The summer season of 2017 is coming, and many lovers of seaside resorts are already surfing tourism websites in anticipation of a long-awaited vacation. Many people are attracted to the small Balkan country of Montenegro.

Safety in Montenegro

This year, for many, the question unexpectedly arose: Is it worth going to Montenegro? Is it dangerous for Russians in Montenegro? This is not surprising. The story with NATO, the terrorist attack - all this can scare away tourists from Russia.

What is the current situation? As long as the situation is normal, there is no panic. If you compare Montenegro with Turkey and Egypt, then this is simply heaven and earth in terms of security! Although, nothing can scare our citizens anymore. They go to Turkey no matter what.

What is attractive about Montenegro? Is there any point in going there?

In addition to being a seaside resort, Montenegro is a country with many attractions. You need to travel along it, especially since its size allows you to do this without much difficulty. If possible, rent a car and go to the country’s many natural and historical attractions.

Montenegro has a large number of ancient cities with narrow European streets. This Balkan country is famous for its centuries-old churches, mountain monasteries, lakes and nature reserves. Perast, Kotor, Herceg Novi, and other cities will be interesting to visit for curious travelers. If you are an active tourist who is not ready to fly thousands of kilometers and stupidly lie on the beach, then Montenegro is for you! For active travelers this is a real paradise! Even if you don’t have the opportunity to rent a car, you can travel as part of excursions, of which there are plenty during the season.

If you don’t like fuss, or are simply tired of the crazy pace of life, then here you can find secluded corners with pristine nature and real silence. For example, such places can be found in the Bay of Kotor, in the village of Sveti Stefan near Budva. Montenegro is a country for long walks. There are walking routes to monasteries on the mountain, paths along the sea, surrounded by greenery, national parks, and mountain lakes. Agree, all this is the best stress therapy.

Features of holidays in Montenegro

If you are a party animal, you need “all inclusive” and other attributes of entertainment resorts, then you most likely will not like Montenegro. This country is more suitable for a relaxing family holiday. There is a clean sea, excellent nature, organic food and no viral infections that often plague our resorts. The prices are not high, a visa is not required. Montenegrins are Slavs, so their language is very similar to Russian. There are no language problems here, and the attitude towards Russians is normal. This is not Türkiye, where they smile at you only because of the money, but hate you for themselves.

How to get there

If you decide to go to Montenegro, this information will probably be useful to you. There are two international airports in the country: Tivat and Podgorica. The first is located on the coast, and the second is located closer to the center of the country.

Which one to choose is up to you. I recommend one useful site - Tivat Airport website in Russian. There you can find a lot of useful information, not only about the airport itself, but also about how to get from it to the resorts, how to rent a car and what you need for this...

Montenegro

We want to forget “vacation” in Montenegro like a bad dream

I completely agree with those who write that there is no need to go on vacation to Montenegro. We just arrived from there: we literally ran, changing tickets and paying extra for them. But we didn’t care anymore, as long as we left this hell. The three of us went - my daughter and granddaughter, 3 years old. All our friends only praised their holiday in this country, and our friends have apartments in Radovichi (near Tivat) and Djenovici (near Herceg Novi). So we went to Djenovici. We rented an apartment because... I wanted one with a kitchen because of the child. Previously, we vacationed in Cyprus, Spain, Greece, and Croatia. We really liked the latter and we wanted to go there, but there were no more places in the hotel. So they told us that Montenegro is the same as Croatia. Oh, that turned out to be completely untrue!!! Beautiful clean Croatia! And dirty Montenegro, where complete unsanitary conditions reign! I didn’t like everything: the beach, the miserable, broken “embankment” along which cars were constantly scurrying around, tasteless food, lack of normal grocery stores, a pharmacy 7 km away.... The sea seemed to be clean at first, but then plastic bottles and bags began to float and all sorts of rubbish. The beaches are tiny, we found one decent one in the area with paid sunbeds that had to be occupied early in the morning. But the worst thing began after two days of “rest”. My granddaughter caught either a rotavirus infection or, as everyone says, E. coli. Fever, vomiting, diarrhea, doctors.... Two days later I collapsed. Then we realized that it was time to go home, and urgently. And right before the flight, my daughter fell ill with the same nasty thing. They prayed for only one thing - to return alive to Moscow! As it turned out, in the apartment where we lived, and in fact, as well as on the entire coast, everyone is sick with this garbage. And no one knows anything: maybe the sea, maybe food.... Doctors treat incorrectly, no information or diagnosis. In general, somehow they don’t do very well at all. We want to forget this voyage and never remember this country. We talked to Russians who bought apartments there; we all wanted to understand what could attract them here? But they never understood. Some people really liked the view of the bay, others are just crazy that they have an apartment abroad. They are all very strange indeed. We were lucky with the apartment - in principle, everything was fine. And the rest... Small houses that require serious repairs, with windows and balcony doors that cannot be closed, but are proudly called apartments! I really feel sorry for my health, the funds that were saved for my vacation, and my ruined vacation! Now we need to recover for a long time. I strongly advise against traveling to Montenegro.

