As there are nearly 80 different private-island water bungalow resorts in the Maldives, it would be extremely easy to spend a lot of time sorting through all the prices, features, and guest reviews to find the one that suits you best at a good price. Because we spent a few months sifting through this information, we're now publishing our “Editor's Choice” resort recommendations. This list is detailed to save you time finding both the best resort and best deal.

You'll also want to note that we also have a complete list of all of the cheap Maldives water villa resorts, but below you'll find the six best that combine low prices, excellent features, and very positive guest reviews. When you read through the list of resorts below, you'll quickly note that most of them operate on an all-inclusive basis to one degree or another. Because of this, and considering that nothing is cheap in the Maldives, they represent an even better deal than you might otherwise think.

Contents [Show]

Editors Choice: 6 Best cheap water villa resorts in the Maldives

Meeru Island Resort – Maldives

  • Water villas: 106
  • Total rooms/suites: 286

 

With just over 100 water villas, you’ll see that the Meeru Island Resort has the most in the Maldives, and this is in addition to 180 island and beach rooms. Because of the large amount of rooms, this is a larger resort for the area, and it also operates on a full-board basis.

 

While you may not find this resort to be as romantic as some of the more intimate islands is the same area, this resort does offer over a dozen restaurants and bars in addition to an endless list of activities, which includes a pitch & putt golf course, football grounds, and gardens. The food here receives exceptional reviews for an all-inclusive resort, so if you are looking for an active and fun private-island at a great price, this might be just the place for you.

 

  • Low season online specials from US$560 per night
  • High season online specials from US$1,062 per night
>More information about the Meeru Island Resort – Maldives >Check rates

Summer Island Maldives Resort

  • Water villas: 20
  • Total rooms/suites: 156

 

A large resort with over 150 total rooms, the Summer Island Maldives Resort is a great choice for romantic couples, especially if they choose the overwater villas. This is because the overwater villas are for adults only. In addition, depending on which overwater villa you stay in, you’ll be treated to either a sunrise or sunset view of the ocean.

 

Outside of the resort rooms, guests will find lots of activities to join in on. Some of these activities include beach volleyball, glass bottom kayaking, paddle boarding, darts, and of course, scuba diving and snorkeling. It should also be noted that the resort hosts the Firuma by Serena Spa, which wows with an ice room, steam room, and views from its overwater location.

 

  • Low season online specials from US$510 per night
  • High season online specials from US$733 per night
>More information about the Summer Island Maldives Resort >Check rates

Noku Maldives Resort

  • Water villas: 30
  • Total rooms/suites: 50

 

A small resort that offers both land based and overwater villas, the Noku Maldives Resort is an excellent choice for those who don’t have the largest budget for a tropical vacation. Eventhough the rooms themselves aren’t very expensive compared to other overwater villas, they still come complete with a private deck, ocean views, large bathrooms, and much more.

 

In addition to the rooms, guests here will also find lots of dining and drink options with different bars to select from, a spa, and both land based and ocean based activities. Due to the lack of kids clubs here, you’ll want to note that this resort is a solid choice for honeymooners or any other type of romantic couple.

 

  • Low season online specials from US$484 per night
  • High season online specials from US$1,043 per night
>More information about the Noku Maldives Resort >Check rates

Veligandu Island Resort – Maldives

  • Water villas: 64
  • Total rooms/suites: 76

 

Serving as primarily a couples resort, the Veligandu Island Resort functions on a full-board basis with the option to pay a little more for an all-inclusive experience, which includes alcohol. What’s also really important is the non-stop stream of enthusiastically positive reviews. Along with a spa, this resort caters with a windsurfing and sailing center, surf bikes, volleyball, and a gym.

 

There are a few classes of water villas here with the smaller class of water villas offering a whirlpool tub, but most have a 2-person Jacuzzi instead, which is located on a private section of the back terrace. The food here also receives top marks here as well, which is quite an achievement in this price range. The staff at this resort are always notoriously friendly, which is always appreciated.

