Are Overwater Bungalows Worth It?

08/02/2023

Overwater bungalows or overwater villas offer a once-in-a-lifetime getaway experience. These high-end villas have clear glass floors that show the splendor of the crystalline, variegated blue ocean. On a private wooden deck, guests have a privileged, gorgeous view that stretches far into the horizon.

Vacationing in an overwater bungalow belongs on life’s adventure list. These villas allow their guests to immerse themselves in a tranquil and isolated part of a paradise-like world. However, the price of overwater villas is exorbitant, and many guests feel that the price barely justifies the stay.

These lavish stilted cabins, positioned directly over the ocean, have the potential to create unforgettable and incredible memories. Therefore, the expense is justified as you’ll keep those treasured moments forever. However, due to various factors, the quality of your stay could be diminished.

Are Overwater Bungalows Worth it?

Staying in an overwater bungalow is an encounter in pure luxury and scenic escapism. The desire to wake up and find yourself amongst cerulean-blue and golden-amber tide is a universal human trait. The overwater cabins are fitted with infinity pools and wooden sundecks. Furthermore, star gazing through your retractable bedroom roof enhances the quality of your vacation.

Internationally, there are over 7000 overwater villas presented by various resorts. Visually striking locations like Fiji, Bora Bora, the Maldives, Mexico, and Vietnam have first-rate resorts that have envisioned and secured the ultimate dream-like destination.

It’s crucial first to research your desired destination. Read reviews and past guest members’ experiences. Various online review platforms are available, including Booking.com, Tripadvisor, Trips to Cherish, and many more.

Frequently, online reviews marvel at the awe-inspiring, lush beauty afforded by the premium overwater cabin experience. However, guests have experienced severe issues with various resort services. Some feel that their expectations were seriously let down.

However, many reviews found the service respectable, and the staff exceeded their prerequisite duties. The positive reviews commend the house staff’s personalized service, warmth, and genuine hospitality.

The one undisputed feature of overwater bungalows was that the lagoon-like oceanic surroundings were unparalleled in wonder and tranquility. Therefore, notify management immediately if the service is poor to prevent this from ruining your costly vacation.

What are the Costs of Overwater Bungalows?

Overwater Bungalows are generally recognized as luxury accommodations. The cost of an overwater bungalow depends on several factors. These factors include season and location. You can expect to pay anything from $450 to $1700 per night.

Advice to Save Money When Booking an Overwater Bungalow

One of the best ways to save money when booking an overwater cabin is to vacation during the off-season. The different areas that offer overwater villas have approximately five months of a high season. The remaining months of the year are known as the low season.

The South Pacific, Bora Bora, Moorea, and Tahiti have a high season from June to October. In the Maldives, the high season is from December to April. The weather that accompanies low seasons can contribute to the atmosphere and appeal of your stay.

For all areas that have overwater bungalows, some days are consistently rain-ridden. These downpours usually are focused during the late afternoon and the whole night. However, close to the equator, overclouded days are a rarity.

Another way to save money is to book a more extended visit. Numerous valuable options include a free night and promotional strategies offered by the resort and other organizations—research these promotions, as there are impressive options.

Alternately, you can save money if you book for only two to three nights and find cheaper accommodation on a beachfront, island room, or elsewhere. Many guests who split their lodging give the island rooms or beachfront villas rave five-star reviews.

Therefore, you won’t miss much with divided accommodation. In addition, the other villa options are closer to local amenities like restaurants, swimming pools, and shops. So, this strategy also enhances visitor convenience.

There’s a neat trick that’s also a bit of a gamble- frequently, honeymooners book an island room, and the resort upgrades them to overwater villas. Some guests get upgraded for different reasons, at least for some of their stay. Go to Tripadvisor and other online travel review forums and discover their secrets to upgrading.

Another interesting strategy for saving money is understanding how resorts operate. Like airlines, the prices offered by resorts fluctuate from week to week. Changing prices is a scheme to generate maximin profit.

Resorts keep the price of their cabins high when booking dates are far away. As the check-in date approaches, the resort will begin to discount the cost of the rooms if there is an excess in available accommodation.

This technique is a bit of a gamble and requires anticipating how the resort operates. Waiting for 60 to 90 days before your stay, you are certain to see rooms discounted at 30%. It’s a good idea to book a cheaper island room well in advance and look for approaching discounts.

Helpful Tips for Booking an Overwater Bungalow

As overwater villas are in high demand, booking one must be done many months in advance. Some overwater cabins must be booked years in advance. Remember the above-mentioned discount and early booking tips; familiarize yourself with your desired resort.

Many guests prefer to divide their accommodation between beachfront villas and overwater bungalows. Separating your accommodation maintains the sense of excitement, allows for different experiences, and saves money.

Activities Offered by Overwater Bungalows

The activities offered during a stay in overwater villas are typically included in the price. As these locations are remote, the list of leisurely pursuits is determined solely by the surrounding tide. The resorts will cater to their guest regarding snorkeling, sea-kayaking, and windsurfing.

Snorkeling in any location has risks, which also applies to snorkeling from your overwater cabin. However, the bungalows are situated in shallow lagoons. Therefore, snorkeling around your villas is significantly safer than in other areas.

Some resorts, like ones in Tahiti and on her surrounding islands, present their guests with shark sightings as an activity. Tiger sharks have been spotted near the pass of Bora Bora. However, typically sharks prefer deeper waters, so your accommodation is safe.

There will be colorful reef fish, small sting rays, and spotted eagle rays, as well as some reef sharks, like the timid blacktip reef sharks, that are known to swim around the villas. In Komandoo, in the Maldives, there are sea turtles with which guests can swim. Adventure-seeking tourists will be delighted with this company.

