Why you shouldn't go to Montenegro. Is it worth going to Montenegro? How I looked for a post office in Budva

Of course, it’s impossible to say that tourists in Montenegro today should “fear” something, but... Some unpleasant surprises still await them!

The first unpleasant surprise, in my opinion, is that in the summer months the country's major cities are literally overcrowded with tourists from Eastern Europe - because Montenegro offers really good holiday options for low-income tourists, which makes trips to this country very attractive among the low-income segment of Europeans . But... tourists will only have to fall victim to the “overcrowding” of cities, hotels and beaches if they decide to make a trip with the help of travel agencies and companies - which, in principle, do not really think about where to bring and where to place those who have trusted them tourists. In fact, you need to come to Montenegro on your own, rent accommodation “from a private owner” in small towns and relax quietly on half-empty beaches far from large cities... This travel option is even cheaper in cost than a trip “through a tour operator” - but about it, how As a rule, most tourists from Russia and Eastern European countries do not know...

In addition, tourists coming to this country for the first time are surprised to learn that there are almost no sandy beaches on the coast. Why with surprise? Yes, because all the tourist brochures unanimously declare that the country has a lot of pebble, rocky, sandy and sand-pebble beaches! In fact, it turns out that sand and pebble beaches are the creation of human hands, a popular innovation of our time: the organization that oversees this or that beach (and this is, as a rule, the management of the hotel whose tourists visit this beach) simply delivers it by truck in mid-spring the sand hits the pebble beach - and evenly scatters it over the pebbles! Sometimes they bring in sand mixed with very small (pea-sized) pebbles. But, in any case, by the end of July this sand is completely washed away from the beaches, and only pebbles remain on the shore - large and small!

The third unpleasant surprise is the incredible crowding of most beaches near large cities. In July-August, as they say, there is nowhere for an apple to fall! However, this problem is more or less solvable - you just need to move a few kilometers away from these beaches and settle down on those less crowded with vacationers!

By the way, both of these problems give rise to a fourth unpleasant surprise for vacationers - the problem with sunbeds. After all, firstly, it is impossible to lie on a pebble or rocky beach without sunbeds, and secondly, due to the large number of vacationers, it is very difficult to get sunbeds here, and they cost a lot: 10-20 euros per set (here, as a rule, sunbeds are issued in sets, that is, 2 sunbeds + 1 umbrella).

Another surprise is possible on the beaches of Montenegro - an invasion of sea urchins. In fact, the number of these marine inhabitants here is much smaller than in neighboring countries - for example, in Croatia, but sometimes exceptions to the rules occur - for unknown reasons, there suddenly appear to be a lot of these “fluffy creatures” near the coast of Montenegro... Well, in In this case, vacationers can only enter the water in special slippers - aquashoes, which reliably protect their feet from being punctured by a sea urchin needle!

An unpleasant surprise for beach lovers in this country is the fact that almost all the beaches on the coast have a very strange structure - they are separated from each other by rocks. And therefore, it is almost impossible to move from beach to beach along the shore - in order to make such a transition, you need to leave the beach altogether, climb the rocky ridge overhanging it (along which, as a rule, both the pedestrian sidewalk and the highway pass) - and only from there make the required transition to another beach!

However, all these unpleasant and unpleasant things can be avoided if... you properly find out about the peculiarities of holidays in this country from those who have already been here! It really is true that forewarned is forearmed!

Very often tourists are interested in the question of whether it is worth vacationing in Montenegro. People are interested in both safety issues (Montenegro is very safe) and what to do with their leisure time: what, what and, whether it is possible to travel independently.

The short answer is: Yes, it’s worth going on vacation to Montenegro. The country has a lot to offer both budget travelers and people who are willing to spend a lot of money on their vacation. They will just relax a little differently and receive a different level of service and comfort.

Pros and cons of holidays in Montenegro

To holiday in Montenegro you do not need a visa or vaccinations

To visit Montenegro you do not need a visa. In summer, you can travel visa-free for up to 90 days. This is more than enough for most tourists. Even in 3 weeks you can travel the length and breadth of the country.

Note!

There really is no visa in Montenegro, but every tourist is required to pay a tourist tax. If you do not do this, you may be required to pay a fine at the border.

If you are flying on vacation with a package, there is nothing to worry about; the hotel or villa owner will do everything for you. But if you plan, you will have to register.

Unlike popular Asian destinations (Thailand, Vietnam, India, Sri Lanka), special vaccinations are not required for a holiday in Montenegro. There are no terrible tropical or African diseases here. Montenegrins know and follow sanitation standards. There are no dangerous insects in tourist areas.

The maximum that threatens tourists in Montenegro is getting an ear infection from water getting into it or catching a cold under the air conditioning. Children can catch rotavirus if they swallow seawater. All these diseases are common in any seaside resort around the world. In Turkey and Egypt, many more children suffer from rotavirus than in Montenegro.

To protect yourself in case of illness, you should. Medicine in the country is expensive.

Very interesting sights and cheap excursions

The main thing is that it’s worth going to Montenegro -. There really is something to see in the country: there are the most beautiful, world-class, colorful, and much more. And this is if you don’t remember the opportunity to visit neighboring, or Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Unlike many beach destinations, where excursions are not of high quality and are expensive, Montenegro is wonderful: at the same time high quality and at good prices.

If you need to save money, you can travel by bus or. Based on two people, this comes out even cheaper than excursions, but you will not have a guide with you, you will have to study information about the main ones in advance and think through a trip plan.

Small country with tiny distances between cities

One of the most important advantages of a holiday in Montenegro is the tiny distances between. When you come to relax at any resort, you can visit all the others, swim at different ones and see all the interesting things that you saw in the photos on the Internet.

Even if you are not willing to spend more than an hour or two on the road, there are plenty of places you can go to.