 

  • Low season online specials from US$825 per night
  • High season online specials from US$1,065 per night
>More information about the Veligandu Island Resort – Maldives >Check rates

Sun Siyam Olhuveli Resort & Spa – Maldives

  • Water villas: 60
  • Total rooms/suites: 164

 

The Olhuveli Beach Resort & Spa is a four-star hotel that houses 60 water villas of varying sizes, with many of the villas featuring their own private jacuzzi tub to enjoy and soak in. Guests here will find restaurants, bars, a beautiful spa, and various water activities that are outside the usual realm of snorkeling and scuba diving.

 

Even with their normal rates and during high season this could be a good choice. The reviews are also very good, usually recommending that people “just stay here” and you won’t regret it. When their online specials are going this might be the best value in the Maldives.

 

  • Low season online specials from US$550 per night
  • High season online specials from US$650 per night
>More information about the Sun Siyam Olhuveli Resort & Spa – Maldives >Check rates

Sun Siyam Iru Fushi Luxury Resort

  • Water villas: 80
  • Total rooms/suites: 150

 

Another 5-star resort that is known for having excellent online special rates, the Sun Siyam Iru Fushi Luxury Resort (which is formerly known as the Hilton Maldives) is one to consider for just about every traveler. This is a larger international resort that’s loaded with luxury amenities, many dining options, and activity choices. Some of the activity choices include fishing, jet skiing, sailing, and various sightseeing tours.

 

While some resorts are fine with staying mostly empty during the slow weeks, the Sun Siyam Iru Fushi Luxury Resort likes to cut their prices to what most people would consider to be ridiculously low. During busy weeks here, water villas usually start at close to US$800 per night, but if you go during a slower week (especially during the off-season) you can get the same room for well under half that. You might just get lucky so it’s worth checking this one.

 

  • Low season online specials from US$534 per night
  • High season online specials from US$1,346 per night
>More information about the Sun Siyam Iru Fushi Luxury Resort >Check rates
RELATED POSTS
10 thoughts on "All-inclusive overwater bungalow and water villa resorts and where to find them"

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

All Comments
  1. I’m wanting book a overwater (for a couple) from Honolulu for 2 nights in November 2022.
    What is the instruction ? Could I contact you privately ?

    1. Martine,

      We are simply an online guide to overwater resorts around the world and we don’t do bookings. We have links to the best source to book each resort on each of the pages. Best of luck! -Roger

  2. I’m wanting to take my family to a vacation in a bungalow..over water.
    Swimming pool..I have 6 adults and 2 kids. Can u help?…send name of place or pics

    1. Hank,

      Unfortunately there are no overwater bungalows that can accommodate 8 people. Most of them are built for 2 or 3 people and even the rare resorts with 2-bedroom units charge a fortune for those. You are best off looking for 3 separate normal overwater bungalows for your group. -Roger

    1. Katherine,

      I cover most of this in my article on when to go to the Maldives. The short version is that there are pros and cons to any time of the year. It’s really only late May through early July when you might get hours of rain at a time. The rest of the year the rain tends to come quickly and usually end in 20 minutes or less. I think most people actually prefer to go to the Maldives when the weather is worst where they live, because it’s always warm and pleasant in the Maldives. -Roger

  3. I’m just in the beginning stages of planning an anniversary vacation for around Sept if next year so I know it’s to early to book but wanted to know where I should be looking for the best rates on fights from atlanta Georgia. We want an over water bungalow all inclusive or mostly all inclusive lunch and dinner with drinks/alcohol included. And a few activities. If you know of 2 or 3 options that would be greatly appreciated. Thank you..

    1. April,

      There are a few very expensive all-inclusive overwater bungalow resorts in the Caribbean, but none in Bora Bora or anywhere else in the South Pacific. If you really want all-inclusive then the Maldives is your best bet as they have about 25 resorts there that are all inclusive or offer all-inclusive options. You’ll probably get the cheapest flights from Atlanta to the Maldives about 5 months out. And you’ll usually get the best rates at a resort from 3 to 6 months out. Have a great trip. -Roger

  4. Hi
    I am very interested to know how to build a bungalow and the conditions ex. Water deep , power of waves , etc
    Tnx

    1. M,

      I get this question a lot and it always surprises me. I wish I could help, but we are an online guide to overwater hotels and we have nothing to do with construction of them. You might consider contacting construction firms in the Maldives, since most of the world’s overwater resorts are there and they keep building new ones. -Roger