Overwater bungalows are specialty structures that require specific conditions to be structurally sustainable; these characteristics can be found in places like The Maldives or Bora Bora but regrettably not in the Florida Keys. As a result, there aren’t any in Florida or anywhere else in the USA.
But if you’re willing to go a little further, the Caribbean has some amazing overwater bungalows—some of the greatest in the world, in fact.
In light of this, you can see our picks for and detailed reviews of the best overwater bungalows nearby Florida in the table below. All of them are easily accessible from Miami International Airport and the majority of other major US cities.
However, if you are set on taking a trip to Florida and are willing to forsake an overwater house, you will undoubtedly discover alternative opulent and romantic coastal accommodations that may dazzle just as much.
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Top 5 Overwater Bungalows In Key West
1. Rosewood Mayakoba
The Rosewood Mayakoba is one of three overwater bungalow resorts close to Cancun, Mexico. The other two are the nearby Banyan Tree Mayakoba and Palafitos El Dorado resorts. All three resorts share a tranquil Caribbean coast setting and offer first-rate accommodations, services, and amenities, most notably an award-winning spa.
Although it draws a large number of wealthy visitors, this upscale resort doesn’t have a lot of snobberies. All throughout, there is a laid-back and welcoming vibe.
The resort includes 129 sleek, contemporary suites and villas that range in size from 780 square feet to 1500 square feet and have the finest interior design.
They are modern, and stylish, and exude a genuine feeling of elegance. Private plunge pools, roomy bathrooms with indoor and outdoor showers, walk-in closets, and a separate lounge area with seats and a dining area are among the amenities.
WiFi, satellite TV, DVD players, iPod docks, Bose audio systems, personal butlers, and round-the-clock room service are available amenities.
Although Rosewood Mayakoba’s overwater bungalows, like most locations, are reserved for adults only, the resort itself is family-friendly; there is even a kids club, and kids are welcome in the other suites and villas.
There are many excellent dining options in this area, including Agave Azul, which specializes in Asian-influenced fish dishes, and Caso del Lago, which provides Italian cuisine with a Mexican touch.
While Aqui Mi Quedo provides Mexican and Caribbean street food, has a relaxed bar-like environment, and is only open to adults, Punta Bonita is a Mexican bistro.
La Fondita is a casual Cortaderia in the manner of Mexico City that offers both indoor and outdoor dining. Its menu is primarily made up of small dishes and snacks, such as some of its distinctive tostadas and fresh ceviche.
La Ceiba, a 20,000-square-foot outdoor fine dining experience that is more than just a restaurant, deserves special note.
Most of the ingredients used in this restaurant’s traditional Yucutan cuisine, which emphasizes Mayan open-flame cooking methods, are fresh from the kitchen garden next door.
The venue is set up so that visitors may engage in an interactive experience by taking part in cooking demonstrations, cocktail-making classes, and different tasting events.
Price – $1520
Resort Location – Just one hour from Cancun and its international airport, where a shuttle bus might be waiting for you, the resort is located in the renowned Playa del Carmen, in the center of Mexico’s Mayan Riviera.
2. Aruba Ocean Villas
In the southwest of the island, close to Oranjestad and the international airport, the Aruba Ocean Villas Resort is home to the only overwater bungalows in Aruba.
This all-adult resort is a luxurious haven with stunning surroundings, first-rate amenities, top-notch food, and service.
Additionally, it lacks the generic, almost industrial vibe of many of the larger Caribbean resorts and is tiny, cozy, and welcoming.
You should reserve your vacation well in advance at Aruba Ocean Villas because there are just three over-the-water bungalows there, and they are quite popular.
At Ocean Villas, all but one of the excellent, uniquely created options are doubles. The three prized over-the-water options—LouLou, Isla Alistaire, and Dushi Sue—are lavish, roomy, and exceptionally well-furnished and equipped. They are all equally stunning, but our favorite is Dushi Sue, a brilliantly sophisticated 1000-square-foot hideaway.
Despite not having the traditional glass floor panels seen in many overwater bungalows, they are cozy, incredibly comfortable, and beautiful.
If the overwater bungalows are all reserved, you won’t be let down by Aruba Ocean Villas’ other beachside options.
They have a great cozy vibe and are a little bit smaller, but they are also well-designed, furnished, and equipped.
All of the aforementioned accommodations are doubles, but for bigger groups or families, there is the Sunset Villa, a private villa located about 5 minutes from the resort’s main building.
It has four large bedrooms that can accommodate up to eight people. It is a beautiful property with wonderful ocean views.
You shouldn’t anticipate too many opulent amenities at Aruba Ocean Villas because it is a modest, cozy resort with a relaxed, familiar feel, as was already indicated. For instance, although there isn’t a spa here (yet), they do provide a variety of massage services.
It accomplishes it through a well-regarded fine dining establishment called The Old Man and the Sea, which offers a variety of foreign, Caribbean, and Aruban meals, as well as some excellent fresh fish.
It features a nice, cozy beachfront setting and only a few tables. Although it can be a little expensive, the entire experience is definitely worth it.
Price – $1400
3. Sandals Royal Caribbean
The first overwater bungalow resort in Jamaica, and in fact the first in the entire region, was the couples-only Sandals Royal Caribbean, located close to Montego Bay and only a few minutes from Sangster International Airport.
The idea gained popularity right away, and Sandals soon added more bungalows to Sandals South Coast (also in Jamaica) and their location in St. Lucia.
However, Sandals Royal Caribbean broke new ground—or should we say, broke new water—in this area, and its standards have been very high ever since.
