You have seen and read about the best overwater hotels and resorts, but have you ever heard about underwater resorts? Chances are that you have but the concept seemed so alien that you nipped the urge to check them out in the bud. However, we wanted to share our experiences and knowledge about these otherworldly or underworldly resorts and therefore, brought to you the top 10 incredible underwater hotels in the world.
When booking a room, our first priority is to go for one with a stunning view. Whether it’s overlooking the African plains or the New York City skyline, nothing beats a room that comes with stunningly beautiful views of the world beyond. There are however some accommodations that take “room with a view” to a whole other level, one that lies under the sea. From Dubai to Australia, there lie countless underwater resorts that offer their guests a chance to watch fish swim over them as they lounge in their comfy beds, all the while the gentle waves lull them to a sound sleep.
So, when booking your next trip take into consideration our list of the top 10 incredible underwater hotels in the world and book an accommodation that will offer you a unique experience on a whole other sea level.
Top 10 Incredible Underwater Hotels in the World
Top 10 Incredible Underwater Hotels in the World – A Quick Glance
1. Conard Maldives Rangali Island, Maldives – Most Luxe among the Top 10 Incredible Underwater Hotels in the World
Price – $9,999 per night
If you are trying to decide whether you should visit the Conrad Maldives Rangali Island, then try modifying your question to when and for how long you should visit the place because there are no ifs and buts when it comes to visiting this literal paradise on earth. This island resort in the Maldives is a work of art, offering stunning rooms overwater and equally gorgeous ones under the ocean. The Conard Maldives Rangali Island has the honor of being the world’s first underwater hotel that lies in the Indian Ocean and offers unparalleled views above and below the water.
The underwater residence at the Conard Maldives Rangali island is called The Muraka which translates to coral in Dhivehi. The Muraka is a luxe suite that debuted in the year 2018 and took the world by storm with its innovativeness and peculiarity. This luxurious suite is submerged more than 16 feet underwater and is a two-level structure encompassing above-the-water living and dining areas and an underwater luxe room. The area above water comes with two bedrooms, a bathroom with an ocean-facing tub, an outdoor deck with an infinity pool, and a private 24-hour butler.
You can make your way down in the underwater paradise via a spiral staircase or elevator where you will be met with a master bedroom enclosed in a 180-degree curved acrylic dome, a bathroom with floor-to-ceiling windows, a walk-in closet, and a dedicated tunnel viewing theater.
Being an innovative resort, it also incorporated an environmental element by working with Parley for the Oceans organization in an effort to promote responsible tourism. At the resort, you will be encouraged to reduce waste and will receive items made out of wood and bamboo rather than plastic. So, if you are a responsible tourist, looking to spend some time under the sea, opting for Conard Maldives Rangali Island is the ideal choice for you.
Even though the price tag is gawk-worthy, however, once you take into consideration the many amenities that come under it like free food and drinks, spacious accommodation that sleeps nine people, butler services, an on-call fitness trainer, a daily 90-minute spa treatment, and many other perks, the price doesn’t seem much.
2. InterContinental Shanghai Wonderland, China – The Most Bizarre among the Top 10 Incredible Underwater Hotels in the World
Price – Nighty rates start from $1,100
One of the most unpromising sites for a hotel has to be a former quarry in Shanghai’s distant suburbs. However, some sagacious minds took that unpromising piece of land and converted it into a resort that is a sight to behold and is regarded as one of the most innovative hotels in the world. InterContinental Shanghai Wonderland is the fruit of dozens of years of hard work and a whopping $300 million budget. This beautifully bizarre 18-story resort hugs the rock face in a harmonious yin and yang design, a subtle nod to the relationship between city and nature.
Out of the 18 floors, sixteen lie underground, and two floors are actually submerged in water and are called the Premier Underwater View suites. The six suits that lie underwater are the finest work of innovation and imagination harboring their own saltwater aquariums and a balcony. Not to mention that there is also an underwater restaurant and swimming pool. The upper-level rooms are equally stunning, decked in mineral colour schemes, with views of the surrounding quarry and waterfalls. The resort also offers butler service, magnificent light and water shows, outdoor excursions, and of course a state-of-the-art spa.
Therefore, if you are an architecture and innovation enthusiast who possesses an affinity for the Little Mermaid and the undersea InterContinental Shanghai Wonderland is one of the most incredible underwater hotels in the world that you have to give a try at least once in your life. It’s the kind of place where bizarrity meets beauty in an innovative fusion resulting in a concoction that is equal parts charming and alluring.
3. Anantara Kihavah Maldives Villas, Maldives – The Most Opulent among the Top 10 Incredible Underwater Hotels in the World
Price – Nighty rates start from $1,515
Anantara Kihavah Maldives Villas is a place that resonates with unbelievable beauty and luxury, from its white sand beach to the thatched roof villas with private infinity pools, the place seems like it jumped out of a fairytale. But even these aspects fail to hold a candle to Sea, the resort’s underwater restaurant and wine cellar. Imagine being surrounded by nothing but a turquoise lagoon that melts into the most stunning sapphire blue, and then dining admits this blue heaven as you savor the food with your mouth and feast on the surroundings with your eyes.
