SD › Tahiti › Best Overwater Bungalows
Updated: November 2, 2020 • Written by Roger Wade of the Water Villa Resort Guide
Most villas with overwater bungalows target couples and honeymooners but these resorts are great for families and have the best kid-friendly pools, activities, and amenities. And just as important, they value their family guests so you won’t be made to feel like you don’t belong there.
The 5 Best Overwater Bungalows for Families in the Maldives
1. Lily Beach Resort And Spa – Maldives
Hotel phone: +960 668-0013
The Lily is one of the best luxury resorts in the Maldives in any category. Fortunately, they’ve got families in mind too, with 2 kids’ pools in addition to 2 larger pools. They also have a well-run kids club called Turtles. The Lily is an all-inclusive basis that helps keep costs predictable. Even the smallest 56 water villas here are huge, at 969 sq ft (90 m²), so there’s plenty of room to spread out. The largest class of water villas come with 24-hour personalized butler service.
2. Constance Halaveli – Maldives
Hotel phone: +960 666-7000
Each of the 57 huge water villas at the Contance Halaveli Resort has its own plunge pool on its private deck overlooking the crystal-clear lagoon below. Obviously not a good choice for toddlers (most resorts don’t allow very young children in water villas anyway) but a perfect choice for older kids and their parents. This highly-rated resort also has a large main swimming pool and a spectacular sandy beach that’s perfect for swimming. Of course there’s a kids’ club, and also pedal boats, beach volleyball, and excellent kid-friendly snorkeling.
3. Kuramathi Maldives – Maldives
Hotel phone: +960 666-0527
One of the largest private-island resorts in the Maldives, the Kuramathi Island Resort has 70 water villas and 226 beach and garden rooms and suites, with a popular all-inclusive plan available. A resort of this size can afford to have a wide range of activities for younger children as well as for teens, and that’s exactly what they offer here. The 20 smaller water villas are still quite large, but the 50 larger ones each come with its own Jacuzzi, which will be popular with the whole family. There’s also nearly a dozen restaurants, so those in the mood for nearly anything can find it here.
4. Kanuhara Maldives – Maldives
Hotel phone: +960 662-0044
With only 20 water villas in addition to 75 island villas, the Kanuhara Resort is one of the few 5-star private island hotels that caters especially to families. There’s a kids club and fun tubes as well as table tennis a games room, tennis courts, and beach volleyball, in addition to a long list of other water sports and activities. The water villas here are enormous, at 1,345 sq ft (125 m²), and each comes with a personal villa host. For those who can afford it, there are few Maldives resorts that could even hope to compete with the Kanuhara for a range of family activities.
5. Anantara Dhigu Maldives Resort – Maldives
Hotel phone: 960 664-4100
5-star Maldives elegance for families, the Anantara Dhigu Resort & Spa has 38 overwater suites that are as big as many houses at 1,420 sq ft (132 m²). Each comes with an infinity-edge bathtub for two with a view of the lagoon for the parents, and a separate shower out on the deck that the young ones should enjoy. There’s a kids’ club here as well as a main infinity-edge pool, snorkeling, tennis, badminton, and even beachside yoga. Guests can choose from the 4 excellent restaurants at this resort, or the 4 other places to eat at the sister resort just a short (and free) boat ride across the lagoon.
The Best Overwater Bungalows for Families in Bora Bora and Tahiti
1. Le Méridien – Bora Bora
Hotel phone: 689 4060-5151
While most Bora Bora resorts are better suited to the honeymoon crowd, a few make provisions for families. Leave it to this high-end French-owned chain to be the best, with a dedicated children’s program as well as a huge pool, pedal boats, and a turtle sanctuary. The 85 overwater bungalows are quite large at 650 sq. ft (60 m²), and each comes with a glass floor section so you can easily observe the sea life swimming immediately below the your room.
2. Le Bora Bora by Pearl Resorts – Bora Bora
Hotel phone: 689 4050-8445
Another of the few Bora Bora resorts that have families in mind, the Bora Bora Pearl Beach Resort has a swimming pool and great snorkeling as well as mini golf, a game room, bacci ball on its sandy beach, ping pong, and much more. There are also a variety of restaurants that should suit any eater. The 50 overwater bungalows are a roomy 657 sq ft and each comes with either a kingsize bed or two twin beds in addition to another single bed. You also get a DVD player, CD player, and satellite TV to help keep everyone entertained during the quiet evening times.
