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12 Private Islands You Can Rent Without Being Rich
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Vacations can be more stressful than the normal life you’re fleeing. The cost, the scheduling conflicts, and finding flights and accommodations are bad enough, but throw in having to deal with your fellow human beings on public beaches and such and you have a recipe for a getaway that’s less than relaxing. It can leave a person fantasizing about having an entire beach—or maybe even an entire island—to themselves.

If you think private islands are only for the billionaires and Bond Villains of the world, however, you’re wrong: You can actually rent a wide range of private islands all around the world, from tropical paradises to chilly river experiences. Even more surprising, many of these private islands can be yours for a price that’s a lot more reasonable than you might expect. Here are 12 private islands you can rent without completely draining your bank account.

East Sister Rock Island

Looking for a tropical private island getaway that doesn’t require a passport? The Florida Keys has the answer, and it is East Sister Rock Island. You can arrive by sea—or by helicopter, if you’re really splashing out—and it’s just one mile from Marathon, so it’s not hard to get to at all. This 1.4-acre island sports a pool, wifi, laundry facilities, a fully-equipped kitchen, and air conditioning. The house sleeps up to six people and rents range from $11,500 per week to $17,500 per week depending on the date, which works out to a low of about $1,917 per person if you get five friends to go in with you.

Strand Island

If you need a lot of space in a stunningly beautiful location, Strand Island in Minnesota is an ideal choice. Located on Pelican Lake, the island is 45 acres of natural beauty that sleeps up to 20 people (eight bedrooms in the main house, with a separate log cabin that sleeps four). Aside from the spectacular fishing (or boating, kayaking, or jet skiing) on the lake, the property also boasts a sauna, a game room, a theater, or just hiking around the place and enjoying being lost in nature. Incredibly, you can have this whole island for just $930 a night at the time of this writing. One small downside to keep in mind? There are only 1.5 baths in this place, so if you are bringing 19 folks along with you, start working on a bathroom schedule now.

Ship Channel Cay

If you’ve ever booked a resort vacation in the Bahamas, you know that while it’s gorgeous, relaxing, and filled with adventure, it can also be a bit...crowded. Unless you decide to rent an entire island for yourself, in which case Ship Channel Cay is your answer. Available for just $515 a night, the place sleeps four—so your daily cost is just an unbelievable $129. Admittedly, this house (a converted fishing cottage) isn’t the fanciest, but there’s staff on hand to handle meals and anything else you might need, and there’s plenty of beach to enjoy in total privacy.

Spruce Island

Another enormous space ideal for family gatherings, Spruce Island in Maine is 80 acres of spruce forest packed with natural wonders. There’s plenty of hiking to enjoy, a freshwater quarry to swim in, kayaking and boating, and bald eagles and ospreys to sight. The house can sleep up to 20 people, with two in the main house (where the modern kitchen and home theater are located) and the rest in the nearby guest house. The cost? $1,200 a night—which means if you’re splitting this with 19 other people, you’re all only paying $60 a night to enjoy one of the most beautiful natural spots in the country.

Old House Cay

Ten minutes by boat from Hilton Head Island in South Carolina, Old House Cay is a series of tiny islands, and you can rent three of them for a ridiculously small amount of money—just $247 per night. Since the house sleeps six, that works out to about forty bucks per person. The three islands are linked together and comprise three acres of land that are ideal for fishing, swimming, kayaking, and hiking. There’s a three-story observation tower decked out with hammocks which looks like an ideal spot for a few cocktails while the sun sets (or rises, no judgments), and the house has all the modern amenities, including wifi and laundry.

Bird Island

Bird Island off the coast of Belize in Central America is the very definition of remote: It will take you about four hours to get there after you arrive in Belize. The trip is well worth it, however—the island is absolutely gorgeous, surrounded by blue skies and clear water. It’s an ideal place for some peaceful snorkeling, kayaking to nearby islands, and fishing (you can cook your catch in the kitchen). And all of this can be yours for $795 a night, with up to eight guests—making your potential rent just about $100 a night. Three things to note: There’s no air conditioning (and it gets hot down there), you need to bring your own food and supplies (so plan carefully), and the hermit crabs that consider the island their home will infiltrate the house regularly, so be prepared.

Brother Island

Want to be spoiled on the cheap? Take the two-hour boat trip from El Nido, Philippines to Brother Island, where a chef, housekeeper, and caretaker are on hand to pamper you and your guests. Covered in white sand beaches and coconut trees, this private island gives you access to pristine water and gorgeous coral reefs and offers massages, hiking trails, fishing expeditions, and snorkeling as part of its package—not to mention that chef we mentioned, making all your meals. The cost for all this? Just $387 per night for up to four people (so $97 per person) up to $1,408 for 16 people ($88 per person), which is kind of mind-blowing.

Whiskey Island

This island on the New York-Canada border isn’t just a lovely place to vacation during the warmer months—it’s also got a lot of history. During Prohibition, it was the staging area for a robust booze-smuggling operation. Today, Whiskey Island is a rustic three acres of natural beauty and historic charm. It recently sold to new owners, but it’s still rentable for about $10,150 a week, which breaks down to $1,450 a night. It sleeps 15, so it’s potentially as cheap as $97 per person per night. It’s a terrific spot for fishing, swimming, and boating—it’s only accessible by boat, actually. One thing to note is that the house isn’t heated, which means you’re not going to be renting this island in the winter.

Urraca Eco-Lodge

This two-acre island off the coast of Panama sports six adorable pink bungalows that sit right over the water. The spot accommodates up to 16 people at an average rate of less than $100 a night (the island can actually handle up to 24 guests if you’re looking to book the whole place at once, but you have to contact the hosts to make that happen). There’s a full-service restaurant on the island as well, giving this a real resort feel. This is ideal for nature lovers. Not only are you sharing the island with its native population of monkeys, there’s an infinite supply of sea and land life to enjoy—not to mention lots of fresh-caught lobster.

Båtholmen Island

This totally off-grid cabin in Norway lacks running water, but it’s ideal for anyone who wants the ultimate camping experience. Båtholmen Island is 26 acres of natural beauty, ideal for swimming, fishing, and boating (the island comes with a boat you can use to visit and explore the other islands in the area), and the cabin is a quaint 107 square feet, so you only want to come here if you’re the outdoorsy type. The rent is dirt cheap, too; if you’re willing to squeeze eight people into that tiny cabin (they provide fold-away beds and floor mattresses) this works out to a little more than $32 per person per night.

Republic Island

Want to take a Great Lakes vacation with some terrific fishing? Republic Island sits in the middle of the Michigamme River in Michigan, two acres of rustic charm. The low-fi log cabin sleeps up to four people, and it’s just 300 feet from the mainland, which means it’s fully wired up. Still, you’ll feel totally cut off from the world in this beautiful spot that is perfect for short hikes, evenings gathered around the fire pit, and plenty of fishing and boating (pontoons and canoes are provided). If you’re looking for a quiet wilderness getaway, this is ideal, and rent ranges from $100 to $300 a night depending on your dates—which works out to just $25 to $75 per night if split four ways.

Falconera Island

Everyone wants to visit Italy—and especially Venice—but the crowds can be wearying. That makes Falconera Island and its rustic farmhouse a total delight. The house sleeps up to 16, and rents can be as low as $50 per person depending on how many people you’re bringing and the dates you select. You can only reach the island by boat, but if you rent the whole house, you’ll have access to the entire 50-acre island and its beehives, chickens, and lush fig trees. One thing to note: If you’re thinking this is a good place from which to base your Venice excursion, think again—getting on and off island isn’t convenient, so if you come here, plan to stay.