You can take a quick flight to Antigua instead.
There are a few travel experiences that tend to top most people’s bucket lists: an African safari, a sunset balloon ride over Turkey’s Cappadocia, a night beneath the dancing aurora borealis in Norway or Iceland, and an overwater bungalow stay somewhere tropical.
Overwater bungalows have become the pinnacle of luxury in warm-weather destinations; a hotel room standing above the water that quite literally brings the ocean to your doorstep. Not only do overwater bungalows tend to promise privacy, but they also afford you the privilege of being able to enjoy the ocean, a private deck, and, in many cases, an infinity pool, without the legions of other sunworshippers that tend to flock to seaside resorts.
Of course, with such a luxury often comes a lofty price tag. Many people tend to think of the Maldives when they imagine an overwater stay. Overwater bungalows in the Maldives can range from reasonable to eye-wateringly exorbitant, such as the $25,000-per-night John Jacob Estate at the St. Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort. When adding in the cost of flying to such a far-flung locale—on average, a flight from New York to the Maldives starts at $1200—it’s no wonder that overwater stays tend to sit on people’s travel lists for years and years.
Enter the Royalton Chic Antigua, which caught my eye with its overwater bungalows, offering a more reasonable alternative for U.S.-based travelers looking for a luxury Caribbean stay. On average, flights from NYC to Antigua start at $300 and take a little over 4 hours, compared to the 18+ hours it can take to reach the Maldives from New York. At the Royalton Chic Antigua—an adults-only, five-star resort—not only do you arrive in paradise quicker, but you’re bound to enjoy an overall cheaper stay in as beautiful a destination.
The Royalton’s overwater bungalows come with a king bedroom, glass-bottom floors, a spacious terrace with an infinity plunge pool, ladder access to the ocean, and, in some rooms, an overwater hammock. The room, itself, comes with thoughtful details, from branded Bulgari bath products to cozy bathrobes and slippers, but the true luxury is a dedicated butler there to offer personalized assistance, whether that means a morning mimosa, helping with your luggage, arranging an excursion, booking a dinner reservation at one of the many on-site restaurants, or even decorating your room for a special occasion, such as a birthday or anniversary. Should you want to leave your mini oasis for the larger resort, the overwater bungalows offer exclusive Diamond Club access, allowing guests to enjoy a private pool and beach area away from the rest of the resort.
In truth, I’m not much of a resort person. Most of my travels tend to avoid the spoon-fed experiences so often associated with all-inclusive resorts. But what I came to appreciate about the Royalton Chic Antigua is how its overwater bungalows gave the illusion of not being at a resort at all. Separated from the larger resort by a short walk down the beach, protected by a private security desk that ensures only overwater bungalow guests have access to the rooms, the bungalows are positioned on a wooden pier jutting out into the ocean, flanked by a private beach and a small bay to one side. While the Royalton Chic Antigua boasts “Party Your Way” signage for its adult-only guests, encouraging everyone to let loose and order a drink at the swim-up bar, over by the bungalows, it’s quieter and calmer. It’s a welcome change in vibe with an unwritten slogan that seems to suggest that over here, you can “relax your way.”
Feet dangling in my infinity pool, facing an uninterrupted view of the ocean ahead, I could almost forget I was staying at an all-inclusive resort entirely. After all, with the dedicated butler service, there was little need to venture beyond my haven aside from wanting to occasionally dress up and enjoy dinner with the masses. Instead, I spent four days, alongside my husband, feeling like some sort of bougie Robinson Crusoe, enjoying the privacy, quiet, and seclusion of having paradise at my doorstep. Coming from a city like New York, that peace and quiet proved to be the biggest luxury of all.
