7 Dreamy Overwater Bungalows You Can Actually Afford

Just because you’re not flush with cash doesn’t mean you have to give up on the overwater bungalow fantasy, because who hasn’t dreamt of staying in a cabana stilted over shimmering water, fish cruising below? So we combed the world and came up with seven stellar stays, where you can score that stuff-of-fantasies experience without the dream-deflating prices.

1. Azul Paradise, Panama (Bungalows from $275, Doubles from $425, Three-Night Minimum): With its powder beaches, consistent surf breaks and Caribbean-style clapboard houses, Panama’s Bocas del Toro island group has been a regular stop on the backpacker and wave-chaser circuit for years. And sure, this hotel on Isla Bastimentos can play chilled-out surf hut, but it can also serve as a romantic getaway for the adventurously inclined. Make it what you want. Either way, the setting is far-out. A handful of thatch-roof bungalows, linked Water World-style by docks, possess the kind of amenities that make for those giddy, canyoubelievewe’rereallyhere? travel moments: outdoor showers, lounge areas, glass floors and ladders that drop straight down into the water. Back on the beach, you can chill out on a lounge chair or swim in the sea (the hotel’s located on the calm, leeward side of Bocas). (Photo via Azul Paradise)

INSIDER TIP: Sleeping six, the Double Bungalows are great for groups.

2. 4 Rivers Floating Lodge, Cambodia (Tentalows from $220, Including Breakfast): Arriving at this remote eco-luxe lodge is half the adventure: It’s a four-hour drive from Phnom Penh, followed by a 30-minute boat ride down the misty Tatai River, thick jungle on either side, that recalls the Heart of Darkness journey in the best way possible. Once you spy the 12 handsome tented villas, inspired by African safari tentalows, you’ll realize that this is glamping — on water. Bathrooms hold wine-barrel showers and striped umbrellas shade chic chaise lounges, but you might be awoken at sunrise by a gibbon call. Plus, the best massage around comes courtesy of a nearby waterfall. (Photo via 4 Rivers)

INSIDER TIP: For a look at local life, take the resort-offered excursion to a nearby fishing village where houses are on stilts and boardwalks stand in for sidewalks.

3. Punta Caracol Acqua-Lodge, Panama (Cabanas from $350, Including Most Meals): This hideaway in the teal-blue Caribbean off Isla Colón has fewer cabanas than you have fingers, all of which are crowned with palm fronds, painted Caribbean colors and powered by the sun. And each — surprise, surprise — is a two-story affair with a four-poster bed tucked into the top floor. The laid-back vibes, the isolation and the limited electricity mean there’s nothing much to do here, and that’s exactly the point. Your go-to outfit: a swimsuit; your go-to hairstyle: wet; your go-to cocktail: a piña colada (the bartender makes a mean one) and your go-to mindset: totally blissed out. (Photo via Punta Caracol)

INSIDER TIP: As tempting as it may be to veg out on your patio for a week straight, get the hotel to boat you over to one of the deserted nearby isles so you can play Robinson Crusoe for a couple of hours on an empty beach.

4. Anthony’s Key Resort, Honduras (Bungalows from $302, Including All Meals): At this rustic hideaway on the Honduran island of Roatan, life simplifies and slows, and the meeting of your basic needs takes a distinct turn for the tropical. Food comes in the form of crab legs, fresh fish and seafood skewers and soups. Your ration of water is the shockingly blue ocean in which you’ll float, paddle and dive. Shelter is a wooden bungalow on stilts with a deck and hammock. Your clothing consists of little more than bikinis, swim trunks and flip-flops. And you realize that’s all you really need — that, and the occasional Frangipani cocktail, the hotel’s rum-coconut-banana-and-more-rum signature blend. The diving — more than 30 sites offering up sharks, rays and wrecks — draws most visitors here, but you can kayak, paddleboard or log lazy laps in the pool. (Photo via Anthony’s Key Resort)

INSIDER TIP: Strike out on one of the hotel-offered overnight trips to mainland Honduras where Maya ruins, coffee plantations and hot springs beg for exploration.

