Petrovac or Budva, which is better. Report on a trip to Montenegro

"...One birth is not enough for me,
I wish I could grow from two roots,
It's a pity Montenegro didn't
My second home..."

This is exactly how Vladimir Vysotsky expressed his feelings in poetry. Of course, I am not a poet, and I don’t write poetry, but I am also filled with feelings of happiness, delight, pride and joy from traveling to Montenegro. In my review I will tell you why I fell in love with this wonderful country.

Here everyone will find what they want to get from their vacation. For young people there are excellent beaches, clear seas and vibrant nightlife. For a family holiday - good hotels, delicious dishes, hospitality of Montenegrins. And for lovers of excursions, Montenegro will be a godsend.

Excursions around Montenegro

Despite its small size, Montenegro has such a diverse nature and so many unique places that many countries can envy it. One of the most interesting excursions is full day trip to Skandar Lake. It amazes with its size: length 14 km, width 5 km, depth 7 meters, and in some places 10-40 meters. The excursion is carried out on a boat, includes swimming, a fish lunch, photos with lilies and indelible impressions of the beauty seen. By the way, there are a lot of fish and birds on this lake, stock up on bread - the birds fly up to the boat itself, and sometimes swim up with whole families.

Just like an excursion to Lake Skandar, it will leave unforgettable impressions for a lifetime. excursion to Mount Belasitsa. One of the most mountain ranges in the northern regions of Montenegro. After 130 km you will find yourself on the mountain in a completely new environment, very different from the picture of the sea coast. Before starting your trip up the mountain, you will be offered breakfast made from the purest local products. The main purpose of the trip is to get acquainted with the untouched, virgin nature of the national park. Parka. This is the only virgin forest in Europe. The mountain is strewn with lakes and springs with the purest water. After touching views and spiritual relaxation, you will be offered lunch in nature, also from local products.

I can talk about excursions for a long time, especially those that reveal the natural beauty and wonders of Montenegro. In addition to them, Montenegro, as a traditionally Orthodox country, is famous for its huge number of ancient Orthodox monasteries, one of which I was lucky enough to visit. Its name Prison. It was given the name of the mountain in which it was built in 1665.

The fort rises at an altitude of 1000 meters, the road that leads to the monastery is 100 years old, it is very dangerous, steep, serpentine, does not have a single fence, the traffic is one-way and despite all this, not a single accident has occurred here in 100 years . They say that Saint Basil of Ostrozh, whose relics are kept in the monastery, helps everyone who ascends and descends along this road. The place is actually very holy, people of different faiths from all over the world are trying to get here. Your guide will tell you about the miracles that happened and are still happening here. Here you can buy icons, light candles and just stand and admire the beauty of the Montenegrin region opening from above.

I will briefly try to describe the main resort towns and cities.

Budva

I'll start with the main resort center of Montenegro -. There is almost everything here: discos, restaurants and bars, casinos, sports grounds, tennis courts. This place is ideal for lovers of an active and fun holiday. The fortress walls encircling the Old Town have been preserved here, inside which there are picturesque narrow winding streets, small squares, and numerous cafes. In just a few minutes you can sail to the island of St. Nicholas - a romantic place for walks. All this, as well as unique beaches (Mogren, Slavic Beach, Jaz), attract numerous tourists here every year.

Hotels in Budva:
- the hotel is very well located, near the Old Town and a five-minute walk to the entire infrastructure of Budva. It has an extraordinary design that not everyone will like - I mean the interior design of the hotel, the predominance of black throughout the hotel and the twilight that reigns here. The service at the hotel is very decent. Not suitable for family holidays.
- the hotel is located 500 meters from the Old Town. Surrounded by parkland, a huge area. It is a village of 11 buildings with many bars, restaurants and shops. I draw your ATTENTION to very economical rooms. Some of them were renovated in 2006, but most of the rooms are very simple, starting with furniture and plumbing. Recommended for youth recreation.
- included in the complex, the rooms are the same plan as in Slavenska Plaza. Also calculated for youth recreation. When choosing these hotels, you need to take into account that in some rooms in the evening and until late at night you can hear noise from nearby entertainment venues.
– located at the exit from Budva, gorgeous pine area, very economical rooms. Suitable for young people and families without children, because there is nothing for them in this hotel.

