Castles, chalets and villas: 25 priciest vacation rentals

Vacations are often about living out a fantasy. Explore the perfect beach, witness amazing wildlife, sample regional delicacies, revel in the moment. But what if your fantasy is to live in a castle or inhabit a private island?

You can do that too. Vacation rental site HomeAway has expanded its online market for Luxury Rentals, in conjunction with Andrew Harper's Hideaway Report. The Hideaway Report is known for reviewing high-end lodging in top destinations, and HomeAway is using its ratings system for properties included on the Luxury Rentals site.

Options, which range from $57,000 a night to $2,000 include stunning Caribbean villas, mountaintop ski chalets and retreats of the stars. There's even an over-the-top rental on Lake Austin in Texas.

And some of these spots sleep so many, the economics aren't as crazy as you might think. Take this French chateau-- it runs almost $5,000 a night, but if you've got enough friends to fill the 11 bedrooms, the cost per night is about the same as a luxury hotel.

Browse the slideshow above for the 25 priciest options available for rent on HomeAway. Or if you prefer the exact opposite, see below for the tiniest homes you can try on vacation.