They’ve been a standard in the South Pacific for decades: overwater bungalows, those standalone cottages perched right above the water with thatched roofs and glass floors. In the Caribbean, though, it wasn’t until 2016, when Sandals opened their first overwater villas in Montego Bay, that the concept really went mainstream.
In recent years, more overwater bungalows have been popping up in the Caribbean, from several more Sandals resorts (including new overwater bungalows at the Sandals St Vincent) to tiny boutique hotels on the Caribbean coast of Panama to, more recently, a handful of “Chairman Overwater Bungalows” at the Royalton Antigua resort.
This week, Marriott’s Autograph Collection brand added more overwater bungalows to the region’s portfolio.
They’re called Overwater Suites, and they are a collection of 12 overwater bungalows at the Royalton CHIC Antigua, which is part of Marriott’s Autograph Collection (and, more importantly, part of the All-Inclusive by Marriott Bonvoy collection).
It’s a big bonus for the Royalton CHIC, an adults-only, elevated resort concept that opened its doors earlier this year in Antigua, an island that’s arguably the Caribbean capital of luxury all-inclusive resorts. It’s an island where we’ve stayed countless times over the years and always noted the quality, diversity and uniqueness of Antigua’s all-inclusive product. That includes a resort we recently named the number one all-inclusive resort in the Caribbean.
So what do you get in one of these suites at the Royalton CHIC?
You get a private plunge pool, direct access to the sea, glass floors, personalized butler service and, well, about as romantic a room as you’ll find in the Caribbean.
You also get 24-hour room service, Wi-Fi, and even a liquor dispenser right in the unit.
There are actually three different suite categories: chairman, presidential and junior suites. The Chairman level can come in a two-bedroom configuration if you want to travel with another couple. All of the categories come with butler service.
Marriott, which first entered the all-inclusive space back in 2019, now boasts several dozen properties around the region — but this is the brand’s signature overwater option.
So what about the booking cost?
The entry-level overwater option, a “junior sunset overwater suite,” costs just under $2,200 per night, or about $15,399 including taxes and fees for several nights.
That price goes up to about $3800 per night for a chairman-level two-bedroom suite, and $26,599.93 for a week.