TOURISTS' ANSWERS:

Montenegro is a beautiful country, very picturesque. When going here, you should understand that it will not be right to stay exclusively in a hotel, much less take the all-inclusive type of food, unless, of course, you fly here with a large number of children. In Montenegro, you need to be an active tourist, rent a car in order to get to know the beauty of this country much closer than you would even like.

First of all, I will say that the most economical way is to fly here as an independent tourist, having booked an apartment in the city you like. Flying through a tour operator is much more expensive, and the choice of accommodation facilities will be much more limited.

In addition, Montenegro has a large number of interesting attractions of completely different directions. This and the presence of an old town in almost every resort place, monasteries, churches, ancient forts, the feeling of the Middle Ages will follow you everywhere. Nature lovers will discover the truly beautiful Skadar Lake with a large number of its inhabitants: cranes, storks.

Those who appreciate the winery will also come to the right place. Near the lake there is a factory for the production of Montenegrin wines, tastings are held there, after which those who wish to buy what they particularly liked. If you want homemade wine, there is the village of Virpazar nearby, where the locals themselves sell their own wine.

The food in Montenegro is very tasty, there are many national dishes that are definitely worth trying. Restaurants always welcome their visitors and have menus in different languages, including Russian. It is not uncommon for establishments to think about little guests and keep in stock several dishes aimed at children's tummies.

The country of Montenegro is multifaceted and absolutely any tourist will find it comfortable to relax in. Families with children can easily find a suitable hotel with children's infrastructure or an apartment with a kitchen. Those who want peace and tranquility will be able to retire to the bosom of nature, hide from crowded eyes, and be alone with themselves. Active youth will be able to have a great rest, because the nightlife in Montenegro is also well developed. This is especially true for Budva, Sutomore and Herceg Novi.

Montenegro has a mild Mediterranean climate, you can come here on vacation at any time of the year; there is no severe cold, wind, snow and rain here. But there is no need to expect intense heat in the summer. August is a hot month, but due to the mountain ring, real grace comes in the evenings.

For active travelers there is something to see here. You can ride along a real serpentine road, take panoramic shots, and if you want, you can even get a little lost. Because sometimes a coastal road can unexpectedly take you high into the mountains without expecting it.

Nature of Montenegro.

Local resort town.

Is the answer helpful?

If the long-awaited vacation is just around the corner, and you dream of lounging for a week or two on a hot beach, drinking and eating delicious all-inclusive, then Turkey, Egypt or Tunisia are more suitable for you. But if you are interested in history or fans of an active, “wandering” holiday, with adventures and gorgeous photos of your vacation, then Montenegro is an option.

Let's start with the fact that the country is small, but very different. Therefore, the choice of location and accommodation must be approached very responsibly, so as not to ruin your vacation.

The country, of course, is exceptional in beauty, the blessed Adriatic, lakes, canyons, mountains, unique nature that amazes at first glance. There are probably few places in the world where you can see everything at once in a small area. Plants of different climatic zones coexist peacefully here - palm trees, pines, agaves, cacti and many unimaginable flowers.

