We recently spent an idyllic week at Garden Cottage on the island of Saba. The house is beautiful, well-kept and fully equipped. The lovely pool is surrounded by potted palms and tropical flowering plants and the view of the Caribbean is superb. There is a colourful tropical garden in the back. The only problem is there isn’t enough time to sit in all the inviting spots at this house.

From the house it’s a short walk downhill to the village of Windwardside for restaurants, groceries, banking. This is a grand spot to spend a week eating good food, reading, relaxing, drawing and soaking up calm. There are excellent hiking trails when you feel the need for exercise.

Our arrangments to rent the cottage were done efficiently and easily by e-mail and snail-mail with the owner, Lynn Franzson, who was most accommodating.