Specifically, the InterContinental Moorea Resort & Spa still offers overwater bungalows for only US$539 if you book through their website. The typical prices in high season are well over US$600 per night, so this is close to a 20% savings from rates you’ll see elsewhere for this and other similar Moorea resorts. Otherwise you’ll have to wait until October or so to find rates lower than this and by then the weather isn’t quite so perfect.

The Deal

A Motu Overwater Bungalow at the InterContinental Moorea Resort & Spa for only US$539 per night. For stays of at least 5 nights the rate includes breakfast daily.

The Details

This special rate is only available through the InterContinental Moorea Resort & Spa website, which offers a Low Price Guarantee that if you find a lower rate you get your first night free. In other words, you won’t find a rate this low anywhere.

Every overwater bungalow is a suite

Photos of overwater bungalows poised over a turquoise lagoon look lovely but they don’t convey how large these rooms tend to be. These water villas at the InterContinental Moorea Resort are among the largest in the region, at just over 700 square feet each. This makes them about double the size of a normal city hotel room, so they compare to suites at any hotel, except with the ability to walk down stairs directly into the lagoon below for these.

Part of the space is the private terrace for each bungalow, but inside they are still quite large, with a separate sitting area with a sofabed in each unit. In fact, these bungalows sleep 3 people for the same price, and everyone is comfortable. Bungalows also come with a large bathroom with a bathtub, bathrobes for each guest, and a minibar among many other amenities.

Moorea is the ideal choice for those without unlimited budgets

If you are fortunate enough to have a massive trust fund then Bora Bora might be slightly better than Moorea, but getting and staying there costs quite a bit more and both are simply gorgeous. Everyone coming into the area flies into Tahiti Airport and if you are staying on Moorea you can take a taxi into Pape’ete and then a cheap and scenic ferry to Moorea, or a 5-minute flight if you prefer.

The InterContinental Moorea Resort has a beach, tennis, kayaking, a fitness center, a dolphin center, and much more, but more good news is that on Moorea it’s quite easy to venture out of the resort and go shopping or visit other restaurants or activities. There are two restaurants at the resort and plenty more interesting options nearby, so you’ll be able to do exactly as your mood strikes you, which can actually be a challenge at some of the most secluded resorts in the region.

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The Zitahli Kuda-Funafaru Maldives Resort is a boutique 5-star resort with 30 water villas (which they call ‘Aqua Villas’) and 20 Island Villas. The most stunning feature of this luxurious resort is that the water villas are about the size of a suburban house at 186 square meters including a huge private deck. In this price range in the Maldives you’ll normally get 50 to 60 square meters so this is a degree of spaciousness and luxury that most of us normally don’t even daydream about.

The Deal

A Deluxe Aqua Villa (water villa) at the Zitahli Kuda-Funafaru Maldives Resort for two people at US$406 per night (plus tax and service) including breakfast. A Super Deluxe Aqua Villa which includes a plunge pool on the private deck is only US$497 per night (plus tax and service).

The Details

This rate is available only through Agoda for stays in June and July and it includes a 30% discount. There is no minimum stay required to qualify, but a limited number of water villas are available at this price so check your own dates on the Agoda page for the Zitahli Kuda-Funafaru Maldives Resort for rates.

Perfect for a romantic splurge

It’s worth mentioning up front that the Zitahli Kuda-Funafaru Maldives Resort is mostly a couples resort and they don’t even allow children under 12 to stay in the water villas for safety reasons. On top of that, there is no Kids Club or babysitting so this is a romantic hotel that gets few or no children. This all makes is ideal for some people, and the promotional rate for huge 5-star rooms makes it even better.

If you are on the fence about whether this newer resort is right for you then jump over to the resort’s page on this site and watch the 2-minute water villa tour at the bottom. The tour is for one of the Super Deluxe Aqua Villas with plunge pool, but that’s really the only difference. You’ll see the Jacuzzi tub, the outdoor rain shower, plus the main bed with a day bed looking out over the lagoon.

Five restaurants and bars to choose from

With only 50 guest villas you’d normally expect only one restaurant and one bar on a private-island Maldives resort like this, but this one has two restaurants, two bars, and a poolside cafe. Considering that there are only about 100 guests on the island when it’s totally full, you can imagine how posh it will be to have so much choice at any time of day.

