13 paradises for rent

With Richard Branson's rentable idyll, Necker Island, off the market for the foreseeable future after a disastrous fire, budding Robinson Crusoes are having to look elsewhere for exclusive sea-bound escapes. We've rounded up some of the most jaw-dropping private islands available to rent or buy.Read on and find out which one justifies that £190,000 fee...

1) Cayo Espanto, Belize
Belize may be beautiful but it's also home to the largest coral reef in the world, which means that you're often as likely to spot a fellow diver as a white-spotted toadfish. The solution? Rent your own Belizean island hideaway, which in this case comes with its own dive master and fishing expert - for £9,000 a night, you'd probably expect nothing less. All rooms come with iPads, espresso machines and the finest Egyptian cotton bed linen; an extensive library, kayaks, a catamaran and a sail boat should also help to keep boredom at bay.

Get out that cheque book