Delicious, satisfying and inexpensive cuisine. Organic fruits

Montenegro is considered one of the most environmentally friendly countries in Europe. There is no polluting industry here, and no chemicals or pesticides are used in agriculture.

Behind 10 euros Approximate Euro exchange rate:
10 euros = 740 rubles
10 euros = 310 hryvnia
10 euros = 23.5 Belarusian rubles
10 euros = 11.7 dollars

All rates are approximate, but they help you quickly estimate prices. In Montenegro, you can have a great lunch in a restaurant. All dishes are predominantly meat and potatoes. Excellent tasty pastries. Good local wines and cheeses. We can also recommend local pancakes stuffed with wild berries and natural lemonades.

Fast food helps budget tourists a lot. A hamburger with a huge patty that could fill a man's stomach costs about 1.5 euro Approximate Euro exchange rate:
1.5 euros = 111 rubles
1.5 euro = 46.5 hryvnia
1.5 euros = 3.53 Belarusian rubles
1.5 euros = 1.76 dollars

All rates are approximate, but they help you quickly estimate prices. Any meat purchased in stores will be cooked for free if you ask.

Excellent value for money holiday

Very often they write that there is no service in Montenegro. Just five or ten years ago this was the case. Tourists lived in villas with their owners (separate room with shower, toilet, air conditioning and TV); there were not enough good hotels or apartments.

It was the same with everything else: quality, local companies, public transport, etc.

Now the situation has changed dramatically. In 2017 alone, we managed to live in a villa (cheap, but bad), and in a hotel, and in good apartments overlooking the sea or in an old one.

You no longer need to bargain with taxi drivers at the airport, it’s easier and more comfortable to travel.

A holiday of similar comfort in neighboring Croatia or Italy will cost 2-3 times more. Now you can decide for yourself whether it’s worth overpaying for a beautiful hotel or whether it’s better to extend your vacation for another week, relaxing with a little less comfort.

Locals understand Russian and English well

The first thing that catches your eye when you first come to Montenegro is the amount of advertising in Russian. In tourist places and almost everyone understands and speaks Russian in one way or another, restaurants and cafes often have menus in Russian, and stores have familiar goods.

In Montenegro, we did not encounter the concept of a language barrier - we were always understood.

Friendly residents, few tourist scams

The attitude towards tourists in most popular resort countries forces them to be constantly on alert. It seems that literally at every step they are trying to deceive people or scam them out of money. One or two such incidents can ruin your entire vacation. It seems like they took the money, but spoiled the mood.

In Montenegro this is somehow not felt. Even in a city where crowds of tourists walk, there are almost no scammers. It is not customary here to cheat in restaurants or supermarkets (but you need to check your change at the checkout), there are few pickpockets, and beggars are rare.

The only place where many of our acquaintances and friends encountered deception was when purchasing excursions on the embankment. When selling the excursion, they were promised a low price, comfortable buses and boats (they were shown photos), a Russian-speaking guide and fantastic sights (which actually do not exist in Montenegro).

In life, everything turned out to be completely different. A bus with barely working air conditioning, a guide who only knows “hello” and “hand over money” and fees “for entering the monastery” in Russian. Naturally, no one took people to the sights that were in the photo (they are generally on other continents).

Montenegro is very safe. Especially for tourists

In the last couple of years, stories have often appeared in the media telling how scary everything is in Montenegro. They show forest fires, terrible diseases, rampant banditry, etc.

In life, everything is completely different. Montenegro is a tiny country where everyone knows each other. Among the locals, the crime rate tends to zero. The police are doing a good job. A girl can easily go out for a walk at or at 2 am and nothing will happen to her. The situation is many times calmer than in Turkey or Egypt. It's very safe here.

In general, tourists are treated very well. Montenegro lives off tourists; everyone in the family has relatives who make money from tourists. Naturally, all locals strive to help tourists whenever possible. You can ask for directions or ask for advice. They will help or find someone who will help.

It must be taken into account that in Montenegro simple human relationships can mean even more than money. They are a proud mountain people, the highlanders. The rule “treat others the way you want to be treated” literally applies here.

This is what forest fires look like in Montenegro. You can only see them on excursions to the mountains.

Forest fires actually happen every summer. If the forest burns near the resort, the fire is extinguished. If somewhere in the mountains, then there is no such opportunity. There are no fires near the resorts. If you don’t plan to go on excursions, you will only learn about them from the news. In general, a fire in the mountains is even beautiful. Last time, you can look at the photo.

There are no terrible diseases in Montenegro either. This is not Asia with tropical fevers and poisonous insects, nor Africa with its cholera, malaria and even plague. Even in comparison with the familiar Turkey, Montenegro is safer - there are no coxsackie and other similar viruses here.

Yes, there are cases of rotavirus in children. They happen like that at any seaside resort. In Montenegro it is even less common than in other places. Because children swim in the clean sea, and not in pools with dirty water. Taking a first aid kit with you (it is not customary to sell medicines without a prescription here) and (medicine is expensive) helps a lot against illnesses.

Ideal attitude towards children, in the country there is a “cult of the child”

Children in Montenegro are treated very kindly, and relaxing with them is a real pleasure. Couples with children are treated much better; children are usually taken care of in taxis, in hotels, and in restaurants.