5. Reethi Beach, Maldives (Bungalows from $256, Including Breakfast): The Maldives — a dreamy sprinkling of palm-tufted islets across crystal waters. It’s a legendary place with legendary prices reserved for marquee life moments like honeymoons (and even then, it’s a pricey proposition). Or so you thought. This hideaway, on a petite private isle in the Baa Atoll, gives you the Maldives’ experience at a surprisingly reasonable rate. Drop your bags in your bungalow, throw open the sliding glass doors, take in the shimmering ocean and give your plus-one a big high five, because this is your home for the next week. Now all that’s left to do is decide which of the three beach bars you’re going to hit first. (Photo via Reethi Beach)

INSIDER TIP: Early on in your trip, take advantage of the resort’s daily free 30-minute snorkeling excursion — Reethi Beach has one of the Maldives’ best house reefs — then later in the week, graduate to a day of diving.

6. Royal Huahine, Huahine (Room Rates from $264): So you’re set on the islands of Tahiti, but you’re balking at the prices. Consider Huahine, which is as wildly romantic as Bora Bora (it was named Hermosa by Captain Cook), but is less known, less touristed, less talked about… and, consequently, less pricey. Which means that you can “splurge” (a relative term) on this rustic-luxe hotel, the swankiest digs on an island with one supermarket, eight small villages and countless bays and sugar-sand beaches, and still make your mortgage. Your room, one of 11 over the water, is west-facing for prime sunsets and has a soaking tub that probably won’t see a lot of action, given that you also have a private deck from which you can dive directly into the lagoon. (Photo via Royal Huahine)

INSIDER TIP: Stock up at the grocery store so you’re not locked into eating every meal at the hotel’s on-the-pricey-side restaurant.

7. Thatch Caye, Belize (Room Rates from $349, Including All Meals): Step outside on the deck of your bungalow, one of five overwater accommodations on this private island that’s a quick jaunt from the US, and you’ll quickly realize that the spot to be for the duration of this vacation is that Mayan hammock swaying in the breeze. So it’s only a matter of calling dibs before your travel partner does (or you can play nice and alternate days). When you’re not on hammock duty, practice floating in that clear Belizean water like you were five years old in guppy class again, or convince your companion to go on a little adventure. River tubing two miles through a nearby five-cave chain is one for the bucket list. However you spend your day, it’ll end much the same way: with a belly full of fresh fish and local Belikin beer. (Photo via Thatch Caye)

INSIDER TIP: To mix things up, head over to nearby Coco Plum Resort for lunch one day (the water is shallow enough to wade, or you can kayak or paddle board).

What’s your idea of a dreamy vacation? Tweet us @BritandCo!

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(Featured photo via Azul Paradise)

If you're a rom-com fan who also can't get enough of Jane Austen's books, you've probably seen the Bridget Jones movies. The story (which is loosely based on Pride & Prejudice) follows the titular Bridget Jones, a 30-something who sets out on a mission to improve herself over the course of a year while she looks for a partner. And, in true romantic movie form, she keeps a diary the whole time. Not only can we rewatch the original trilogy as many times as we want, but we're also getting a fourth movie! Here's everything we know about Bridget Jones 4.

Will there be a Bridget Jones 4?

Image via Giles Keyte/Universal Pictures

Yes, Bridget Jones 4 is on its way! Deadline confirmed that the new movie, officially titled Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy, is on its way. The film will follow Bridget in her early 50s as she juggles motherhood with all the other areas of her life. We don't know much else quite yet, but if it's anything like the rest of the series, Bridget Jones 4 is sure to have plenty of heart *and* humor.

When is Bridget Jones 4 coming out?

Image via Giles Keyte/Universal Pictures

Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy is scheduled to premiere on February 14, 2025. Romantic comedies are always the perfect choice for a Valentine's Day movie night, whether you're with your partner or celebrating with all your Galentines! Even though we have quite a way to go before we can watch the new movie, you can binge all three of the other Bridget Jones movies on Max now!

Is Mark Darcy in Bridget Jones 4?

