We’re often asked by readers if there is some type of overwater resort in Florida and the Florida Keys. Unfortunately, we can’t say that there are any such options. However, we’re happy to report that there are a few great overwater resorts in the Caribbean that are worth looking at, which we’ll discuss below.
If you are thinking about those dreamy little huts that sit perched on stilts over a clear and delicate lagoon, then you’ll have to travel a far distance from Florida to find them.
Jamaica is one of the Caribbean’s most popular islands, especially for all-inclusive resorts, and starting late in 2016 it also became the region’s capital of overwater bungalows. There are now two amazing overwater bungalow resorts on Jamaica, and we are hoping to welcome more in the future.
Fans of all-inclusive resorts will be happy to hear that both of the Jamaican resorts are part of the famous luxury Sandals chain, so guests pay one price and nearly everything they can think of (including premium items and excursions) is included.
It’s hard to imagine a better combination than that of a beautiful Maldives holiday in a water villa with the freedom of knowing that everything you want is already paid for. Maldives accommodation prices are high, but the best value all inclusive resorts can actually be fantastic deals, especially if you plan on having a few drinks during your stay.
Luckily, there is a large selection of overwater resorts in the Maldives that offer all-inclusive options, and quite a few that only operate as an all-inclusive resort.
All-inclusive villa resorts provide a feeling of luxury that’s combined with the comfort and knowledge that nearly everything is included in the room price, so you don’t have to stress over price tags repeatedly throughout your vacation. The Maldives has over 80 different water-villa hotels, and nearly 20 of them operate on an all-inclusive basis, or at the very least, a full-board (all meals included) basis. The best all inclusive Maldives holiday resorts are among the best in the world, particularly so, for overwater villa lovers.
Because the Bahamas are considered a very easy to reach destination in the Caribbean, there are many travelers who ask whether or not this island chain harbors any overwater resorts. Unfortunately, the answer is no, but there is still some good news as there are some great overwater resort options that aren’t too far away.
First off, water villas, or ‘overwater bungalows’ as they are called in the South Pacific, can only be built over protected lagoons that don’t have waves (or regular hurricanes) to deal with.
There are some that might think it’s just too decadent to have a private pool on the deck just outside your Maldives water villa, especially considering there is a warm lagoon perfect for swimming just below. But these private pools are an increasingly popular feature that impress many, many guests.
In fact, there are quite a few Maldives water-villa resorts that have private pools on some or all of the water villas, and most of them are small enough to be considered “plunge pools”.
Costa Rica is without doubt, the most popular tourist country in Central America. This country impresses with huge stretches of lovely beaches on both its Pacific and Caribbean coasts. Unfortunately, for those wondering, there are no water villas (called ‘overwater bungalows’ in the South Pacific) to be found in Costa Rica, but there are five resorts that can be found nearby.
It’s also a good idea for us to point out that if you’re searching for an overwater experience that resembles those in the South Pacific, you won’t exactly get that in Central America.
Water villas and honeymoons go perfectly together, and you’d be hard pressed to find anyone who argues otherwise, and many couples dream of staying in one during their unforgettable trip of a lifetime. The Maldives has over 75 different private-island resorts that feature water villas and overwater bungalows, so choosing the perfect one can take a lot of work and a lot of time, to say the least.
Since we have researched and reviewed all of them, we’ve decided to help honeymoon couples out by selecting the finest romantic resorts in the Maldives on the list below.
There’s good and bad news for those looking for all-inclusive overwater bungalow and water villa resorts, depending on which part of the world you live in. The bad news for many people is that there are no all-inclusive Bora Bora, Moorea, or Tahiti resorts that include all meals and alcohol in the room rate. Everything else is good news because most activities and services are indeed included in the room rate.
However, if you can get to the Maldives, which is home to most of the world’s overwater, all-inclusive, private villa resorts, you’ll have plenty of excellent options that include meals, alcohol, and even premium alcohol in some cases.
When planning a tropical vacation or holiday, the Maldives is often at the very top of a list of possible destinations. With that, over the years, what was first viewed as a destination suitable solely for romantic couples, destination weddings or honeymoons, has now become a paradise for all types of traveling groups, including those with children under the ‘adult’ age required in some overwater rooms.
Even though more children are accompanying their parents on vacations, it doesn’t mean that all resorts will cater to the young travelers, especially if there are 2 or more in tow.