There are several points to consider if you are planning to vacation in Montenegro with a child:

1. Expensive medicine. Montenegro is a small country with small hospitals in the largest cities. Prices for services for tourists are very high. It's easy to get an invoice 300 euros Approximate Euro exchange rate:
   300 euros = 22,200 rubles
   300 euros = 9300 hryvnia
   300 euros = 705 Belarusian rubles
   300 euros = 351 dollars

   All rates are approximate, but they help you quickly estimate prices

   and more for the treatment of common rotavirus, otitis media or colds. It is highly not recommended to vacation in Montenegro with a child without a good one.
2. You need to rent a car. If you plan to live in a large resort where there are a lot of people, you can still do without a car, but if you want to find a quieter and cheaper place, you cannot do without it - you will have to go to the supermarket, to a decent restaurant, to playgrounds or to the hospital for children's products, if suddenly the worst happens.
3. Few children's products. Baby products, cereals, cottage cheese, etc. can only be found in supermarkets, Bar or. The situation is similar in restaurants. Only the largest ones have a children's menu (for example, Slovenska Plaza and Iberostar). In a regular restaurant, children can order pancakes with wild berries, local rich chorbu soup, potatoes with meat, vegetables or pizza.
4. Great fruit. In Montenegro you can buy environmentally friendly and healthy vegetables that your child will undoubtedly like.

Who should not vacation in Montenegro and why?

Naturally, like any other country, Montenegro is not suitable for everyone. It may not appeal to fans of a purely beach holiday on the All Inclusive system or tourists for whom an active and varied nightlife with a bunch of discos and pretentious places is important.

People for whom high-quality medicine is important should not go on vacation either - there are few hospitals in Montenegro, and people with truly serious illnesses are transported by helicopter to neighboring Serbia.

There is no room in Montenegro for those who like to go shopping. Locals hardly bargain, and shopping in Bar, which is so actively written about on the Internet, is rather a tourist myth. All the brands we are familiar with are sold there at approximately the same prices as at home.

If a beautiful hotel and all-inclusive system are important to you

Yes, there are excellent hotels in Montenegro, including those operating on the All Inclusive system. But a holiday there will cost significantly more than in Turkey.

Most tours offer either breakfast or no meals at all. It’s true that such a tour package is cheaper than, for example, in Turkey or Egypt. The difference can be spent on good food in colorful local restaurants and cafes.

Do not plan to travel and see sights

A purely beach holiday in Montenegro is not particularly interesting. There are a lot of people everywhere during peak season. Most beaches are pebble with imported sand. The Adriatic Sea is slightly cool even in summer.

The only advantages are the absence of algae, as in Bulgaria or Georgia, and relatively low prices and a high level of safety in the country. Well, the public that goes to Montenegro is a little different than to Turkey.

Nightlife and big city life are important

Montenegro in spring: features, what to do, when to swim?

Spring in Montenegro is suitable for walks along the sea and on your own. in spring they are low, the choice of apartments is excellent, but the sea is cold and there is no .

IN March It’s already warm enough for walking along the embankment, but it’s still cold to swim. Many cafes and restaurants are closed, and there are almost no excursions offered. The markets sell kiwis, oranges and strawberries.

IN April the temperature rises slightly, some tourists begin to swim. Sunny days are becoming more frequent and traveling around the country is becoming very comfortable. Markets sell local strawberries for 3-5 euros Approximate Euro exchange rate:
4 euros = 296 rubles
4 euros = 124 hryvnia
4 euros = 9.4 Belarusian rubles
4 euros = 4.68 dollars

All rates are approximate, but they help you quickly estimate prices per kg. Excursions can only be purchased from Olympus.

IN May, If you are lucky and the year is warm, you can already swim normally. Cafes and restaurants are gradually opening, and some excursions can be purchased. There are still a few more people, this is the ideal time to travel to Montenegro if you want to swim in the sea several times, but the budget for the trip is limited.

Is it possible to go to Montenegro in autumn: weather and water temperature

The first half of autumn in Montenegro is quite suitable for traveling around the country, but the closer it gets to winter, the more the weather deteriorates.

September in Montenegro considered the velvet season. The weather is still good, the sea is usually warm, and there are fewer and fewer tourists from the end of August. Restaurants and tour agencies are gradually curtailing their activities, and prices for housing and apartments are falling.

IN October You can try local pomegranates, grapes, tangerines and oranges. The weather gradually becomes gloomy and the first rains begin to fall. are held only until the middle of the month, but the price drops. While traveling, you can catch great shots of mountains covered with clouds. At best, you can swim in the sea near Ulcinj if the month is sunny.

November in Montenegro usually no longer suitable for recreation. The weather often deteriorates, the sea is cold, driving through the mountains becomes cold and uncomfortable. Sometimes real storms begin, when rivers of water flow through the streets and the wind squeezes out closed windows.

Holidays in Montenegro in winter: ski resorts

Winter in Montenegro is time for a ski holiday. Relaxing on the coast is not at all comfortable, it rains constantly. Sometimes water rains from the sky for a week straight. It's cold in the apartment.

It is not popular among our compatriots to fly to Montenegro to ski (resorts are far from airports). That's why Zabljak And Kolasin crowded with vacationers from neighboring Serbia.

Montenegro is a hospitable Balkan country with very open, friendly, welcoming people. Among all the countries of the former Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, it is one of the safest for holidays. Nevertheless, prudence and basic precautions during her visit will not be superfluous. What is important to know while in Montenegro? Where is it better not to appear? What difficulties might you encounter? We talk about this and much more in this article.

Like any corner of the world, Montenegro may have its own unexpected threats to a carefree holiday, which at first glance are quite difficult to identify.

Money and valuables are in the safe!

The level of theft and theft in Montenegro is relatively low, however, these troubles do occur. You should not leave valuables unattended, whether on the beach when going for a swim, or in a cafe when going to the bar for a few minutes. “Unclean” people are everywhere, regardless of nationality and religion. And, if you trust the reviews of experienced tourists, most often they operate in Ulcinj.

There are cases of theft of wallets and bags at the airport, shops, on excursions, and in crowded public transport. You should not take large sums of money out of your wallet in front of everyone. If you rent a car, do not leave the car in the parking lot with the windows open, and when leaving, take your documents, as well as cameras, video cameras and other equipment you have with you.