At the underwater restaurant enjoy its specialties like Maldivian lobster or pan-seared Japanese wagyu as you take in the views of sharks and tropical fish swimming past the panoramic windows. Apart from harboring a unique underwater restaurant, the resort also houses a spa that offers 6 overwater treatment rooms surrounded by beautiful views and a tranquil environment. Anantara Kihavah is the kind of place where you can stay for months and never tire of it. The place is a true gift of nature to mankind, where people can go to relieve the stress of every day and return with a fresh and well-rested mind.
4. Resorts World Sentosa, Singapore – The Most Unique among the Top 10 Incredible Underwater Hotels in the World
Price – Nightly rates start from $1,450
Just off the coast of Singapore, on the tranquil Sentosa Island, lies the extravagant Resorts World Sentosa. Resorts World Sentosa is an accommodation that resonates with charm and allure and offers 11 two-story suites called the Equarius Ocean suites that have direct access to the resort’s massive aquarium. The exclusive suites are designed like a deluxe two-story townhouse and offer the best of both land and sea views all the while surrounding guests in five-star comfort.
In this resort, you can make all your mermaid dreams come true by sleeping and interacting with beautiful fish. Moreover, when it comes to comfort, the resort does not cut any corners and offers the utmost comfort that comes with a personalized butler who is ready to cater to all of your whims.
The two-story suites harbor an open living area with an outdoor patio and jacuzzi on the upper levels. The lower level of the suites comes with massive windows that offer stunning underwater views that you can enjoy from the comfort and privacy of your bedroom. Guests are offered several amenities like laundry service, plasma TV with cable, electronic safe, coffee and tea makers, iron as well as complimentary Wi-Fi access.
5. Huvafen Fushi, Maldives – The Most Breathtaking among the Top 10 Incredible Underwater Hotels in the World
Price – Nightly rates start from $996
Lying a 30-minute boat ride from the Velana International Airport, within an idyllic lagoon, the Huvafen Fushi feels like it’s a world away. Associating Maldives with paradise is a bit of a cliché, however at the Huvafen Fushi the palm trees really do sway on a comforting breeze, the sand is really that white, and the aquamarine waters that surround the paradisiac land are really that crystal clear. The island resort with its lush foliage and sandy lanes is a peaceful haven for those whose minds are tired of the everyday twisty life and need some reprieve.
Huvafen Fushi is an intimate accommodation that comes with over-water vials, a spa, a gym, an infinity pool, several resultants, and a chilled bar. The rooms offered by the resort are breathtakingly beautiful however they aren’t submerged underwater. But you can surround yourself with the tranquil waters and the beings that reside within it by visiting the underwater spa that is submerged nearly 25 feet below the surface and offers panoramic views during relaxing treatments. At the Huvafen Fushi, guests also have access to the Lonu Veyo which is a saltwater flotation pool filled with mineral-laden sea water.
6. The Manta Resort, Tanzania – The Most Private among the Top 10 Incredible Underwater Hotels in the World
Price – $1,100 per night
Lying on the northern tip of Pemba Island, since 2013, is the picturesque Manta Resort that boasts a range of accommodations including a unique underwater room. Lying a world away, the remote island hideout harbors 20 bedrooms that are divided into three categories namely Seafront Villas, Superior Garden Rooms, and the Standard Garden Rooms. The Seafront Villas offer a perfect blend of complete comfort and traditional Pemban décor all the while boasting a spacious, private open plan design that comes with a plunge pool and a balcony. The Superior Garden rooms also support a spacious design and come with a four-poster kind size bed, a large en suite bathroom as well as a private garden with an outside shower.
The Standard Garden Rooms are more compact but come bearing amenities. Comfortable king-size four-poster bed, en suite bathroom, and of course as the name suggests, private garden that heroes an outside shower. Despite harboring all these luxurious rooms, the Manta Resort’s stand-out feature is its Underwater Room. Lying a two-minute boat ride from the beach, the Underwater Room is anchored 250 meters offshore and is a private three-story timber structure that features a sea-level landing deck that harbors a lounge and a bathroom. However, the appeal of this room lies beneath the surface.
As you make your way down this three-story magnificence, you will find yourself in a spacious, submerged bedroom that comes with a double bed, encapsulated within a turquoise blue bubble, beyond which you will be able to glimpse endless shoals of reef fish and coral reefs. The hotel also offers its guests dive trips along Pembra Island, allowing you to take down the glass wall between you and the magnificent sea critters.
