![]() ![]() ![]() Of course, other destinations have done their best to catch up, and now there are whopping numbers of thatched-roof villas standing over not just the Caribbean Sea, the South China Sea, and the Indian Ocean, but lakes, too. Its homeland, the Islands of Tahiti, lays claim to nearly 900 of them, from Moorea (where the Sofitel forbids motorized activities to protect its pristine lagoon) and Tikehau (by night, sharks swim beneath Tikehau Pearl Beach Resort’s charming perches) to Rangiroa (Hotel Kia Ora’s ten bungalows boast some of the best views of all the islands) and Bora Bora, where Le Meridien’s Mount Otemanu–facing bungalows have the largest glass floors of all. In the last half-century the overwater bungalow has gone from simple to over-the-top opulent in some cases, although there are also plenty of very affordable, basic versions around the world. Now 50 years old, the iconic honeymoon hideaways, sought-after spots for not just romance but easy access to throngs of Technicolor sea creatures below, are looking better than ever. Their trio of bungalows at Bali Hai Hotel became a craze that spread to Bora Bora and beyond after all, the charming stilted cottages offered immersion into the magic of the sea, sans snorkel mask or air tank. At the time they assured the government that, like traditional Tahitians’ fishing huts, they would not harm the coral with their pandanus leaf–thatched roof structures, and that edict still holds true. In 1967, on the island of Raiatea-which, without a sandy beach, was proving a challenging sell for tourists-a trio of Californians known as the Bali Hai Boys conceived the game-changer of a dream accommodation: the overwater bungalow. ![]() It’s almost hard to imagine now, when the plane descent into one of these destinations displays a full spectrum of bungalows lined up along long pontoons, jutting out over the crystalline cerulean waters that made these places famous. Those seeking the ultimate island paradise in places like Fiji, the Maldives, and Tahiti had only two options: a hotel room or a villa on the beach. There was a time when highly coveted overwater bungalows were a figment of travelers’ imagination. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |