Three new luxury Maldives water villa resorts have recently opened in 2012

Water villas and overwater bungalows continue to gain in popularity around the world so it’s no surprise that new resorts keep opening that feature the rooms on stilts. The Maldives alone now has 81 water villa resorts with more than 3,100 water villas combined, which is nearly two-thirds of the world’s total.

In the past few months we’ve seen three new resorts opening to the public, with one aimed at the mid-level market and the other two at the high end.

Three new luxury Maldives water villa resorts have recently opened in 2012
Sandals chain opening new overwater resort in Saint Vincent

The famed Sandals resort chain is excitingly opening up yet another overwater resort in the Caribbean. Currently, the new resort, Sandals Saint Vincent, is planning on an opening date in March of 2024. With that, reservations are currently open, meaning that if you’d like to be one of the first to visit this 301 room resort that caters with overwater villas titled ‘Vincy Overwater Two-Story Villas’, then you’ll want to reserve your room now.

Sandals chain opening new overwater resort in Saint Vincent
Overwater bungalows planned for the Dominican Republic

Potentially exciting news for the many thousands of people who are interested in 5-star overwater bungalows in the most popular parts of the Caribbean, as at least one company has them in the planning stages. A resort called Las Canas on the northern coast of the Dominican Republic is intending to build 10 luxury units, to be opened in 2013.

This follows recent news of overwater bungalows nearly ready to open at the St.

Overwater bungalows planned for the Dominican Republic
Overwater bungalows in Malaysia

Most of the world’s overwater bungalows and water villas are located in the Maldives, which is just southwest of India, but more resorts are opening every year around the world. Malaysia now has six overwater resorts of its own, which is the third most in the world behind the Maldives and Bora Bora.

Even more impressively, Malaysia now boasts what is by far the largest overwater bungalow resort in the world, with an amazing 392 overwater rooms just off the coast south of the Kuala Lumpur Airport.

Overwater bungalows in Malaysia
Overwater bungalows coming to Sandals Grande St. Lucia Spa & Beach Resort

Perhaps the most common question we get here at overwaterbungalows.net is: Are there any overwater bungalows in the Caribbean?

The answer is “yes” but until 2013 it’s still a bit of a disappointment to many. The fact is, all of the water bungalows in the Caribbean are down in Central America, and almost all of them are modest “eco-resorts” where there are few frills of any kind.

They are ideal for scuba divers and those looking for some outdoor adventures, but they aren’t perfect for most honeymooners and romantic travelers who want to spend time alone.

Overwater bungalows coming to Sandals Grande St. Lucia Spa & Beach Resort