26 Overwater Bungalows You Can Book With Points and Cash Upgrade [2022]

• Hilton Maldives Amingiri in the Republic of the Maldives accepts reservations starting July 2022. The standard award room is booked into the One-Bedroom Overwater Pool Villa. 
• Hyatt has a new overwater bungalow: Alila Kothaifaru Maldives in the Republic of Maldives is opening in April 2022 as a Category 7 World of Hyatt property! You can now book and redeem Hyatt points for the stay there. 
• November 17, 2021 – Marriott’s overwater villas are coming to Saudi Arabia’s the Red Sea. The press release indicated that the St. Regis Red Sea Resort and the Red Sea EDITION will open in 2023. We’ll update this post once they can be booked using Marriott Bonvoy points.  

There’s no need for me to justify how stunning and luxurious Overwater Bungalows are. That’s why those Overwater Bungalow resorts can be costly to vacation at. The room rate can be sky-high, easily at least $1,000 per night. Fortunately for living points life, hotel rewards programs such as IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group), HILTON, HYATT, MARRIOTT, and RADISSON allow you to use reward points to redeem for free nights at the resorts that offer Overwater Bungalow room types around the globe.

Photo Credit: Overwater Bungalow at Conrad Maldives Rangali Island

IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group)

If you have an eligible Chase IHG credit card, Chase IHG Traveler Credit Card (no annual fee), Chase IHG Premier Credit Card ($99 annual fee), or Chase IHG Premier Business Credit Card ($99 annual fee), you will receive a 4th night free on points stays of 4 consecutive nights or more. Moreover, if you have the discontinued old IHG Rewards Club Select Credit Card ($49 annual fee), you also receive the 10% rebate on points stays.

• InterContinental Bora Bora Resort Thalasso Spa in French Polynesia – Emerald Overwater Villa – Award availability is difficult to find. 
• Dynamic Award Pricing.
• Top up your IHG Anniversary Free Night with IHG Rewards points when the reward night is above the 40,000 point redemption level.

IHG: Upgrade to Overwater Bungalow With Cash

• InterContinental Le Moana Bora Bora in French Polynesia – Beach Bungalow
• Dynamic Award Pricing.
• Top up your IHG Anniversary Free Night with IHG Rewards points when the reward night is above the 40,000 point redemption level.
• InterContinental Resort Tahiti in French Polynesia – Garden View Room
• Dynamic Award Pricing.
• Top up your IHG Anniversary Free Night with IHG Rewards points when the reward night is above the 40,000 point redemption level.
• [UPDATE] This resort is permanently closed as of May 2020 – InterContinental Resort And Spa Moorea in French Polynesia – Dynamic points pricing based on demand (seasons) (Lanai Room)
• Holiday Inn Resort Kandooma Maldives in Republic of Maldives – Standard Room
• Dynamic Award Pricing.
• Top up your IHG Anniversary Free Night with IHG Rewards points when the reward night is above the 40,000 point redemption level.
• Holiday Inn Resort Vanuatu in the Republic of Vanuatu – Low IHG points per night is a steal for this resort!
• Dynamic Award Pricing.
• Top up your IHG Anniversary Free Night with IHG Rewards points when the reward night is above the 40,000 point redemption level.
• InterContinental Maldives Maamunagau Resort in the Republic of Maldives – Award reservation is unavailable. Their start-out room type appears to be a Beach Pool Villa??
• Six Senses Laamu in the Republic of Maldives – IHG has acquired Six Senses, but this property has not been included in the IHG Rewards Club program.

Hilton

Hilton does not have an award chart anymore. They also got rid of hotel and resort categories, and they instead have a range of points required that are seasonal or peak/off-peak based on the cash price, a.k.a dynamic award pricing. 

Please remember that Silver, Gold, and Diamond elite members will receive every 5th night free on points stays of five consecutive nights or more.

• Hilton Maldives Amingiri in the Republic of the Maldives – The all-new suites resort opens and accepts reservations from July 2022. 110,000 Hilton points per night for the standard One-Bedroom Overwater Pool Villa.
• Conrad Maldives Rangali Island in the Republic of Maldives – 120,000 Hilton Honors points per night (Water Villa). If you see only Beach Villa available on points, be flexible and change travel dates. 
• Review: Hilton Diamond Upgrade and Benefits at Conrad Maldives Rangali Island Resort in the Maldives

Hilton: Upgrade to Overwater Bungalow With Cash

• Conrad Bora Bora Nui in French Polynesia – 89,000 Hilton Honors points per night (Garden View Suite). Possible complimentary upgrade for Diamond members. See the below review:
• Review: Hilton Diamond Upgrade and Benefits at Conrad Bora Bora Nui Resort in French Polynesia
• Hilton Moorea Lagoon Resort & Spa in French Polynesia – 80,000 Hilton points per night (Garden Room)
• Review: Hilton Diamond Overwater Bungalow Upgrades and Benefits at Hilton Moorea Lagoon Resort & Spa
• Your Guide to Booking Hilton Moorea Lagoon Resort & Spa With Points, Overwater Bungalow Upgrade Fees, And Benefits For Hilton Honors Diamond Elite Members
• SAii Lagoon Maldives, Curio Collection by Hilton in the Republic of Maldives – max 85,000 Hilton points per night. Sky Room with sea view and private terrace. 
• Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi in the Republic of Maldives – max 120,000 Hilton points per night. Beach Villa with Pool.
• DoubleTree by Hilton Noumea Ilot Maitre Resort in Noumea, New Caledonia – starting at 48,000 Hilton Honors points per night. King Garden Bungalow. 

Hyatt

Hyatt is pretty generous for award night redemption using 100% Hyatt points. The resort fees are waived when you redeem complete Hyatt points at any Hyatt resort. This benefit, however, does not apply to Hyatt points + cash bookings.

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Please note that Hyatt benefits are not included with stays at Small Luxury Hotels (SLH). This includes complimentary parking on free night awards, club lounge access, complimentary bottled water, waived Resort or Facility fees, etc.

Hyatt currently does not have a property that allows booking points into an overwater bungalow.

Hyatt: Upgrade to Overwater Bungalow With Cash