I've always wanted to stay in one of those over-water bungalows in Bora Bora or the Maldives. But realistically, I'm probably too cheap to ever pay as much as that for a vacation.

I've found some options that are in the Carribean or Central America that are much more affordable.

I am planning a getaway with my wife for our 20th in just over a year, so looking at options now. Few questions for you Aggie travelers:

1) For those who have stayed in an over water bungalow, is it all that?
2) Has anyone stayed at one in Belize, Panama, or the Carribbean that are not quite as expensive as Tahiti/Bora Bora? Are they a good option, or should I just save up and do it right?

I was gonna do it for my wife's 40th in bora bora. I was gonna use points for 4 nights getting a 5th free, then paying for 2 nights (piggy backing the trip with another 4-5 days in HI.)

We ended up having a group of 12 go to vegas instead.

It's once in a lifetime for most people, just do it.

We spent a week in an over-water bungalow in Moorea (at the Hilton Moorea) before taking a cruise on the Paul Gauguin for our 15th anniversary and it was worth every penny. We are going back in 2 years for our 20th.

IMO...the over-water bungalows in Mexico and the Caribbean are too expensive for what you get and won't compare to staying in one in Tahiti or the Maldives.

For any sort of once in a lifetime experience, it's best not to half a$$ it. I can't imagine the Mexico and Caribbean options are anywhere close to the OG offerings (based on the pictures I've seen and reviews I've read).

There are some pretty reasonable options along the Texas Coast. It's much closer to home & the fishing is awesome! A little short on the amenities though.

We did it in Bora Bora for our honeymoon and it was absolutely all that. The accommodations were outstanding on their own, but being able to sit on the porch or look through the glass tile and see tropical fish all around, was insane. We swam and had incredible snorkeling from our bungalow. Even saw an octopus one afternoon.

We spent about a week in Bora Bora/Moorea and I think we only did 3 nights in the bungalow on account of cost. The whole trip was great, but those 3 nights were unforgettable. Splurge. It's worth it.

Watching. I'm kinda in the same boat but, besides also being on the frugal side of things, my wife is not a fan of long flights which are pretty hard to avoid for Maldives or Tahiti...

Dream vacation for me as well though.

It's still a couple years away but it looks like the Saudis are trying to get into the overwater destination game too.

dgb99 said:

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Watching. I'm kinda in the same boat but, besides also being on the frugal side of things, my wife is not a fan of long flights which are pretty hard to avoid for Maldives or Tahiti...

Dream vacation for me as well though.

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Flight to Tahiti really isn't all that much longer than to Hawaii. Is flight to Hawaii too long for her too?

Wife and I did over-the-water bungalow in Tahiti 6 years ago and to be honest it wasn't all that expensive. We got a deal with Tahitian airlines and it was actually relatively affordable. Granted, the water at Tahiti isn't as clean as Bora Bora or Morea, but it was still neat. I am thinking I'll splurge for the nicer ones ($$$) for maybe 20th or 30th anniversary. I think I may try Maldives next time around... which is a whole lot further than Tahiti though (literally on the other side of the world).

Look at travelzoo or some other travel deals... don't go straight to the hotel website...

Are y'all just good at just sitting around? My biggest concern would always be getting bored and being just stuck there

There are activities/excursions just like anywhere else.

https://www.viator.com/Bora-Bora/d5180-ttd

LAX-PPT is around 8 hours; LAX to Hawaii is probably around 5 but yah it is still a lot easier to reach than the Maldives.

We did DFW-LAX-PPT and got to Papeete around 9pm; stayed the night at the Intercontinental next to the airport and did the short hop to Bora Bora the next morning. Flight home was an overnight to LAX and got back to DFW after lunch.

Bora Bora is everything you imagine it to be; we stayed at the Four Seasons but there are plenty of other over-water options and the prices overall were not that outrageous relative to other bucket-list destinations. Flight from PPT to BOB was probably the biggest rip-off but what are you going to do.

Out of curiosity, what does a trip like this cost? Say 7 nights.

maroon10 said:

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Out of curiosity, what does a trip like this cost? Say 7 nights.

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The marriott/St Regis in bora bora are as little as $750/nt for some nights, probably average $1500, and and high as $2500+ for higher demand nights

Flights are probably all over the map depending where you're coming from.
For my wife's trip that never happened, I had found a first class (lie flat) flight back from PPT to LAX for like $750 ea. It was a steal.
But overall, figure $1k-$2500 ea flight rt. from a large US airport.

maroon10 said:

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Out of curiosity, what does a trip like this cost? Say 7 nights.

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2 flights + room + food/booze/taxi/puddle jumper = ~$15k

ChoppinDs40 said:

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maroon10 said:

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Out of curiosity, what does a trip like this cost? Say 7 nights.

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2 flights + room + food/booze/taxi/puddle jumper = ~$15k

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Our trip back in 2016 the per night hotel rate was about $750. Flight wasn't that bad, $407 per person from LAX (round trip). Of course, that's 6 years ago now.

stardustag said:

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ChoppinDs40 said:

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maroon10 said:

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Out of curiosity, what does a trip like this cost? Say 7 nights.

