Montenegro (Tivat)

[AndyGWP]

I don’t have a lot to go on. Has anyone been?

I was looking for a destination between May and Oct. Somewhere with decent weather, and decent day to day prices. I think it ticks the box?

Ideally we like to get out and about (hire a car, do some hiking) but it’s not an area of the world that I’m familiar with at all!

Be interested in any opinions / experiences / alternative suggestions!!

[The real Swiss Tony]

We had a week in Montenegro a year past the summer. Started in Tivat (hotel Pine) which was nice then went to a villa in Sveti Stefan where after two days and no running water, we returned to Tivat. Apparently such infrastructure issues aren’t unusual.

Good value but not hugely cheap. Very pretty landscapes but I wouldn’t want to self drive round there.

Food ok but again unremarkable. How about Turkey, especially at the start or end of your window?

[davefl]

I went to Momtenegro in mid pandemic (the week after Boris took them off the red list). Loved the country, stayed just outside Kotor in an apartment and at the Hilton in Podgorica. Drove in from Bosnia, all over Montenegro as far as the eastern side where it overlooks Albania. Also spent one night at the IHG Vocco – nightmare, international kids kickboxking tournament based at the hotel, nearly had my head kicked off coming out of the lift, i should have just turned round and gone back to my suite at the hilton.

There are good hiking opportunities but you have to drive on unmade roads to get to some of them and if you’re a nervous driver it’s not for you. They’re insane (and also in Bosnia). Every time you get to a bend on a tight twisty road either someone overtakes you on the wrong side of the road going around the bend at double the limit or someone comes around the bend on your side and drives straight at you… just because!

Loved the country and the people, but you need nerves of steel. I’m sweating just thinking back 🙂

Copy and paste the links, trying not to get caught by the spam filter

http://www.montenegrofortravellers.com/en/review/hiking-trip-pestingrad

http://www.montenegropulse.com/lovcen-national-park.html

montenegro-for.me/2018/03/5-easy-hiking-tours-in-the-hinterland-of-montenegro/

[AndyGWP]

Thanks both – some really useful insights there, really appreciate it.

Will take a look at Turkey. Had wrongly(?) assumed it was just all-inclusive-esque hotel resorts with little else to do so will have a proper look

Thanks again 👍🏻

[davefl]

OMG no. Have you seen the size of Turkey 🙂 You can drive all the way across Montengro and top to bottom in a day. Turkey would take you months to explore. There are all inclusive resorts catering to English, German, whatever you want but there are wonderful small hotels and guest houses by the thousand. You can have language issues if you don’t go to somewhere you know can speak English, for example I used to go to a place called Akyaka halfway between Dalaman and Marmaris. There was a beautiful hotel which targetted English tourists and one the other side of town for Germans but both were reclaimed for Turkish holidaymakers.

Don’t go mid summer as the heat will be unbearable, May/June is perfect although the locals will be all in coats and scarves until the temps hit 30C

Driving distances are large and roads are good but can be slow going in the mountains.

Take a look at Fethiye, Dalaman, Antalya, Marmaris (Bodrum tends to be more resort based).

Hiking – I used to go walking around Akyaka but I wouldnt say it was spectacular. People see you walking and think you’re crazy so they stop and offer you a lift up the hill.