James & Linda Mackay – Canada & Saba Property Owners
We were hooked on Saba the first time we took a day trip to the island. The people on Saba and the fantastic sense of community, culture and conservation made us feel at home. This paradise captured our hearts and each time we returned, we became more and more convinced that we needed to establish a permanent presence on the island and share it with others.
Working with Saba Island Properties on this initiative was a great experience for us. Yes, selling real estate is a business, but Michael and Albert treated us as guests rather than customers. They took the time to hear our voices and listen to our dreams so that they could find us the perfect property.
Michael and Albert patiently guided us through many potential prospects and answered our countless questions along the way. The experience and knowledge base they possessed was obvious, yet the manner they worked respected the fact that this was not only a leap to a new home for us, but also a leap of faith to a system that was far different than what we were familiar with.
Working with Saba Island Properties gave us the confidence to realize our dream of land ownership in Saba. Michael and Albert are skilled professionals who know the island, know the industry, and know the right people to get things done.
Early on in our search, Michael and Albert identified a property that they believed was a great match for what we were after. They saw our vision, guided us along and supported us as we weighed our options. Ironically, eighteen months later, in the midst of a pandemic, their patience and quiet persistence paid off. Michael and Albert operate with compassion and sincerity and we look forward to working with them as this project continues.
Tom Darrow – Talent Connections – Georgia, USA
Michael & Albert – Saba Island Properties – have been incredible!
They have helped us with rentals on Saba and looking at a possible villa purchase. They are very responsive with communications, answers to our MANY questions, and if something wasn’t perfect at the rental villa, they quickly made it perfect. Michael & Albert not only have the expertise but also a heart and passion for what they do and for serving tourists visiting Saba.
Thank you, Michael and Albert, for a great stay at the AMAZING Champagne Cottage and for tirelessly showing us villas and land for sale in Saba that might fit our longer-term dreams.
The Fraipont Family – North Carolina
Beautiful – architect designed house with stunning views
Our family just spent a week at Haiku House on beautiful Saba. The house is well designed and perfectly located to enjoy cooling breezes and lovely views of the ocean and town (the Bottom) below.
Michael (Saba Island Properties) was an outstanding host, volunteering to buy groceries for us prior to our arrival due to holiday store closings. He also coordinated our car rental, dinner reservations and taxis. He made the arrival process smooth and pleasant. We felt quite pampered by him!
Haiku House has three nicely decorated bedrooms with a/c for comfortable sleeping. The windows in the living room and master bedroom slide open completely, allowing the tropical breezes to blow through the house. The house has a large, comfortable office (if one sadly has to work during their stay!). We enjoyed drinks and dinner on the deck most nights during our stay. Other highlights: sunsets and stargazing from the lower deck, warming up after diving in the jacuzzi, watching the clouds blow by during brief rain showers.
Saba was a very pleasant surprise! The diving is outstanding. The hiking is also very good—we particularly liked the Sandy Cruz trail which ends very close to the house. The architecture on the island is charming—red roofs, “gingerbread” trim. The locals were welcoming and seemed happy we were there (probably since Saba isn’t overrun with tourists like many other Caribbean islands).
Our family has stayed in many vacation rentals over the years. We agreed that this was our favorite to date!
Lisa and Paul – New York
We recently spent two wonderful weeks at Haiku House. The house is beautiful and comfortable in a serene setting. We enjoyed taking our coffee outside and watching The Bottom (the capital of Saba) come to life in the morning with the blue ocean beyond. When the clouds roll down the mountain, you feel suspended in the air; your only companions are the birds, a chicken or two, and the occasional goat. At sunset, we would take cocktails down to the lower deck to enjoy the view over the neighboring hills. There is ample room to spread out and relax either on the various decks, in the pool or hot tub, or on the couch in the bright and airy living room.
This was our first visit to Saba, and Michael at Saba Island Properties was gracious and welcoming. He helped us book the house through the owner and took care of all of the details, including stocking the house with essentials, sending a taxi to the airport to meet us, arranging for a private chef, recommending restaurants, and more. Every request was handled promptly and efficiently. Michael & Albert are most charming and seem to know everyone on the island. Whether you stay at Haiku House or another of the houses they manage, you will be in very capable hands. The owner of Haiku House, Caroline Hompes, was lovely to deal with and followed up after our visit to make sure we had an enjoyable stay.
While it was tempting to stay at the house all day, we did manage to see most of the island and take a number of hikes, including the trails up Mount Scenery and to the abandoned sulfur mine. The Sandy Cruz trail, another favorite, starts very near the house. The hiking can be as easy or as challenging as you like, and there is an excellent trail guide in the library at the house. You can also hire “Crocodile” James Johnson, a fifth-generation Saban, to guide you. We never saw another person on any of the trails and the views are striking as is the profound silence when you walk through the forest or along the cliffs.
While The Bottom is quieter than Windwardside, the other town on the island, it has two excellent places for breakfast or lunch, Bottom Bean and Island Flavors, as well as a bakery and two grocery stores. Saba may be one of the friendliest places on Earth, and strangers really do wave at you as you walk or drive by! As time passes, you become familiar with the rhythms of daily life on the island, including the much anticipated arrival of the supply boat on Wednesdays. You will feel part of it all very quickly. We could have easily spent another two weeks on Saba and hope to return soon!
