Even to those who havent read Robinson Crusoe, the idea of living alone on an island is a familiar daydream.

Particularly in these times of a pandemic, what could be better than holidaying alone on your own island, with as much space and privacy as you want?

It might sound unlikely, but it isnt, although you may need the necessary capital, says Farhad Vladi, a Hamburg-born real estate agent in Germany specialising in private islands.

The 75-year-old man, who says he himself was inspired by Crusoe, has been in the business for 50 years and has sold 3,000 islands, from Canada to the Seychelles and New Zealand.

There are around 12,000 private islands in the world, Vladi says.

But not everything that sticks out of the sea is worth having as a private island.

In order to get a building permit, for example, an island needs to be at least one hectare in size. It should be reachable by boat and look nice.

If youre set on buying your own private island, youll be limited to those countries where foreigners are allowed to buy one.

There are only about 40 countries where thats possible, Vladi says. Thailand, with its rich marine life, is not among them.

If you dont have tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars to spare, many private islands up for sale can also be rented out for holidays at prices that arent very different from those of a good hotel, so long as you share the costs with friends or family.

But what about buying your own island? Isnt that something thats only for the super rich?

If you can afford a good car, you can afford an island, says Vladi.

On the east coast of Canada, for example, you can buy an island for US$50,000 (RM213,775) with nothing on it, of course. You can also buy one for US$30mil (RM1.28bil).

Its nice to have an island if you also have the freedom to travel to it when you want to. Its not good to be trapped on an island, says Vladi, who himself bought an island off New Zealand.

So whats it like spending all your time on an island? For every plan you have to have an alternative plan at the ready, says Nele Wree.

The weather can quickly destroy any plans you have.

Together with her partner Holger Spreer and her daughters Fenja and Ilvy, she has lived on the island of Hallig Suederoog, off the coast of northern Germany, for almost seven years.

It was a series of coincidences that led the 37-year-old art historian to become an island lessee. Spreer, a fisherman, also gave up his job when the pair landed jobs at the local councils coastal, park and marine protection department.

Six kilometres separate the 60ha island from the nearest big island Pellworm. Instead of power lines they have solar panels and diesel generators, though they are connected to the water mains.

Our main tasks are coastal and nature protection work and tourism. That includes securing the Hallig revetments, counting birds, monitoring the drift lines and lots more, she says.

They also look after more than 80 sheep and lambs, more than 20 ducks and geese, three cows, two mini pigs, one cat and six beehives.

People imagine it to be very romantic, that you spend the entire day together as a couple. But its more of a working community, says Wree with a laugh. You constantly have to make decisions together.

Around 1,500 tourists visit Suederoog every year between May and October. Its only possible by taking a guided tour of the mudflats or from Pellworm, says Wree.

And visitors arent allowed to stay longer than an hour. She serves them homemade cakes and hearty soups.

The island inhabited by Alexander Selkirk, thought to have been the man the story of Robinson Crusoe was based on, is still shrouded in mystery.

On the Chilean island of Mas a Tierra, whose name was officially changed to Robinson Crusoe Island in 1966, a real pirate treasure is supposed to be buried: at least 800 sacks of gold. It could be worth a visit if you want a real adventure. dpa

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Can you really buy your own private island getaway? - The Star Online