Image via Giles Keyte/Universal Pictures

There's no word on whether Colin Firth's Mark Darcy will return for Bridget Jones 4, but never say never! We do know that Renée Zellweger will be back as Bridget Jones, and that we'll also see Hugh Grant return as Daniel Cleaver and Emma Thompson as Dr. Rawling. The movie also stars Chiwetel Ejiofor and The White Lotus & One Day star Leo Woodall.

Is there a fourth Bridget Jones book?

Image via Giles Keyte/Universal Pictures

Yes, there's a fourth Bridget Jones book, but it might surprise you to know the order of the titles is different than the order of the movies! Helen Fielding published the Bridget Jones's Diary column in the British newspaper The Independent, then published a novel version in 1996. The first book was followed by The Edge of Reason in 1999, Mad About the Boy in 2013, and Bridget Jones's Baby: The Diaries in 2016.

The film series is made up of Bridget Jones's Diary in 2001, Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason in 2004, Bridget Jones's Baby in 2016, and Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy in 2025.

Who was the father of Bridget Jones baby?

Image via Giles Keyte/Universal Pictures

At the end of the Bridget Jones's Babymovie, we learn that Mark Darcy is the father of Bridget Jones's baby, and the couple ends up getting married!

Are you excited to see Leo Woodall in Bridget Jones 4? What do you hope to see in the movie? Follow us on Facebook for more pop culture news!

After we binge watch all the best fresh and inspiring spring movies, and all the summer movies that capture the colorful, carefree nature of warmer months, it's time for fall movies! And the best part about these 2024 movies is, without a doubt, their casts. This year's fall flicks have some seriously big names attached to them (Pedro Pascal! Paul Mescal! Lady Gaga!), and they promise to be some of the best titles we've seen this year. Here are the most-anticipated fall movies to add to your watchlist in 2024.

Beetlejuice Beetlejuice — In Theaters September 6, 2024

Image via Warner Bros. Entertainment

This follow-up to Tim Burton's original Beetlejuice stars Jenna Ortega as Astrid, the daughter of Winona Ryder's iconic character Lydia. We don't have too many plot details about this fall movie, but considering Jenna promises Astrid is weird, it's safe to assume the movie plot will be just as strange as the original.

Beetlejuice 2 hits theaters September 6, 2024 and stars Jenna Ortega, Winona Ryder, Michael Keaton, Willem Dafoe, and Justin Theroux.

Transformers One — In Theaters September 13, 2024

Image via Paramount Pictures

Given the success of Barbie and the latest Transformers movie (not to mention the fact we're getting Polly Pocket and Sims movies too!), toy-themed films will always be a good idea. This fall movie serves as an origin story between two characters we know and love — Optimus Prime and Megatron — and traces how they went from friends to enemies.

Transformers One is in theaters September 13 and stars Scarlett Johansson, Chris Hemsworth, Brian Tyree Henry, Jon Hamm, Laurence Fishburne, and Keegan-Michael Key.

​The Wild Robot — In Theaters September 20, 2024

Image via Universal Pictures

Roz is a robot who gets shipwrecked on a deserted island. In an effort to adapt to its surroundings, Roz begins to form relationships with the animals it meets — including an orphaned (and very cute) baby goose. Watch The Wild Robot trailer here.

You can watch The Wild Robot in theaters September 20. The fall movie stars Lupita Nyong’o, Pedro Pascal, Catherine O’Hara, Bill Nighy, Matt Berry, Kit Connor, Stephanie Hsu, Mark Hamill, and Ving Rhames.

Joker: Folie à Deux — In theaters October 4, 2024

Image via Warner Bros. Entertainment

Harley Quinn is back, and this time she's played by Lady Gaga (when can we get a reunion with Margot Robbie à la Spiderman: No Way Home?). Lady Gaga will star opposite Joaquin Phoenix's Joker and based on the first shots from the film, I'm going to be on the edge of my seat the entire time.

Joker 2 hits theaters October 4 and stars Lady Gaga, Joaquin Phoenix, Zazie Beetz, Brendan Gleeson, Catherine Keener, Jacob Lofland, and Harry Lawtey.

Venom: The Last Dance — In theaters October 25, 2024

"Venom: Let Their Be Carnage" image via Sony Pictures Releasing

Speaking of Spider-Man, we're getting another chapter in the Venom saga with Venom: The Last Dance. We know (thanks to the end of Venom 2) that this movie series has hopped on the multiverse train — and that Venom now knows about Peter Parker. This does not bode well for our friendly neighborhood Spider-Man.

