How you can book an overwater bungalow with hotel points

If you have been saving hotel points, you might want to treat yourself to something special like an overwater bungalow. These famous rooms are commonly found in the Maldives, French Polynesia and Fiji (plus Disney World, if you count this unconventional option). They are built above a clear lagoon and are supported by stilts.

Although reaching these resorts may involve an international flight and a seaplane transfer to a remote private island, they are not exclusive to honeymooners with unlimited budgets. You can use your points and miles to book many overwater villas.

While these bungalows may require more points than a regular hotel room, the price may be worth it to try this unique experience. However, if you want to use points, be prepared to book a year or so out — these are some of the most coveted rooms in the major hotel loyalty programs. Some of the top hotel credit cards can also help you offset these costs.

Whether you’re dreaming of an island vacation in the Maldives or a tropical getaway in Fiji, here are 12 amazing overwater bungalows that you can book using points.

Hilton Honors

Hilton Honors offers overwater bungalows that can be booked using points, but the program’s rates can be extremely high.

For instance, the Hilton Moorea Lagoon Resort and Spa used to require 80,000 points per night for a standard king room with garden views, but it seems that option is no longer available. Premium room awards for a king overwater villa at the same resort now require 400,000 points or more.

Since these redemption rates are unattainable for most people (and typically offer inferior value for your Hilton Honors points compared to TPG’s valuations), your best bet is to skip this option. Instead, choose a comparable Hilton property in the Maldives.

Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi

Points per night: 150,000

The Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi is one of the priciest Hilton hotels that can be booked using points. Usually, a standard award night at this resort costs 150,000 Hilton Honors points. However, there is a high transfer fee of almost $1,000 per adult, including taxes. For children between 6 and 11, the fee is approximately $500.

With a standard award, you can stay in a reef villa, which is situated on land but features an outdoor deck and a private pool built over the water. These rooms regularly cost $2,000 or more per night, making them a terrific use of Hilton Honors points or a free night award if you can find standard award space.

Related: The 19 best Hilton hotels in the world

IHG One Rewards

IHG One Rewards offers three hotels that have overwater villas available for booking with points. The redemption rates for these villas range from 100,000 to 400,000 points per night, which is quite high. While you can earn IHG One Rewards points through credit card sign-up bonuses, even a 140,000-point bonus from the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card won’t cover more than two nights.

Before transferring your Bilt Rewards or Chase Ultimate Rewards points to IHG, compare the redemption rates on the Ultimate Rewards travel portal. If you have the Chase Sapphire Reserve, your points are worth 1.5 cents each for travel, so depending on the property you choose, it may be more advantageous to redeem your Ultimate Rewards through the Chase travel portal instead of transferring them to IHG so you can book a stay for fewer points.

InterContinental Bora Bora Resort & Thalasso Spa

Points per night: At least 201,000

You can reserve an overwater villa with a beach view at the InterContinental Bora Bora Resort & Thalasso Spa starting at 201,000 IHG One Rewards points per night. These spacious rooms provide over 1,000 square feet of space and direct access to the lagoon. They can accommodate either three adults or two adults and two children.

To reach the resort, a boat transfer is necessary, which costs $110 per person. This fee is reasonable compared to the transfer fees of other luxury resorts in the region, which can exceed $500 per person.

InterContinental Maldives Maamunagau Resort

Points per night: At least 235,000

The InterContinental Maldives Maamunagau Resort offers overwater pool villas for 235,000 IHG One Rewards points per night when there’s award space.

Know, though, that the seaplane fee here is steep. You can expect to pay around $900 per adult and $450 per child round trip, including taxes and fees.

Six Senses Laamu

Points per night: At least 180,000

Six Senses Laamu in the Maldives is one of the few overwater bungalow hotels with widespread availability. Each night will cost around 180,000 points per night when there’s award space; however, if you have the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card, you can use the fourth night reward to reduce the rate by 100,000 points. The paid rates at Six Senses Laamu range from $1,200 to $4,300 per night.

Before you book your stay, be sure to consider the transfer fees for your trip. Six Senses Laamu charges around $920 per person, including taxes, for a round-trip domestic flight and speedboat transfer to the hotel.

Related: The 19 best IHG hotels in the world

Marriott Bonvoy

Marriott Bonvoy has the most options for booking overwater villas compared to any other chain. There are nine Marriott hotels where you can reserve an overwater villa using points.