7. Reefsuites, Australia – The Most Intimate among the Top 10 Incredible Underwater Hotels in the World
Price – Nightly rate start from $995
Consider taking a break from your noisy, pressurized, electronic world and enter a realm of tranquility and serenity by making your way to Reefsuits in Australia. Reefsuits is Australia’s first underwater hotel that opened its doors to the land inhabited in December 2019 and consists of two suites suspended beneath a floating pontoon that is managed by luxury tourism operator Cruise Whitsundays. In this undersea sanctuary, you will be able to observe 1,500 species of fish, rays, turtles, and sea monsters from the comfort of your bed, surrounded by floor-to-ceiling windows.
Staying at Reefsuites makes one feel like they have crashed a sea party, with fishes of every shape, size, and color, gawking at you with their bulging eyes, staring in disinterest at the alien-like creature that is passing appraising looks their way. “Just another day in sea land” sighs the fish.
8. Atlantis, The Palm, Dubai – The Most Extravagant among the Top 10 Incredible Underwater Hotels in the World
Price – 7,125
It is safe to say that Dubai is the king of resorts and one of the most treasured jewels in its vast kingdom is the Atlantis which resonates magical vibes all the while speaking a language of extravagance most of us can’t even afford to hear. Think of Atlantis as its mystical namesake. The resort is a city in its own right, with a bejeweled crown lying on the apex of Palm Jumeirah. The Atlantis is Dubai’s second biggest hotel housing more than 1,500 rooms, 65,000 aquarium inhabitants, 23 dining outlets, a bowling alley, and a world-class water park.
Of course, the one aspect that stands out the most from its other outstanding elements is its Underwater Suite which is a haven for those seeking tranquility and peace, The suite features immense floor-to-ceiling windows beyond which you can glimpse the 65,000 glorious marine creatures swimming by. The extravagant space also comes with plenty of other perks beyond the underwater views, although if we are being honest, bathing with the sea creatures staring at you in amazement is definitely a highlight. Some of its perks include breakfast in bed25 hour private butler, and free airport transfers.
9. Radisson Collection Hotel, Berlin – The Most Versatile among the Top 10 Incredible Underwater Hotels in the World
Price – Nightly rates start from $283
Radisson Collection Hotel, formerly known as the Radisson Blu, is an appealing all-rounder hotel that resides in a central location and comes with a plethora of perks including a spa area with an indoor pool. The hotel offers a variety of accommodation options, from spacious Nikolai Suite to cathedral view rooms, however, the ones that catch the eye of many guests are the Aquarium View rooms, which offer direct views into the famous 264,000-gallon cylindrical aquarium in the wondrous hotel lobby atrium. Despite the rooms technically not being underwater, the effect is still the same allowing you to sleep amongst dreamy blue waters and tropical fishes.
When it comes to amenities, the hotel delivers its best with a luxurious spa, the Heaven Spa that harbors an 11-meter swimming pool as well as a range of massage and beauty treatments, bio sauna, fitness room, steam bath, bar, restaurant, and much more.
10. Niyama Private Island Maldives, Maldives – The Most Family-Friendly among the Top 10 Incredible Underwater Hotels in the World
Price – 714
Another Maldivian treasure, the Niyama Private Island Maldives is widely applauded for its family-friendly activities and dreamy overwater villas that make it one of the most incredible underwater hotels in the world. However, the resort’s coolest attraction lies beneath the waves and is given the name Subsix. Subsix is an underwater restaurant that comes with a champagne breakfast and spectacular views of living coral. In order to get to this magnificent underwater restaurant, guests have to embark on a quick speedboat ride and then descend a three-tier staircase before they can dive into the seafood menus.
The hotel also comes jampacked with services and facilities that include a personal thakuru or butler who caters to your every whim, making your stay a comfortable and seamless one. Niyama Private Island Maldives can also arrange private boat trips, jet-skiing, scuba diving, snorkeling, paddle-boarding, and other excisions so that you can get a hands-on experience of this nature’s playground and get a chance to spot sea turtles, reef sharks, and octopus. Guests staying at the hotel can also opt for one-on-one surfing lessons.
Those wishing to relax their tense muscles can visit the Drift Spa which overlooks the calming lagoon and harbors six spacious eater treatment rooms, a sauna, and a steam room. Also available in the hotel are entertainment options like air hocket, cinema, and a pool table.
Bonus Resort
Jules’ Undersea Lodge, Key Largo, Florida
Price – 1,687
Jules’ Undersea Lodge is located in the lagoon at Key Largo Undersea Park and is the world’s only underwater hotel that can only be reached via scuba diving. Unlike other accommodations listed in the top 10 incredible underwater hotels in the world, Jules’ Undersea Lodge, Key Largo is completely submerged in water. The reason for this is that the hotel was once a research lavatory that has now been converted into a magnificent hotel that houses two bedrooms and offers Wi-Fi and even a free pizza delivery. However, the real joy of staying in this underwater hotel is surprisingly not the pizza but gazing out the window at the mangrove lagoon to glimpse the beautiful water creatures swimming by.
Book Now the Top 10 Incredible Underwater Hotels in the World
You can book any of the top 10 incredible underwater hotels in the world mentioned above by either visiting their designated website or by making your way to either Expedia or TripAdvisor.
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