It wouldn’t hurt to take measures to protect your property in your hotel room. Many owners of accommodation facilities (especially private ones - for example, villas, campsites) value their reputation and approach the choice of service personnel very seriously, but anything can happen. Therefore, it is better to hide money, passports and gold jewelry in a safe.

What places are considered troubled?

When planning a travel route around Montenegro, you should avoid areas close to the Republic of Kosovo, known for its unstable political situation for many years and low standard of living. In the southern Serbian region of Presovo, interethnic relations are quite tense, and it is also dangerous with its unmarked minefields. In any case, it is better to get reliable information from local residents regarding the region where you intend to travel.

Note to holidaymakers

It is better to wander along the shore and swim in special rubber slippers, as there is a risk of injury from the sharp needles of the sea urchin.

During the peak summer season there may be interruptions in water supply. But unlike private homes, modern hotels, as a rule, have an autonomous water supply system.

Don't forget to use sunscreen regularly. Ultraviolet radiation in these areas can easily lead to burns.

Watch out for snakes!

Fans of trekking and exploring interesting routes through protected areas should beware of meeting snakes, which, starting in May, begin to awaken en masse from hibernation. In total, 26 species of reptiles live in the country.

Of these, 4 are considered poisonous. These are “Poskok”, “Rigovka”, “Creepy Circle” and “Talianska Lyutitsa, Rilchasti bastard”. Fortunately, no deaths from their bites have been reported in recent years, but caution is still necessary when traveling. Remember that snakes never attack first, and you should not disturb them.

If you stay vigilant and follow our advice, we are confident that your vacation will leave behind the most pleasant memories!

Ask any questions about the tourist situation, in relation to Russians, about beaches, about restaurants, and whatever interests you, I will try to answer them and dispel (or confirm) all your fears and concerns regarding a safe holiday in Montenegro.

Good roads in Montenegro prevail over the bad ones, if you don’t leave the main highways, the roads look approximately like the photo I took on the way from Tivat airport to Budva.

The road is equipped with everything necessary, namely, there are clearly readable markings and road signs, there are information signs, there are storm drains, in some places there are pedestrian sidewalks, in particularly dangerous areas, bumpers are installed, and on the side of the rocks there are nets that protect passing cars from rockfalls .

Bad roads in Montenegro can be found in the mountains and in very non-tourist destinations. Bad Montenegrin roads look like the photo taken in one of the remote regions of the country.

You can see that the road surface has potholes, and the width of the road is so small that two small cars cannot pass on it. There are no markings on such roads, and in some dangerous areas there may be no bump stops, so you should be very careful.

The quality of Montenegrin roads is normal, but there are mountainous areas where the road width is too small, so that two small cars will not pass each other. In Montenegro, there is an unspoken rule: those who drive from the side of the cliff have the right of way, and those who move from the side of the cliff must back away and look for a pocket. These are mountains, we should respect each other here.

Outside the city you should be more careful; local residents often graze livestock right along the roads, and animals can run out onto the roadway. In addition to animals, there may be areas on the roads with poor visibility (sharp turns, hills with turns, etc.), there may be snow in the mountains (even in spring), there are long tunnels that do not always have lighting, etc.

There is a certain danger when driving at night (especially in the mountains); try to drive through dangerous sections of mountain serpentines in the daytime.

Again, there may be rockfalls in the mountains, it is impossible to prepare for them, it doesn’t matter what driving experience you have or what class of your car, everyone is equal in the face of rockfalls.

I do not recommend driving to the mountainous regions of the country for drivers without experience, but I advise driving along the coast. Read about the most popular car routes in Montenegro by following the link.

Local and international crime in Montenegro

In Montenegro, like in any country in the world, there is crime, but this fact should not be exaggerated. There are strange places where you can lose your wallet, your mood and your life in broad daylight (the favelas of Rio de Janeiro), and there are also those where you can safely spend the night on a bench in a public park (Monaco).

Look for information on the Internet about the latest terrorist attacks in Montenegro, or about the high-profile murders of tourists in Montenegro and you will understand that this did not happen in Montenegro. I think comments will be unnecessary here.

It is worth saying that the Montenegrin territories bordering Albania can be dangerous for tourists; in these places you should be more careful when communicating with the local population.

In the cities bordering Albania (Ulcinj), the vast majority of the population profess Islam, so a certain dress code should be observed, but without fanaticism. There (in the cities bordering Albania) you can find numerous communities of gypsies, who can be very intrusive; try to minimize any communication with this ethnic group.

All areas near Kosovo can be dangerous due to their unmarked minefields, visiting these areas should be done with a local guide.

Dangers of local fauna in Montenegro

Few tourists think about the dangers at the resorts of Montenegro, and who especially thinks about troubles on vacation. However, if you follow the usual precautions and have travel insurance, then serious complications can be avoided.

If you go on a hiking trip to the mountains or forest on your own (without a guide), then be careful; in Montenegrin forests you can find wolves, bears and several types of poisonous snakes.

Blog readers suggest that the photograph shown is not a snake, but a completely harmless blavor (Zheltopuzik). Blavor is a Balkan species of lizard that, for some evolutionary reason, has lost its legs. In Russia, this animal is in the Red Book, and in Montenegro it lives in abundance. Don't offend them.

If you decide to spend your entire vacation by the sea, then even in this case you should be careful; in coastal waters you can find sea urchins, jellyfish and other sea inhabitants that can pose a danger to your body.

There is one simple rule: beware of any wild animal that you know little about, then you will be fine.