Becici

Located 3-4 km from Budva. The resort is surrounded by greenery. A special feature of this resort town is the presence of a wide sandy beach. Good for holidays with children, youth holidays, because... Budva's nightlife is within easy reach.

Hotels in Becici:
We lived in a hotel - we really liked the hotel, good rooms, food, territory, beach, water park, amazing massage in the spa center of this hotel, I recommend it to everyone, it's called massage in Montenegrin.
- a decent hotel. First coastline, good beach, luxurious rooms, varied food, animation, huge SPA center. Hotel guests have free use of the Finnish, aroma and Turkish sauna, jacuzzi, indoor pools, showers with the effect of tropical rain and ice fog.
- a small cozy hotel, with virtually no territory. It has its own beach, but there is a fee for sunbeds and umbrellas (3 euros, set per day). There is an outdoor swimming pool. I would not recommend this hotel for a holiday with children. There is nothing there for them.
- four-story building, cozy rooms. Private beach, sun loungers and umbrellas free of charge. Works on the ALL system. The area is small. There is a children's playground on site.

Rafailovichi

A small fishing resort town, about 6 km from Budva and 2 km from Becici. Doesn't have any special vegetation, but famous for its many fish restaurants.

Rafailovici Hotels:
- a small private hotel on the seashore. It has no territory. Economy rooms, two meals a day. Good value for money.
- the hotel is located at the entrance to the village. About 500 meters to the sea. Nice rooms. There is practically no territory. Very suitable for families without children and youth holidays.

Petrovac

The resort is comfortably located on the shore of a green bay with small red pebbles. An unforgettable atmosphere of romantic antiquity is created by the preserved Venetian fortress Castello, ancient city buildings, and narrow streets. It has its own embankment with restaurants, bars, shops and discos. Will fit well both for youth and for family holidays.

Petrovac Hotels:
- very green, well-groomed area. Good number of rooms. Ideal for family holidays, because... The hotel has a whole building with family rooms for 2+2 accommodation.
- in the center of Petrovac, 100 meters to the beach. Very green area. Cozy rooms.

Pržno

A tiny fishing village where life still flows at a leisurely pace. Located on the shore of a rocky cove. Quiet relaxing holiday in the lap of gorgeous nature. Budva is 6 km away.

Hotels in Przno:
- one of the best hotels in Montenegro. Nice rooms. Ideal for families with children, there is a children's pool, playground, and mini-club for them. The hotel's very convenient location allows you to take walks to luxurious beaches that were recently closed to visitors. The hotel has a casino with an entertainment hall, open daily with a music program. Admission for hotel guests is free.

Ulcinj

One of the oldest, attractive and most picturesque cities on the coast. Currently, Ulcinj is decorated with beautiful kilometer-long beaches and places for recreation. To the south of the city, the so-called Big 12.5 kilometer beach stretches until the Boyana River flows into the sea. Excellent medicinal sand is rich in salt and iodine; it helps treat rheumatism and nervous diseases.

Hotels in Ulcinj:
- the hotel is surrounded by a pine forest. Consists of 2 buildings (A and B). In building "A" there is a higher level of accommodation, in building "B" there is an economical type of accommodation for young people.
- a good option for relaxation. Cozy rooms, 400 meters down to the sea, because... the hotel is located on a hill.
- a small hotel of a famous chain. And this immediately catches your eye. Very good rooms, ALL meals. Gorgeous beach, good animation.

Resort town with developed infrastructure. Lots of markets, bars, restaurants. But there are not many hotels, we only looked at one.

Hotels in Bar:
- near the center of Bar. On the seashore, sunbeds and umbrellas are free. Nice rooms, small area. There is nothing for children. Works according to the HB system. Lunch at the hotel restaurant will cost approximately 15 euros.