The resort also has a freshwater pool on the island as well as great diving and snorkeling, a beach, a fitness center, and several more activity choices. The spa here is also an absolute delight with a wide variety of massages and treatments available. This promotional rate won’t last long so hopefully at least a few readers will get in on it.

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The Angaga Island Resort and Spa is one of the smaller private-island resorts in the Maldives and right now you can book a water villa for only US$239 per night for two people including breakfast and dinner (half-board) daily. The normal low-season rate here is US$309 per night, so this is a special worth looking in to.

The Deal

A Water Villa at the Angaga Island Resort and Spa for only US$239 per night (plus service and tax) for two people, half-board in June and July.

The Details

This rate is a promotion running only through Agoda, which is our booking partner and the leader for deals in the Maldives. It’s a “Limited Time Offer” of 30% off so it’s likely to end once they book a few villas for each night at this rate. There is no minimum stay required to qualify, but availability is limited so book soon if you are interested. Check the Agoda page for the Angaga Island Resort and Spa for your own travel dates.

Small and simple, ideal for couples

The Angaga Island Resort is ideal for many people but certainly not everyone. It’s among the smallest private islands in the Maldives and there is no swimming pool or Kids Club. For this reason the resort draws almost exclusively couples so it’s a de facto “adults” island.

The snorkeling and scuba diving here are excellent and there are quite a few water sports such as windsurfing, canoeing, and water skiing on offer so you can stay as active as you like. There’s even an overwater bar plus a disco that sometimes has live music so there is a bit of nightlife, unlike most other smaller resorts in this price range.

4-star luxury with large villas at a 3-star price

Even without the two meals per day included, this deal makes the Angaga Island among the absolute cheapest water villa resorts in the Maldives now. That would normally send up a red flag and make you assume that it’s an older place that is falling apart, but in reality this is a very nice hotel that gets consistently good reviews.

The water villas are 56 square meters so they are about double the size of a standard luxury hotel room in a city. They also come with luxury bathrooms with bathtubs, refrigerators, a large private deck leading down to the lagoon, and even bathrobes for each guest. If you were thinking about a summer trip in a Maldives water villa this one could be a perfect choice if you enjoy an atmosphere with few or no children.

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The Le Meridien Tahiti is one of two large and wonderful resorts not far from the Tahiti Airport, and at the moment they have a promotion on overwater bungalows for 40% off even in high season. The rate works out to US$414 per night, which basically includes 2 free nights after 5 paid nights. This is the best deal you are going to get during high season, and it’s a lovely 4-star resort so it’s no compromise.

The Deal

An overwater bungalow at the Le Meridien Tahiti for US$414 per night in May or June based on a 7-night stay. The rate is for two adults and one child can stay in the room for free. As this is high season the promotion won’t last long so check your own dates on the hotels.com page for the Le Meridien Tahiti and don’t hesitate if the rate is available.

The Details

This rate is available through Hotels.com and rooms are limited. The 40% off promotion includes 5 nights paid at US$690 per night followed by two free nights. The rate includes free cancellation and a price-match guarantee.

Four-star luxury at a top-rated resort

Hopefully you are familiar with the European luxury Le Méridien hotel chain. If not you’ll be pleased to learn that they operate more than 120 hotels in over 50 countries worldwide, with a lofty reputation to protect. The Tahiti resort is one of their finest, with 12 overwater bungalows that are over 600 square feet each, including a separate sitting area and a large private terrace.

There’s a sofa and a minibar in each bungalow, as well as his and hers vanities and even robes and slippers for each guest. In other words, in spite of the moderate room rates for the South Pacific, these overwater bungalows are large and luxurious. The resort itself also has 2 restaurants and 2 bars plus a huge list of activities and other amenities so you could stay a month and not get bored.

The benefits of staying on Tahiti

The classic honeymoon dream is to stay on Bora Bora or even Moorea, and it’s true that those islands might be a bit more scenic, but they are also far more expensive, especially when you include the extra flights. Pretty much everyone reaches the area by flying from Los Angeles to Tahiti, so if you are staying at one of the Tahiti resorts you can be swimming in the lagoon maybe an hour after the flight lands. Those going on to Moorea or Bora Bora are probably still at the airport waiting for their (expensive) connecting flights.

The other key benefit of staying on Tahiti is that the resorts are only a short taxi or Le Truck ride from the capital city of Pape’ete. The town has dozens of local restaurants and the best shopping in the South Pacific. There are also scores of tours and other activities available that are challenging to do if you are staying at one of the more remote resorts. And needless to say, many of us simply can’t afford Bora Bora so it’s amazing to have such a splendid alternative.

