Overwater bungalows closest to Florida

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. The ones that are in the Caribbean range from 3-star to 5-star deluxe, but those crystal clear lagoons just aren't found in this part of the world. We'll show you where to find those a bit down this page.

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Overwater bungalows in the Caribbean

If the idea of an ultra-luxury villa perched over the water is a dream of yours, then you’ll be happy to know that you’ll find some great options to choose from. The most famous ones at the moment are the Sandals Grande St. Lucian Resort and the Sandals Royal Caribbean Resort in Montego Bay, Jamaica. Both of these resorts offer a luxury experience to anyone who has to budget to pay for it. The overwater villas at the Amanyara Turks and Caicos Resort are situated over serene private ponds that are set in a lush landscape merely steps from the ocean.

If you’re looking for something that offers a lower nightly rate, there is an all-inclusive resort in Cuba called Hotel Meliá Cayo Coco. This resort features 68 overwater rooms set in 18 structures over their inland lagoon. It’s not the same as what your daydream has shown you, but they are quite cheap and the place gets great reviews.

There’s also a resort called Dellis Cay in Turks and Caicos, which has 7 overwater bungalows built in the traditional South Pacific style, but unfortunately as of early 2011 it’s not yet open, and reports of major financial troubles have put its long overdue opening into question for some time.

Other overwater bungalows in the Caribbean

You’ll want to check out and read more on our main Caribbean overwater bungalows page for more of the specifics, but to summarize, you’ll find:

Cayo Espanto – This ultra-luxury resort on its own island just off Ambergris Caye in Belize has one huge overwater bungalow, and it rents for over US$1,500 per night.

Hotel Meliá Cayo Coco – This is an all-inclusive resort in Cuba that features 68 overwater rooms in 18 structures over its lagoon, with an additional 182 rooms in its beach hotel.

Coral Lodge: This eco-resort off the coast of Panama features six overwater bungalows starting at US$345 per night.

Anthony’s Key Resort: An all-inclusive resort that features ten overwater bungalows (that are barely perched over the water’s edge) partially set on a private island off Honduras.

CoCo View Resort – Honduras: A resort that offers all-inclusive diving packages, 16 overwater rooms in groups of 2 or 4, and 10 beach rooms.

Punta Caracol Acqua-Lodge: A very small eco-resort that features 9 overwater bungalows off of Panama, which is completely solar powered, and includes breakfast and dinner with the room rate, starting at US$265 per night.

The South Pacific and the Maldives

Hilton Moorea Lagoon Resort and Spa

Flying to and from the South Pacific isn’t as hard as you might think, if you are leaving from the western half of the United States or Canada. This is because all flights leave from Los Angeles and fly straight to Tahiti, which takes about 8 hours in each direction. So you’ll need to connect at LAX if you aren’t already there, but that can be done quickly and cheaply from most US cities.

Once you arrive in Tahiti you’ll have access to two larger overwater bungalow resorts right on the island itself, or you’ll most likely take another short flight (ranging from 10 to 50 minutes) to reach either Moorea or Bora Bora, which is where you’ll find all the best resorts in the South Pacific.

If you are close to New York City and on the eastern coast of the United States, then you could actually reach the Maldives (just southwest of India) almost as easily as you would the South Pacific. Flights leave JFK and stop once in the Middle East for a change of planes and a short flight to the Maldives.

>More information about the Hilton Moorea Lagoon Resort and Spa

South Pacific

Water bungalows in Bora Bora – The best clearwater lagoons
Water bungalows in Moorea – Five deluxe resorts on stilts
Water bungalows in Tahiti – Two affordable large resorts
Water bungalows in the South Pacific – 8 resorts (this includes Samoa, Fiji, and many smaller islands)

Maldives

Water villas in the Maldives – Here you’ll find over 50 resorts that range from 3-stars to 5-star deluxe.

Elsewhere in Asia

Water villas in Asia – Within the Philippines, there are 3 small resorts. You’ll also find a resort in Thailand and another in Malaysia.

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