3. Tahiti Ia Ora Beach Resort – Tahiti
Hotel phone: 689 4047-0707
A bit more modest than the Bora Bora location, the Ia Ora Beach Resort is also much more affordable and easier to reach – just a short ride from the main Tahiti Airport. The resort boasts the South Pacific’s largest sand-bottom lagoon swimming pool and offers beach volleyball and great snorkeling. Better still, the convenient location puts you close to go-karts, horseback riding, 4X4 mountain safaris, and a long list of activities that are very kid-friendly.
I'm Santorini Dave. I started this site in 2011 with a short article on tips for visiting Santorini with kids. We're now a small team of writers and researchers dedicated to providing the best travel content on the internet. We focus on 
Are there any cheap but nice overwater bungalows for a family of 4?
Beth
Sorry to say but overwater bungalows are never cheap. And doubly so for overwater accommodations for families.
Hi do you know of any lovely “over water” hotels that have rooms for a family of 5 in Bora Bora? Thanks
Sasha
The two-bedroom suites at the Four Seasons Bora Bora easily sleep 5.
Hi – that’s for a great article. Do you know of any resorts that cater for a family of 5? We have twins that are 7 and toddler who’s 3.
Many thanks, Sarah
Try the Family Ocean Suite (with private pool) at Ayada Maldives.
I did a search for over water bungalows that sleep 6 people. It’s only showing me family friendly ones. Do you know if there are overwater bungalows available that can sleep 6 adults?
Tiffany
The Grand Konotta Villa (with private infinity pool) at the Outrigger Konotta Resort has 3 bedrooms and 3 king beds. In theory, it will sleep a group of 10 but is perfect for a group or family of 6.
Are there any Maldive resorts where a 9 month old would be allowed to stay in a water bungalow?
Kelly Bosiocic
The Coco Bodu Hithi allows young children in their overwater villas.
Do you know if the Anantara Dhigu resort allows young children (age 4 and 2) in the over water villa?
Safdar
Children under the age of 6 are not allowed to stay in the overwater bungalows at Anantara Dhigu and can only stay in the beach villas (still pretty darn nice).
Thank you for this wonderfully helpful website. It’s been so much help over the years on visits to Greece, New York, and Paris.
We are considering a trip to the Maldives with our family of 4 (a son and daughter ages 9 and 11). This will be a once in a lifetime vacation and we want to pick one of the best months to visit the Maldives. We’ll be traveling from London and then returning through Singapore and Dubai. When would you suggest would be the best time to go to the Maldives?
Thank You So Much!
Anne
The Maldives are a year-round destination so I wouldn’t have the time of year be a make or break criteria. Generally the best (and driest) weather is from late December or early January until April. The wet season is from May until November or early December. But there are still many people that love visiting the Maldives outside of the dry season. For 1, it’s cheaper in the off-season. 2, sea life is more active and snorkeling more interesting in the off-season (though the water is usually clearer from January to April). If you decide to visit in the high season and especially during the weeks around Christmas and New Years be sure to book resorts many months in advance. Good luck.
How would you suggest booking a resort? This is a big splurge for us and while we’re prepared to spend for good luxury we’d like to get the best rate possible. What would you suggest for finding the best room rates? Thank you, William
Booking.com is what I use and recommend. You’ll find better rates than booking directly with the resorts and it’s just much easier to use than many other sites. Plus free cancelations for most hotels allows you to book multiple places well in advance and then cancel the ones you don’t need – and the cancelations themselves are very easy to do when all your bookings are in one place unlike if you had booked separately through different hotels and had to remember and contact each and every hotel through email. Hope that helps.
Wow. Great picks – I’d heard of many of these resorts but didn’t know which ones were good for my young family. One question, when should we book our suite for a January visit to the Maldives?
Thanks!
Lucas
These resorts are often booked 6 months to a year in advance. I would book as soon as possible as the family-sized suites and bungalows are in high demand and are often the first to sell out.
Thanks for such nice & useful information about resort and family vacation resorts.