Bora Bora, French Polynesia

Bora Bora's overwater bungalows remain the gold standard, despite costing 40% more than the average Maldives villa at $1,200 per night. Mount Otemanu rises 727 meters above a lagoon so turquoise it seems artificially enhanced; visibility exceeds 30 meters, easily beating #7 Railay Beach's murkier waters. The island's barrier reef encircles 10 square miles of calm flats, home to manta rays and 500 fish species, offering a biodiversity bounty unmatched by most French Polynesian isles. Prices are steep, but the experience—sunrise from a glass floor over a coral garden—justifies the splurge for travelers seeking the definition of paradise, if you can stomach the premium.