If you’re dreaming of ditching your desk for a place where swimming, snorkeling and soaking up the sun are the must-do agenda items of the day, then it’s time to consider the ultimate in oceanfront getaways—the overwater villa. From the Caribbean to the Maldives, you can get instant access to crystal-clear waters and unbelievable views without forgoing the trappings of luxury accommodations at these five first-class overwater villas. Check out which ones our Forbes Travel Guide editors are daydreaming of by clicking through the slideshow.
Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Landaa Giraavaru, Republic of Maldives
Get off the map and into the Sunset Water Villa which is stilted over a quiet lagoon inlet on the Indian Ocean. Located in the middle of 44 acres of wilderness, the Four Seasons resort is reachable by seaplane from Malé (the Maldives’ capital on the mainland) and is made up of 102 thatched beach and water villas along a half-mile stretch of pristine white beach. The Sunset Water Villa is named appropriately—it sits at the end of a strip of villas with unobstructed views of the sun as it sinks over the ocean. While the outdoor deck is ideal for sunning, you won’t regret time spent inside the airy 925-square-foot space. Designed by Sri Lankan architect Murad Ismali, it’s a simple contemporary blend of Maldivian accents such as teak furniture, a light neutral palette, high thatched roofs and a façade made of recycled coral. You can see the sunset from the deck or through the glass-fronted living room. Modern amenities include Wi-Fi, satellite TV, an entertainment system and—count ’em—two outdoor showers. And while there are four restaurants to choose from on the shore, 24-hour in-villa dining is available so you never have to leave this heavenly hut.
Amanyara, Turks and Caicos
It’s no wonder Amanyara means peaceful place. This Aman resort is on the secluded, white-sand island of Providenciales, one of the islands making up Turks and Caicos in the British West Indies. The Tranquility Villa is tucked away from the beach on one-and-a-half acres and is partially stilted over the edge of a large private pond surrounded by mahogany trees. This villa is more of a tropical indoor/outdoor complex than anything else—it has four freestanding bedrooms with alfresco bathtubs, a living and dining pavilion, an office pavilion, a fully equipped kitchen and staff bedrooms for your personal chef and housekeeper. A rectangular infinity-edge swimming pool made of black volcanic rock and surrounded by extensive hardwood decking looks out over the pond, and the master bedroom is flanked by a large reflecting pool (the resort is all about gaining inner harmony and reflecting pools make up much of the landscape). The 20 villas at Amanyara are scattered, so each is equipped with two four-seater golf carts to get to and from the spa, restaurants and white sand Atlantic Ocean beach.
Cocoa Island, Maldives
Cocoa Island is a 40-minute speedboat ride from Malé and is located among the area’s coral atolls (large, ring-shaped coral reefs that surround a lagoon). A private entrance deck will lead you to your 1,345-square-foot one-bedroom villa positioned at the end of a long wooden walkway sprawled out over a lagoon connecting to the Indian Ocean. A spacious living room flows out to the sundeck with a dining area and has direct access to the lagoon (which is shallow enough to wade in comfortably). There’s not a sleek surface in site here: the boho-chic interior is mostly shades of whites and browns with contemporary, hand-finished furniture inspired by the colonial traditions of India. The bedroom features a king bed (with handmade Italian linen) and bathrooms that open into private shower area with the sea visible below. Modern accoutrements abound—you’ll get Wi-Fi, a flat-screen TV, DVD player, in-room dining and a personal butler.
Alila Villas Uluwatu, Bali
The three-bedroom Cliffside Pool Villas at Alila Villas Uluwatu aren’t perched a few feet directly above water—instead, they’re high up jutting out from a limestone cliff’s edge overlooking the Indian Ocean. Located along the southern coast of Bali, the resort’s villas have an open design plan, with flat lava rock roofs, 68-foot infinity pools, indoor and outdoor rain showers and pool cabanas. Walkways and bridges connect the relaxation pavilions and pools to the living areas, and a personal butler is appointed to take care of your every whim. The design is unapologetically modern and minimal, with natural Balinese accents like wood, water, stone and rattan. Sustainability is a big theme here—wood used throughout the space is recycled from railway sleepers, natural cooling airflow is aided by telephone poles and bamboo ceiling and rain gardens aid with water conservation.
Hilton Bora Bora Nui Resort & Spa, French Polynesia
For those that want the presidential suite no matter where they’re checked in, one of the two Presidential Overwater Villas should do the trick. As the only two-story overwater bungalows in French Polynesia, these villas sit on the outer edges of the resort in the center of Bora Bora Lagoon. Each has two bedrooms, three bathrooms, downright palatial living rooms, a 118-square-foot swimming pool and a private sun deck where you can easily hop off into the turquoise water. There’s no reason to leave for pampering, as the well-being room boasts a Jacuzzi, two massage tables and a full cedar-lined Finnish dry sauna. High-tech amenities such as three LCD TVs, Wi-Fi access and solar panels don’t distract from the stunning sunset panoramas and the looming backdrop of Mount Otemanu. —By Morgan Lord