Herceg Novi

The city of eternal greenery, sun and stairs. It climbs in terraces along the slopes of Mount Orjen. The city is full of vegetation: palm trees, mimosas, oleanders, cacti, magnolias...

Herceg Novi Hotels:
- the hotel is located on the seashore, among greenery. Ideal for a family holiday. Nice, cozy rooms. Playground. Entrance to the sea from a concrete platform.
- on the seashore, close to restaurants and bars. Nice rooms. But the hotel is very small and there is no territory as such. I do not recommend it for holidays with children.
- a decent hotel for a family holiday. Three beaches, one of them for nudists. Good number of rooms, many rooms for large families. Almost all rooms have sea views. Works according to the HB system.

Risan

The oldest city on the territory of the Bay of Kotor. A very quiet and secluded place. Relaxing here guarantees peace and quiet. There are no bars or restaurants here. It is also not suitable for a family holiday.

Hotels in Risan:
- located on the shore. Entrance to the sea is a pebble/platform. Sun beds and umbrellas are free. The number of rooms is very economical, because... the hotel was built in the 80s.

Of course, there are many hotels in Montenegro, and, as I already said, everyone can find what suits them best. I will be happy to help you choose exactly the one that suits your wishes and capabilities! Call!

Doubts arise whether we will meet the budget. I expect the amount to be 100-120 thousand rubles (HB or FB). Requests for a vacation spot: 1. Acceptable entry into the sea for a child 2. Promenade - need... bicycle paths. Animation in the hotel is not important. 3. Meals half board or or doesn’t like going to restaurants (waiting for orders, etc.) 4. Transfer... costs 200 thousand or more. Is there anything else decent about this place? Or Please recommend another area to consider. I haven’t read about Montenegro at all...

Adriatis... not important. Petrovac, Rafailovichi- Becici, Herceg Novi - Igalo (+ suburbs), Prcanj - Stoliv. Quote: 3. Half board meals or boarding buffet. The child is quite picky. By cafes or going to restaurants... is questionable. , then, most likely, any specialist will recommend a sanatorium for asthmatics or with asthma program. And there is only one like this on the Adriatic Sea - the Simo Milosevic Institute in Igalo... . And since the doctors themselves from Vrmac highly recommend climatotherapy, there are two options left - or Bay of Kotor (Prcanj-Stoliv) or Igalo. Everything else is just relaxation.

Doubts arise whether we will meet the budget. I expect the amount to be 100-120 thousand rubles (HB or FB). Requests for a vacation spot: 1. Acceptable entry into the sea for a child 2. Promenade - need... bicycle paths. Animation in the hotel is not important. 3. Meals half board or or doesn’t like going to restaurants (waiting for orders, etc.) 4. Transfer... costs 200 thousand or more. Is there anything else decent about this place? Or Please recommend another area to consider. I haven’t read about Montenegro at all...

Adriatis ... not important. Petrovac, Rafailovichi- Becici, Herceg Novi - Igalo (+ suburbs), Prcanj - Stoliv. Quote: 3. Half board meals or boarding buffet. The child is quite picky. By cafes or going to restaurants... is questionable. , then, most likely, any specialist will recommend a sanatorium for asthmatics or with asthma program. And there is only one like this on the Adriatic Sea - the Simo Milosevic Institute in Igalo... . And since the doctors themselves from Vrmac highly recommend climatotherapy, there are two options left - or Bay of Kotor (Prcanj-Stoliv) or Igalo. Everything else is just relaxation.

May 8th, 2014 , 09:02 am

This post will be dedicated to Budva and two other coastal towns in Montenegro:
Petrovac (located near Budva).
Ulcinj (southern city 18 km from Albania)

1. St. Stephen's Island to attract attention :)

First, a little off.
The concepts of "relaxation", "comfort" and "service" are very relative.

Someone is used to vacationing in the private sector of Crimea and will admire the good bed linen of a C-star hotel.
And praise this hotel (which has as many as three stars as the moon) on Booking.com.
And someone else will complain about the shortcomings of a five-star luxury place.
Moreover, all these opinions will, for example, be true! But everything is learned by comparison.