Motorized activities will come at an extra charge, including jet-skiing, sunset cruises, and boat trips. Enjoying motorized activities typically requires staff attention, contributing to the cost. Some resorts offer exciting and fun itineraries with motorized sports.

Are Overwater Bungalows Safe?

Overwater bungalows are incredibly safe. Their construction shows immense consideration and thought, and the pillars or beans have cement bottoms that secure the villas to the ocean’s floor. Architects of overwater cabins spend months surveying the tide’s current, sea life, and integrity of the ocean floor.

Architects commissioned to build overwater villas work according to the conditions governed by rigorous Environmental Impact Assessment. Therefore engineers, surveillance teams, and architects go to great lengths to familiarize themselves with the tide, safety issues, and wildlife preservation requirements.

What’s the Security Like in Overwater Bungalows?

Generally, reviews on Tripadvisor guarantee the security of guests who stay in overwater villas. However, on the security forums, conversations suggest first acquainting oneself with the layout of their desired resort. Generally, doors lock from both the inside and out, and visitors feel secure.

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The Advantages of Overwater Bungalows

Although privacy may be an issue, overwater bungalow villas foster a sense of intimacy. They’re ideal for couples looking to escape their daily responsibilities and ignite personal romance. Infinity pools highlight the feeling of intimacy between couples. However, some feel that the swimming pools are an unnecessary expense.

The transparent floors allow guests a firsthand visual encounter of the ocean’s dynamic below. The weather, tide, and location of the resort determine the scenic view permitted by the glass panel. In addition, there will likely be a light that will help guests see the ocean view at night.

For many overwater cabins, the glass sections extend into a type of transparent table, and some villas allow the panels to open so visitors can feed the fish. These exciting windows to marine life do present a few issues. Although they are mainly safe, they manage to accrue little water droplets, so take care not to slip.

Overwater villas are typically fully tailored to meet every desire of their guests. These luxe villas offer all comforts from private balconies with hammocks, air conditioning, satellite, plasma screen televisions, electronic combination lock safes, minibars, a filtered water station, and a private walk-in shower.

The lounge chairs on your overwater deck are ideal for sunbathing and cocktail drinking. This serene environment allows guests an oasis escape, endless vast stretch of electric blue horizon, reassuring tide, and calm, quiet moments of solitude with a loved one. It’s in these moments that the overwater bungalows are worth the price.

The Disadvantages of Overwater Bungalows

Although vacationing in overwater bungalows is an exceptional experience, paradise isn’t without shortcomings. There are privacy issues, restricted access to different facilities, few restaurants and recreation options, and the price.

The isolated advantage of overwater bungalows is distracted by the fact that many are built in a curvilinear structure. Consequently, the activities and conversations of residents staying in one cabin are revealed to their neighbors.

In addition, as a rule, overwater bungalows are positioned the furthest from the resort’s other amenities. So, although the remote position enhances privacy, to some degree, the seclusion can hinder basic level convenience.

Another disadvantage to overwater villas is the amount of walking required to reach your bungalow. As they’re built on stilts, a seemingly endless amount of walking is necessary to cross the wooden planking. It distracts from the appeal of your getaway.

There are some overwater villas where the wooden stilts don’t hold well against the tide, and often, the bungalow will rock according to the sway of the wave. The constant surge could cause irritable and restive feelings for people needing solid rest.

Research past guest reviews- their encounters and revelations could inform your decision and save money. The type of service proffered will significantly affect the quality of your stay, including the consistent conditions of meals.

Affordable Overwater Bungalows

Generally, the more affordable first-class bungalows are in Central America and the Caribbean. The more preferred overwater villas are in Panama, Mexico (North America), and Belize. Malaysia, the Maldives, and the South Pacific offer budget-friendly overwater cabin deals.

Numerous websites are frequently updated and detail the best and most affordable overwater bungalows. Many do thorough research based on price, beach access, scenery, service, amenities, and privacy.

Websites that detail the most budget-friendly overwater villas gather findings from online forums and reviews from Tripadvisor and Booking.com. Much personal experience also goes into the results. Therefore, searching for the perfect, affordable vacation in one of these dream destinations is a straightforward process.

Award-Winning Overwater Bungalows

Sun Siyam Iru Fushi is on the Noonu Atoll in the Maldives and is a recent recipient of the British Airways Holidays Customer Excellence Award and the World Travel Awards’ category of Best Family Resort in the Indian Ocean for three years from 2016 to 2019.

Sun Siyam Iru Fushi is an incredible five-star resort on 32 acres of an awe-inspiring private island. This resort caters to families, which is relevant as the overwater bungalows in the Maldives predominantly focus on couples. In addition to its many qualities, it’s sensibly priced.

Palafitos – Overwater Bungalows at El Dorado Maroma is an award-winning experience. The Palafitos at El Dorado Maroma is a nominee for 2022 for Mexico’s leading resort, recipient of 2021 Traveler’s Choice Award Winner, and 2019 Nobel Beach Winner.

The overwater bungalows at El Dorado Maroma are characterized by their gentle, turquoise tide. The incredible gem-like serenity of the vacation retreat is far removed from anything you’ve experienced. The accommodation, service, and deluxe amenities are first-rate.

Conclusion

Overwater bungalows are a life-affirming, unique experience. These luxe cabins allow guests an intimate knowledge of the ocean, typically in variegated shades of supreme blue and an assuring tide. The amenities of most overwater bungalows include transparent infinity pools, glass-paneled floors, retractable rooks to drink in the night sky, and all creature comforts of a top resort.

The advantages of overwater bungalows are many and do make the price worthwhile. In addition to this, there are many ways that the cost can be amended. The few drawbacks include privacy issues, remoteness, restricted access to restaurants and shops, and possibly poor service. Problems can quickly be resolved.

References

Chrissie Smuts

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