Venom 3 hits theaters October 25 and stars Tom Hardy, Juno Temple, Chiwetel Ejiofor, and Clark Backo.

Gladiator 2 — In Theaters November 22, 2024

Image via Universal Pictures/Paramount Pictures

Paul Mescal headlines this huge blockbuster as Lucius, the son of the late Maximus (played by Russell Crowe in the original 2000 film), opposite Joseph Quinn and Pedro Pascal (who we'll see next year in Fantastic Four). So, I see your iconic "Are you not entertained?" and I raise you, "How are you not entertained?"

Gladiator 2 hits theaters November 22 and stars Paul Mescal, Joseph Quinn, Pedro Pascal, Denzel Washington, Connie Nielsen, and Derek Jacobi.

Moana 2 — In Theaters November 27, 2024

Image via Disney

This new Disney movie will see the return of Moana and Maui as they go on a brand new adventure. I didn't know anything could be crazier than returning the Heart of Te Fiti, but Moana 2 will see these beloved characters go on a quest across Oceania — to a part of the ocean.

Moana 2 premieres November 27 and stars Auliʻi Cravalho and Dwane Johnson.

Wicked Part 1 — In Theaters November 27, 2024

Image via Universal Pictures

One of this year's final fall movies is one of my most-anticipated. Jon M. Chu's follow-up to In The Heights and Crazy Rich Asians follows the origin story of the Wicked Witch of the West, and has some majorly important themes about judgement, prejudice, and standing up for what's right. This movie couldn't come at a better time.

You can watch Wicked in theaters November 27, 2024. The movie stars Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, Jonathan Bailey, Jeff Goldblum, Michelle Yeoh, Ethan Slater, Marissa Bode, Bowen Yang, and Keala Settle.

Which of these 2024 fall movies are you most excited to see this year? Check out our list of the Most-Anticipated 2024 Movies and The Best New TV Shows to keep up with all the latest titles.

Lead image via Universal Pictures

This post has been updated.

If you've finished binging Wednesday and you've already seen Scream VI multiple times, you might be itching for a new Jenna Ortega project to watch. Well, we won't have to wait much longer for new images and clips because her newest movie, Beetlejuice 2, is already filming! Not only do we get to return to the wacky world of the 1988 film, but we also get to see Ortega as the daughter of Winona Ryder's Lydia, which might just be our favorite casting decision of the year. Here's everything we know about the fall movie.

What is Beetlejuice 2 about?

Image via Warner Bros.

We finally have some plot details thanks to The Hollywood Reporter! Winona Ryder's Lydia brings her daughter Astrid back to Winter River, and when Astrid finds the town scale model, she accidentally opens a portal to the afterlife. Now, both worlds are being thrown into chaos!

We're excited for Beetlejuice 2 to be another classic Tim Burton movie for one reason — he wanted to go "back to the basics." "I really enjoyed it," Tim Burton told The Independent. "I tried to strip everything and go back to the basics of working with good people and actors and puppets. It was kind of like going back to why I liked making movies.”

Movies like The Nightmare Before Christmas, Corpse Bride, and (of course) the first Beetlejuice are cemented in pop culture history because of how stripped back they are. Considering Beetlejuice 2 features a lot of the same actors as the first movie, we're expecting it to continue the story of family and coming of age.

The First Look At "Beetlejuice 2"

Image via Warner Bros.

We finally have our first official look at Winona Ryder and Jenna Ortega in Beetlejuice Beetlejuice! Winona's Lydia is just as emo as she's always been (thank goodness), and I love to see the contrast between Lydia and Jenna Ortega's Astrid. Even though Astrid has similar tones and edge thanks to the dark overcoat and boots, I really like that we can see colorful stripes peeking out from underneath her coat. Now the real question is — whose funeral are they at?!

The first teaser gives us even more of an idea of what to expect from Beetlejuice 2. It's giving small town coming-of-age, it's giving Halloween, it's giving family drama. I can't wait!