There is no All Inclusive in Montenegro

Unlike Turkey and Egypt, where people go for the all-inclusive service, there is no all-inclusive service in Montenegro. Or rather, in the most expensive hotels you can get this service. You can also insist on providing you with all-inclusive services in more modest hotels, but be prepared to overpay for All Inclusive. Even in the most expensive Montenegrin hotels, the All Inclusive service may disappoint you. But why do you need all this when there are many restaurants and cafes around.

In Montenegro, as in most Balkan countries, the food is very tasty, and the portions are huge! In any restaurant and cafe you will always be greeted as a welcome guest, so there are no problems with food in the country.

If a travel agent offers you hotels with all-inclusive meals, then it is better to refuse such an offer. In any tourist city and resort in Montenegro, there are so many cafes and restaurants that it’s dizzying. Feel free to stop at small restaurants and try local dishes.

Don’t expect elite service in Montenegro

Tourist service in Montenegro clearly does not reach the European level; everyone who goes to this country on vacation should be prepared for this. If you are used to vacationing in France or Italy, then a lot will surprise you in Montenegro.

Four-star hotels in France and Montenegro are completely different things, and the star rating of Montenegrin hotels is very arbitrary.

Service in restaurants can be very mediocre, and the quality of service decreases with distance from tourist Budva. For example, they may bring you a salad at the same time as the hot dish or after it, or vice versa, the hot dish – 30 minutes after the salad. It seems that this is determined by the work of the kitchen, and not by your desire.

Montenegro is no longer a cheap country for a holiday

Montenegro has become an expensive country for tourists. Yes and no. Compared to other European countries, holidays in Montenegro remain one of the cheapest. But for Russians, Montenegro became twice as expensive after the next crisis in 2014, and we all became twice as poor.

There is a slight increase in prices, if you earn in Euros or dollars, then this is not significant for you. But if your earnings are in rubles, then Montenegro for you (after the 2014 crisis) has become twice as expensive.

There is another explanation for the high cost of tourism in Montenegro for vacationers - these are the vacationers themselves. We ourselves raised prices in Montenegro, just as we did in Crimea, Sochi, Goa, Nha Trang, and anywhere else. A Russian tourist is afraid of seeming greedy; the broad Russian soul demands the same actions. Therefore, many Montenegrins and tourists from Russia consider them complete fools with full wallets.

A simple example, in Budva at the market - if you speak Russian, they will sell you grapes for 3 Euros, a Serb will immediately come up, ask how much, haggle - they will sell you for 1.5 Euros, not particularly embarrassed that you are standing next to you and see everything. And there’s nothing to be ashamed of, you’re Russian, you’re rich, you don’t care how much you pay.

If you only want beaches and pools, then Montenegro is not for you

Holidays in Montenegro involve mandatory “outings” on excursions, otherwise the whole point of coming to this beautiful Balkan country is lost. Unlike Turkey and Egypt, beach holidays in Montenegro are worse, there are much more people on the beaches, and the beaches themselves are inferior (both in terms of infrastructure and quality).

Relaxation on the hotel grounds by the pool can only be offered by the most expensive hotels, of which there are not many in Montenegro. If visiting excursions and exploring the country is not part of your vacation plan, then it is better to choose a more comfortable country for a beach holiday.

There is no comfortable tourist accommodation in Montenegro or it is too expensive

Many tourists who are accustomed to Turkish hotels, with their service and certain standards, may be quite surprised by the accommodation of tourists in Montenegro. Mostly tourists are accommodated in apartments, villas, private housing, etc.

The most common tourist accommodation in Montenegro is apartments, not hotels. There is no reception, no attendant, no occasional visiting hosts, or even a cleaning lady in the apartments. If problems arise, you will have to solve them yourself. When checking in, be sure to ask for the phone number of the owner of the apartment.

Of course, there are hotels, but the price tag for accommodation in Montenegrin hotels does not correspond to the level of accommodation. The level of comfort in Montenegro (with standard accommodation) is much inferior to other countries with beach holidays. A simple example, the standard change of bed linen in Montenegrin hotels is once a week, while in Turkey they can change it several times during the same period.

Not everyone in Montenegro speaks Russian

If you are going to a beach resort, then you should not have any language problems. In all resort places they speak Russian, since most of the flow of tourists are Russian-speaking guests.

Difficulty arises when moving away from resort towns, here they may understand you, but this desire is strictly voluntary, it all depends on the desire of the opponent to conduct a dialogue with you. Despite the similarity of many Montenegrin words with the words of the Russian language (Bread, Tea, Yogurt, Chocolate, Honey, etc.), there are also words that are not so easy to understand (Carrot - Shargarepa, Pebble beach - Shlyunkovita plazha, umbrella - suntsobrane, etc.).

In the southern parts of the country (closer to the Albanian border), you may be spoken to in English, but in other places English is not as popular among older people. Young people, on the contrary, know English much better and practically do not know Russian, so everything is not so simple with the Russian language in Montenegro.

Concrete beaches in the resorts of Montenegro

One of the Montenegrin features is concrete beaches; at first you don’t understand how people are willing to voluntarily relax in such conditions, but then you get used to it and also don’t mind such beaches.

A concrete beach looks and sounds wild, photos from such beaches will not blow up your Instagram, but the principle of their operation is quite logical. The seashore is encased in concrete, there are sunbeds and umbrellas on the concrete, and tourists lie on the sunbeds under umbrellas. Descent into the water using a ladder or steps. This is certainly not the beach on Phi Phi Island in Thailand, but most vacationers like it.

The advantages of using concrete beaches are the following: convenient entry into the water, immediate depth; there is no ubiquitous sand.

The disadvantages of using concrete beaches are as follows: very inconvenient for children; It’s very uncomfortable to lie on a towel, you’ll have to rent a sunbed.

Most concrete beaches are paid, most of these beaches are located in the Bay of Kotor, there is a concrete beach and in close proximity to Budva (12 kilometers from the city) - Ploce Beach.