In a few days, a traveler can drink coffee on one of the many islands of the Budva Riviera, have lunch at Lake Skadar and dinner near the mountain slopes of the Durmitor National Park. Visit all the big cities of Tivat, Podgorica, Kotor, Bar, Herceg Novi, Cetinje, enjoy the unique flavor and breathtaking scenery. You can move around on your own by renting a car, or buy a sightseeing tour, of which there are a huge number. But no matter which direction you go, you are unlikely to find roads on the plain; most of the roads are serpentines going high into the mountains. Mostly the roads are good, but you won’t be able to fly with the wind. In some places the lighting is bad, so if you are not an ace driver, the matter is quite difficult; you quickly get tired behind the wheel from the stress.

If you are looking for a holiday on the coast, then the Montenegro Islands attract with a variety of experiences and sea air. Each of the many cities attracts with its beaches and interesting history. Here you will find restaurants with homemade cuisine, fish delicacies, cafes with chic terraces and an unforgettable view of the sea.

On the negative side, it’s a bit dirty; even the hotel beaches are not clean. When choosing a seaside holiday, keep in mind that in some cities, for example in Becici, there are almost no hotels with accommodation on the first line. In Budva, the beach is rocky, pebbly, if you want to swim in Budva Bay to your heart’s content, keep in mind that the distance to the buoys is not very large, and behind them there is busy sea traffic: motorboats, yachts, boats. A pair of sun loungers and an umbrella will cost you 10 euros.

When choosing a villa or apartment, pay attention that your accommodation does not face the road, there is busy and noisy traffic all around. It’s easy to find housing on your own, almost anywhere, it will turn out to be a little cheaper. As a rule, options are offered with a kitchen, which has everything necessary for proper cooking.

In small markets you can find a variety of fruits, goat cheese, olives, locally produced wine, everything is tasty and not very expensive. There are plenty of restaurants, you can snack on pizza on the go, try chevashi - minced meat sausages, pleskavica - chevashi in the form of a flatbread, prosciutto, local shawarma. Drinks are expensive - cola 1.5-2 euros, mineral water 1.5, coffee 1.8. If you are not confident in your own stomach, be picky when choosing food, since sanitary conditions are not ideal everywhere.

You need to prepare for a holiday with children based on the age and capabilities of the child. If your fidget is ready to accompany you on an active holiday, moving from one place to another, take a drink and a light snack with you, be sure to check the duration of the excursion; another trip may take the whole day. If not, then it’s better for you to stay in good hotels, where you can leave your child under the supervision of animators and go on excursions yourself.

To summarize, I would like to say that the holiday is somewhat reminiscent of the resorts of the Krasnodar region. The people are smiling and hospitable, but they have their own minds. The holiday will cost more than, for example, in Greece or Spain, and the service is a little lacking. But in any case, if you are in the mood for a good holiday, you are guaranteed impressions and amazing photographs.

About two months before my vacation, the question arose: where to go. I wanted the sea and the sun. It seemed that nothing else mattered. However, after a couple of hours spent on the Internet, a scale of priorities was formed, and now I could already answer the question of curious acquaintances: “Why Montenegro?”

Firstly, the sea. The land of the former Yugoslavia was not terra incognita for me, since several years ago I was on vacation in Croatia, and this is the same coast. The main memory of this country is the unusually clear azure blue sea. The Adriatic Sea, although it is a bay of the Mediterranean, is cleaner.

Secondly, the funds: for two weeks with air travel I paid less than for a week in a hotel of the same category somewhere in Portugal. There are, of course, also inexpensive Turkeys and Tunisias, but the climate in Montenegro is milder and easier to tolerate (otherwise, suddenly half of your vacation will be spent on acclimatization).

Where to relax in Montenegro

So, Montenegro. However, there was still a choice of city and hotel ahead. I decided to go to Budva - the largest city on this coast.

If you want to relax in a quieter place, choose the area around Sveti Stefan or Milocer. But keep in mind that holidays in these places will cost much more.

Cheaper and simpler is the rapidly growing Petrovac. And if you want to save a lot, then look for vacation spots further along the coast, outside the Budva Riviera - in Bar and the surrounding area.

