Gorgeous Caribbean Beach Houses You Can Rent Right Now

(Photo: Sasha Weleber/Photographer’s Choice RF/Getty Images)

Stop staring at beach porn on your computer and do something about it. Rent a beach house! You’ll have privacy, usually your own kitchen, and room to bring friends and family along. Prices start at under $100 per night.

First, some tips for renting a beach house online:

• Do a search for the name of the destination plus the words “beach houses.” This search should turn up a few individual websites plus some agency listings. Using a local agent is a good thing. It gives you someone at the destination to turn to if something goes wrong.

• Search listings on the major vacation rental websites: Airbnb.com, VRBO.com, and FlipKey.com by TripAdvisor. Use their sorting features to narrow your choices to rentals on the beach.

• Ask about things that might seem obvious, like hot water and air conditioning.

• If privacy is important, ask if there are attached apartments or other living quarters that will be occupied during your stay.

Like most travel writers, I am always a little reluctant to share my actual favorite places. I don’t want them to become so popular that I can’t find a place to stay the next time I need to run away. No worries with these five favorites — there are enough beach houses here to go around.

The Abacos

Treasure Cay, Abaco, Bahamas (Photo: Purestock/Getty Images)

“Escape” and “quiet” are the best words to describe the Abaco Islands in the Bahamas. They lie just 90 miles off the coast of Florida, but without a cruise port, most people don’t even know they exist. The largest island is Great Abaco; the largest city is Marsh Harbour. Ferry service operates between the islands, and boat rentals are a popular way to explore. On Airbnb, we found this two-bedroom house for $250 per night. Alternatively, try this dreamy listing from VRBO, three bedrooms and a private beach for $390 per night.

Idyllic Cottage on Marsh Harbour (Photo: Airbnb)

American Eagle and Bahamas Air offer daily flights from Miami. Car rentals are available by the day or the week. Activities include fishing, scuba diving, snorkeling, and boating, but not much else.

Related: A Windmill, a Prep School, and Other Weirdly Cool Airbnb Rentals

Nassau

Cable Beach, Nassau, Bahamas (Photo: Glowimages/Getty Images)

Need more to do? The bustling Bahamian city of Nassau on New Providence Island has beautiful beaches, nightlife, casinos, and more. Try this incredible four-bedroom home on VRBO for $390 per night. Choices here will vary from high-rise apartments to private luxury villas. This two-bedroom, second-floor apartment on FlipKey is only $220 per night.

This villa is available for $220 a night. (Photo: FlipKey)

Nonstop flights to Nassau depart daily from many southern cities. Car rentals are available, but taxis and buses are usually adequate transportation here. Things to do in Nassau include shopping, snorkeling, watercraft rentals, and sailing, to name a few. Enjoy a day pass for the water parks and beaches at Atlantis, then return home to your private house at the end of the day.

Puerto Rico

Harbor at Isabel Segunda on the island of Vieques, Puerto Rico (Photo: Dennis Flaherty/Photodisc/Getty Images)

Beach rentals on Puerto Rico range from high-rise condos to quaint cottages. On VRBO, we found a modern loft with five-star ratings. If you want to be in the center of the San Juan nightlife, try this amazing one-bedroom condominium on Airbnb. It’s next to a casino and on the beach for only $100 per night.

Rent this beachfront studio on Airbnb(Photo: Airbnb)

For a quieter Puerto Rico experience, get out of the city and try this beachfront studio from Airbnb on the island of Vieques, home to the largest bioluminescent bay in the world. A ferry takes you from the main island to Vieques, making this a bit more of a travel headache but worth the effort if you long for a complete escape.

Bonaire

You can’t beat this view, or the amenities. (Photo: Airbnb)

This tiny Dutch island is the least known of what people tend to call “the ABC Islands” of Aruba, Bonaire, and Curacao. Do not go to Bonaire looking for lush tropical jungles. It’s basically a desert and much of the shore is rocky, but between those rocks are patches of sugary sand beaches that you often get to enjoy all by yourself. Beach houses here range from apartments like this VRBO listing starting at $207 per night to million-dollar villas like this three-bedroom with a dreamy pool on Airbnb for $400 per night.

United operates nonstop flights from Houston and Newark, while Delta flies out of Miami. One suggestion — you will need a rental car to explore the island, preferably a four-wheel-drive one. Activities include scuba diving, snorkeling, wildlife watching, windsurfing, kite surfing, and boating. There is a casino on the island, as well as fine-dining options if you crave a little nightlife.

Related: Hiding From the Weather: Island Retreats for Hurricane Season

Roatán

The beach house sits on Roatan’s Half Moon Bay. (Photo: VRBO)

Roatán lies off the coast of Honduras and is all about beaches and water activities. An increase in cruise ship traffic in recent years has brought development, but if you travel beyond the port, you’ll quickly leave all of that behind. The 59 listings we found on Airbnb all looked enticing and had reasonable prices. This studio with a private beach was only $75 per night. On VRBO, we found this incredible four-bedroom, four-bath villa with a private pool for $500 per night.

The front patio and pool have wonderful views of the Caribbean. (VRBO)

Getting to Roatán is easier than it used to be. United flies nonstop from Houston, Miami, and Newark; American flies nonstop from Dallas; and Delta flies there from Atlanta. Flights are usually limited to Saturdays, except from Miami, and chances are, you will need a rental car.

See you at the beach!

WATCH: Discover the Captivating Island of Puerto Rico

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