Best Jamaica Overwater Bungalows That We’ve Visited
Move over Maldives, overwater bungalows in Jamaica are a lot closer than you think! Why travel for days to the other side of the world when there are better options just a short flight away in the Caribbean for a fraction of the price.
We personally went to the top three overwater bungalows around Jamaica to see if they’re worth the price. My overall favorite is Sandals Caribbean Cay because of the all-inclusive amenities, location, and 5-star butler service.
That said, they all have their pros and cons, but at the end of the day it also depends on your preferences and budget. Fear not though because we’ll cover all of it. I also have some insider tips so you get the best deals possible to make it more affordable!
Best Overwater Bungalows In Jamaica
Sandals South Coast Overwater Bungalows
WHITEHOUSE, JAMAICA
Price Per Night/Per Person:
$1,599 Per Night
Number Of Bungalows:
12 Bungalows
Distance From Airport:
40 Miles
Number Of Restaurants:
10 Restaurants
Resort Mood:
Relaxed
Number Of Bars:
7
We went to Sandals South Coast last year and fell in love with the laid back vibe that’s authentically Jamaican. It’s set within a massive 500 acre nature research along a private white sand beach. There are no other people or vendors walking around. Just you and the tropical surroundings.
The overwater bungalows are set off on the side of the beach so they are more secluded. A security guard sits at the entrance of the heart shaped pier to ensure only bungalow guests have access. It’s not too far from the main resort area but you can request a golf cart ride anywhere around the property.
A big reason I like the bungalow setup here is because all of them have stunning views. If you can swing it though, bungalows four through eight are the ones that face directly out into the Caribbean.
Additionally, there’s a lot of space between them which affords a lot of privacy from your neighbor. Even when we were out on the deck enjoying the soaking tub and hammock we didn’t see anyone.
We’ve stayed in bungalows in the Maldives that had ants all over and thatched roofs that seemed like they may blow away at any moment. Not here though. The mahogany construction, glass floor, and chic finishes were top notch. Here’s our quick video tour.
Key Considerations For Sandals South Coast Bungalows:
- One of the most affordable overwater bungalow options in Jamaica, and is the cheapest bungalow that Sandals offers
- Each overwater bungalow comes with 24 hour butler service
- The resort has 10 restaurants , 7 bars, and 4 pools to choose from
- Bungalow is stocked with top shelf liquor and bar essentials that’s restocked daily
- South Coast is about an hour and a half drive from the airport (private transfers are included)
- Tons of water sports like scuba, skiing, tubing, snorkeling, kayaking, paddleboarding, and more.
- There are designated beach cabanas for exclusive use of bungalow guests
- Exceptional nightly entertainment like fire dancers, beach parties, live music, and more
Who It’s Best For:
Sandals South Coast Overwater Bungalows are ideal for couples celebrating a special occasion that want a more affordable option with a laid back vibe, while still getting impeccable 5-star service from a dedicated butler.
Sandals Caribbean Cay Overwater Bungalows
MONTEGO BAY, JAMAICA
Price Per Night/Per Person:
$1,649 Per Night
Number Of Bungalows:
17 Bungalows
Distance From Airport:
4 Miles
Number Of Restaurants:
9 Restaurants
Resort Mood:
Luxury
Number Of Bars:
5
We have been to Sandals Caribbean Cay (formerly Sandals Royal Caribbean) 3 times now because it’s one of our favorite resorts in Jamaica overall. As the new name suggests, it’s a more intimate property located on a private white sand cay. The beach, pools, and restaurants are very peaceful.
But here’s the caveat. You also get full access to the neighboring Sandals Montego Bay, which is a little more lively with a much longer beach. It’s just a 5 minute ride away.
The one-of-a-kind feature with Caribbean Cay is that it has its own offshore island. This is where the Overwater Bungalows are located – something that’s not available anywhere else in the Caribbean (more like the Maldives). A quick two minute boat ride takes you back and forth.
We were fortunate enough to stay in the Overwater Villa last time we were here. Importantly, they have both Overwater Villas and Overwater Bungalows available. The villas are a bit larger with their own infinity pool, and they all face directly out to the sea. The bungalows still have the glass bottom floors, soaking tubs on the patios, and incredible views though. You can’t go wrong with either!
The open concept floor plan makes you feel immersed in the exotic setting. We loved opening up all of the doors and windows to feel the soft trade winds flow through the bungalow while soaking in the million dollar views. There is even a glass floor where we watched fish swim right under our feet!
Key Considerations For Sandals Caribbean Cay Bungalows:
- The closest location to the airport, only 10 minutes away
- Airport transfers in a BMW with VIP fast track through customs included
- Villas are 2,000 sq ft while the Bungalows are 1,100
- Incredible 24 hour butler service from Guild Of Professional English Butler trained staff
- The expansive deck features an infinity pool, overwater hammock, soaking tub, loungers outdoor shower, and stair access directly into the water
- Private offshore island has multiple pristine beaches, a beach club, and pool.
- Shared access with Sandals Montego Bay so you get 21 restaurants to choose from
Who It’s Best For:
The bungalows at Sandals Caribbean Cay (formerly Royal Caribbean) are ideal for couples that want the ultimate in luxury with your own private island, infinity pool, and dedicated butler service. It’s also very quick to get to with a short flight and only a 10 minute transfer from the airport.