And at CinemaCon 2024, Tim Burton said that coming back for Beetlejuice 2 was like “a big weird family reunion” (via The Hollywood Reporter). While a sequel to the original movie has been in talked about, actor Michael Keaton says this version of the script “finally it got right.” He also added: “I have to tell you this though, it’s really f*cking good.”

Image via Warner Bros.

We also have a look at Michael Keaton's Beetlejuice, who clearly hasn't changed a bit. I'm not sure what antics he'll rope Astrid and Lydia into this time, but I can't wait to find out.

Is Jenna Ortega going to be in Beetlejuice 2?

Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images

Yes, Jenna Ortega will star in Beetlejuice 2! Jenna Ortega will star as the daughter of Winona Ryder's Lydia, and we're totally expecting this "It" girl to lead the film. In an interview with Vanity Fair, she reveals that her character's name is Astrid — which is brand new info!

"She’s weird, but in a different way and not in the way you’d assume," she says. "The relationship between Lydia and Astrid, [is] really strange because it’s a lot of catching up and putting the pieces together of what’s gone on in Lydia’s life since, which is nice, I think, for anybody who loves the character and is excited to see her again."

While Astrid isn't Lydia's polar opposite, Jenna does reveal we'll see them butt heads. "I wouldn’t say [Astrid's] bright and sunny at all," she continues. "She doesn’t go to the opposite end of the spectrum, but any kid who becomes a teenager wants to be removed from their parents. I think they instantly just fight whatever it is that their parent loves."

This leaked first look features Ryder and Ortega filming in Hertfordshire, England. You can see that Winona Ryder still has her iconic hairstyle from the original film, and that Jenna Ortega is wearing a wedding dress. We have so many questions!! Even though Ortega's dress is white instead of red or black, you can see that there is some peachy pink tulle in her dress. Even if her character seems different from Lydia, the two might just be more similar than we expect.

Who else is in the Beetlejuice 2 cast?

Image via Warner Bros.

In addition to Jenna Ortega and Winona Ryder, we'll see Michael Keaton, Willem Dafoe, and Justin Theroux. Tim Burton will direct, Seth Grahame-Smith and David Katzenberg are producing, and Mike Alfred Gough and Miles Millar have written the script.

When is the Beetlejuice 2 release date?

Image via Warner Bros.

The Warner Bros. movie is scheduled for September 6, 2024. When the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes began, the movie had less than two days of filming left. “I feel grateful we got what we got. Literally, it was a day and a half,” Tim Burton told The Independentat the time. “We know what we have to do. It is 99 per cent done.”

Tim Burton confirmed in late November, via Instagram, that the movie had finished production: "Just finished shooting Beetlejuice. Thank you to everyone involved." Beetlejuice 2 is going to be the perfect fall movie, if you ask us.

What is Beetlejuice about?

Image via Warner Bros.

After Barbara and Adam die in a car accident, they wind up as ghosts unable to leave their home. When the Deetzes move into the home, Barbara and Adam try to scare them away, but only end up making things worse when they attract trickster spirit Beetlejuice. Watch the Beetlejuice trailer here!

Why can't you say Beetlejuice 3 times?

Image via Warner Bros.

When you say "Beetlejuice" three times, it summons the titular spirit to you. Be warned! Life is already crazy enough without the help of the supernatural, thank you very much.

Will there be a Beetlejuice 3?

Image via Warner Bros.

We don't have an official word on a third Beetlejuice movie yet (we haven't even seen the second one!), but if the new poster is any indication, I think we're totally getting a trilogy. The official name of Beetlejuice 2, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, means that we're getting closer to the original film's iconic phrase. You know, where you say Beetlejuice three times in a row? If we do get a third film, it would be incredible if it was called Beetlejuice Beetlejuice Beetlejuice!

How old was Winona Ryder in Beetlejuice?

Image via Warner Bros.

Winona Ryder turned 16 years old during the filming of Beetlejuice. Jenna Ortega is already 21, but we wouldn't be surprised if her character is the same age as Lydia in the original.

Follow us on Twitter for more movie news and let us know what you think of the Beetlejuice 2 cast in the comments!

Lead photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images

This post has been updated.