5 Insane Overwater Bungalows You Can Actually Afford

So you’re set on the islands of Tahiti. But you’re balking at the prices. Consider Huahine, which is as wildly romantic as Bora Bora (it was named Hermosa by Captain Cook), but is less known, less traveled, less talked about and, consequently, less pricey. Which means that you can "splurge" (a relative term) on this rustic-luxe hotel, the swankiest digs on an island, with 1 supermarket, 8 small villages, countless bays and sugar-sand beaches and still make your mortgage. Your room, 1 of 11 over the water, is west-facing for prime sunsets and has a soaking tub that probably won’t see a lot of action given that you also have a private deck from which you can dive directly into the lagoon. INSIDER TIP: Stock up at the grocery store so you’re not locked into eating every meal at the hotel’s on-the-pricey-side restaurant. Room rates from $301.

Arriving at this remote eco-luxe lodge is half the adventure: A 4-hour drive from Phnom Penh, followed by a 30-minute boat ride down the misty Tatai River with thick jungle on either side, that recalls the Heart of Darkness journey in the best way possible. Once you spy the 12 handsome tented villas, inspired by African safari tentalows, you’ll realize that this is glamping — on water. Bathrooms hold wine-barrel showers and striped umbrellas shade chic chaise lounges, but you might be awoken at sunrise by a gibbon call and the best massage around comes courtesy of a nearby waterfall. INSIDER TIP: For a look at local life, take the resort-offered excursion to a nearby fishing village where houses are on stilts and boardwalks stand in for sidewalks. Room rates from $220, including breakfast.

Step outside on the deck of your bungalow, 1 of 5 overwater accommodations on this private island that’s a quick jaunt from the U.S., and you’ll quickly realize that the spot to be for the duration of this vacation is that Mayan hammock swaying in the breeze. So it’s only a matter of calling dibs before your travel partner does. Or, you can play nice and alternate days. When you’re not on hammock duty, practice floating in the clear Belizean water like you were 5-years-old in guppy class again, or convince your companion to go on a little adventure. River tubing 2 miles through a nearby 5-cave chain is one for the bucket list. However you spend your day, it’ll end much the same way: with a belly full of fresh fish and local Belikin beer. INSIDER TIP: To mix things up, head over to nearby Coco Plum Resort for lunch one day (the water is shallow enough to wade, or you can kayak or paddle board). Room rates from $295.

This hideaway, in the teal-blue Caribbean off Isla Colón, has fewer cabanas than you have fingers, all of which are crowned with palm fronds, painted Caribbean colors and powered by the sun. And each — surprise, surprise — is a 2-story affair with a 4-poster bed tucked into the top floor. The laid-back vibes, the isolation and the limited electricity means there’s nothing much to do here, and that’s exactly the point. Your go-to outfit: a swimsuit; your go-to hairstyle: wet; your go-to cocktail: a piña colada (the bartender makes a mean one); and your go-to mindset: totally blissed out. INSIDER TIP: As tempting as it may be to veg out on your patio for a week straight, get the hotel to boat you over to one of the deserted nearby isles so you can play Robinson Crusoe for a couple hours on an empty beach. Room rates from $350, including most meals.

The Maldives: A dreamy sprinkling of palm-tufted islets across crystal waters. It’s a legendary place with legendary prices reserved for marquee life moments like honeymoons (and even then, it’s a budget-busting proposition). Or so you thought. This hideaway, on a petite private isle in the Baa Atoll, gives you the Maldives’ experience at a surprisingly reasonable rate. Drop your bags in your bungalow, throw open the sliding glass doors, take in the shimmering ocean and give your plus-one a big high five because this is your home for the next week. Now all that’s left to do is decide which of the 3 beach bars you’re going to hit first. INSIDER TIP: Early on in your trip, take advantage of the resort’s daily free 30-minute snorkeling excursion — Reethi Beach has 1 of the Maldives’ best house reefs — then later in the week graduate to a day of diving. Room rates from $268, including breakfast.

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