Castaway Villa Is a Floating Villa That Puts a Fancy Spin on Overwater Living

In fact, the Castaway Villa is so foreign to the reality of the rising costs of living that said reality might very well not exist. This floating villa is what the rich do when they want to experience overwater living with a premium twist, a sort of houseboat for the one-percenters, with incredible amenities and set in a more than incredible location.

Castaway Villa is the upcoming attraction at the Soneva Secret 2024 Resort on Haa Dhaalu Atoll in the Maldives, and as of the time of press, it's the only one of its kind in the entire region. It's a floating villa designed for well-heeled tourists and will open to the public in March this year – which is also when those same tourists will be forking over $5,200 per night to enjoy it.

To the rest of the world, meaning those of us who might never set foot in it, it's an example of upscale living on the water, a sort of hybrid between a small but luxurious family home and a houseboat that is anchored to the sea bed but can move. It makes for excellent escapism, at the very least, and pleasant daydreaming.

Designed to be unaffected by the movement of waves, the Castaway Villa is a two-story structure that can be moved to any location in the lagoon, though the exact means of propulsion has not been revealed to the media. It offers a total living area of 461 square meters (4,962 square feet) and accommodation for 2 adults and 2 children in two main bedrooms, each with an ensuite bathroom.

This being a luxury villa, floating or not, Castaway also offers a living room, an outdoor dining area, a retractable roof over the master bedroom that allows stargazing, a children's playroom, a fully-equipped gym, netted loungers over the water, a private saltwater pool, and a high curved slide that takes you from the second floor directly into the water.

The full service also includes a 24/7 butler, a chef, a Barefoot Assistant, and access to the on-site Ice Cream Parlor and Chocolate Room, so you can make full use of that personal gym. This Barefoot Paradise also offers access to non-motorized water sports, like canoes, paddleboards, catamarans, windsurfing, and the full gamut of pampering services you expect from a premium resort.

Jokes aside, this is the best in terms of overwater vacation homes and privacy. The Castaway Villa is only accessible by water, which probably inspired its name.