The price of a sun lounger on the beaches of Montenegro is 50 Euro

Montenegro has enough place in the sun for everyone, but the cost of this very “place in the sun” may surprise you. In all tourist cities where there are beaches, there is also a tourist infrastructure, cafes, restaurants, car rental, sun lounger rental, etc.

The average cost of renting two sunbeds with umbrellas is 10 - 15 Euros, but there are exceptions. The most expensive sun loungers can be found on the beach of the Kraljicina Plaza Hotel (4 stars), for 120 Euros per day you will get two sun loungers and a half-empty beach.

On most beaches, sunbeds are rented until you leave. If you are going to leave, be sure to notify the beach staff and no one will take your place.

Montenegro has expensive markets

In Montenegrin markets, almost all products are more expensive than in shops and supermarkets, you need to be prepared for this and not be surprised by the price tags.

There are a number of reasons why market prices will always be more expensive than store prices:

• tourist demand - any market in a tourist city (Budva, Kotor, Tivat, Herceg Novi) is expensive, only tourists buy in these markets, local residents do not overstock here;
• rent - in tourist places with good traffic, rent is always expensive, and the buyer pays for it;
• tourist season - during the high season, the markets are always more expensive than in the store.

The majority of buyers in Montenegrin markets are Russian tourists, this is especially evident in coastal resorts. Russians are accustomed to the fact that everything at the market is homemade, but if you look at the assortment of the Budva market, it will become clear that most of the products are imported.

Montenegrins themselves prefer to go for goods either to Podgorica or to the market in Bar, there are fewer tourists there and prices are much lower than in Budva, Kotor, Tivat and Herceg Novi.

These products can be safely bought at tourist markets in Montenegro (the rest is better in stores):

• Honey comb;
• kaymak and homemade cheeses with additives (with nuts, berries, etc.);
• pomegranate juice;
• nuts;
• dried fruits;
• local olives.

Expensive food in popular Montenegrin resorts

By European standards, Montenegro is not an expensive country, but it is worth noting the systematic increase in prices in coastal resorts. Tourists who were in Montenegro five years ago look with surprise at the price tags in restaurants and cafes, because then they were in completely different Montenegro.

Average prices in a restaurant in Montenegro per person (without alcohol):

• breakfast - from 8 Euro;
• lunch - from 15 Euro;
• dinner - from 19 Euro.

Seafood in Montenegro costs the same as in Moscow restaurants, and this despite the fact that most seafood is caught in coastal waters.

Average prices for seafood in a restaurant in Montenegro per person:

• snacks from fish and seafood – from 10 Euro;
• mussels – from 12 Euro;
• shrimp – from 15 Euro;

Cook for dinner with wine and seafood from 50 Euro for two.

For budget tourists, there is a good alternative to expensive cafes and restaurants; you can eat in local establishments. Look for a cafe where it says “Set Menu”; a delicious goulash or chicken fillet with rice will cost from 3 Euros.

Average prices in cheap cafes and fast foods in Montenegro:

• set lunches – from 5 Euro;
• sandwich with fried meat and vegetables – from 3 Euro;
• sandwich with salmon and lettuce + glass of lemonade – from 4 Euro;
• medium pizza – from 3 Euro;
• sliced ​​Njeguš cheese – from 5 Euro;
• cold cuts (large portion) – from 10 Euro;
• medium portion of smoked pork ham (Prosciutto) – from 5 Euro;
• vegetable salad – from 2 Euro.

Is it dangerous for Russian tourists to vacation in Montenegro (my experience)

Friends, in your personal messages you ask about the political situation in Montenegro. Unfortunately, I don’t know what’s going on in the minds of Montenegrin politicians and how they treat Russians, and I’m not particularly interested in this. I’m embarrassed to admit, but I don’t even know the name of the President of Montenegro.

In this part of the post I will tell you how ordinary people on the streets of Montenegrin cities and resorts treat me, what they think about Russians and other things that are important for an ordinary tourist. This is my personal experience, yours may be slightly different.

Already being in Budva, I decided to check what anti-Russian sentiments actually are in Montenegro. It happened in May at the most tourist resort in the country - Budva. My experience is a special case, but nevertheless it shows the attitude of Montenegrins towards Russians.

How I looked for a bus station in Budva

Pretending to be an inexperienced tourist, I approached the first pretty Montenegrin woman and asked how to get to the bus station; in fact, the Budva bus station was 200 meters away from me.

After asking several times what I wanted from her and where I was going to go from the bus station, the girl took me straight to the bus station and showed me where the ticket office was and where the exit to the buses was. Moreover, we had a nice chat about the weather, interesting places in Budva, who works for whom, etc.

How I looked for a post office in Budva

On the same day, I decided to once again check the anti-Russian sentiments of Montenegrins. This time I accosted a young couple who were walking in the center of Budva and enjoying each other’s company. The question was more complicated, I needed to pay the tourist tax for my stay in Montenegro and register at the Budva tourist office.

The Montenegrins explained how to get to the post office, and since they were just walking around the city, they gladly (at least it seemed so to me) took me straight to the post office (right to the doors).

How I looked for housing in Budva

There was also a funny incident when renting housing in Budva. In any country it is easier for me to speak English than to adapt to the pronunciation and understanding of the local language, but in Montenegro it is more convenient and profitable to speak Russian. While inspecting the next apartment and bargaining for a long-term rental period for the apartment, its owner inquired about my origin. When he found out that I was Russian, he was a little upset and said something like the following: “Brother, why didn’t you immediately say that you are Russi.” As a result, the monthly rent price was reduced by 100 Euros and free breakfast was promised as a bonus.

What do Montenegrin children think about Russians?