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2 flights + room + food/booze/taxi/puddle jumper = ~$15k

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Our trip back in 2016 the per night hotel rate was about $750. Flight wasn't that bad, $407 per person from LAX (round trip). Of course, that's 6 years ago now.

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$400 RT is insane.. You can't fly from DFW to LAX for $400 right now.

Overwater bungalows are gonna run you ~$1k a night, easy. Food/bev/everything else is going to be at least $100/day.

So maybe $15k is on the high end... maybe not.

I just priced 7 nights at an over water bungalow in the maldives with all inclusive food+bev and it was $11k. No flights.

a couple years of marriott sign up bonsues and using 4 nights 5th free and this is feasible for most.

We spent a couple of nights in an overwater on Raiatea prior to a week on a catamaran and a couple of nights in a beachside bungalow at the Moorea Hilton previously mentioned. The beachside was just as good as a totally overwater.

We did a week in Bora Bora for our honeymoon back in 2019 and it wasn't as outrageously expensive as you might think. Now, we stayed at the intercontinental which is more of a "value" overwater property but being connected to the mainland prevented us from being forced to eat pricey resort food for every meal. If you have points for flights and any type of hotel rewards program it's definitely doable for a moderate amount of $$$.

The Lost said:

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Are y'all just good at just sitting around? My biggest concern would always be getting bored and being just stuck there

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I'm really bad at sitting around and I am not a resort guy, but I was never bored in Bora Bora. I did plenty of snorkeling and had some excursions. We were more active in Moorea, but there's still plenty to do in Bora Bora and it's hard to be bored in paradise.

I did an overwater Bungalow in the Maldives for my Honeymoon and it was right around $500 a night all inclusive and I just checked and it's still around that price. Personally, I'd rather have a villa on the beach instead of over water. I missed having the sand right out the door.

Member of any points programs/have points stockpiled? If you do some research and are patient, you can get really good deals.

We stayed at an overwater bungalow in the Conrad Maldives for a week plus on points. Honestly, didn't cost much more than a week in Houston would be. The room, priced at around $1,200/night, was on sale for around 140K points per night, plus we got one or two nights free.

First, we still spent a **** ton of money. Between getting there, the food & wine at the resort, and the excursions. But, we knew that going in and it was absolutely worth it. We figured we were getting a once in a lifetime (rich & famous type) vacation for a fairly normal vacation budget.

Piggy backing on above, it was absolutely worth it. Probably our favorite vacation. Now was the overwater bungalow worth it vs. a normal room? Probably, but we honestly didn't spend a whole of time in the room anyway. And at a lot of these types resorts, the "normal" rooms aren't much cheaper anyways. Was the same cost for us using points.

As for being bored. I'm the type that is always going, I can't sit on the beach and relax like my wife. But, I was never bored. We did a few excursions, a sunset cruise, snorkeling with whale sharks, snorkeling with manta rays, turtles, & sharks, fishing, etc. There is also plenty to do around the island for free. They have snorkeling gear and amazing reefs right off the beach. One day I paddle boarded while my wife sat on the beach drinking, etc.

ChoppinDs40 said:

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stardustag said:

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ChoppinDs40 said:

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maroon10 said:

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Out of curiosity, what does a trip like this cost? Say 7 nights.

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2 flights + room + food/booze/taxi/puddle jumper = ~$15k

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Our trip back in 2016 the per night hotel rate was about $750. Flight wasn't that bad, $407 per person from LAX (round trip). Of course, that's 6 years ago now.

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$400 RT is insane.. You can't fly from DFW to LAX for $400 right now.

Overwater bungalows are gonna run you ~$1k a night, easy. Food/bev/everything else is going to be at least $100/day.

So maybe $15k is on the high end... maybe not.

I just priced 7 nights at an over water bungalow in the maldives with all inclusive food+bev and it was $11k. No flights.

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there are literally a gazillion islands in Maldives, and every island has a bunch of over the water bungalows... don't price rack rate... go for ones with deals. I see some Maldives deals every other week. Here is an example of one, 5 nights for $2099:

https://www.travelzoo.com/local-deals/International/Getaway/390808/?cm=signedin&source=GoogMAEA2&ec=1&dlinkId=2974181

I can already hear my wife: we came all this way to this romantic place and all you are doing is fishing and drinking.

stardustag said:

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ChoppinDs40 said:

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stardustag said:

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ChoppinDs40 said:

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maroon10 said:

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Out of curiosity, what does a trip like this cost? Say 7 nights.

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2 flights + room + food/booze/taxi/puddle jumper = ~$15k

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Our trip back in 2016 the per night hotel rate was about $750. Flight wasn't that bad, $407 per person from LAX (round trip). Of course, that's 6 years ago now.

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$400 RT is insane.. You can't fly from DFW to LAX for $400 right now.

Overwater bungalows are gonna run you ~$1k a night, easy. Food/bev/everything else is going to be at least $100/day.

