The Vibe
At Juliana’s Hotel, it feels like you’re staying in a local’s home and the staff is all of your cousins. It’s not because you’re in a B&B. You’re not; each room has its own entrance from the outside, along with its own bathroom. It’s because it’s only an 18-room hotel and you’ll see the same staff members every day. If you were blindfolded and brought to Saba, you’d still know you were on an island when walking into your room at Juliana’s. The “lobby” is in a small white building and consists of a desk and shelves of local products for sale. Across from it is the expansive open-air restaurant with a pool as its centerpiece and gorgeous views of the Caribbean Sea. Down the road, a few steps to the right, is the hotel, a beautiful white building surrounded by a lush garden with rooms that overlook the sea or flora.
How I Felt
Relaxed. I truly felt at home here. Not only was my room comfortable, but I also became friends with the staff and looked forward to going to the restaurant for breakfast and dinner to chat with them. There’s also a resident dog named Hermes, and he loves to lie beside you while you eat. The location is within walking distance to Windwardside, which is the island’s primary village filled with cafes, restaurants and shops selling local handmade products like jewelry and beautiful artwork. It’s also only a short walk from a beautiful hiking trail called Mas’ Cahones, where I was able to see a spectacular view of the island and other islands such as St. Kitts and St. Eustatius with my guide, Daniel Guerra.
The Digs
I stayed in a Captain’s Suite and was blown away by the amount of space I had, but also by the beautiful décor, a rustic white with shades of blue reminiscent of the sea. My room had sliding glass doors that opened onto a large private terrace with phenomenal views of the Caribbean Sea. Also, I loved that the bathroom had Tommy Bahama products!
The Agenda
Beginning the day with breakfast at Juliana’s Tropics Café is a must! Then I’d recommend exploring the town. You don’t really need a map; getting lost is a bonus, and a local will kindly guide you back if you do get lost. Go into the village and take a look at the town’s Conch Weather Forecast wall. Depending on whether the conch that is hanging is dry, wet or swinging, will tell you what the forecasted weather is for the day (it’s all labeled). For unique gifts for others or yourself, stroll into The Jewel Cottage for gorgeous handcrafted pieces or visit Marie Petit’s home (ask around, everyone knows her) and peruse through her sustainable handcrafted jewelry, belts and palm tree leaf woven art. If you have extra time on the island, a dive trip with Sea Saba is worth it. It’s one of the best dives I’ve ever experienced. Juliana’s will even pack a lunch for you to take on the boat!
The Eats
The hotel has a wonderful restaurant called Tropics Café that serves breakfast, lunch and dinner, and it’s where you’ll find locals and guests alike dining. I loved their shrimp curry as well as their Juliana’s Saban Sunset, a cocktail mixture of rum, pineapple and orange juice, fresh lime and grenadine syrup. On certain evenings, the restaurant pulls out a huge projector screen and shows a documentary on Saba’s flora and fauna while you have your dinner. The hotel also grows its own veggies, and it shows in how fresh the dishes are.
Why I Would Go Back
For the people. The people who worked at the hotel, but also on the island in general, were so friendly, helpful and welcoming. I really love traveling and feeling like a local or at home, and that’s exactly how I felt at Juliana’s.
Latifah Al-Hazzà
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