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One reason this one is among our favorites is that they seem to have no problem filling these villas for around US$1,000 per night in the high season, yet they aggressively discount in the low season so those with a 3-star or 4-star budget can comfortably afford them. Right now you can book one of these water villas for only US$420 (plus tax and service) per night in June and July. There are cheaper Maldives water villas, but none anywhere near this category.

The Deal

A Water Villa at the Hilton Maldives – Iru Fushi Resort & Spa for only US$420 per night (plus tax and service) for two people including breakfast.

The Details

This rate is available on many dates in June and July through Agoda.com (owned by Priceline). It includes a 30% Early Booking Saver Rate, so you must book at least 4 weeks in advance to get this rate, and availability is limited. Check the Agoda page for the Hilton Maldives for your own dates.

Serious 5-star with Jacuzzi tubs and more

It’s true that the Hilton name is typically associated with 4-star city hotels so you might be skeptical that its Maldives resort is in the top luxury category. But check the reviews and read the details and you’ll see that this is easily one of the finest private-island resorts in the region. Each water villa is at least 85 square meters including its private terrace with stairs going down into the lagoon.

You also get an en-suite bathroom with its own private courtyard & i-spa bath and two rain showers. It’s a jetted tub/hydro spa and you also get bathrobes for each guest. There is the glass-floor viewing panel and an oversized day bed plus a large gazebo and a mini refrigerator. Each villa has a Bose home theater system with flatscreen TV and premium audio in addition to wi-fi internet access.

Ten restaurants and bars, plus a long list of included activities

Some of the boutique island resorts are lovely, but they typically have only one restaurant and a limited set of activities. The Maldives Hilton has 225 guest rooms so it is large enough to have anything you could dream of. There are 10 restaurants and bars from which to choose, so finding something that fits your tastes and mood will be easy for everyone.

The resort also has a beach, fitness room, pool, tennis court, sailing, fishing, jet skiing, diving, snorkeling, and many more options. Most of these are included in your room rate, though the motorized activities will have an extra fee. And of course there is a deluxe spa with 20 individual spa pavilions, so you can get massages and treatments at a whim and still get all the privacy you deserve.

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We track room rates at all Maldives water villa resorts all year round, and this price is literally about half of the previous cheapest price for the same dates. Right now you can book a Jacuzzi Water Villa at the 4.5-star Vilamendhoo Island Resort & Spa with three meals a day for only US$210 per night for two people. Perhaps more amazing, this is a highly rated resort with very solid reviews so it’s an astonishing price.

The Deal

A Jacuzzi Water Villa at the Vilamendhoo Island Resort & Spa, full board for only US$210 (plus tax and service) per night for two people.

The Details

We found this rate for dates in June, 2013, and it likely only applies to low season bookings (June and July). This is a promotional rate only available through Agoda, which is our booking partner and the leader in Maldives deals. It also includes free cancellation and there is no minimum stay required to qualify for the rate, but availability is limited. Check the Agoda page for the resort for your own travel dates.

Large Jacuzzi water villas at a full-service resort

At this room rate you would be expecting a worn-out 3-star resort, but in fact this is a modern 4.5-star resort, with water villas that were only built in late 2010. Each of them is huge at 915 sq ft (85 m²) with a kingsize four-poster bed, spacious partially open-air bathroom with double sinks. private walled-in outdoor area with Jacuzzi for two, partially open-air bathroom with rain shower, and an iPod docking station with sound tower.

You also get luxury amenities such as bathrobes and slippers for each guest, and a tea/coffee/espresso machine. Even if you planned on doing nothing more than lounging around in the room and occassionally going for a swim in the turquoise lagoon below, it would be a phenomenal deal, but the rest of the resort is just as nice.

Four restaurants, three bars, and two swimming pools

The Vilamendhoo Island Resort also has 154 island rooms and suites, so it’s large enough to offer many more activities and services than the smaller islands. There are 7 restaurants and bars plus private dining on the beach, as well as two swimming pools and excellent snorkeling and scuba diving.

You also have access to two lighted tennis courts, a putting green, a fitness center, a football pitch, and beach volleyball just to name some highlights. Of course there’s also a luxurious spa where you can get massages and other treatments. Read the reviews and if you can get away in June, this one will be pretty much impossible to beat.

