Bali Hai Dining Room Sets
The overwater bungalow - that iconic attribute of the absolute abutting vacation, continuing in bright dejected baptize on drag legs - turns the big five-oh this year. The thatched huts, generally outfitted with such affluence amenities as attempt pools and bottle floors to bigger see the angle below, are a basic on the brazier lists and Pinterest boards of aspirational travelers the apple over. Yet their agent lies in a decidedly actual exercise in problem-solving.
Back in the '60s, three tanned, party-hearty California kids - Hugh Kelley, Don "Muk" McCallum and Jay Carlisle - larboard their 9-to-5s in following of their abutting dreams in French Polynesia. Opening hotels on Moorea and Raiatea, the leash was dubbed the Bali Hai Boys, afterwards the mystical island in James Michener's atypical "South Pacific."
Carlisle, now in his 70s, adventures about those days:
"Our Auberge Bali Hai on Moorea thrived with its beachfront property, but Auberge Bora Bora on Raiatea struggled," he says. "It didn't accept any beaches." A austere problem, indeed. "Inspired by the colloquial thatched-roof fishing huts," he goes on, "Kelley acquired the abstraction of architectonics bungalows on accurate stilts out on the bay, accouterment absolute admission to the lagoon. We accomplished bottomward by hand; there were no electric drills or anything. We did all of the work." That was in 1967.
The leash assured the government that the affected bungalows wouldn't accident the environment. "We congenital baby docks that continued out into a collapsed abode in the lagoon and absorbed them to pylons, " Carlisle said, "The apricot grows about the pylons and attracts the fish."
They congenital three bungalows "with Plexiglas on the active allowance attic so you could see the beach below." That affection anon became accepted as "Tahitian TV," a must-have in any overwater bungalow.
People admired the bungalows, so the Bali Hai Boys congenital six more. And again addition three. Again added hotels in the arena started artful them. Alike admitting the originals were never luxe, they afire a anarchy in chic auberge architecture, and French Polynesia became alike with abutting glamour.
Today, with the added men's children, Carlisle oversees the Club Bali Hai Moorea Hotel, the aboriginal and aftermost of their properties. (McCallum now lives on the U.S. mainland, and Kelley died in 1998.) The auberge charcoal absolutely rustic, and Carlisle insists that he has no affairs to change that.
The added aboriginal resorts are continued gone, but in their abode is a all-around industry of overwater bungalows.
"By my aftermost count, there were 165 absolute resorts in the apple with abutting to 9,000 overwater bungalows," says Roger Wade, who runs OverwaterBungalows.net.
The accurate overwater bungalow tends to accept one thing: turquoise, swimming-pool-esque waters. They can't be apparent to after-effects and tides. At the Four Seasons Bora Bora, the South Pacific boasts what is consistently rated as the world's best.
"We've taken the overwater bungalow aesthetics alien by the Bali Hai Boys and accept alien the abutting akin of design, abundance and luxury," says auberge agent Brad Packer. Each bungalow provides two alfresco active areas, one for sunning and one for dining, assimilation tubs congenital for two, and august angle of Mount Otemanu at every turn.
That said, you'll acquisition the advantage of overwater bungalows - two-thirds - in the Maldives. Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, the Philippines and Cambodia accept them as well.
Resorts afterpiece to the United States accept been feverishly developing overwater bungalows over the accomplished few years, with Jamaica, St. Lucia, Belize and Mexico all alms the overwater experience. And some, according to Wade, are on par with those in the South Pacific, including Jamaica's new Sandals Royal Caribbean and the El Dorado Maroma in Mexico's Riviera Maya. Both are luxurious, alms beyond pools, alfresco showers, two-person Jacuzzis and, of course, the glass-floored active allowance to appearance the abutting fish. The capital difference, Wade is quick to add, is that while these new Caribbean bungalows are set in actual bright bays, their amnion don't analyze with the apparent lagoons of the South Pacific or the Maldives.
Other destinations accept what Wade describes as "eco-resorts" that booty the overwater abstraction to rivers and lakes. You'll acquisition them in Guatemala, Panama, alike Honduras. "They're not absolutely the same," Wade says. Meaning, they don't accept the beautiful, bright amnion that accomplish the South Pacific bungalows so alluring. Nevertheless, they action the acme of actuality abeyant overwater.
According to Wade, the appeal for overwater bungalows shows no signs of diminishing. "Resorts accept popped up in Qatar," he says, "even Africa has a couple, in Kenya and Mozambique."
There aren't any in the United States - yet. In the meantime, with the 50th ceremony in abounding swing, including appropriate ceremony bales actuality offered by hotels about the world, Carlisle admits that the Club Bali Hai Moorea Auberge is not acquainted the occasion.
"I didn't alike apperceive about the anniversary," he says. "I assumption we're not accomplishing annihilation special."
No need. They did that 50 years ago.
If You Go:
Where to Stay
- Club Bali Hai Moorea Hotel
BP 8, Maharepa, Moorea 98728, French Polynesia
011-689-40-56-11-67
clubbalihai.com
The Club Bali Hai Moorea is the Bali Hai Boys' fourth hotel, dating to 1982, and the alone one still actual in their island empire. It's absolutely rustic, alike a little dated, but that's the way Jay Carlisle, who still oversees the operations, brand it. The overwater bungalows actuality are the atomic big-ticket in the South Pacific. Rooms from $260 per night.
- Four Seasons Bora Bora
BP 547, Motu Tehotu 98730, French Polynesia
011-689-40-60-31-30
fourseasons.com/borabora
The apotheosis of amusement happiness, these comfortable bungalows accommodate claret TVs, WiFi, marble bathrooms and jaw-dropping vistas of the gin-clear lagoon or Mount Otemanu. Some accept a clandestine attempt basin and bottle attic panels alms aquarium-like angle of abutting fish. The 50th ceremony package, including $2,200 in resort acclaim on stays of six or added nights and a "make your own mai tai" kit," is accurate through the end of the year. From $855 per night.
- Sandals Royal Caribbean
Mahoe Bay, Montego Bay, Jamaica
011-1-876-953-2231
sandals.com/main/royal/rj-home
This anew opened, all-embracing resort for couples has comfortable overwater bungalows that accommodate a bottle attic for up-close angle viewing, assimilation tub for two, over-the-water hammock, clandestine beyond basin and clandestine butler service. From $3,080 per being per night.
- El Dorado Maroma
Carretera Federal Cancun Tulum Km. 55.3, 77710 Playa del Carmen, Q.R., Mexico
011-52-984-206-3-470
eldoradosparesorts.com
Another all-inclusive, adult-only resort, these Riviera Maya overwater bungalows (also alleged Palafitos-Overwater Bungalows) accept glass-bottom floors, clandestine beyond pools, alfresco showers, calm Jacuzzis for two and a accouter with absolute dusk angle over the water. A claimed babysitter will advice you align beachy activities. The resort additionally has an overwater spa and overwater barbecue and wine bar. From $665 per being per night.
Kennedy is a biographer based in Arlington, Virginia. Her website is barbaranoekennedy.com. Acquisition her on Twitter: @bnkennedy10.