But what’s most striking is how anti-Russian the local kids are. Between Budva and Becici there is a tunnel in the mountain, which is decorated with children's drawings, among them I found this funny one (see photo). There is nothing to comment on here, just look at this children’s daub and you will no longer have any questions about the safety of your holiday in Montenegro.

What do Montenegrins think about their country joining NATO?

Most Montenegrins who were willing to talk to me about non-tourist topics clearly did not welcome their country's entry into NATO. Many said that the referendum that took place in Montenegro on the issue of the will to join or not to join was very opaque and many did not agree with it. My opponents (especially the Serbs) often talked about NATO bombings, but this was quite recently, people remember the recent war well.

In large Montenegrin cities you can see street graffiti, which clearly makes it clear the true mood of local residents towards NATO (see photo).

A very recent case of communication with the Montenegrin police. I’m walking from the Kotor bus station towards the Old Town and I see an “unowned” police car, the windows are open, there’s no one inside. This is not the first time I have seen a cop car on this corner, and I decide to take a few photos. I click a few pictures and then a man in a T-shirt and with a gun comes up to me, my first thought is “he’ll get to the bottom of it and demand that I delete the pictures.”

The man in the T-shirt and with a gun turned out to be the policeman from this car. After clarifying what country I was from, the policeman said that taking photographs of an empty car was not a good idea. At this point it seemed to me that they would still force me to delete the pictures, but then the events developed completely beyond my understanding.

The policeman introduced himself (some local name, he responded to Pavel) and asked if I wanted to take a few more pictures (at that moment I thought he was joking). Having received a positive answer, the officer reached into the car for his uniform and, with words of apology for his unusual appearance, began to hastily direct the “maraffe”. I didn’t understand anything at all what was happening, everything looked like some kind of tourist scam.

When the policeman got himself in order, he invited his partner as a photographer, who took several shots with my camera. Again, I didn’t understand what was happening here, but nothing bad happened to me.

The photographs were not taken from me, I was not arrested or anything bad at all, now it’s time for the most important questions. I ask representatives of the Montenegrin authorities about anti-Russian attitudes in Montenegro. The cop looks at me like I’m an idiot and clearly doesn’t understand what to answer. I’ll formulate the question more politically correct: “Isn’t it dangerous for Russians to travel around Montenegro? Are Russians being offended in Montenegro?

In response I receive the following phrase (almost verbatim):

“Russians and Montenegrins are brothers, we are brothers. Who in Montenegro would think of offending Russians?”

These are the anti-Russian sentiments in Montenegro. I never thought that the phrase “Im from Russia” could evoke so many positive emotions, and even more so from the police.

In public transport

I’m traveling from the island of Sveti Stefan to Budva by minibus, a little tired from the hot Montenegrin sun and generally in no mood. There are very few people on the small bus, some English-speaking young people and two Russian grannies. Before reaching the Becici resort, the old women were getting ready to leave, the driver carefully stopped the bus at the indicated place and uttered a phrase that “made my evening.” And he said the following (in Russian): “Thank you mom, goodbye.”

I hope that my horror story post didn’t scare you too much. Have a nice holiday in Montenegro!

Photos in this post belong to: batintherain / flickr.com / Licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.

Updated: 2018-1-2

Oleg Lazhechnikov

71

I have long wanted to go to Serbia, but I went to Montenegro. Here's the twist. More precisely, I also wanted to go to Serbia, but I didn’t have time, so I put it off for next time. However, if we are talking about the sea and a warm climate (after all, it is for the sake of the climate that, as a rule, people go somewhere), then Montenegro “out of sight” is better suited than Serbia.

Climate

Just because of the climate, there is not such a large flow of people to Montenegro in winter. Because it's cool and rainy. The coast has a maritime climate, winters are mild, usually without snow, but temperatures can drop to +5 degrees. Cold? Yes, not Thailand, you can’t swim in the sea. But again, everything is learned by comparison. After -20 degrees, above-zero temperatures will not seem so bad. Moreover, usually the temperature does not fall below +15, and in November and May it will be +20.

And, if it’s definitely worth going on vacation to Montenegro (whether in the summer or in the off-season), then it’s hard to say whether it makes sense to spend the winter. I think everything is quite individual, but it seems to me that there has not been and will not be a trend as long as there are Asian countries (Thailand, Vietnam) and all sorts of Dominican Republics and Costa Rica. For warmth and the sea in winter, you definitely don’t need to go to Montenegro. The off-season (autumn, spring) is also ambiguous in terms of climate. It seems to be still warm, but it is already starting to rain, which can rain for several days without stopping. When I visited in October, it rained half the days, but on others it was sunny and +25 degrees. Overall, I liked it and would live like this for a couple of months, warming up after cold Moscow. You know how great it is to go out on the terrace in the morning and drink tea while basking in the sun.

Visa

Russians can now travel to Montenegro for 30 days without a visa. As soon as I wrote the post, it was reduced by 3 times. Throughout the summer of 2016, you could come for 90 days. Eh... As far as I know, citizens of Ukraine have 90 days left. But not bad either! I just bought a plane ticket and flew away for 1 month. At the border, as a rule, they do not ask for any supporting documents, such as return tickets or hotel reservations. At least, neither me nor my friends were asked (we flew in and out at different times).

If you need to stay more than 30 days, then a visa is obtained in Moscow at the Montenegrin consulate. The consular fee is 62 euros (32 euros for children), it takes 1-2 weeks. Residents of other cities can apply through the Pony Express visa service, additionally paying for their services. To obtain a visa, you will need to show a hotel reservation or rental agreement.

There is also the option to go to a neighboring country and then enter Montenegro again and again for 30 days. Nearby are visa-free Albania for Russians (from May to September), Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina. And if you have a Schengen visa in your passport, you can go to Croatia. I don’t know how many times you can drive back and forth like this, it’s better to ask the regulars of Montenegro.

