Imagine falling asleep to sea breezes and the sound of the surf, or waking to a sunrise over the water. A select number of resorts around the world have elevated the bedroom into a showroom, rewarding guests with spectacular one-of-a-kind views that make water and sky star attractions to create a slumber like no other. Here at the One & Only Reethi Rah Maldives resort sunset’s afterglow sets the mood for relaxation on a cabana bed perched on the deck of an overwater villa.
Cayo Espanto, Belize
What a way to end the day. Cayo Espanto is a private tropical island off the coastal city of San Pedro in Belize, where your waterfront villa opens to sea and sky. Just seven private villas with heated plunge pools are set on the four-acre island hideaway between palms and the sea. Each has a dedicated staff member ready to personalize your stay making your every wish a reality. As the sun sinks in the west, you can take a refreshing dip in your personal infinity pool before dinner is served in your private dining space. Under the stars, you’ll be retiring and sliding between fine Egyptian cotton sheets.
Banyan Tree Bintan Island, Indonesia
How’s this for a night light. Bedrooms at the Banyan Tree resort on Indonesia’s Bintan Island open to a private deck and pool, where mood lighting accentuates nighttime water views of the bay, and the open doors usher in the sounds of the sea breeze in the palm trees. Balinese-style villas built on stilts with thatched roofs feature earthy tones and a décor made of local Indonesian timber and traditional furnishings that establish a rustic yet luxurious feel. Surrounded by virgin rainforest and monkey-filled mangroves the sweet sound of wildlife is always present. Unwind with a traditional Balinese massage at the Banyan Tree Spa, walk the white sands of the private beach, or hike the rainforest.
Anantara Kihavah, Maldives
Perched between rainforest and reef, a villa at Anantara Kihavah Maldives enjoys ocean views across the framing waters of a private pool. Just behind, the lush foliage of Baa Atoll cradles the resort in a blanket of green. Snorkel with mantas and hawksbill turtles, dive the Yellow Wall teeming with an abundance of sea life where walls are dominated in soft corals of gold and yellow, dine on a deserted sandbank or the underwater restaurant where marine life passes by as you savor a gourmet meal. It’s the perfect place to dream about the outings you’ll take on the nearby reefs, which lie within a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve.
Las Ventanas al Paraiso, Baja California
Your personal oceanfront oasis awaits at Las Ventanas al Paraiso. This Rosewood resort sits halfway between San Jose del Cabo and Cabo San Lucas delivering a beachy desert experience with blue waters, soft sandy beaches and the desert and mountains as the backdrop. Pool suites at this Cabo San Lucas resort blend the indoors and outdoors seamlessly, making use of rich woods, hand-crafted furnishings and native stone to create a warm and inviting setting. Indulge in private butler service, lantern-lit dinners and spa treatments inspired by ancient healers of Baja. The beach and the blue waters of the Sea of Cortez lie just beyond the private pool.
Phuket Banyan Tree, Thailand
Talk about your glass houses. The Double Pool Villa at the Phuket Banyan Tree Resort surrounds sleepers with calming waters set within an encircling privacy wall. Dim the lights and you can drift off to sleep by the starlight reflected in the calm waters. Each villa comes with an infinity pool and a bedroom that floats on a wading pool. For spa lovers, you can opt for the Herbal Cuddle treatment in your private space that includes herbal baths, steam and infusions. During the daylight take in the lush surroundings on a bicycle, kayak around the lagoon and mangroves, learn the art of Batik painting or immerse yourself in the cultural heritage of Thailand and visit magnificent Buddhist temples.
Jade Mountain, Saint Lucia
The Galaxy Sanctuary at St. Lucia’s Jade Mountain sits between sea and sky. This elevated, open-air pool villa sits on a hillside above Anse Chastanet Bay, delivering spectacular views of the Piton peaks and the Caribbean Sea below. A total of 24 pool villas are reached via long individual suspended sky bridges leading to infinity and the separate villas. Fifteen-foot-high ceilings finished with crushed coral plaster, local hardwood furnishings created and chosen as one-of-a-kind pieces, beds with flowing mosquito netting adding romance and ambiance and hand-crafted tiles lining the pools work to create the intended celebration of earth, air and water. In the evening the 900- square-foot pool is illuminated with fiber optic lights where the color can be controlled by the guests. Each sanctuary has only three walls, the fourth is left open to the sky and deck.
One & Only Reethi Rah, Maldives
The only thing better than sleeping near the water is sleeping on the water, where you are lulled to sleep by the soft ripples of water against the pilings of your over-water bungalow. When daylight returns, you’ll be rested and ready to discover the underwater world right below your bedroom. Your private water villa features water-to-sky vistas from the king-sized bed and includes netted hammocks suspended over the sparkling water, a thatched roof verandah and a split-level wooden deck with loungers and access to the sea. Choose the ultimate villa with a pool and float day or night. If you are craving a walk in the sand, head to the main island where 12 beaches lie waiting.
Anantara Layan Phuket Resort, Thailand
No matter which pool villa bedroom you choose at the Anantara Layan Phuket Resort, you will be treated to ocean views across a small lawn, and the tranquil waters of a private pool. The resort is located on a secluded stretch of sand at Layan Beach on the Andaman Sea. Make plans for private torch-lit dining on the beach and then enjoy an evening dip before heading in to sleep. The resort is positioned within a national park on one side, so lush jungle vegetation is abundant. The opposing side is lined with golden sand beaches where you can order food and settle in for the day or head out to the sea in a kayak or paddleboard.
One & Only Palmilla, Los Cabos
At One & Only Palmilla, the waters of the Sea of Cortez create a stunning backdrop for open-air living spaces. Old World Mexican charm exudes in the hacienda-style architecture. Once a private home, now a 174-room resort sits on 55 acres where cliff-side havens offer sweeping sea views. Head to the 20,000-square-foot spa where private treatment rooms have outdoor beds and soaking tubs in preparation for shaman-led ancient healing rituals and the steam of a Temazcal. In winter months, migrating whales can be seen passing by offshore, and each night when the sun sets, the cool ocean air brings in scents of wild fig and mesquite into beachfront bed chambers.
Amanyara, Turks and Caicos
Sink into the bedding at the pavilions at Amanyara and it’ll seem like you are floating on water as you gaze up at the nighttime stars. Each pavilion is poised above the reflecting pool that surrounds the space where two terraces lead to an interior of teak, with a palette of taupe and cream. Glass doors on the adjacent bedroom can be left open when the weather is perfect for open-air sleeping. The resort is set within a nature preserve far removed from the lights and sounds of Provo’s resort district. Much of the coastline is limestone iron shore creating a level of seclusion where the half-mile beach is essentially private to hotel guests.
