7 Places like Bora Bora (with Overwater Bungalows)

Posted In: Honeymoon Destinations, Overwater Bungalows

By Jim Campbell | Updated on February 12, 2024


For many travelers, Bora Bora is like a dream come true. However, since only a handful of people visit this paradise each year, many others look for places like Bora Bora.

It is in French Polynesia and is the most popular island in the entire South Pacific. With its mesmerizing turquoise lagoon and amazing volcanic views, it offers something that other places don’t.

It’s a gem of a place that not many people have visited. This secluded and luxurious forest island is truly a magical place.

If you cannot visit the place for some reason, you might want to look for substitutes for Bora Bora. Let’s look for some places like Bora Bora that you can visit.

Top 7 Places like Bora Bora

To find places like Bora Bora, we need to look for places that are islands with raw scenery and sandy beaches. The places also need to have coral reefs and beautiful lagoons.

Bora Bora also has friendly locals and luxurious villas and restaurants. A lot of these villas are over-the-water bungalows. And that’s the main charm of this place.

Such bungalows in Bora Bora are pretty expensive. We’ll try to find places that are cheaper and easily accessible. Let’s find some amazing island destinations for your honeymoon or vacation.

Sandals in Jamaica

The resort chain, Sandals, has seven resorts in Jamaica but the most premium suites are available at Sandals Royal Caribbean.

Sandals Royal Caribbean is an adults-only resort in Montego Bay. If you’re looking for a true island adventure, this is where you should be. It offers two over-the-water bungalow options.

The most premium one is on a private island and offers an infinity pool and a butler. The second one is a honeymoon bungalow that’s also on a private island. Both of them have glass floors so it feels like you’re floating on water.

This resort is the closest you’ll get to Bora Bora without actually going there. You can perch atop a nest that’s standing on water. Take a ferry ride or walk on the deck to your villa.

And the best thing about Sandals resorts is that everything is included in the price you pay. So you need to pay once and enjoy all the unlimited facilities.

In Bora Bora, you’ll need to book a room and then pay for the food and drinks separately. Not in Sandals. Leave your budget stresses (and other stresses) at home. Just book a room with all-inclusive prices and have fun throughout your stay here. Your food, drinks, water activities, and just about everything is already included in the price.

Sandals South Coast also offers over-the-water bungalows in Jamaica. Make sure you check that option too. Both resorts offer similar honeymoon villas.

Reethi Beach Resort in Maldives

With azure waters, pristine beaches, adventurous activities, and beautiful and exotic weather, Maldives is an amazing substitute for Bora Bora. It’s easy to reach and a popular destination among tourists.

It carries a unique tropical charm that reflects elegance and luxury. There are many breathtaking resorts here and Reethi is one of them.

Reethi resort in Maldives has 30 over-the-water villas. It’s situated on a beautiful blue lagoon and offers the opportunity to view the ocean up close.

It’s among the few places like Bora Bora as it offers the perfect location for honeymooning couples. Reethi beach is a serene and tranquil place that will make sure your memories last a lifetime.

Stay in a semi-detached villa and find true solace and intimacy with your loved one. The resort is a part of a biosphere reserve and is home to beautiful manta rays. The resort has 10 eateries and bars where you can go and have a bite or a drink – whatever your heart desires.

When you visit the Maldives, make sure you check out the coral reefs. These colorful reefs are a large part of the marine ecosystem in the Maldives.

Likuliku Lagoon Resort in Fiji

Fiji consists of over 300 islands in South Pacific. It has beautiful coral reefs and a rugged landscape. With beautiful shorelines and swaying palm trees, Fiji is the perfect choice for people looking for places like Bora Bora.

Fiji has clear water lagoons and excellent architecture. Likuliku Lagoon Resort is a popular destination in Fiji that has over-the-water huts where you can stay and enjoy the stunning scenery.

The resort has a raw natural look that’s popular among travelers. It carries the traditional Fiji architecture and the resort looks like a Fijian village. With hand-woven thatches made from natural materials to the sprawling ceilings, you can experience a rich ancient Fiji culture here.

It’s an adults-only resort that offers authentic over-the-water bures (Fijian cottages). The resort has the richness of an ancient heritage with lively touches of modernism.

Each bure of the resort has hardwood floors and traditional architecture, along with direct lagoon access. These bures sit above the striking coral reef and have private balconies where you can relax and enjoy the views.

These luxurious, exclusive, and private bures will make you feel as if you’re in Bora Bora as you enjoy your stay in Fiji. Apart from the private areas, the resort also has a shared lounge area.

El Dorado Resort in Riviera Maya

Riviera Maya in Mexico is popular for its attractive coastline and alluring resorts. It also has a rich culture as it holds the key to Mayan history. Whether you want to visit it for its vivid heritage, mysterious cenotes, or because you’re looking for places like Bora Bora, the region has a lot to offer.

El Dorado resort is adults-only and offers over-the-water villas. If you want to wake up with gorgeous turquoise waters beneath you, consider visiting Riviera Maya.

Enjoy beautiful sunrise and sunsets here as you live the best days of your life. Just sit on your private deck and watch as the sun goes down in its golden glory. The place also offers outdoor showers so you can have a romantic and intimate time with your loved one.

Just like Sandals, El Dorado also offers glass flooring so you can enjoy walking on water.

When you’re here, you can experience authentic Mexican luxury. Since it’s an adults-only resort, it is mostly frequented by honeymooners.

It might be a bit costly for some travelers but with the kind of luxury it provides, it’s loved by people all over the world. So if budget is not a constraint and you’re looking for places like Bora Bora, this can be a good alternative.

Soneva Jani in Maldives

Maldives is a beautiful place that offers coral reefs, extensive lagoons, and amazing natural beauty. It has got calm and warm waters that make swimming all the more fun. If you’re looking for places like Bora Bora, Maldives should be among your top choices.

Soneva Jani is a resort in this beautiful country that offers many modern amenities. Enjoy your stay in an over-the-water bungalow in this resort. The indulgence of the sparkling blue lagoon is what makes this resort so irresistible. If you’re an experience-seeker, this can be the perfect place for you.

The resort also helps you have access to its exciting watersports facilities and marine experiences. It has several over-the-water residences and you can choose from one to four-bedroom setups.

The master bedrooms in these suites have sliding roofs so you can have the pleasure of sleeping under the stars. The suites also have waterslides that go straight to the lagoon.

The resort is famous for providing signature experiences. Whether you want adventure or a spiritual journey, you can find it here at this resort. Apart from this, you’ll also find their iconic overwater cinema. It’s a silent cinema that you’ll have to enjoy through Bluetooth headphones.

Azule Paradise Resort in Bocas del Toro

Bocas del Toro is in Panama and offers the true Caribbean experience. It has lush rainforests, untouched beauty, and unique water sports activities. It has a typical small-town vibe – no rush, just enjoy life easy and slow.

Since you’re looking for places like Bora Bora, it is worth mentioning Azule Paradise resort here. It has over-the-water cottages that will help you relax and enjoy the ocean as you stay here. You can view the ocean up close and get panoramic views.

While it doesn’t offer all-inclusive deals, the resort does provide a package of three nights where your breakfast will be included.

Bocas del Toro is rich in native flora and fauna and the resort can help you explore it. Join their wildlife tour and you can see several animals including beautiful sloths in their natural habitats.

They also offer diving and snorkeling opportunities to interested customers. The over-the-water suites have glass-paneled doors that will take you to your private terrace. You can get a full view of astounding ocean waters from there.

And of course, you can behold beautifully golden sunsets from your room and enjoy this once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Six Senses in Vietnam

Six Senses resort sits on unique rock formations that give an illusion that it’s on a remote island. With sandy beaches, impressive landscapes, and big mountains in the background, it offers raw natural beauty that will take you to a magical land.

The over-the-water villas here have garden terraces or sundecks. These villas are on a mountain slope or between the rocks. Famous for their panoramic views, they let you view the ocean up close.

You can get one or multiple-bedroom villas on top of the water. Either way, you get spacious accommodation that offers seclusion and intimacy.

You can select the Rock pool villa that’s built directly on top of rocks on the Ninh Van Bay. Or you can choose the Water pool villa that overlooks the coral formations of the bay.

While you won’t get striking features like glass floors or sliding rooftops, the villas are built in a natural setting that makes them look distinct and offers a unique experience. Despite its raw and rugged look, you’ll get all the modern facilities here.

The resort also has hilltop and beachfront villas but if you’re looking for places like Bora Bora, you’d probably want an over-the-water experience.

How to Have a Luxurious but Affordable Vacation

If you’re looking for places like Bora Bora that can offer luxury while being within your budget, you’ll be happy to learn that there are many options.

To get the most out of your vacation, try to find accommodation that offers all-inclusive packages. When your food, drinks, and fun activities are covered in the plan, you don’t have to think about money every time you step out to take a bite.

Sandals is a popular resort chain that’s known for its all-inclusive deals. When you book a room at Sandals, everything you do at the resort is already paid for so you don’t have to think before having fun.

Sandals has several resorts all over the Caribbean region. And the best part is that all Sandals resorts will give you the impression that you’re in Bora Bora.

But if your heart is set on Bora Bora and you don’t want to go anywhere else, here’s a guide to having the best Bora Bora honeymoon.


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