 Star luxury, adults-only resort with a tremendously good reputation and one which is also home to one of only two overwater bungalow accommodations in Europe (the other being at Palafitte Resort on Lake Neuchâtel, Switzerland). It occupies a private stretch of Crete’s north coast and offers, amongst other things, excellent spa facilities, some of the very best food on the island and the opportunity to enjoy many sports including tennis and water sports. Guests also consistently praise the staff at Stella Island. The resort has various deals for you to choose from: You can go B&B/ breakfast only, have breakfast and dinner included in the room rate or go all-inclusive. In terms of value the breakfast and dinner included option seems the best, but only if you’re not a big drinker – drinks are relatively expensive here, so if so you might be better off with the all-inclusive. Stella Island is far more a romantic getaway than a party resort though. There are many lovely bars, lounges and restaurants to choose from but they close relatively READ THE REVIEW

Why We Recommend These Overwater Bungalows: Lily Beach Resort is a 5-star all-inclusive with water villas on a stunning private island in southern Ari Atoll, Maldives. Their all-inclusive plan offers a generous array of quality services, with a range of free water sports activities and excursions and lots and lots of premium quality food and drink. It is a well-known resort and consistently popular; people return here year after year, so advance bookings are recommended. Water Villas & Other Accommodation: They have a choice of water villas, beach villas and lagoon villas at Pearl Beach. The typically romantic overwater villas come in two categories: their ‘Deluxe Water Villas’ have 1356 ft² of space including a private outdoor deck with a jacuzzi plunge pool. Their ‘Sunset Water Villas’ then are a step ahead with 1960 ft² to play with, a proportionally larger deck and larger pool, as well as a 24-hour personal butler service. All the overwater choices have a section of glass floor panels so you can gaze at the sea life below from the comfort of your bungalow. The Lagoon Villas are at the edge of the lagoon and READ THE REVIEW

Sandals St. Vincent is the 5-star resort chain’s newest resort, due to open on March 27, 2024, and taking reservations right now! Among its broad accommodation choices are St Vincent & The Grenadines’ very first overwater bungalows! With the resort not having opened yet we of course can’t know too much about them, except that, judging by the details we’ve received, they are two-story units (so I guess we should call them villas not bungalows) with outdoor decks and overwater hammocks with access to the water below, a semi-open air upper floor for lounging and dining, and glass floor panels downstairs. They seem more modest than the incredibly lavish overwater bungalows at Sandals in Jamaica and St. Lucia. But with prices starting at about $3,400 per couple per night, they are in the same price range. They are relatively close to the shore and are not free-standing units – each seems to be attached to one other villa – which may limit privacy somewhat, and, with what space there is being divided over two floors they might also lack a sense of spaciousness. The resort in general promises to be READ THE REVIEW

Why We Recommend These Overwater Bungalows: Sandals Grande St. Lucian became the latest Sandals’ resort to open overwater bungalows after they achieved great success at their two Jamaican overwater bungalow resorts. Their overwater bungalows are a honeymoon favorite but with only nine of them, they get booked out well in advance. Make reservations as early as you possibly can. They come with glass floor panels that allow you to peer into the Caribbean just below your feet, tranquility soaking tubs, private patios, and over-water hammocks amongst other special features. They also have a 24-hour personal butler service and the service throughout the resort is top-notch – efficient and professional but also personable. Sandals Grande St. Lucian is, like all Sandals resorts, 5 Star, all-inclusive and strictly adults-only. Overwater Bungalows & Other Accommodation: They have an enormous range of accommodation at the resort, with the above-mentioned overwater accommodation being absolutely the most popular. These have a spacious, luxurious feel with hardwood floors, vaulted ceilings, king-size beds with soft linens and plush pillows, smart TVs, sun decks, outdoor showers, swish bathrooms, and 24-hour personal butler service. Many of the other choices will match, READ THE REVIEW

Why We Recommend These Overwater Bungalows: One of only two resorts with overwater bungalows in Jamaica (the other being Sandals Royal Caribbean), Sandals South Coast is a 5-star luxury, adults-only, all-inclusive resort that offers Epicurean indulgence in a dreamy Caribbean beach setting. The resort is large and the amount, and quality, of facilities and activities on offer are very impressive. The food is a particular attraction – guests have nine gourmet restaurants to choose from with food that spans the globe. Overwater Bungalows & Other Accommodation: They have a wide range of luxury accommodations to choose from, between rooms, suites, and over-water bungalows/villas, all offering varying levels of space, luxury, and privacy. Their 1,100 square feet over water villas are suitably plush and luxurious and come with outdoor sun decks with soaking tubs and overwater hammocks, internal glass floor panels, particularly nice, spa-style bathrooms, personal butler service, and an exclusive in-room dining and room service menu. Prices & Availability: Check out all the details and compare prices at the resort’s own website (Sandals) here, on Expedia.com here and at Booking.com here. Note: Like all luxury overwater bungalows in the Caribbean READ THE REVIEW

