Ellie Simons enjoying a sunset picnic on a tropical beach

Meet the editor

Hi, I’m Ellie

I’m the detail-loving researcher behind Dream Bungalows, and I believe the best travel advice can be both wonderfully dreamy and wonderfully specific.

I’m the friend who opens twelve resort tabs, zooms in on the jetty map, checks the transfer rules twice, and asks whether the “private” deck is actually private.

Why this site exists

Dreaming is easy. Booking gets complicated fast.

Room names blur together, the lowest-priced villa can have the longest walk, and a postcard-perfect lagoon may not be swimmable from every deck. I created Dream Bungalows to sort the romance from the fine print and help you choose a stay that suits how you actually travel.

I have loved travel planning since my first cruise on the Disney Magic when I was eight. I am an engineer by background, so I naturally approach a beautiful stay by checking the room category, transfer, map, policies, total cost, and the sources behind every important detail.

I’m based in Madison, Wisconsin. I have built and run several websites, and that same detail-first approach shapes CruisePorts.co, which I have published since 2024.

Ellie Simons on the deck of an overwater villa
Ellie Simons swimming in clear turquoise water

How every guide begins

The questions I would ask before spending my own money

  • Which rooms are genuinely over the water?
  • Can you swim or snorkel from the deck?
  • What will the transfer add in time, money, and hassle?
  • Which jetty position changes privacy, light, or lagoon access?
  • What is included, and which upgrade is mostly a better room name?
  • Who will love this place, and who should keep looking?

I prioritize official resort and hotel pages, live booking terms, room maps, tourism and government sources, transport information, and current policies. Established reporting and traveler discussions can add context, but they do not replace a primary source for consequential details.

First-hand experience and desk research are labeled honestly. If I have not stayed somewhere, I will not imply that I have. A displayed update date reflects a real editorial review, not a cosmetic freshness change.

Affiliate relationships do not decide which stays are included or what I say about them. When a guide contains affiliate recommendations, the disclosure appears before the relevant links.

The fun details

A few things that do not require a spreadsheet

Home base

Madison, Wisconsin

Coffee order

Oat milk flat white

Airplane seat

Window, always

Carry-on essentials

AirPods and a good book

Hotel or Airbnb

Hotel girlie, always

Planning habit

Checking the transfer twice

Ready to find your bungalow?

Start with the destination, then let the room details make the final decision.