Although some of these properties do not include overwater villas in their standard award options, the number of additional points required for an upgrade is sometimes reasonably priced.

Remember, too, that many Marriott credit cards include free night awards either upon renewal or via spending. For example, the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card offers an 85,000-point certificate each year at your account anniversary. Since you can add up to 15,000 points to any Marriott certificate, you’ll often find it possible to apply them to many of the brand’s overwater bungalow properties.

Fiji Marriott Resort Momi Bay

Points per night: 41,000 to 67,000

The Fiji Marriott Resort Momi Bay is one of the more reasonable Marriott options. Standard rooms start at just 41,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night. At this rate, you can enjoy a room facing the surrounding lagoon.

If you prefer an overwater villa, be prepared to spend 150,000 to 200,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night. The exact rate may vary depending on your chosen dates, so make sure you search for specific dates before you transfer points to Marriott for this award.

Le Méridien Maldives Resort & Spa

Points per night: 58,000 to 80,000

When Le Méridien Maldives Resort & Spa started accepting reservations in 2021, it offered bargain award rates for overwater bungalows. The fifth-night-free benefit reduced the cost to just 24,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night.

The hotel charges around 10,000 Marriott Bonvoy points more for the sunrise overwater bungalow than its standard beach villa. If you’re short on points for the sunrise overwater bungalow, you can often offset this difference by paying $50 plus the points required for the introductory standard beach villa.

Keep in mind, seaplane transfers to the resort will set you back $515 per adult (those age 12 and older) or $258 per child (guests between 2 and 11).

The Westin Maldives Miriandhoo Resort

Points per night: 114,000 to 145,000

The Westin Maldives Miriandhoo Resort offers beach villas with private pools starting from 54,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night. However, if you’re interested in an overwater villa, expect to spend at least 114,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night.

Once again, be sure to budget for transfers to and from the resort. You’ll need to pay $500 per adult and $250 per child age 2 to 11 for round-trip seaplane flights.

The Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Islands

Points per night: 90,000 to 150,000

The Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Islands requires between 90,000 and 150,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night. The ocean pool villas, which are the standard rooms at this resort, are quite impressive, offering over 1,600 square feet of space and private pools.

Although the redemption rates are expensive, it is worth mentioning that the regular nightly rate for this property is typically around $2,700. However, you’ll need to pay a transfer fee of $678 per adult and $399 for kids 12 and younger for the 45-minute speedboat ride to the resort, even when redeeming points.

W Maldives

Points per night: 74,500 to 124,000

You can book fabulous overwater villas at the W Maldives for as little as 74,500 Marriott Bonvoy points per night. These villas come with outdoor decks featuring plunge pools and daybeds.

Similar to other resorts in the Maldives, you will need to pay a significant amount for transportation from the airport to the resort. The round-trip seaplane transfer costs around $650 per adult and $300 per child age 3 to 11, including taxes and fees.

The St. Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort

Points per night: 88,000 to 150,000

The St. Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort offers overwater bungalows that you book for the price of an introductory room. Each of the bungalows, which cost a minimum of 88,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night, has a private pool. There are also nets at the end of these bungalows so you can enjoy the sensation of floating over the ocean.

While the room rate is reasonable, be prepared to spend a substantial amount on round-trip seaplane transfers. To get to the resort, you’ll need to pay an additional $808 per person.

JW Marriott Maldives Resort & Spa

Points per night: 79,000 to 128,500

You can book an overwater sunrise bungalow at the JW Marriott Maldives Resort & Spa starting at just 79,000 Marriott Bonvoy points. Each of these rooms features a private pool, two daybeds and an outdoor sitting area. There’s also a large bathtub overlooking the ocean.

Like many other properties on this list, you’ll need to pay for the round-trip seaplane transfers to the resort. They’ll cost you $600 for adults and $360 for children between 2 and 11.

The St. Regis Bora Bora Resort

Points per night: 189,000 to 284,600

You can book an overwater superior villa at The St. Regis Bora Bora Resort for as little as 189,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night. The resort also offers reef-adjacent garden villas from 88,000 points per night.

Overwater villas here are spacious, offering at least 1,549 square feet of space, making them the largest overwater bungalows in French Polynesia. Select villas even feature jaw-dropping views of Mount Otemanu.

Related: The 26 best Marriott hotels in the world

Additional reporting by Ariana Arghandewal.