Why We Recommend These Overwater Bungalows: A strong candidate for the best luxury resort in Mauritius, the 5 Star Constance Le Prince Maurice, just an hour from Port Louis and its international airport, is a divine slice of paradise and one which boasts the country’s only overwater bungalows. There are just eleven in total though – eight junior suites and three particularly spacious and luxurious water villas – so be prepared to book well in advance. Though the height of luxury and beautifully styled they have just one drawback, that is that they sit over a lagoon fish sanctuary which, though it features much interesting sea life, means you are not allowed to swim just outside your door. Once that disappointment is overcome though these overwater bungalows leave very little else to complain about and the Constance Prince Maurice in general is a truly fantastic resort. It has excellent spa facilities and a whole host of activities can be enjoyed including water-sports and golf at not one but two different 18 hole championship golf courses. Though the resort mainly caters for romantic getaways, honeymoons etc. children can and do come READ THE REVIEW

At a Glance: First opening its doors in May 2019, Royalton Antigua is an all-inclusive resort that is home to Antigua’s only overwater bungalows. The resort offers opulence and luxury and has a choice setting on the clear, calm waters of Antigua’s Deep Bay, less than twenty minutes from St. John’s, and a half an hour from V. C. Bird International Airport. Having been acquired in late 2021 by the Marriott Hotel group, you can expect it, little by little, to become one of Antigua’s most sought-after resorts. Overwater Bungalows & Other Accommodation: The accommodation choices are many, with of course the over-water villas taking pride of place. They cover a full 1442 square feet and have king-size bedrooms, lounges (with sofa bed), dining areas, and gorgeous outdoor terraces overlooking the Caribbean. They are also sleek, sophisticated, and luxurious. Expect private infinity plunge pools, jacuzzis, glass floor viewing panels, private butlers, and 24-hour room service as well as in-room aromatherapy, satellite TV, top-of-the-range music systems, complimentary IPTV movie selections, twice daily re-stocked minibars and a pillow menu for example. The other accommodation choices are a mixture of suites in different READ THE REVIEW

Why We Recommend These Overwater Bungalows: This adults-only, all-inclusive near Cancun is home to Palafitos, the very first overwater bungalows in Mexico (there are now still just three: the other two being the very nearby Rosewood Mayakoba & Banyan Tree Mayakoba) and consistently hits world-class standards for luxury all-inclusives in the Caribbean. It really is a tremendous resort – it has a fabulous location on Maroma Beach, Playa del Carmen – rated one of the Caribbean’s, and in fact, the world’s, best beaches – the accommodation is wonderful across the board and their gourmet food and drink are of the highest quality. Overwater Bungalows: As mentioned, the Palafitos’ bungalows were the very first in Mexico and come with all the features you would expect from such a pioneering resort – glass floor panels, hottubs, private infinity pools, outdoor showers, and direct access to the water below your feet. There are two basic types – the standard Palafitos, with nightly rates starting at about 1700 USD, are closer to the shore and have partial ocean and partial beach views. The ‘Elite Suite Bungalows’ on the other hand are farthest out, at READ THE REVIEW

Disclaimer: This page contains affiliate links. Dreamoverwater may be compensated if you make a purchase via certain outbound links but at absolutely no extra cost to you the visitor. Why We Recommend These Overwater Bungalows: The Fiji Marriott, Momi Bay is an exclusive 5 Star resort near Nadi, and the Momi WW2 Gun Site, with an idyllic lagoon and ocean setting. It also has an array of fantastic facilities, premium quality accommodation, including some top-of-the-range overwater bungalows, and consistently cheerful, friendly service. Overwater Bungalows & Other Accommodation: The Marriott has a mixture of rooms at the main hotel building, all of which come with either a balcony or a patio, plus a mixture of bures (traditional Fijian-style straw and wood huts) both on land and over water. They come in various sizes with the largest, at over 800 square feet/74 square meters, being their ‘Royal Lagoon’ overwater bungalow. All the accommodation choices are 5-star standard and have a modern, minimalist chic style. Facilities include cable TV, air-conditioning, Wi-Fi, USB chargers, music systems, laptop safes, tea & coffee making facilities, and 24-hour room service. They all have particularly nice bathrooms too READ THE REVIEW

Why We Recommend These Overwater Bungalows: The El Nido eco-resort chain’s Lagen Island branch has a jaw-dropping setting, even by Philippines island standards – a picture-perfect cove surrounded by limestone cliffs and lush green forest. Lagen Island as a whole is spectacular and a known sanctuary for a huge variety of flora and fauna. If you’re any kind of nature lover we’d highly recommend the resort’s guided jungle hikes. It is a luxury resort (4-star), with a kind of barefoot chic vibe, and the accommodation, food, and service are of a very high standard. It has 51 rooms in total, a mix of what they refer to as Forest Suites, Beachfront Cottages, and their overwater bungalows which they refer to as Water Cottages. All are crafted from local wood, most of it recycled and, in common with pretty much all El Nido’s resorts, the accommodation, and the resort in general, feel authentic and seem to blend in nicely with the sublime natural surroundings, though mod-cons too are present. Water Villas & Other Accommodation: So there’s a total of 51 rooms, 18 of which are overwater bungalows or Water Cottages, 53 READ THE REVIEW

