Private island vacationing for the rest of us

Every family approaches vacations a little differently, but everyone is trying to escape the daily grind and find a place to relax, usually with lots of privacy. Nowhere is more private than a secluded island and, according to the New York Post, it’s possible for everyday people to get their hands on a rental for less than $500 per night if they know where to look.

Long the storied hideaways of millionaires, celebrities, and evil villains, private islands have always carried with them a certain mystique. With nobody else around, a couple can truly relax with the knowledge that literally no other person could disturb their experience without a boat and a lot of time on their hands. Although it costs a hefty sum to purchase these private getaways, the travel industry has caught on to the fact that many people are searching for this experience and they are responding by offering prices that regular people can afford.

Provided that it is a small group of friends or family that are looking for the privacy, sharing an island can be a great way to save money. According to Thrillist, a place like Charlie’s Island in Florida can be had for as little as $50 per person, per night if rented for the week. This price gets a group full access to a 1/3-acre island off the keys with a private dock, houseboat, and views of the Gulf of Mexico.

Peer-to-peer rental services, such as Airbnb, have also sprung up around the world and given people access to homes that they might not otherwise have been able to find or arrange accommodations for easily. Take Tahiti Island, Nicaragua, for instance, where a four-bedroom house with a pool can be had for only $200 per night. With prices this low, it might even cost more money to get there than it would to stay for the week. If private islands were off the table during the last vacation planning session, it might be time to check into the options again.