A new take on testing the waters

Boarding the Royal Duffy, a small boat that pootles from the mainland across almost unbelievably blue-green clear waters, there is a palpable sense of leaving behind the thrum of resort life in Jamaica’s Montego Bay.

As we advanced closer to our destination, just a few minutes’ ride away, the thatched villas and bungalows perched seemingly precariously on stilts in that beautiful sea came better into focus, and were suddenly standing firm and proud as we glided up in front of them.

I had arrived at Sandals Royal Caribbean’s new overwater bungalows, which sit on one side of the resort’s private islet in Montego Bay and, along with overwater villas opened in December, constitute the Caribbean’s first accommodation of this type. The group is fast expanding the trend, with bungalows due to open at its Grande St Lucian and South Coast Jamaica properties this month and autumn 2017 respectively

It’s a new, unique offering from Sandals in this part of the world; a level of previously untapped luxury and exclusivity in the similarly unchartered locale of the ocean. This kind of accommodation has been popularised by places like the Maldives, that tropical idyll so popular with honeymooners. They are certainly the target market here at the couples-only Royal Caribbean, which has the added attraction of being a slightly more affordable option than some farther-flung destinations.

The 12 bungalows and five villas share the islet with one of the resort’s beaches and several of its restaurants, accessible via a wooden walkway that connects the accommodation to a heart-shaped enclosure; an attractive feature at night when illuminated from below. Interiors have a suitably beachy feel throughout; plenty of wood, natural-effect materials and light blue tones that blur the fine boundary of the floor-to-ceiling glass doors separating you from the sea and sky just outside.

Beds are stupendously comfortable, framed by free-carved, chunky wooden headboards, and there are wicker armchairs perfect for reclining in with a nightcap. Bathrooms are open-plan, with pebble-shaped double marble sinks at one end of the room, and a walk-in rain shower enveloped in cool, sea-coloured mosaic tiles. Underwater photographs and a cobalt rug complement the sense of place.

The centrepiece though is a glass floor panel giving a direct window to the ocean beneath. Once I had overcome my fear of walking over it, the anticipation of potential sightings became a source of entertainment – I saw shoals of fish, but other beadyeyed guests reported spotting rays in the early hours of the morning.

Through the doors and out onto the deck is where the bungalows really come into their own. There are two loungers for catching rays (the solar kind) and, better still, next to them, a giant hammock suspended directly over the sea, offering real connection to one’s surroundings and perfect for watching sunsets.

A chest contains snorkelling gear, so guests can pop down the stairs leading straight into the sea and get sealife spotting. The deck can also be accessed via the (indoor) shower, which leads to an outdoor shower and beyond it, right on the edge, a huge, circular bathtub in which to quite literally soak up the view.

The overwater villas, as well as having more room than the bungalows, which suffer slightly from a lack of storage space, have small infinity pools on their decks, and are

Sandals’ stylish bungalows take luxury to a new level in Jamaica’s Montego Bay, says Rachel Cranshaw

Seven nights’ all-inclusive at Sandals Royal Caribbean in an overwater bungalow costs from £6,335pp, villas cost from £10,999pp, including flights and on-site activities. To read a full review, see: telegraph.co.uk/ tt-sandalsroyalcaribbean