Cabina Banyan, Costa Rica
Pull back the palm fronds and leaves of the tropical shrubs growing right down to the sealine on the ivory-coloured Playa Tamarindo and you might just happen across the hidden Cabina Banyan, a bright little wooden cabin surrounded by hammocks just a few footsteps from the sea. It feels private and has everything needed in a self-catering retreat - kitchen, fridge, even a pocket-sized pool - but is part of CasaCook, a 'hometel' offering tropical food, maid service and boogie board hire. The owner will take you snorkelling on his traditional 'panga' boat, and between November and February you may see leatherback turtles creeping up the beach. Nearby Tamarindo village has lively bars and restaurants, and you can hire scooters to explore the jungles and volcanic craters in the country's interior. The cabin can be rented from £90 a night.
The Luxury Studio, Normandy, France
The luxury Studio, in the grounds of Le Manoirde Cauvicourt, near Caen, gives you a cosy, modern space for two set within the grandeur of a rambling pile. Wander around the estate - with its two-acre private garden, orchards and ornamental fish pond - like lord and lady of the manor before returning to your studio with its airy kitchen, stripped wooden floors, high vaulted ceilings and spacious ensuite bathroom with a pool-sized sunken bath for two. The village is minutes away and has a pizzeria if you tire of cooking, and a lively market if you don't. Cabourgis one of a number of beaches which are 20 minutes away. The studio can be rented from £230 a week.
Royal Retreat, Egypt
You can become the king and queen of your own ancient civilisation at this unique castle property on the tip of the Sinai peninsula overlooking the Gulf of Aqaba with views of no fewer than four different countries - Israel, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and Egypt. It is a remote and elegant hideaway that has its own privatebeach and where you won't be spotted by anyone if you cavort around like a bellydancer.
Try your hand at camel riding or snorkelling nearby or play Anthony and Cleopatra in your Moorish-style castle with its shady terraces, scattered with cushions and stone walls reconstructed from old materials using traditional methods. The castle itself is newly built and has up-to-date features including a glass fireplace and even a dancefloor.
Water features including fountains, Japanese koipond and a private pool surround the castle, plus there's an outdoor massage area.
It can be rented for three nights from £4770.
Sioux Tipi, Sidmouth, Devon
Find your inner nomad with a stay in a Sioux tent, which comes complete with a kitchen area, dining table, mattresses and big kilim cushions and sheepskins next to a central fire. Though you may only be in the wilderness of Devon, on a smallholding just off the M5 near Sidmouth to be exact, there's nothing to stop you passing around the peacepipe.
The tents are kept warm with lots of insulating rugs and are lit by candles and lamps. You can cook on anopen fire or barbecue or you could ruin the vibe totally by going to the local chippy in Newton Poppleford if those bison prove evasive.
Rent one from £65-£85 a night, minimum two nights.
Sant' Antonin Studio, Venice
Live like a local in your own Venetian apartment. Sant'Antonin Studio is a minimalist space on the third floor of a 15th-century house and has been restored by a young, fashion-conscious architect who kept the original wooden beams but added designer furniture including a bed on a wooden platform, mirrored wardrobes, a steel kitchen and modern lighting. The whole flat is open plan so is incredibly airy. It has canal views and is just minutes from San Marco and the Chiesa di San Giorgio dei Greci, so you'll be in the thick of Venetian life.
There are of course hundreds of restaurants in the area, though regular tourists would envy the chance to self-cater and save cash by creating wonderful pasta and cheese dishes from local ingredients at home. Renting the studio costs from £545 for a four-night break, or £785 a week.