Anderson Nichols – Salem Massachusetts, USA
My first visit to Saba was over 50 years ago. I remembered how very special that visit was, the natural beauty, the tranquility and most especially the people, so warm and kind. I vowed to return one day. This past January I returned after half a century with family and friends.
We stayed at Haiku House on Troy Hill, a beautiful Japanese inspired home overlooking the Caribbean Sea. Like the rest of the island the house is magical!
We had planned to come in 2020, then 2021 but due to COVID plans were changed. Caroline Hompes was wonderful with our booking and changes. Very thoughtful and kept us up to date with Saba’s closures and reopening’s.
Michael Feeley – Saba Island Properties – manages the property. He could not have been kinder making restaurant reservations, securing a private chef, stocking the fridge, etc. we all felt extremely well taken care of!!
We can’t recommend visiting Saba and Haiku House enough. An incredibly special place.
Looking forward to many more visits.
Karl Wichser – Atlanta, Georgia
The booking process for Haiku House was easy given the international nature of rental and payments. Caroline Hompes provided detailed and accurate banking information. The ability to pay in US dollars made payment easy. She confirmed receipt of payment very promptly… The ability to work directly with Caroline and Michael (property manager – Saba Island Properties) was invaluable.
Both Caroline and Michael (Saba Island Properties) were very helpful with several matters, including advice on transportation, arrival, departure, restaurants, rental car, and use of Haiku House. They both helped make our first visit to Saba much more enjoyable.
We valued most Caroline and Michael’s prompt and clear communication and trustworthiness.
Haiku House is a beautiful home – beautiful location, privacy, nice weather, friendly people, hiking to the top of Mount Scenery, and the tide pools.
We were treated well during our stay, respectfully and with courtesy. Michael was always responsive to our inquiries either via phone or WhatsApp.
We will forever have fond memories of our first visit to Saba.
Loraine & Martin – New York
Although Saba is free of Covid related restrictions, we found ourselves in self-imposed lockdown in the Haiku House – and loved every minute. We did plan to explore Saba but found this extraordinary property difficult to leave.
Haiku House is the perfect place to spend a peaceful holiday. It is spacious yet intimate. Secluded yet accessible. It is fully equipped with every amenity one could possibly need. It is bliss to be surrounded by sounds and sights of unspoiled nature in complete privacy. The pool deck and cocktail level are stunners, but our favorite activity was sinking into the couch in the morning to watch the everchanging view of the clouds over the mountain through the open doors.
We were familiar with Michael & Albert’s hospitality from a previous short stay. But, again, they exceeded our expectations. We arrived very early to meet Michael, who had stocked the refrigerator and pantry with delicious and refreshing essentials. He even helped my husband purchase a special surprise gift and dinner reservation for my birthday. There was no request they couldn’t fulfill.
We also had the pleasure of communicating with Caroline about our booking and visit. Although being many time zones away, Caroline was always responsive and helpful. She was extremely flexible and reassuring during these uncertain times.
Haiku House is the perfect antidote to the last year of unease. Looking forward to returning many more times.
Dr. Todd Brooking M.D.,B.S., M.A., MT and Tami Brooking – Photographer – Washington – USA
“Waking up in the Haiku House is a dream…
The smell of fresh air infused with Saban oranges, ferns, and wild island flowers; the astonishing views of a turquoise ocean; and the quiet tranquil feeling that takes over. In all honesty, with all of our extensive traveling, nothing is quite as unique and exquisite as time spent at the pristine property.
We lived on Saba years ago. Queen Beatrice (Queen of Holland) would often come to visit the island and she would always stay at the Haiku House For us to have the chance to come back to this beautiful island and experience it as a tourist was nothing short of amazing. We always feel like it’s a rare opportunity to step back in time and enjoy “island time” and escape from our overscheduled routines once we step foot on “The Unspoiled Queen” island.
You will feel like a VIP here! From the time you book the property until the time you depart –
Michael & Albert – Saba Island Properties – go above and beyond to ensure the highest quality service. They were quick to accommodate our special requests furthering a prestigious experience. We are most impressed with their quick and detailed communication responses, reassuring us that everything was in place. I highly recommend that you treat yourself to this once in a lifetime type of vacation.”
Olof Landgren – Sweden & Saba Property Owner
Albert & Michael, you certainly had a big hand in us going from a daydream to a life plan [helping us find the right land on Saba to build our home]. You understand dreams yet see what is real — and making the connection is a rare talent that requires emotional intelligence as well as practical knowledge and hard work.
I for one am grateful for the work you guys do, and for making two new friends in the process!
Herman Henken – Haiku House – Saba – Co-Owner
As co-owners of the Haiku House, we have had, once again, a dream vacation on Saba in the
Haiku House! We want to express our heartfelt gratitude to Michael & Albert for their excellent management services — which they have given to us for more than five years already. Whenever we stay in paradise on Saba it’s like living in a fairy-tale not only because of the spectacular Haiku House with its privacy and elegance but merely because of their all around services.
Indispensable is what they are. If you ask for great ambiance – top quality – unusual comfort and care… they deliver it all in one unique house.