Renting a castle or private island for a family or friends’ reunion is more affordable than you might think. Check home-sharing sites such as Airbnb, HomeAway or TripAdvisor Rentals, as well as Landmark Trust for historical buildings in Europe.
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On HomeAway, we found a 16th-century castle (opens in new tab) in northern France that sleeps 12. Rentals start at $1,066 per night; if you split the cost 12 ways, you’d pay $89 apiece per night (taxes and fees are extra). Or kick back at your own private island (opens in new tab) off the coast of Belize, starting at $1,500 per night on HomeAway. The 1.5-acre island with a five-bedroom house accommodates 14 and comes with a staff, and you can arrange pickup for diving or fishing excursions.
You can cruise through canals and explore riverside villages on a houseboat in India (opens in new tab). It sleeps eight; book it through TripAdvisor Rentals and each guest will pay as little as $64 per night (rates vary). TripAdvisor also lists a multi-tiered treehouse in Kenya (opens in new tab) for six that overlooks baobab trees and has a view of the Indian Ocean. Rates start at $360 per night.
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