Most people's first stay on Saba is in a rented cottage or villa, not a hotel room. That suits the island: there are no high-rise resorts here, just a few hundred homes on a green volcano, and some of the nicest ones can be yours for a week. Here's how renting on Saba works, what it costs right now, and what to do if you need somewhere for months rather than nights.

What a Saba vacation rental is like

Rentals here are individual homes: white clapboard, red roofs, gingerbread trim, a veranda with a sea view. Most have a proper kitchen, WiFi, and outdoor space, so you live the way residents do. You shop at the village grocery, hike before breakfast, and watch the sun go down from your own terrace.

It also means supply is small. A handful of homes are available at any one time, and the good ones book up for the winter months well ahead. If your dates are fixed, ask early.

Current vacation rentals and nightly rates

We currently offer three rentals, all in Windwardside:

  • Flamboyant Cottage: one bedroom, sleeps two, $165 a night. A garden cottage close to the village centre, suited to a couple or a solo traveller.
  • Hibiscus Villa: two bedrooms, two baths, sleeps four, $225 a night. Full kitchen, several terraces, sea views, and parking.
  • Spyglass Villa: three bedrooms, two baths, sleeps six, $295 a night. Ocean views, a full kitchen, air conditioning, and a private setting.

At a glance (October 2026): cottage for two from $165 a night · two-bedroom villa $225 · three-bedroom villa $295 · all in Windwardside · rates and availability on our rentals page.

What's included

Each of our rentals comes ready to live in: a fully equipped kitchen or kitchenette, WiFi and entertainment, and fresh linens and towels. You don't need to bring more than you would to a hotel. Features differ from house to house, so the listing pages spell out what each one has, from air conditioning to parking. If something matters to you, such as a quiet workspace or step-free access, ask before you book and we'll tell you which home fits.

Cottage or villa?

A cottage is the classic Saban experience: compact, full of character, and usually a short walk from a village centre. It works well for two people who plan to spend their days diving or on the trails.

A villa gives you more bedrooms, more terrace, and usually a bigger view. For a family or two couples it often costs less per person than separate rooms would, and you get a kitchen and living space to share.

Which village to stay in

For a first visit, Windwardside is the easy answer. It has most of the island's restaurants, the dive shops, the trail shop, and the start of the Mount Scenery trail, all within walking distance. The Bottom, Zion's Hill and St. Johns are quieter and more residential. Nothing on Saba is more than a few minutes' drive from anything else, so you aren't cut off wherever you stay. Our village-by-village guide describes each one.

Long-term rentals and apartments

If you need a place for months, the picture changes. The long-term market is small. The island has only a few hundred homes, the Saba University School of Medicine in The Bottom brings students and faculty who need housing, and what's available shifts from month to month.

For that reason we don't publish a long-term list. Tell us your dates, how many bedrooms you need, your preferred village and your budget, and we'll tell you honestly what we know of. The earlier you ask, the more choice you'll have.

Renting before you buy

A lot of our buyers started as renters. A week or two in a real house tells you things a listing can't: how the trade winds feel on a particular hillside, how you like the walk into the village, whether you want to be in the middle of things or above them.

If that's your plan, say so when you book and we'll show you a few homes while you're here. Our buying guide and cost-of-living guide are good reading for the flight. One caution: staying in a rental, like owning a home, doesn't give you the right to live here year-round. Residency is a separate process, outlined in our residency orientation.

Practical notes for your stay

Getting here. Fly to Sint Maarten (SXM), then take the Winair flight of about 15 minutes or the ferry. Tell us your arrival time when you book.

Money. The US dollar is the official currency, so rates are quoted in USD.

What Saba is, and isn't. This is a hiking and diving island with steep roads and dramatic cliffs, not a beach destination. Come for the reefs, the trails and the quiet, and you won't be disappointed.

How to book

Browse the current rentals, then email jeffsabarealty@gmail.com or use our contact page with your dates and group size. We'll confirm availability and the total for your stay. Thinking of owning a rental yourself? Our investment guide covers how that works.

Nightly rates reflect our listings as of October 2026 and can change by season and length of stay. This article is general information, not legal or immigration advice. Please confirm rates, availability and any entry or residency requirements before you travel.