10 Cheap Bungalow Resort in the World in 2016

1 – AVANI Sepang Goldcoast Resort – Malaysia

• Low season from US$129
• High season from US$149

 

Only fully opened since late 2011, the AVANI Sepang Goldcoast Resort (originally known as the Golden Palm Tree Resort & Spa) has 392 water villas, which is nearly four times as many as the second-most in the world. The water villas range from roomy to enormous, with the largest having 3 bedrooms. The resort completed a renovation in early 2014, after only being open 3 years, and rates are now a bit lower as well.

It’s located off the coast just south of the Kuala Lumpur Airport, so it could actually be a very cheap getaway when combined with an Air Asia flight from anywhere in the region. Reviews for the AVANI Sepang Goldcoast Resort had been quite average since it opened, but recently they have improved quite a bit so this one is a better bargain than before. There is no swimming in the lagoon below the water villas, unlike nearly all the others on this list. Do your research before booking this one.

2 – Reethi Beach Resort – Maldives

• Low season from US$268
• High season from US$406

 

With some of the best review scores in the Maldives, the Reethi Beach Resort is an unusual bargain for water villas. You might be disappointed to learn that the 30 water villas are in 15 structures, so each shares one wall with another. But that doesn’t mean that they are not private, and each is larger than you’d expect in this price range.

The resort itself has 114 total rooms in addition to 5 restaurants and 5 bars, which offers much more choice than most other resorts of this size. If this sounds interesting to you then read the reviews and you’ll probably be ready to book.

3 – Sun Island Resort And Spa – Maldives

• Low season from US$328
• High season from US$420

 

The Sun Island Resort & Spa has 68 semi-detached water bungalows in addition to its 358 island rooms and bungalows, making it among the very largest private-island resorts in the Maldives. The water bungalows here are a bit on the small side, but they are nicely appointed with luxury bathrooms and appealing private terraces over the lagoon.

A larger resort like this also comes with many benefits, including a long list of water sports and other family-friendly activities. There are also 9 different restaurants and bars, so even on a longer stay guests can avoid getting bored with the food service. The huge swimming pool as well as tennis courts, beach volleyball, and fitness club should appeal to guests looking to stay busy.

4 – Pangkor Laut Resort – Malaysia

• Low season from US$330
• High season from US$450

Speaking of Maldives-style, the Pangkor Laut is another private island with around 140 total rooms, including 45 overwater villas. The reviews here are excellent so the room rates are very appealing for those who can transfer through Kuala Lumpur or Singapore for the short flight to a nearby island.

The resort features 7 restaurants and bars and a huge list of included water sports and other activities. The spa here has an excellent reputation of its own, which helps make this a very popular destination for the honeymoon crowd from all over Asia.

5 – Cinnamon Dhonveli Maldives

• Low season from US$338
• High season from US$452

With 148 total villas including 60 over the water, the Cinnamon Dhonveli Maldives is one of a very few in the Maldives with its own surfing beach. The surfing packages cost a bit more, but it’s still a great deal for enthusiasts looking to add some waves to their tropical island holiday.

The reviews here are consistently very good so the value is high. Each overwater villa has a Jacuzzi tub among many other luxury features, so this is not a cut-rate resort by any means. The two restaurants and three bars also get good marks, and the nightlife here does as well.

6 – Ellaidhoo Maldives by Cinnamon

• Low season from US$341
• High season from US$442

The 24 water villas at the Ellaidhoo Maldives by Cinnamon are in 12 structures, so each does share a common wall with another unit. Still, guests get a lot of privacy as each room has its own terrace that doesn’t overlook the others. The resort also has 88 island bungalows, and 3 restaurants and bars from which to choose.

Reviews here are good and the rate includes breakfast daily, so it’s one to consider in this lower price range. Another benefit here is that it’s close enough to the main Maldives airport to allow for speedboat transfers, which are cheaper and more flexible than the sea-plane transfers that most other Maldives resorts require along with booking.

7 – Berjaya Langkawi Resort – Malaysia

• Low season from US$349
• High season from US$427

The 47 overwater chalets at the Berjaya Langkawi Resort are more tightly packed than most other resorts, but they are luxurious and quite large on the inside. This resort has 350 total rooms, including Rainforest Chalets that are similar inside except they are perched among the trees on the side of a mountain.

The complication for most people could be the location, which is on Langkawi Island in northern Malaysia. It might sound hard to reach, but it’s actually similar to the Maldives in that you have to take at least two flights to reach most resorts. Especially if you are in or near Southeast Asia, this is one to consider.

8 – Royal Huahine Resort – Huahine, South Pacific

• Low season from US$359
• High season from US$383

Currently the cheapest overwater bungalow resort in the South Pacific, the Royal Huahine Resort is also one of the few to claim only 3 stars as opposed to the 4- or 5-stars that nearly all other overwater resorts offer. The 17 overwater bungalows here are all quite large, however, and they are set over a beautiful calm lagoon on a small island not far from Bora Bora.

The resort has 18 less expensive rooms on the island, so the whole place is quite modest in size. Still, there is a wide variety of water sports and other activities that you’d expect to find at a luxury hotel in the tropics. Guests here pay less than in Bora Bora or Moorea, yet as long as they don’t expect a 5-star property, this one could be a great deal.

9 – Punta Caracol Acqua-Lodge – Panama

• Low season from US$360 (half board)
• High season from US$427 (half board)

Another very interesting “eco-resort,” the Punta Caracol Acqua-Lodge has 9 overwater suites in 3 different categories, and no other rooms. The best news might be that breakfast and dinner are included in the room rate, so this place probably deserves to be higher on the list of cheap overwater bungalow resorts.

Even the smallest class of overwater suites here is 2 levels with a king-size bed in an upper loft area, and a large private terrace out front. The main downside (for some people) is that this resort is quite remote, so it’s not the sort of place you can just pop by and get a room.

10 – Gangehi Island Resort – Maldives

• Low season from US$383
• High season from US$474

The Gangehi Island Resort features 8 Overwater Villas that are just off the island and 8 Overwater Deluxe Villas that are a bit farther out on the pier, in addition to 29 Island rooms. While the overwater villas may not look as pretty as some others on the outside, they are quite luxurious on the inside and well appointed with amenities.
Considering there are only 45 total rooms you might be surprised to find 2 different restaurants and an additional bar. Reviews here are consistently great, which is another small surprise considering the modest overwater room rates.