The unique experience of vacationing in a bungalow over water no longer requires you to travel to far-off and exotic locations halfway around the world like Tahiti or the Maldives. Jamaica is the newest entrant to the exclusive list of countries offering a high-end luxurious escapade for people looking to live the experience.
The Sandals Royal Caribbean Resort in Montego Bay has the very first overwater bungalow in Jamaica. Prices start from around $2,200 per night, depending on which time of the year you visit. However, we recommend booking the property well in advance in order to get the best deals and updated prices. More on that later!
Available Accommodation Options
There are 5 overwater bungalows at Sandals Jamaica, which was inaugurated in December 2016, and remains sold out more than a year in advance. The property is set to receive another 12 bungalows in the coming years.
Keeping this huge rush in mind, Sandals Resorts has decided to add more bungalows to the three other resorts in the area, namely the Sandals Royal Plantation, Sandals Whitehouse/South Coast and the Sandals Grande St. Lucian.
The Villa
The Sandals overwater villas have close to 2000sq/ft of living space both inside and out, which includes a combined living/bedroom, a small kitchen, a spacious master bath, and a large outdoor deck facing the Caribbean and screen from the public eye.
The overwater bungalows are smaller than the beach resort, with most bungalows featuring combined bed and bath amenities. While all the overwater villas share the oceanfront view, a few bungalows face back towards the land.
King-sized teak beds covered in Egyptian linen face the large sliding door overlooking the ocean. These doors can be pulled all the way back to create a virtual air wall and allow the ocean breeze and the sun to filter into the villa.
Just beside the bed on the ground is a glass floor exposing the sand and the ocean ecosystem below. The villas stand on hurricane-proof footings above the gentle sea waves, and you can also enjoy the view from the ocean-facing comfortable recliners on the deck.
The Villa bathrooms are nearly as large as the bedroom, which are designed for both comfort and convenience. The 227 Royal Caribbean is a couples only resort, and the amenities include vanities for him and her. A separate water closet includes a bidet and toilet, while the walk-in closet has sufficient room for all her clothing and shoes.
Every villa has a dedicated butler assigned from the moment the guests arrive, and their duties include services such as unpacking your belongings and neatly arranging them in the closet, and even pressing your wrinkled clothes as required.
The Butler Service
The Butler service at the Sandals Royal Caribbean is a team effort, and one of the highlights of the villa stay. Considering the relative isolation of the water villas from the primary property, guests will find themselves relying on their butler throughout the course of their stay, from bringing in their morning coffee to serving the evening cocktail, to room service and diner reservation, as well as all activities both on and off the property.
We recommend that you take full advantage of the butler service that is available round the clock. Upon arrival, guests are handed over a cellphone through which they can contact their butlers 24×7. Two people work round the clock in shifts to ensure that the guests get everything that they need, even during the wee hours of the night!
Your butler is your guide, waiter, errand boy, personal assistant and companion on your trip and will accompany you in all endeavors within the property. The butler service is the key element to enjoying a truly luxurious vacation in Jamaica. Imagine an authentic white glove service with you basking in the sun!
The Evening Escapade to the Deck
You might want to slide those huge doors shut after sunset to avoid those annoying mosquito bites at night. But apart from sleeping, you will end up spending the rest of your day on the upper and lower decks, which offers a bunch of relaxation spaces.
You have cushioned chairs neatly arranged around a stone table that has a tic-tac-toe on top, apart from a padded couch under a shade that makes an interesting proposition for a quick afternoon siesta. If you are looking for an even tan, the rope hammock is the prime spot to catch some cool ocean breeze while soaking in the warmth of the tropical sun.
There are a few couple showers on the deck that offer a prelude to romance or a quick cooldown from the sun’s heat, while couples can also share the infinity pool overlooking the ocean. The only complaint that guests might have is the absence of a heated pool, which would have eased those nighttime swim sessions.
The water-filled lounge chairs on the lower tier of the Deck offers a true sense of oblivion, as this is the farthest that you are going to get from all the hustle of the main resort. This is the perfect place to enjoy a tan while gulping down a few chilled cocktails.
However, be careful of sipping one too many, as the staircase leading back to the top tier does not have railings on them, and a misaligned step will most likely end up with you getting all soaked in brine!
Summary
Waking up to the first rays of the sun overlooking the Caribbean beach is an experience of a lifetime, and the overwater bungalows of Jamaica makes the view all the more special! For booking details and availability, please visit the official Sandals Website, and if you are interested, do make a reservation well in advance as these villas sell like hot cake and are gone before you know it!
What are your views on staying at an overwater bungalow in Jamaica? Let us know what you think in the Comments Section below!
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