A private island (where the overwater bungalows are located), first-rate amenities, delectable food and drink, and consistently top-notch service are all features of this upscale, all-inclusive paradise.
It is also in a fantastic location; unlike other overwater bungalow resorts, you can get here in a tantalizingly short amount of time (via the resort’s own shuttle) from the nearest airport.
They feature a wide selection of lodging options, including hotel rooms, suites, and over-the-water apartments with varying levels of luxury and spaciousness to suit most budgets.
Their stunning overwater cottages, which are connected to a charming tiny private island, have raised the bar from the start.
They are sleek, contemporary, and roomy (just over 1,100 square feet), have outside terraces, infinity plunge pools, enormous glass floor panels, romantic spa-style bathrooms with bathtubs, a plethora of modern amenities, and 24-hour room service with special in-room dining menu.
You have a wonderful selection of dining and drinking establishments to choose from, ranging from informal restaurants and hopping bars to chic fine dining establishments featuring French, Thai, Caribbean seafood, and other cuisines.
If that’s not enough, you may take the complimentary shuttle to one of Sandal’s two more Montego Bay properties for even more options. Everything there is covered by your all-inclusive plan.
The resort has seven swimming pools, two swim-up bars, five jacuzzis, and a tiny but absolutely stunning stretch of private beach.
The majority of evenings feature live entertainment at various locations across the resort, including beach parties, musical performances, and cultural events.
Resort Location – The resort is located by the beautifully tranquil waters of Mahoe Bay, just five miles from Montego Bay and Sangster International Airport (you will be whisked there in a matter of minutes by a private shuttle).
There are frequent shuttle services to Montego Bay and the Hip Strip, the primary tourist destination’s shops, clubs, and eateries.
Just ten minutes walk from the resort, Whitter Village, Montego Bay’s ultra-modern outdoor shopping complex, offers high-end shopping as well.
Price – $817
4. Sandals Grande St Lucian
Following the success of their over-the-water accommodations in Jamaica, Sandals swiftly turned their attention to St. Lucia, where you can find the same standards of luxury and service at the all-inclusive, adults-only Sandals Grande resort.
Since there are only nine of them, their overwater bungalows—a popular choice for honeymooners—are frequently reserved months in advance.
Among other unique amenities, they have glass floor panels that let you see directly into the Caribbean, tranquillity soaking tubs, private patios, and over-the-water hammocks.
Additionally, they offer a personal butler service that is available around the clock, and all of the resort’s staff provide excellent service that is both effective and pleasant.
The resort offers a wide variety of lodging options, with the overwater accommodations stated above unquestionably being the most well-liked.
With hardwood flooring, soaring ceilings, king-size mattresses with rich linens and plush pillows, smart TVs, sun decks, outdoor showers, opulent bathrooms, and round-the-clock personal butler service, these have a vast, opulent vibe.
Many of the alternative options are equally as stylish and sophisticated as the overwaters, if not more so, without the novelty of having the ocean right beneath your feet.
If the overwater suites are not available, the seaside suites, in particular, are exceptionally lavish and merit serious consideration.
Resort Location – Sandals St. Lucian is located on a small patch of land that is a portion of the Pigeon Island Peninsula in North West St. Lucia and overlooks the warm, tranquil waters of Rodney Bay.
The villages of Rodney Bay, Gros Islet, and Castries are still easily accessible, despite the resort’s pleasant sense of seclusion.
The resort can arrange a wide choice of activities, such as a hike up the Pitons, a visit to the famous Soufriere Volcano, a soak in sulfur baths, or a shower under the Toraille Waterfall.
All visitors are given free transportation to and from Hewanorra International Airport, which typically takes a little over an hour.
Price – $1339
5. El Dorado Maroma Palafitos
The bungalows at the Palafitos, which were the first in Mexico, include all the amenities you would expect from a resort that was so ahead of its time, including glass floor panels, jacuzzis, private infinity pools, outdoor bathrooms, and direct access to the pristine seas below your feet.
There are two varieties; the normal Palafitos are located closer to the shore and offer partial views of the ocean and the beach.
On the other hand, the “Elite Suite Bungalows” are the furthest out, at the end of the pier, and provide unhindered ocean views. They so impart a greater sense of being at one with the sea and are more private and serene.
Though they are both extremely opulent and cover around 600 square feet, they are essentially identical on the inside.
On the terrace with a view of the water, they have an infinity-style plunge pool, an extra-large, incredibly comfortable double bed, a seating and dining area, sections of glass bottom floor, a jacuzzi, and an outdoor shower.
WiFi, cable TV, air conditioning, iPod docks, minibars, 24-hour room service, and private butler service are additional amenities.
Gourmet cuisine and drink are highly valued at El Dorado Maroma, an all-inclusive resort where much of the fresh produce comes from its own greenhouses.
There are plenty of restaurants to choose from, as well as quaint, unpretentious “Gourmet Tasting Corners” that serve everything from Mexican and Caribbean food to Oriental and Italian cuisine.
The Overwater Grill & Wine Bar, the hotel’s principal dining establishment, offers two dining rooms with glass floors, breathtaking vistas, and a wide variety of regional and international cuisine.
You can get part of the famed breakfast at El Dorado Maroma to be delivered to your room.
Resort Location – Less than an hour south of Cancun in the center of Mexico’s Mayan Riviera are the Palafitos Overwater Bungalows, which are a component of the El Dorado Maroma complex.
The resort is located directly on Maroma Beach, which is frequently cited as one of the most stunning beaches in the world and Mexico.
Naturally, Cancun International Airport is the closest airport, and a shuttle van will be there to pick you up.
Price – $2151