Why We Recommend These Overwater Bungalows: On Miniloc Island is the Filipino hotel group El Nido’s local eco-resort of the same name. It is something of a luxury resort but one with a laid back unassuming vibe. It is also eco-friendly and feels more locally authentic than most resorts we’ve seen, but with a bit of hippie chic thrown in. There are a total of 50 rooms, a mixture of beach cottages and overwater bungalows. The style is classic Filipino, its bungalows and on-shore cottages have walls of woven bamboo slats and traditional thatched roofs, and all of it blends nicely with the peaceful, rural nature of the setting. Overwater Bungalows & Other Accommodation: They have overwater bungalows, which you will see referred to as ‘Water Cottages’ or ‘Seaview Rooms’. On shore, what they refer to as Beach Cottages are, as the name suggests, on the beach, and then the more secluded Garden Cottages are a little further back. Check out your room options at Agoda here. None are enormously spacious but are certainly cozy, and comfortable, and have an authentic, rustic charm, despite them being internally, relatively modern in READ THE REVIEW

Why We Recommend These Overwater Bungalows: The couples-only Sandals Royal Caribbean, near Montego Bay and just minutes from Sangster International Airport, was the very first overwater bungalow resort in Jamaica and indeed the first in the entire region. The concept was an immediate success and the Sandals company soon followed it with more bungalows at Sandals South Coast (also in Jamaica) and in their branch in St. Lucia. Sandals Royal Caribbean though was the groundbreaker, or well…water breaker, in this region, and its standards, have been extremely high from the beginning. It is a high-end luxury, all-inclusive paradise with a private island (where the overwater bungalows are to be found), top-of-the-range facilities, superb food and drink, and consistently excellent service. It also has a tremendous location: getting to most overwater bungalow resorts usually involves a fairly long journey from the nearest airport but here you are, tantalizingly, just minutes (via the resort’s private shuttle) away. Overwater Bungalows & Other Accommodation: They have a great range of accommodations to choose from – standard hotel rooms, suites, and overwater bungalows, which offer varying levels of space and luxury to suit most budgets. READ THE REVIEW

Why We Recommend These Water Villas: All-inclusive resorts can tend to fall short when it comes to real luxury but Ozen Maadhoo is the Maldives’ finest example of how to get it right. It is a fabulous place: the setting is stunning, as is the accommodation, there is a generous supply of top quality food and drink and, if staying more than 4 nights, complimentary activities to enjoy too – spa treatments, scuba diving, and a meal at the resort’s very special underwater restaurant, just to give you an idea. All that plus tremendously high levels of service make Ozen All Inclusive excellent value compared to other similar resorts in the Maldives. Water Villas & Other Accommodation: You have a choice of classic water villas and beach villas here, ranging in size from 85 m² to 285 m². They are all doubles, with king-size bed and a sofa bed in the lounge area if needed, with the exception of the large ‘Beach Pool Pavillion‘, which has two bedrooms – a master bedroom and one twin bedroom. The water villas are a classically romantic choice with direct access to the water READ THE REVIEW

Why We Recommend These Overwater Bungalows: The 5 Star, adults only Likuliku Lagoon is an eco-friendly island paradise off the coast of Western Fiji, and the first resort in the country to incorporate overwater bungalows. Conservation is a big part of the Likuliku story with the world’s last wild population (they were assumed to be extinct until 2010) of Fijian Crested Iguanas to be found in the resort’s on-land sanctuary. Educational, expert-guided forest walks can be arranged. Overwater Bungalows & Other Accommodation: The aforementioned overwater bungalows, or bures as they are referred to in Fiji, sit at the edge of the fringing reef. They have luxury interiors but the design is semi-traditional and the materials are natural and local which gives them a nice earthy, authentic feel. All are equally sized – with 646 sq. feet/60 square meters of internal space and 334/31 of external. Inside you have one bedroom with king size bed and a lounging area that opens out to the furnished terrace and open ocean beyond. You have direct access to the water below via a small wooden deck and stairs and inside there are glass panels READ THE REVIEW

Why We Recommend These Overwater Bungalows: The Maldives certainly isn’t short of resorts with water villas but not many see the same amount of positive reviews as Velassaru. It is an enormously popular resort and many of its guests happily return year after year. Its convenience probably helps in fairness – we love the fact that this island paradise is just 25 minutes by speedboat from Male Airport. Its prices are a positive factor too – for a 5 Star resort in the Maldives Velassaru is very good value. It sees a mixture of guests: mostly couples on romantic sojourns but also families. A drawback may be that it can get pretty busy, by Maldives standards anyway. Some may call it lively or vibrant though, and much prefer it that way. It’s certainly not any kind of wild party resort though either and it’s easy to wander off around the island and quickly find yourself alone with the sea. You have three meals packages to choose from at Velassaru: Breakfast included, breakfast and dinner included or breakfast, lunch and dinner included. Velassaru Maldives is a family-friendly resort but children are READ THE REVIEW