The most important thing is not to forget to register at your place of stay within 24 hours upon arrival. It costs 0.8 euros per day and 1 euro for the registration process itself. That is, in 30 days it will be 25 euros.

Impressions from Montenegro

Beautiful!

So, the first thing I would like to say is that it is beautiful there. No, not even that, damn beautiful! You yourself can substitute here a few obscene epithets that are characteristic of a Russian person when he sees something truly beautiful. Honestly, I didn't expect it to be like this. Well, Montenegro and Montenegro, well, mountains and mountains. But already from the plane window I thought, wow, how beautiful it is around. I'm not exaggerating. Although perhaps only a mountain fan can appreciate this. Right after my arrival, my friends took me to the Bay of Kotor in the city of Perast to fly a drone. That's where the juice is.

You know, those who lack aesthetics in their lives, who are tired of dull everyday life and the slushy landscape outside the window, should come here. Well, actually, if the view from the window or on the way to the store means a lot to you, then this is the place for you. I'm one of those people, I get depressed from dullness. The Moscow summer is quite wonderful, even without mountains/nature, but in October, despondency begins for me, so I’m ready to escape from here even to , where recently it has also become very nice if we talk about the visual component (well, the climate is naturally better Moscow).

Housing

From beauty I smoothly move on to housing. In Montenegro there is no central heating and the floors are usually tiled (sometimes partially laminate), so the housing can be cool in the off-season. I was lucky, the apartments I rented had individual heating radiators powered by the owner’s boiler (the owners lived on the floor below). But in general, everywhere there are air conditioners that provide heating, although you may not like the electricity bill if you use them all the time. Another solution is warm socks and slippers, but this is not for everyone. However, this problem exists in almost all European countries.

At prices. At first I paid 60 euros per day, then 50 euros per day. Despite the fact that they wrote to me on social networks, they say it’s expensive, I think that the price for the conditions that we had was adequate. And it’s impossible to find 120 square meters (2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms) for daily rent, with radiator heating, cleaning and change of linen/towels, with a super view from the window and two balconies. At least quickly, in 2 clicks on the site. For monthly living, prices would, of course, be lower, but I don’t have that experience. As I understand it, you can rent quite normal apartments of the same plan for 300-400 euros.

Roads in Montenegro

You can and should travel around Montenegro by car. To be honest, I just can’t imagine what other options there might be. Yes, I have seen cyclists, but this is not an option for everyone. So for those who cannot “seal” on the beach all day long, I recommend renting a car. The cost will be somewhere around 25-30 euros per season, and about 15 euros out of season (we just charged 15). Gasoline 1.15 euros at all gas stations.

The easiest way is to rent through the office. Someday I will dedicate a separate post to them, the guys really did a great service for us travelers.

The roads in Montenegro are quite good. Yes, yes, I know, depending on what you compare it to. But in reality, we drove around all sorts of different outskirts and everywhere there was asphalt and quite good one. True, sometimes there was not enough width, but the flow of traffic there was such that it was quite possible to endure it.

Civilization

Montenegro reminded me a lot of the Krasnodar Territory (just somewhere near Sochi) and Crimea. Only in Montenegro are the mountains higher and more brutal - so outwardly harsh, covered with rocks instead of forests. But in terms of civilization, there will be more of it in the Krasnodar Territory. One of the largest cities in Montenegro, Budva, has only 10 thousand people, and the capital of the country, Podgorica, has 150 thousand. At the same time, they say that the capital is not far behind Budva in terms of development. In general, I mean that you need to go to Montenegro not for civilization, but in spite of it. It’s clear that when traveling in the summer for a couple of weeks, you don’t really need anything, but in the off-season, if you go for six months or more, then not everyone will find something to do. No Mega or Ikea, no varied range of year-round entertainment, including theaters and various events. There is definitely nothing like that in Budva, I don’t know about Podgorica, but I think it is much inferior to large European cities.

I personally found it a thrill to sit in such a “village,” quietly working at the computer, looking out the window to enjoy the view, and periodically going out to the embankment in a cafe for fish soup and Greek salad, alternating with occasional trips to the sights. For me, this is an ideal place for an introverted freelancer who is not inclined to big companies and the hustle and bustle of a big city. But I imagine that the rest would become quite bored in the off-season, especially if there is no need to work. I have no idea what you could do in Budva for a long time out of season, and even in season if you didn’t come to rest. A resort town with all that it implies. True, as I already wrote above, moving to Podgorica, it seems to me, would not save someone thirsty for activity.

I also noticed this peculiarity - the country is quite poor at first glance. Modest housing and sometimes shabby in appearance, an abundance of inexpensive European foreign cars from the 90s, simple clothes... However, either due to the well-groomed environment, or due to the stunning nature around, the impression of a poor country is not created. Such a double impression, everything seems so simple, but at the same time quite nice. Maybe not everyone will agree with me, but that’s how I saw it.

Food

The range of products in the supermarket is the same, nothing special. I didn’t go and substantively compare prices, there’s no need to, but I didn’t see anything special there. Well, there might be a better variety of cheeses :) Fruits and vegetables in the supermarket are just as bad, but there are better ones at the market. In all the cafes I visited, the menu was similar. I assume this is the case throughout the country. Usually the food fits on 1-2 pages. Meat/fish, a side dish of potatoes or vegetables, 2-3 soups (watery stew), and several salads. That's all, actually. I ordered fish soup and Greek salad as standard, which cost me 5-7 euros. I ate my fill without any problems, although the soup was only made from fish (no vegetables), but with bread it was just right.

P.S. What do you think, is it worth going there for the winter or at least for a couple of months in the off-season? Or in winter only to Asia?

P.P.S. Recently, all the photographs in new articles are large in size; they can be viewed by clicking on a large monitor.

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