Princess Senses The Mangrove Bungalows
GREEN ISLAND, JAMAICA
Price Per Night/Per Couple:
$3,180 Per Night
Number Of Bungalows:
14 Bungalows
Distance From Airport:
35 Miles
Number Of Restaurants:
14 Restaurants
Resort Mood:
Social
Number Of Bars:
14
Princess Senses The Mangrove has an admittedly different vibe than the Sandals Resorts because it’s connected to the family friendly Princess Grand resort as well – so it’s effectively two resorts in one, half is adults only and the other half for families. This also means it’s significantly bigger with over 1,000 rooms, so it’s not as intimate.
They offer two types of overwater villas, the Princess and the standard Overwater Villa. The Princess is about 860 sq ft while the Princess is about 1,075 sq ft.
We stayed in the Princess Overwater Villa for 3 nights. Aside from being larger, they’re located on the very end of the pier so they have the best view (there are only two of the Princess Villas). Which is also a consistent problem I heard regarding the standard villas – the views are somewhat obstructed by the neighboring structures because of the way they’re oriented.
We found our villa to be very clean and the service was excellent. I believe the service at Sandals was better, but it was still good here. You communicate via WhatsApp with your butler. The other thing to note is the water is very shallow around the bungalows so it’s pretty much not possible to swim around. The beach in general was more rocky with some seaweed.
You do get some Platinum Perks by staying in the villas, however. The hydrotherapy treatment in the spa is a nice touch. There’s access to ala carte restaurants, private beach and pool areas, and exclusive bars too. It’s a nice touch, but I don’t think I would pay extra for them if it wasn’t included with the villas already.
Key Considerations For Princess Senses The Mangrove Bungalows:
- The resort is a little over an hour from the Montego Bay Airport, you get free transfers when staying in the booking. There was a bit of a delay to coordinated when we landed, but not horrible.
- Dedicated butler service is included
- There are only 2 Princess Villas and 12 regular villas – the regular villas do not have too much privacy and or good views
- A nice infinity pool on all of the villas
- Shared access with the Princess Grand resort so you get more variety, but that is also not an adults only property
- The Platinum benefits include additional restaurants, pools, beach area, and other perks that are nice
Who It’s Best For:
The overwater villas at Princess Senses The Mangrove are ideal for couples want to stay at a larger resort that has more variety in restaurants, bars, and pools.
Overwater Bungalows Deals In Jamaica
As promised, I wan’t to share some tips on getting the best price on overwater bungalows. They are notoriously expensive, so here are my favorite ways to make them more affordable.
- Location: To start with, Overwater Bungalows in Jamaica are significantly less expensive than places like the Maldives. There are tons of cheap flights into Montego Bay and the flight time is only 1 hour and 45 minutes from Miami. We got our roundtrip flights for only $295 (compared to $1,700 and 25 hours when we flew to Malé). Then take into account that bungalows in the Maldives cost upwards of $5,000 per night and often times aren’t even all-inclusive – getting a bungalow in the Caribbean was a no brainer for us.
- Timing: Traveling during low season of shoulder season can lead to huge savings in not only the resort but also flights – this is generally April through early December. Late December to March is the busiest time where prices will be the highest and tons of crowds. Even last minute deals can be available if you are flexible enough to book 3 weeks or less before check-in.
- Resort Specific Deals: Sandals has the 777 Deal that can sometimes feature the overwater bungalows and you can get a steal. Each resort will also have seasonal sales (sometimes up to 60% off) going on that can have discounted prices depending on the number of nights you stay. If you keep an eye on them, you can usually at least get bigger discounts or added perks.
- Military Discount: Sandals has the service member discount where all service members, veterans, FEMA employees, and first responders get 10% off. Princess Senses does not offer that unfortunately.
- Loyalty Programs: Sandals has the Island Insiders Club and Princess Resorts has MyPrincess Rewards. You can get discounts on your current booking, or at the very least, you will accumulate points to use toward your next booking.
- Split Stay Bookings: I get a lot of folks that have sticker shock from the price of Overwater Bungalows. If you want the experience of the bungalows for just a few nights, you can split your booking between that and another room. For example, you can stay for 3 nights in the bungalow and 4 nights in a another suite so that the total price is much lower. I’ve done this a lot, but you’ll need to contact me directly to create such a booking because it’s not available online.
My Conclusion
After staying at all three overwater bungalows in Jamaica, my top choice is Sandals Caribbean Cay in Montego Bay. Here you can have the biggest overwater villa with an infinity pool on a private island and it’s super easy to get to – absolutely the best! The drawback is it’s a bit expensive, so my fallbacks would be to get the regular overwater bungalows there or the bungalows Sandals South Coast, which are more affordable. The villas at Princess Senses are nice, but I would say it’s only worth it if you get one of the Princess Villas. The regular villas there are not too big and they don’t have nice views that you would expect, especially for the price. Hopefully this help, but feel free to message us with any questions!
Frequently Asked Questions
Are there any overwater bungalows in Jamaica?
Yes, there are currently three all-inclusive resorts offering overwater bungalows in Jamaica (Sandals Caribbean Cay, Sandals South Coast, and Princess Senses The Mangrove). The most popular is generally Sandals Caribbean Cay because it is located in Montego Bay which is very easy to get to and the bungalows are situated on a private island that closely resembles the bungalows of the Maldives.
How much are overwater bungalows in Jamaica?
All-inclusive overwater bungalows in Jamaica range from $2,300 per night to over $3,500 per night depending on the time of year and type of bungalow you choose. This price compares favorable to other destinations like the Maldives that can easily cost over $5,000 per night and the flights routinely cost over $1,500.
BEST SANDALS RESORTS
Our Favorite Jamaica Overwater Bungalows
Sandals Royal Caribbean
Sandals South Coast
Sandals Grande St. Lucian
Sandals Royal Barbados