I’ll tell you a few horror stories from the “our brother tourist is being fooled” series. Often travel agents have not personally been to Montenegro: they cannot answer simple questions and confuse the cities. So, you can easily be sent to sunbathe on a concrete embankment, swim in muddy water and, instead of the endless expanses of the sea, enjoy the view of the opposite shore.

The cities of Kotor or Tivat in the Bay of Kotor are sold by unscrupulous companies as “sea holidays”, but you will not see the horizon line in the bay.

Where to stay in Budva: Hotel Aleksandar

We lived in the Alexander Hotel - a good comfortable four-room apartment. By the way, after my trip in 2017, it was completely renovated.

The hotel is located on the outskirts of the city and it was truly a great success for many reasons. This hotel is part of the huge Slavic Beach complex, but at the same time it differs favorably from the latter with more comfortable conditions.

I don't think it's better to live closer to the center. 24/7 blaring music coming simultaneously from 4-5 nearby restaurants - you will remember this “vacation” for the rest of your life.

5-10 minutes on foot - and you find yourself in the center, where there are numerous restaurants, an amusement park, a clothing market (mostly rags from neighboring Italy) - in a word, all resort pleasures in one bottle, choose according to your taste.

If you go in the opposite direction from the hotel along the sea, then in 10 minutes you will find yourself in the small resort town of Becici, where there are amazing sandy beaches.

Slavic beach in Budva

Of course, there are people who are not ready for such long walking journeys. Especially for them: the nearest beach is about 100 meters from the hotel (this space is occupied by a lawn with palm trees and oleanders).

The beach is pebble. It’s a little hard to go in if you’re not used to it, but what a wonderful foot massage! (They say it is very useful for all organs:)))

On the beach in the first week, Montenegrins predominated, other Slavs and Germans occasionally met, and at the beginning of the second week many compatriots appeared. It was easy to spot them, since almost no one had swam behind the buoys or swam in the dark before. Montenegrins are also not difficult to recognize: they are dressed more democratically, but they are too thin and dark-skinned, although the men don’t even look bad on the beach. It was very touching to watch local fathers who took care of their children on the beach, played with them, read books, while mothers sat nearby, like a sphinx, and smoked like a steam locomotive. Yes, keep in mind that there are a lot of smokers on Montenegrin beaches!

Vacationers usually bring their carcasses to the beach after breakfast, around 8-9. Before this time, the beach is filled with employees cleaning the sand, arranging sun loungers and umbrellas, and watering the flowers.

Where to go on an excursion from Budva

Two weeks is a long time. A moment inevitably comes when everything, even the most pleasant, becomes boring. And this is where excursions come to the rescue. It’s better, of course, to buy them on the spot: you can ask the price by walking around several hotels, look at offers from other companies, talk with Russian-speaking vacationers (I want to be the person who learns from the mistakes of others!).

Excursion to Cetinje

I went to Cetinje(former capital of Montenegro). This city is not far from Budva, only 30 km, but along a mountain serpentine road. This place is famous thanks to the Christian shrine kept in the local Orthodox monastery - the right hand of John the Baptist. Monks tolerate uncovered heads and trousers, but do not like exposed arms and legs. However, if you haven’t thought about it, they will rent you wide white robes, in which not only are your arms and legs invisible, but your mother won’t recognize them either.

The city itself is small, low houses. We drove past buildings where there used to be embassies of European powers, but now everything has fallen into disrepair, as they say, “overgrown by history,” and literally.

The town is remembered for the smell of linden trees: there are so many of them that the aroma becomes thick, tart, but pleasant. Typical eclecticism: on the square opposite the museum there is a modern glass sculpture - a bull riding (if you can call it that) on a cow, both transparent, and in the evening also with internal lighting, you can clearly tell your offspring where children come from.

After Cetinje, you are taken through a mountain pass to a small tavern in the mountains. It is a landmark because it did not close even during the times of socialism, when alcohol was actively fought here.

Locally, such establishments are called kafana (presumably from the word coffee). But for the locals, this is not a place, but a way of life, because, as the famous Montenegrin author’s song says, “I need 100 friends, wine, a woman and kafana,” and that’s all! Here it is - a recipe for happiness in Montenegro.

In this ancient coffee shop we were offered cheese, prosciutto (the taste is something between basturma and ham), mead (a low-alcohol, sour drink, for everyone), which we were highly advised to wash down (!) with dry red wine. By the way, we weren’t talking about coffee :). After all this, driving back through the highest mountain passes was much more fun.

Excursion to Kotor

The next excursion I chose was to the city of Kotor. Let me remind you once again: I don’t recommend living there, but you should definitely take a look! A typical Italian town, Catholic churches (the area has been influenced by Rome since ancient times). There are many dilapidated or abandoned houses. Now tourism is developing, residents are returning.

We weren’t given much free time, but those who were particularly athletic were able to climb the mountain and visit the ancient fortress (the guide will definitely show you the way, but will scare you with the incredible difficulty).

You can limit yourself to 1/3 of the way - the ancient chapel - and admire the view of the city.

Then there was a boat trip along the shore of the bay - that’s when you’ll be glad that you’re not vacationing here: people swim from the embankment, which is absolutely not suitable for this, and swim between the boats.

At the end of the day, visit a small museum in a Catholic church on a small island, then the town of Perast. It is unlikely that you should go on this excursion in the hope of seeing something specific. No, rather to feel the atmosphere of the Montenegrin Mediterranean.

Excursion to Lake Skadar

Third excursion – Skadar Lake. This endless expanse of water can be seen on other excursions as you pass by. The dimensions are truly amazing (391 sq. km). Therefore, in my opinion, you should not spoil the impression and go there specifically to experience disappointment from the dirty swampy shores, muddy water, covered with untidy water lilies and egg capsules.

The only pleasant impression left from the excursion was swimming on board the boat. After a week of floundering in the strongly saline acid of the Adriatic Sea (salt content is 2 times higher than in our native Black Sea), the fresh water seemed unusually soft and pleasant. True, swimming, of course, in such water is several times more difficult.

But on the beach, where we were brought after a long trip by boat in 40-degree heat under the scorching sun, we couldn’t swim: everything was overgrown with algae, very sharp and prickly. So the enjoyment is below average. By the way, there is a hotel on this lake; one travel agency offered it to me almost as a “hotel by the sea.” And the sea is very close - 40 minutes by bus through a mountain pass :).

Rafting on the Tara River

The most memorable excursion is rafting on the Tara River. From Budva to this river it takes almost 5 hours, that is, through the whole of Montenegro. Along the way, you will see Lake Skadar (from afar!), pass by the modern capital - Podgorica, through the city of Niksic.

Then, when at the fourth hour everyone is incredibly tired even on the most comfortable bus, something begins for which you don’t regret wasted time or euros not paid. The bus leaves for the canyon of the Piva River. On both sides of the fast-flowing bright blue river rise more than a kilometer-long cliffs covered with green forest. If you saw this on TV, you would probably start adjusting the sharpness.

Our starting point could only be reached by jeep. Anyone who, when reading this word, imagined a powerful, sparkling, huge modern SUV is mistaken. Yes, they were jeeps. But such a dense year of manufacture that in appearance they did not differ much from domestic “goats”. However, why offend machines that adequately perform their function? The road was terrible, or rather, it was almost non-existent. Although, needless to say, for many people the entrance to their dacha is probably not very different, with the only difference being that there was a break near the car wheel itself.

I won’t talk about the descent – ​​you have to experience it. Let me just say that it's not scary. On our raft, for example, there was a boy about 5 years old. Roller coasters are much scarier, and, as it recently turned out, more dangerous for health.

What to see in the vicinity of Budva

I went on these excursions with a group. But there are places where you can get out on your own. First of all, this Saint Stephen. Of course, you have already heard about it, because not a single avenue is complete without a photograph of this small island-hotel. Getting to the island is more pleasant by boat, and cheaper by bus.

