Craig's List is a network of online communities, featuring classifieds for everything from jobs to holiday homes

1 Sydney

This tranquil one-bedroom apartment is right on the water, five minutes from the ferry station and 15 from the centre of town. Sleeps 2, £56 per night (min seven-night stay). Posted Jan 5 under vacation rentals on sydney.craigslist.org.

2 Paris

Nestled in a cobbled passage that cuts between the fashionable quarters of Le Marais and Bastille, this mews terrace is sunny, peaceful but still central. Sleeps 2-4, £90 per night. Posted Jan 11 on paris.craigslist.org.

3 Caribbean

Your own luxury cottage on the "undiscovered" island of Carriacou, a hop, skip and a jump from Bequia and Mustique. Sleeps 2-4, £719 per week (includes jeep). london.craigslist.org/vac/248473536.html.

4 New York

Watch the sun rise over Manhattan from your own 40th-floor, ultra-modern, one-bedroom Chelsea apartment. Sleeps 3, £128 per night. http://newyork.craigslist.org/mnh/.

5 Buenos Aires

A large French-style mansion with three bedrooms, a huge living room and a tranquil garden in the chic, winding streets of Palermo Chico. Sleeps 8, £450 per week. Posted Jan 10 on buenosaires.craigslist.org.

All available at time of going to press.