Luxury Hotels - Best Overwater Bungalow?

Purely because I can't focus on my work now.

What's your favorite overwater bungalow in the world and why?

I'm also interested in comments on this.

Tahiti obviously comes to mind as the 'default' destination for overwater bungalows. But I've heard of a few properties with these in other venues.

Sadly, I have no personal reviews or recommendations of my own to add in this area.

Without a doubt, The Maldives. My favorite would be ocean pavilions at Huvafen Fushi. Bora Bora is too commercialized for me and reef around resorts are usually not as good.

Any particular properties in the Maldives strike your fancy, aesla?

I personally do not favour overwater bungalow. After trying them two or three times i started preferring the beach accomodation, by far.

That said I really liked the overwater at St. Regis Bora Bora....large and confortable. Never seen degradation of torquise and blue and emerald greens like this lagoon.

But you might want to give a look to the water pavillon of Soneva Gili in Maldives as well. I think they are quite different from the rest.

Interesting! Can you say why you prefer beach over overwater bungalow? I've always seen the pictures and been captivated by the idea of looking at the water from see-through panels in the floor and hopping out the door into the sea.

Regarding the dislike of overwater bungalows, I can speak for myself and say that privacy is an issue. Most of them are lined up like a trailer park with minimal space between each unit. There are some that are end units and other more private configurations that are fantastic though....but they usually cost more money. Having said that, your question is a good one since they are not all created equal!

Interesting! Can you say why you prefer beach over overwater bungalow? I've always seen the pictures and been captivated by the idea of looking at the water from see-through panels in the floor and hopping out the door into the sea.

Most of those I have been and/or seen from the water/beach had always privacy issue as they were lined up very closely to each other and neighbors could easily look into your own private space.
That said i even found them less confortable then beach accomodation where you usually have private beach and outdoor space where to lay....while on water bungalow you might have only a deck, often in shadow. And to' me in those place outdoor space is sometimes more important then indoor.

FSLG Sunset Two Bedroom Water Suite (http://www.fourseasons.com/maldiveslg/accommodations/specialty_suites/sunset_two_bedroom_water_suite/) looks very nice:cool:

But you might want to give a look to the water pavillon of Soneva Gili in Maldives as well. I think they are quite different from the rest.

This property is no longer under Soneva ownesrhip/management, and has been renamed Gili Lankanfushi. I agree that these overwaters are unique, and especially the larger villas should offer the most privacy.

I've never done one either, so while on our honeymoon in Nov at Jumeirah Vitavelli, we are doing 4 nights on a beach villa and 3 nights OW. Will be a learning experience to see if we like it or not.

Without a doubt the best overwater villas we have stayed in were the ex soneva gili, now Gila Lakanfushi. We had the villa type that was a step up from the std and was at the very end of pier 3. It was incredible - large, private, in villa gym, massage areas, and just beautiful. But, the waters round it are not the best snorkeling or diving by any means in the maldives, and there is a fair amount of boat traffic. It was very private in terms of other villas, but there was boat traffic but that did not bother us.

Also liked the overwater bungalows in the old hotel bora bora (Aman) but preferred their beach villas by a long shot as larger, and more private. We thought the clarity of water was great, but of course it has been closed for some time now so maybe changed.

Another overwater we liked a lot was cocoa island in the Maldives, but we had a one bedroom villa. The alternative was a dhoni and those were close together and seemed less private and I would personally not recommend for privacy reasons. The one bedroom villa was spacious, and very private. Also terrific snorkling right on the house reef and great diving.

So for physical room/ villa soneva Gila aka gili Lakanfushi is much better than any other over water bungalow we have experienced, but I do think it has to be the right room! Other than that I agree I generally prefer beach villas.

I love over-water villas in the Maldives. Very happy with mine in Taj Exotica, Kanuhura (when it was O&O), Constance Halaveli and the in-ocean villa at Angsana Velavaru.

Regarding the dislike of overwater bungalows, I can speak for myself and say that privacy is an issue. Most of them are lined up like a trailer park with minimal space between each unit. There are some that are end units and other more private configurations that are fantastic though....but they usually cost more money. Having said that, your question is a good one since they are not all created equal!

Agreed. I generally prefer the idea of jumping directly into the water over wading via the beach, but because of the privacy trade-offs (at least for any over-water bungalow that has been within my budget) I have preferred the beachfront accommodation in the Maldives.

i will never forget travelling from Ireland to my OWB @ IC Thalasso Bora Bora this Easter (via L'Ermitage Beverly Hills on the way there and Coachella Music festival on the way back)

obviously this is not even the best OWB in Bora Bora nevermind the best in the world .. but possibly best value in the world... 40,000 IHG points a night which was just $240 a night using the cash and points trick.... (will cost you $350 a night now / 50,000 points)

i would love to go to the Maldives which is more convenient from my location but my wife says everyone does the maldives ! (everyone doesnt do the maldives btw although it would be fairly popular as a once in a lifetime trip for europeans)

My wife and I checked into an over water bungalow at the FS Landaa Giraavaru and moved to a beach cottage the next day. The wind was blowing so much it was not enjoyable. The beach unit had plenty of privacy with its own pool, "tree house" for naps and then direct access to the beautiful beach.

Years ago however, I did stay in a over water bungalow in Bora Bora so it really depends on location and hotel.

Interesting, speedbird! Did you like the bungalow in Bora Bora? Which was it?

Interesting, speedbird! Did you like the bungalow in Bora Bora? Which was it?

I am sorry. It was so long ago I cannot tell you which hotel but if I recall, most of the hotels use over water bungalows and do not build on the beach.

I liked watching tropical fish and small sharks while taking care of my morning business at the FSLG. Beats reading the 2 sided 8x11 thing they call a newspaper in the Maldives.