And of course, being in Budva, it’s worth going to Saint Nicholas- a large island located opposite the city. Boats constantly travel back and forth. It takes about 10 minutes to swim to the island. You need to visit there, at least to admire the city from the sea, and, climbing the highest rock, take a photo with a view of the almost native Budva coast.

If you are going to have a great time, then it is important to find out not only the advantages of the place that you like, but also the disadvantages. On vacation, there are often some troubles if you don’t plan everything in advance to the smallest detail. Today, Montenegro is very popular among tourists from different countries, because it is a great opportunity to spend time productively and enjoy nature of incredible beauty. But, like any other country, Montenegro has its own characteristics.

If you want great relax and leave only the best memories in your memory, then you need to be aware of the dangers. This resort country is distinguished by its incredible nature and comfortable living conditions, but there are some dangers that await inexperienced tourists. So, we present to your attention a list of the biggest troubles that tourists who come on vacation to Montenegro may encounter.

1. Diseases in Montenegro. In general, medical experts recommend that vacationers get vaccinated against certain diseases first, so as not to endanger themselves and their families. Vaccination will cost you a small amount, but will be a sure guarantee of protection against diseases. The most common diseases in Montenegro are tetanus, hepatitis B and encephalitis. No one can be 100% insured against such troubles, so it is better to make injections in advance that will protect you for the entire period of rest. There are also cases of hemorrhagic fever, so it is better to insure yourself against such a nuisance in advance and enjoy your vacation to the fullest.

2. Inadequate quality of tap water in Montenegro. Local residents are well aware that the water that flows from the taps is unsuitable for internal consumption, but tourists who visit this country rarely think about this. Try to give preference to bottled water, because the manufacturer himself takes care of its quality. It is also worth paying attention to products purchased in local stores and stalls. If you want to protect yourself from intestinal infections and digestive disorders, it is better to process dairy products thermally. Meat and fish, seafood and vegetables should be consumed after cooking. The dishes that waiters offer you in restaurants are of high quality, but when buying products in the markets of Montenegro, you automatically expose yourself to danger.

3. Characteristic features of some areas of Montenegro. If during your trip you want to travel around the country, then pay attention to local features. For example, Presovo is characterized by its constant tense inter-ethnic situations, and all areas near Kosovo can be dangerous with their unmarked minefields. In any case, first obtain information from local residents regarding possible dangers in a particular region.

4. Local fauna of Montenegro. Often tourists who have little interest in the natural features of Montenegro find themselves in unpleasant situations. If you want to go on a hiking trip to the mountains or forest on your own without a guide, then be careful, because some of its representatives can be dangerous to your health or even life. Beware of snakes, because the local viper, sea urchin and some types of insects can significantly ruin your holiday. Some types of jellyfish that are found in the waters of Montenegro can also be dangerous to your body. In general, try to be wary of any wildlife animal that you don't know much about.

5. Local crime in Montenegro. In fact, you can be calm for your life while relaxing in this place, because in Montenegro there are rare cases of murders. But you should be wary of local thieves who will lie in wait for tourists who have lost their vigilance. If you forget about your personal belongings, there may be someone who will be interested in them. Local residents do not recommend tourists to wander alone through the streets at night and stop on the side of the road when someone wants to sit down. Try to avoid communicating with strangers and relax in places where there are law enforcement officials. Montenegro has a lot of guarded beaches that guarantee your safety. The border with Albania is considered a particularly dangerous area, so if you are traveling by car, avoid local residents and people who cause you the slightest mistrust.

6. Rockfalls in Montenegro. If you want to go to the mountains on your own, then choose an area that is popular among vacationers. There are some places in the mountains where rock particles regularly fall. Rockfalls are dangerous to your life, so prefer terrain that is recommended by the guide and local residents.

The article presents the author's personal point of view, based on personal experience and the experience of relatives.
The author’s opinion is shared by many other tourists; just enter the search query into the Google search engine: “horror of the Montenegro hotel” or similar.
We remind you that the opinion of the author of the article may not coincide with the opinion of the site administration. If you want to express your point of view about Montenegro, you can send an article with your experience of being in this country.
Thank you to all readers and commentators for your attention to the article!

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