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There are two amazing InterContinental resorts in Bora Bora, and another in Moorea, and this is by far the best of them. The overwater bungalows here are larger and nicer than the standard overwater bungalows at the Bora Bora Hilton, and they are similar to the St. Regis Bora Bora at a much lower cost.

The Deal

An Emerald Overwater Bungalow at the InterContinental Bora Bora Resort & Thalasso Spa for only US$765 per night if booked through the official InterContinental website. This will be lower than you’ll find on other websites (or your first night is free!) and much lower than through a travel agent.

The Details

This rate is only available through InterContinental and it is nonrefundable. The same overwater bungalow at a flexible (refundable) rate is about 20% higher. There is no minimum stay length required to qualify, but availabiliy is limited at these rates.

Enormous overwater bungalows, like an overwater condo

The overwater bungalows at the InterContinental Bora Bora Resort & Thalasso Spa are over 1,000 square feet and they comfortably sleep 4 people for the same price. Considering that a typical 5-star hotel room in a city is around 300 square feet, you can clearly see that these things are huge. There’s a separate living room with a glass-bottom coffee table at its center, so you can observe the sea life beneath your room while remaining dry.

Do yourself a favor and watch the video on the bottom of the page linked above and you’ll see how amazing it all is. You have a huge bathroom with a large tub overlooking the lagoon, as well as a separate spa shower and yet another shower out on the huge sundeck. The view from the kingsize beds is out over the lagoon as well, and the more expensive ones have views of the main Bora Bora mountain, although even the less expensive ones are stunning.

Eco-friendly but 5-star all the way

Most of us like the idea of a green hotel, but when you get into the extreme luxury category like this it can be a challenge. Fortunately, the fine folks at InterContinental have taken care of that for you, so you can enjoy it with a clear conscience.

The resort has 2 restaurants and 2 bars, but also 24-hour room service and weekly theme nights. The Thalasso Spa is among the finest in the entire South Pacific, and the glass-walled fitness center is so lovely that you’ll be tempted to work out there even if you were taking a break from your fitness routine. Be warned that as July and August approach the prices will go up, so if your dates are on sale you should lock them in soon.

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The Komandoo Island Resort is one of the smaller hotels in the Maldives, so it’s an ideal choice for a honeymoon or romantic trip where you’d prefer not to be surrounded by families. There are a few water sports and other activities, but this resort is more about relaxing in privacy than about running yourself ragged.

The Deal

A Jacuzzi Water Villa for two people at the Komandoo Island Resort including half-board (breakfast and dinner) for only US$352 per night (plus service and taxes). The full-board price is only US$403 per night, and the all-inclusive price is US$494 per night.

The Details

This promotional rate is only available through our booking partner, Agoda.com (owned by Priceline and the leader in the Maldives). It includes free cancellation and there is no minimum stay required to qualify for the price, but rooms are limited at this rate. Check your own travel dates at the Agoda page for the Komandoo Island Resort.

Large Jacuzzi water villas perfect for romance

Out of the 80 or so Maldives resorts with water villas, there are dozens that are ideal for families, but this isn’t one of them. The Komandoo Island Resort only has 45 rooms including 14 Jacuzzi Water Villas and 31 Beach Villas. There’s no swimming pool and no Kids Club, so it’s romantic couples who dominate the scene, making this one of the quietest and most intimate of the resorts in the area.

The Jacuzzi Water Villas are very large at 829 sq ft (77 m²) including a 4-poster kingsize bed in each and a large private deck out back. These villas are about double the size of most others in this price range, so there’s plenty of room to spread out and relax between soaks in the whirlpool. Each room also comes with kimonos for each guest along with beach towels and many more luxury amenities you’d want at a 4-star resort on a tropical island.

Great house reef and excellent guest reviews

When booking such a major holiday like one in the Maldives it’s wise to check the guest reviews, and when you do that for this resort you’ll be even more convinced. A few years ago the reviews were only a bit above average, but in the last two years or so this is one of the most beloved resorts in the country. As the overall scores get higher and higher you can expect the room rates to rise as well, so it’s a good time to take advantage of this promotional rate.

Among the things that guests sing praises over are the house reef (for diving and snorkeling) and the relaxing atmosphere. Again, there are many Maldives resorts with dozens of activities going on all the time, but this one is more about relaxing and spending time with your partner. This is certainly the lowest room rate of the year, so if your dates are available it would be wise to book soon.

