You can plan a trip to Montenegro without the participation of travel agencies. But for this you need to do preparatory work – choose transport, resort, time of stay in the country. Only after that, independent travel to Montenegro will be comfortable.
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Resorts overview
You need to start with the resort. Traditionally, they stop at one of the coastal cities of the country. The Adriatic Sea in this region is clean, but the bottom is monotonous. Therefore, lovers of diving and snorkeling can choose any resort.
There are criteria by which a trip to Montenegro is planned for recreation. Reviews are one of them. The opinions of tourists can be subjective and not correspond to reality. To select a resort, it is recommended to conduct a comprehensive analysis.
TOP 4 vacation spots in Montenegro:
- Budva. Good place for rest and independent travel. It is characterized by a developed infrastructure, more than 100 villas will provide their services on its territory, there are excursion agencies. The disadvantages include relatively high prices for accommodation and meals during the peak season.
- Bar. It has modern architecture, many shops and supermarkets. When planning an independent vacation in it, you can not only have a good time on the beach or excursion programs, but also make useful and profitable purchases. Advantages – a large selection of apartments and Villas, prices are lower than in Budva.
- Herceg Novi. For connoisseurs of peace and tranquility. The resort is literally immersed in greenery. The architectural style is as close as possible to the traditional European one – narrow streets, small shops and shops. There are several attractions – the central square, the Cathedral of the Archangel Michael, with beautiful views from the fortress wall.
- Becici. A village in the suburbs of Budva, vacationers can walk to the center. Plus – the presence of a sandy beach, which is rare for Montenegro.
Additionally, the proximity to the airport should be taken into account. There are two operating in the country – Tivat and Podgorica. But most tourist flights go to Tivat. When budgeting, traveling to Montenegro takes into account the cost of a taxi and a transfer from the airport.
The transfer time from this airport to Budva is about 40-50 minutes. The fare for a taxi is usually 50 Euros, there is no bus service.
Accommodation
A characteristic feature of Montenegro is a small number of hotels. They are located on the coast, have their own beach, quality service. But for relaxation, it is recommended to stay in an apartment or a villa. These accommodation options have special characteristics, tourists should know what to expect from each if they are planning a solo trip to Montenegro.
Consider what you can expect from a holiday in a villa:
- this is one, much less often two furnished rooms;
- you need to find out about household appliances in advance, you need air conditioning;
- apartments with a kitchen are more expensive than usual, but in many villas they allocate a small space in a room with an electric stove;
- Internet via Wi-Fi, but its speed and stability leaves much to be desired;
- frequency of cleaning – 1 time in 2-3 days.
An important point is the location of the villa on the city map. You can use the interactive map to preview available options and prices.
An apartment is an apartment with all amenities. This type of accommodation is popular in Bar or areas of cities with new buildings. The price of renting an apartment is higher, but at the same time, tourists receive the following benefits:
- the possibility of accommodating a large number of people – up to 8;
- several rooms, which allows two families to live;
- the best level of service.
Accommodation is booked in advance – this is the basis of independent travel to Montenegro in the summer. You can rent accommodation after arrival. When booking, pay attention to the remoteness of the villa or apartment from the sea, supermarkets and markets. The price of rental housing in Montenegro depends on the season and ranges from 20 to 50 Euro per day.
How to get there
The best way to arrive at your holiday destination is to buy a plane ticket. From May to October, several flights regularly depart from major Russian cities to Tivat airport. The average round-trip ticket price for one adult passenger to Montenegro depends on the season – 200-300 dollars. The price for early booking of air tickets is 10-15% less.
You can go on vacation by car. It will take longer, but you can visit several countries along the way. Features of car travel:
- Two route options. The first one is Ukraine-Romania-Serbia. The second one is Belarus-Poland-Hungary-Croatia. The second route is longer, but much more interesting.
- It is obligatory to have an insurance policy “Green Card”. For crossing Romania and Bulgaria, a vignette is issued – a toll.
- Visa processing for EU countries.
- Additional spending on accommodation in motels or hostels.
- The cost of fuel for a car in European countries is much higher than in Russia.
Another way to plan an independent trip to Montenegro is to travel by bus. You can do this as part of a sightseeing tour or buy a ticket for a regular flight. Prices for bus tickets in big cities – Moscow and St. Petersburg. They should be booked in advance – in the summer there is a large flow of tourists.
Nutrition
Food prices in the country are the most democratic among European resorts. But for a holiday in the country, you need to find places to eat with average prices. The cheapest way to visit cafes is not located on the coast. The cost of breakfast and dinner for 1 person will be no more than 7 €. Lunch will cost more – up to 10 €. This is one of the advantages that independent travel to Montenegro has.
It is necessary to take into account national peculiarities of mentality. Recommendations for catering in Montenegro during an independent trip:
- Cheap food in establishments with the inscription: “Set Menu”. You need to ask the waiter about ready meals.
- Fast food burgers are larger than McDonald’s.
- Budva has good cuisine in Lim and Conoba Bocun restaurants. Bar’s popular establishments are Banjalucki Cevap and Ciao. Herceg Novi has good cuisine at Tri Lipe Restaurant and Splendido.
- You should definitely try the national dishes of Montenegro – hanger, razhnich, prosciutto and sarma. This is far from a diet food, but it is ideal for recuperation after an active holiday.
Prices for products differ from European ones in a smaller direction. Most of the daily basket is purchased in supermarkets or stores. An alternative is to visit the local market.
The markets of the country have products for locals and tourists. You can buy fresh fruits, vegetables and meat products at street stalls located away from the tourist area.
Excursion program
A truly pleasant and useful independent travel to Montenegro is impossible without visiting its attractions. They are studied in advance – most of the excursions take the whole day. It is recommended to order this service on the spot, upon check-in. Choose an individual tour or a group program.You can also plan independent visits to tourist places.
Excursion programs in Montenegro:
- Canyons. It takes a whole day, but this way you can see all the diversity of the nature of this region – the deepest canyons in Europe, lakes and forests. The cost is up to 40 Euro.
- Skadar lake. The largest water resource in the Balkans. Journey on a small boat and the opportunity to swim in the lake, visit the historic fishing village. Price – from 40 €.
- Rafting on the Tara river. It takes a lot of effort to travel. The purity of the river allows you to drink water from it, in summer the current is not strong – the load will be optimal. At the end of the tour, a hearty lunch is provided. The price starts from 65 Euro.
- Sea excursions. Each resort in Montenegro has boats and boats that provide the opportunity to travel around the Adriatic Sea. The cost is from 15 euros.
Prices from year to year will not differ much from last year. Independent rest and excursions can be planned by car. The map is preliminarily studied, the route is drawn up.
The video has additional tips on how to organize a trip to the country. They are relevant for any tourist season.