So maybe $15k is on the high end... maybe not.

I just priced 7 nights at an over water bungalow in the maldives with all inclusive food+bev and it was $11k. No flights.

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there are literally a gazillion islands in Maldives, and every island has a bunch of over the water bungalows... don't price rack rate... go for ones with deals. I see some Maldives deals every other week. Here is an example of one, 5 nights for $2099:

https://www.travelzoo.com/local-deals/International/Getaway/390808/?cm=signedin&source=GoogMAEA2&ec=1&dlinkId=2974181

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that's a good deal because if you go to expedia, their rooms are $1k a night.

even still... sea planes are $480/pp... and that $2099 doesn't include taxes/gratuity... but does breakfast.

so 5 nights assuming $1500 RT out there (likely more right now).. $6k before dinner, lunch, drinks or activities.... a week is definitely going to get you to $10k.

and yes, to the people with points, DUH. you can go ANYWHERE with points.. especially if you have hundreds of thousands of them.

I believe the OP was wanting to know... pay cash for it today, what's it gonna run? 7 nights out there is going to easily be $10k and probably more depending on when you're going.

I stayed here, and would recommend. You have to take two flights, one to panama city, then switch airports to fly to bocas, but its not a huge deal.

https://www.puntacaracol.com.pa/

stardustag said:

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ChoppinDs40 said:

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stardustag said:

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ChoppinDs40 said:

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maroon10 said:

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Out of curiosity, what does a trip like this cost? Say 7 nights.

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2 flights + room + food/booze/taxi/puddle jumper = ~$15k

---

Our trip back in 2016 the per night hotel rate was about $750. Flight wasn't that bad, $407 per person from LAX (round trip). Of course, that's 6 years ago now.

---

$400 RT is insane.. You can't fly from DFW to LAX for $400 right now.

Overwater bungalows are gonna run you ~$1k a night, easy. Food/bev/everything else is going to be at least $100/day.

So maybe $15k is on the high end... maybe not.

I just priced 7 nights at an over water bungalow in the maldives with all inclusive food+bev and it was $11k. No flights.

---

there are literally a gazillion islands in Maldives, and every island has a bunch of over the water bungalows... don't price rack rate... go for ones with deals. I see some Maldives deals every other week. Here is an example of one, 5 nights for $2099:

https://www.travelzoo.com/local-deals/International/Getaway/390808/?cm=signedin&source=GoogMAEA2&ec=1&dlinkId=2974181

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My wife and I did a similar all inclusive deal at Furaveri Maldives from Travelzoo for our 40th earlier this year. We bought a 5 night voucher and then an extra night. Flew from DFW through Dubai and stayed 4 nights in Dubai on the way back.

I typically get bored to tears at all inclusives, but that trip was awesome. We had champagne delivered to our room every night to watch the sunset in our private pool, we snorkeled from our back porch every day, just an extremely memorable experience. I wouldn't hesitate to do it again, we almost bought a voucher to a different resort through travelzoo when we got back we loved it so much

Milwaukees Best Light said:

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I can already hear my wife: we came all this way to this romantic place and all you are doing is fishing and drinking.

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Username checks out

I did a clients trip in January for about $8800 for flights and OWB in Bora Bora (booked last March or so). Probably spent another $1200 or so on excursions. Have no idea what they spent on food but they loved it.

Took my wife to Palafitos in MX for her 40th a few years back. Nice short flight and we enjoyed the bungalows.

I just looked at current prices and...wow. No way we paid $2k / night. Certainly didn't pay $3500+ for the Elites. That's unbelievable. Guess they are trying to recoup COVID losses?

They have bee high for awhile. Sometimes you can find them cheaper than that but it's rare. The Sandals ones are ridiculous. I have clients who has one for $20-$21k for 5-6 nights (been awhile and got pushed out so can't remember exactly). It's crazy. They haven't traveled yet (broke up 3 days before the wedding). So now it's just sitting in limbo for the future.

JMac03 said:

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They have bee high for awhile. Sometimes you can find them cheaper than that but it's rare. The Sandals ones are ridiculous. I have clients who has one for $20-$21k for 5-6 nights (been awhile and got pushed out so can't remember exactly). It's crazy. They haven't traveled yet (broke up 3 days before the wedding). So now it's just sitting in limbo for the future.

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oh we need details!!!

Karisma definitely trying to get their money back on that before other people start building them.

I always think of spending $$$ like this...on your death bed are you going to remember a trip to Bora Bora staying in an overwather bungalow or are you going to remember all of the dumb stuff you bought with the money?

ChoppinDs40 said:

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JMac03 said:

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They have bee high for awhile. Sometimes you can find them cheaper than that but it's rare. The Sandals ones are ridiculous. I have clients who has one for $20-$21k for 5-6 nights (been awhile and got pushed out so can't remember exactly). It's crazy. They haven't traveled yet (broke up 3 days before the wedding). So now it's just sitting in limbo for the future.

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oh we need details!!!

Karisma definitely trying to get their money back on that before other people start building them.

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What are you wanting details on?