This week’s new deal is at the 4.5-star Olhuveli Beach Resort & Spa, which is offering Deluxe water villas for only US$338 per night for two people, and Jacuzzi water villas for only US$381 per night. These rates are about $50 lower than anything we’ve seen this whole year at this resort, so it’s an ideal time to book if this one sounds interesting to you.

The Deal

A Deluxe Water Villa at the Olhuveli Beach Resort & Spa for US$338 per night (plus service and tax) for two people. A Jacuzzi Water Villa is US$381 (plus service and tax).

The Details

This promotional rate includes one free night, and is only available from Agoda, our booking partner in the Maldives. Breakfast for two is included in the room rate. Availability is limited so check the Agoda site for the Olhuveli for your own dates.

Family friendly and large Jacuzzi villas

The Olhuveli Beach Resort is an interesting combination in that it’s popular with honeymooners (it even has 5 special Honeymoon Water Villas), but the island itself is well suited for families. With such a modest price it’s no surprise that it does well in both markets, but it’s worth noting because some people prefer an adults-only resort while others love the family atmosphere.

The water villas are all quite large compared to normal hotel rooms, and of course the Jacuzzi Water Villas are even larger with a private Jacuzzi out on the deck. Most resorts have the Jacuzzi rooms starting at well over US$500 per night, so these for only a US$43 per night premium are very popular.

Seven restaurants and bars

Another advantage of this resort is that it has 4 different restaurants, including an overwater eatery, and 3 additional bars. Many of the resorts in this price range have exactly one buffet restaurant, so the choice offered here is a welcome addition in this range. There are also two freshwater infinity pools and a long list of water sports, most of which are included in the room price, so it’s unlikely anyone will be getting bored here.

The resort is only 34 kilometers from the main airport, so you arrive by speedboat rather than seaplane, which also saves money. The speedboat costs about US$250 per person both ways, while sea plane rides normally start at about double that. The lowest prices are in limited supply and it’s unlikely prices will drop any more, so if your dates are available it’s worth booking straight away.

The Meeru Island Resort has 106 water villas, which is the second most of any resort in the world, and the most in the Maldives. They also have 180 island rooms and villas, allowing them to offer a great number of services and amenities at a very appealing price. Boutique resorts are wonderful, especially for a honeymoon or other once in a lifetime trip, but no boutique resort can offer anything like this without charging three or four times as much.

The Deal

A Water Villa at the Meeru Island Resort with three meals a day for two people for only US$312 per night. A larger Jacuzzi Water Villa is only US$412 per night with full board. Check the Agoda page for the Meeru Island Resort for your own travel dates.

The Details

These special rates are only available through our booking partner, Agoda (owned by Priceline), which is known for having the best deals in the Maldives. The rates include free cancellation, and there is no minimum stay required to qualify. Guests in water villas must be at least 18 years old.

Choose full board or all inclusive

Another of the unusual and nice features of the Meeru Island Resort is that they offer both full board (three meals a day) and all-inclusive (three meals plus unlimited drinks) plans. Food and alcohol tend to be expensive in the Maldives, so the full board plan is perfect for those who don’t drink much, while the all-inclusive plan is quite a good deal for those who like to imbibe when on a tropical holiday.

The all-inclusive plan adds an additional US$116 per day for two people, which might seem like a lot at first, but when wine and mixed drinks cost around US$12 each, it doesn’t take too many of them for it to make sense for a couple. Of course, with both meal plans you get unlimited use of most non-motorized water sports and activities, so you’ll never run out of things to do if you aren’t much for just relaxing in the lovely warm breezes.

The most complete water villa resort in the Maldives

As mentioned up top, the Meeru Island Resort is very large by Maldives standards and it is able to offer perhaps the most different options of all. In addition to snorkeling and diving and sailing and fishing, there is a 9 hole pitch & putt golf course with a putting green, two lighted tennis courts, two freshwater pools, football grounds and even a Maldives Cultural Mini-Museum.

If all of this sounds too good to be true, you’ll be happy to know that Meeru Island gets consistently great verified guest reviews. Several other resorts in its price category are known for disappointing many guests, but this one is in the top 20% by review scores, far above many resorts that charge over US$1,000 per night for even their cheapest water villas. It’s not a 5-star luxury resort, but it’s a solid 4-star with a great reputation, and now they are among the least expensive as well.

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