Overwater Bungalows Coming to Jamaica and Mexico
Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here: Citi Prestige
As anyone who's ever traveled to the Maldives or Bora Bora knows, staying in an overwater bungalow can really make the trip special. After all, few things are more luxurious than stepping directly from your private accommodations into the warm, tropical water.
While overwater rooms are typically found in these far-flung destinations, you'll soon be able to book similar digs in two much more reachable locales: the Caribbean and Mexico.
Sandals Resorts in Jamaica
You can now book one of five overwater villas at the Sandals Resort in Montego Bay, Jamaica, for travel starting on November 15. These accommodations have been in the works for about two years, and they include a glass floor, private infinity pool, a jacuzzi with an outdoor shower, floating water hammocks and butler service.
Based on the photos, these villas definitely offer the opulence you'd expect — though they do come with quite the price tag: more than $4,000 a night, depending on your dates and available discounts. Availability is already scarce through summer of 2017, though you'll find a few open dates here and there, with the schedule opening up in late July and August.
Though the five villas do look pretty fantastic, several thousand per night is a lot to pay — and Sandals doesn't exactly offer the most compelling rewards program. Its Sandals Select Rewards Club awards points on paid stays and Sandals and Beaches properties, and you can redeem points to reduce the out-of-pocket costs of a stay, but only for up to 25% of the actual room cost. Though a $4,000 nightly rate certainly presents an amazing opportunity to take advantage of 4th Night Free with Citi Prestige.
El Dorado Maroma - Riviera Maya, Mexico
Karisma Hotels & Resorts is also adding overwater bungalows — or palafitos, as it calls them — at its El Dorado Maroma property in Mexico's Riviera Maya. The 30 new accommodations will open for business on September 1, 2016, and you can currently book them starting at about $665.
The palafitos offer all the overwater bungalow hallmarks, including glass-bottom floors, an infinity pool, an indoor jacuzzi and direct ladder access to the ocean. Note that you can only book these rooms by going through a vacation consultant, which you can find through the Karisma website.
While the nightly rate for these bungalows is relatively affordable — at least compared to the thousands you'd pay at the Sandals Resort in Jamaica — it's still unfortunate that Karisma Hotels doesn't offer a points program. Instead, it rewards loyalty by giving repeat guests a variety of food and beverage freebies.
Bottom Line
More overwater bungalows — in more accessible destinations — are definitely a good thing, but it's too bad you can't redeem points to cover the full cost of a stay at either property. Still, the Sandals Resort in Montego Bay and the El Dorado Maroma could be worth it if you want to enjoy the luxurious setups and can afford the out-of-pocket rates. For everyone else, shelling out for an award stay at a points property like the Conrad Maldives could be worth it — though it's usually a better value to book a base room with points and then pay cash to upgrade to a water villa.
H/T: Mashable
TPG featured card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 3X | Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases. |
Pros
- Delta SkyClub access when flying Delta
- Annual companion ticket for travel on Delta (upon renewal)
- Ability to earn MQDs through spending
- Various statement credits for eligible purchases
Cons
- Steep annual fee of $650
- Other Delta cobranded cards offer superior earning categories
- Earn 100,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $6,000 or more in purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership and an additional 25,000 bonus miles after you make an additional $3,000 in purchases on the Card within your first 6 months, starting from the date that your account is opened. Offer Ends 04/01/2026.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members receive 15 Visits per Medallion® Year to the Delta Sky Club® when flying Delta and can unlock an unlimited number of Visits after spending $75,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year. Plus, you’ll receive four One-Time Guest Passes each Medallion Year so you can share the experience with family and friends when traveling Delta together.
- Enjoy complimentary access to The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. and select international locations (as set forth on the Centurion Lounge Website), Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. (see the Centurion Lounge Website for more information on Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge availability), and Escape Lounges when flying on a Delta flight booked with the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card. § To access Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 90 minutes of their departing flight (including layovers). To access The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 3 hours of their departing flight. Effective July 8, 2026, during a layover, Card Members must arrive within 5 hours of the connecting flight.
- Receive $2,500 Medallion® Qualification Dollars with MQD Headstart each Medallion Qualification Year and earn $1 MQD for each $10 in purchases on your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card with MQD Boost to get closer to Status next Medallion Year.
- Enjoy a Companion Certificate on a Delta First, Delta Comfort, or Delta Main round-trip flight to select destinations each year after renewal of your Card. The Companion Certificate requires payment of government-imposed taxes and fees of between $22 and $250 (for itineraries with up to four flight segments). Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. Delta Basic experiences are not eligible for this benefit.
- $240 Resy Credit: When you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card for eligible purchases with U.S. Resy restaurants, you can earn up to $20 each month in statement credits. Enrollment required.
- $120 Rideshare Credit: Earn up to $10 back in statement credits each month after you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card to pay for U.S. rideshare purchases with select providers. Enrollment required.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
- With your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, receive upgrade priority over others with the same Medallion tier, product and fare experience purchased, and Million Miler milestone when you fly with Delta.
- Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees. Enjoy international travel without additional fees on purchases made abroad.
- $650 Annual Fee.
- Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees