Booking.com; Samantha Lee/Business Insider
- Overwater bungalows are among the most desired accommodations in the world, regularly earning a spot on many travelers' bucket lists.
- Many overwater bungalows can see nightly rates that easily cost thousands of dollars, but there are some more affordable options available with rates beginning as low as the $200s per night.
- We combed through offerings to find incredible, affordable overwater bungalows in the South Pacific, the Caribbean and Central America, and Asia based on our own travels, as well as past guest ratings and feedback, with all the desirable amenities you'll want.
- Read all Business Insider hotel reviews here.
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Few destinations in the world inspire more wanderlust than far-flung locales dotted with accommodations known as overwater bungalows (or alternatively called overwater villas). By definition, such lodgings are located in calm, shallow waters, often perched atop crystalline lagoons, striated into every imaginable color of blue.
Planning a stay at an overwater bungalow in such a dream-like environment is a bucket-list essential for many, but the accompanying price tag can be a daunting obstacle, even for a once-in-a-lifetime event like a honeymoon.
Fortunately, not all of the world's overwater bungalows have an astronomical financial barrier to entry. Some affordable options do exist and are found in regions like Central America. And while they're less common, budget-friendlier options in top-end destinations like Tahiti and the Maldives are available to flexible travelers as well who are able to visit in slower periods.
We rounded up overwater bungalows around the world, nearly all of which range from $200 to $500 per night, broken down by destinations such as the South Pacific including Tahiti and Fiji, Central America and the Caribbean, and Asia, including the Maldives.
We made selections based on past traveler reviews and rankings, as well as our own travel experience, and chose hotels with picture-perfect amenities to ensure each property meets your lofty expectations. Hotels range from rustic and eco-minded to over-the-top posh - but all provide extravagant natural beauty, top-end service, and idyllic accommodations at an attainable price point. All starting prices are based on time of publishing, and subject to change.
Here are the best overwater bungalows around the world for 2020:
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