7 Vacation Homes You Never Thought You Could Afford

A Chateau in Southern France for $28 Per Person, Per Night

Imagine this: Your coworker asks you where you're going on your vacation. "Oh, just to my chateau in the south of France," you reply as she turns green with envy. Embrace that smug feeling and rent a chateau in the Bordeaux region of France, such as this six-bedroom Chateau Secretary, professionally managed by Wyndham Vacation Rentals. You and up to 13 friends will have the run of the place, which features sprawling grounds and epic Bordeaux views, a private swimming pool, an outdoor kitchen, a dining room, a modern indoor kitchen with all the fittings, a piano, a library, and a massive living room.

The Bottom Line: Chateau Secretary sleeps 14 people and is available starting at $2,840 per week (or about $28 per person, per night). Rent it through Wyndham Vacation Rentals.

A Private Island on Fiji for $50 Per Person, Per Night

Leave the tourists back on the mainland and reserve your very own private island. This 10-acre retreat is everything you've dreamed of: 100-year-old coconut trees dot the jungle and 15 miles of South Pacific turquoise waters lap your own sandy shores. Nanuku Levu Island's beaches and surrounding reef are marine and wildlife sanctuaries, and every year, hawksbill and leatherback turtles come here to lay their eggs. Your closest neighbor, a luxury resort, is 15 miles away. You'll have the run of the island, plus two Fijian-style homes to stay in (both homes are fewer than 10 steps away from the ocean).

The Bottom Line: Nanuku Levu Island can accommodate up to 10 people and is available starting at $500 per night (or $50 per person, per night). Rent it through Airbnb.

A Luxury Tree House in Hawaii for $45 Per Person, Per Night

Forget the backyard tree house you had (or dreamed about having) as a kid. This spacious penthouse in the sky is better than most people's regular houses. Perched 20 feet off the ground in five Hawaiian ohia trees, this 900-square-foot hideaway boasts unparalleled 360-degree bird's-eye views of the surrounding four acres of private land. You'll be just five miles away from Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, and on some nights, you'll be able to see the volcano's red glow. You won't be sacrificing creature comforts for adventure, either. The tree house comes with a full kitchen and bath, a TV and DVD player, and a fireplace.

The Bottom Line: This tree house rental in Hawaii can sleep up to six people and starts at $275 per night (or about $45 per person, per night). Book it through FlipKey (one of SmarterTravel's sister companies).

Your Own Wing of a Medieval Castle in Tuscany for $88 Per Person, Per Night

If you envy the villa life depicted in Under the Tuscan Sun, here's your chance to stay somewhere even nicer: your very own wing of a medieval castle in the Chianti region of Tuscany. The Montalto Castle rents out its two-story south wing, which includes the castle's original watchtower. Spend the day shopping for wine and other Italian delicacies, and then come back to enjoy the feast in your antiques-furnished castle. You'll have access to a swimming pool and tennis court on the property.

The Bottom Line: This castle rental sleeps up to six people and starts from $531 per night (or about $88 per person, per night). Rent it through FlipKey (one of SmarterTravel's sister companies).

Your Own Private Island in New Zealand for $65 Per Person, Per Night

You can rent an entire island for yourself (or up to 18 people) for less than it costs to stay in some motels. It's not just a sad spit of land, either—the South Pacific paradise of Slipper Island offers up white-sand beaches, its own airstrip, diving, and much more. Don't worry, you won't be camping out on the beach, either. Slipper Island has luxury chalets and a lodge to accommodate guests. The island is close to Auckland, and there are water taxis to nearby Pauanui and Tairua too, in case you want to mix it up a bit.

The Bottom Line: This private-island rental starts from $1,500 NZD per night (approximately $1,172 according to XE.com) and can sleep up to 18 people; that translates to about $65 per person, per night. Rent it through PrivateIslandsOnline.com.

A Houseboat in Europe for $47 Per Person, Per Night

If you've ever dreamed of having your own boat, you can make it a reality (at least for a week) with a houseboat rental from Wyndham Vacation Rentals. You'll have your own floating home and you'll be trusted to drive the boat all on your own—which means no schedules to keep and no late checkouts to negotiate. Tie up the boat at the many small docks along the way, and then shop at local markets for food and wine to keep costs down even more. (Captain's hat not included in rental price.)

The Bottom Line: A houseboat rental for four people, professionally managed by Wyndham Vacation Rentals, on the Lot River in France, starts at $1,320 per week (or about $47 per person, per night). Rent it through Wyndham Vacation Rentals. Houseboats are also available to rent in England, Wales, Scotland, Belgium, Germany, Holland, Italy, Poland, and Portugal through the same company.

A Frank Lloyd Wright-Designed House for $55 Per Person, Per Night

Design lovers, this is your heaven. Instead of touring a house created by famous architect Frank Lloyd Wright, you can actually stay in one—and the whole place is yours to explore. The Louis Penfield House in Lake County, Ohio, was custom-built for a client who was 6 feet 8 inches tall. The design accommodates this height as well as incorporating nature views of the surrounding woods.

The Bottom Line: The Louis Penfield House can accommodate up to five people and is available starting at $275 per night (or $55 per person, per night). Rent it through PenfieldHouse.com.

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