When I choose travel destinations, hotels and restaurants, I always rely on the opinions of people whose experiences and preferences are minimally similar to mine.
And less often - on online reviews.
Because looking at the reviews on the Internet, I alternately picture those who are comfortable spending the night even in a car. And who loves instant coffee? Those glamorous hysterical women, for whom the limits are too small:) and I divide everything by a hundred:)

I liked the Montenegrin seaside resorts, as did the country itself.
But if someone also experiences Montenegro, it will be different, its own. So you can just look at the pictures and not believe anything :)))

We will talk about Budva in great detail below; I’ll start with a quick overview of the other two towns.

Petrovac.

2. This is exactly what I would be happy to consider during the inter-Schengen period or in the company of someone who does not have a visa. Or I'll fly away for the weekend. I even looked at the hotel :)

3. I really love small towns that were once just fishing villages.

4. Gloomy, but beautiful. It reminded me a bit of the Sicilian town of Giardini Naxos.

5. Warm up after the bus.

6. View from the pier. There's a lot of construction going on, which is great.

7. But there are a lot of abandoned houses, yes, right on the first shore.

8. I liked Petrovac. If you are not very interested in civilization, fashion shows along the embankment and nightclubs, but want reservation, originality and behind-the-scenes - this is the place for you.
Unfortunately, I won’t talk about the infrastructure, but there were cafes and bars too. There are definitely shops.

Ulcinj.

9. This city left a double impression.

10. He is very... southern. Albanians live here. That is, Muslims. I have absolutely nothing against Muslims, but I wouldn’t deliberately come here for a beach holiday.
I was wearing a long skirt. Cars passing by honked their horns. Do you understand, right? :)

Out of curiosity, I surfed and read rare reviews about Ulcinj.
Tourists write that the city is dirty, and the cafes only have kebabs :)
I won’t say anything about kebabs - we were fed in a very decent restaurant. Tasty, fishy and varied :)

I can’t say for sure what the reality of food is in this city. But we all know that reviews about “kebabs in the whole city” are often written after visiting one establishment.
11.

As for the dirt...
Ummm... I'll definitely be a bad cop here.
Ulcinj has a very beautiful embankment, a chic medieval fortress, where the mayor personally escorted us. Intelligent man, professor.
Everything in the city was clean (even though there was graffiti), and near the fortress too. Until I looked down from the other side of it.
In the “backyard” near the walls right on the embankment there was such a dump that it seemed that I could even smell its smell. Two dozen meters from the place where they told us about improvement and order.
That is, you know, such a very selective purity :)

12. Well, nothing, I hope that by the next visit of a group of journalists they will have properly removed not only from the facade :)

13. View of Ulcinj from the city fortress.

Budva

As I already wrote, we lived in Budva, in a hotel complex on the outskirts. On the shore, ten minutes from the center.
Due to the busy program, there was not enough time for the Montenegrin resort capital.

14. But one evening, after returning from excursions, we finally washed ourselves/changed clothes and went for a walk along the embankment in the Old Town of Budva.

15. The Adriatic was calm and promised good weather.
We weren't very lucky with the weather, as you can tell from the photo :))

16. Promenade of Budva - palm trees and numerous cafes, some of which we managed to test.
I especially recommend Il Porto, where once the organizers gave us a wonderful dinner. Decent place on the first line.

17. Favorite time of day - when the city is getting ready for dinner, tables are served on the terraces.
Crazy aromas of pizza from wood-burning ovens and grilled fish are everywhere.

18. The little one also went out for a walk.

19. Approximate prices for the lunch menu. I haven't tried it, so I can't say how it is.
And in our orchestra in Italy, I took such a complex several times, and each time I was not very lucky.
Often the so-called “tourist menu” is a trick for those who come to the establishment for the first and last time.
Well, like, my favorite octopus salad is three tentacle trimmings with an eraser flavor, three lettuce leaves, an olive and two tomato slices, yes, so divide by one hundred :)

20. The main surprise of Budva is that there is city Wi-Fi here! Free and passwordless.
A huge plus.

21. We dive to the fortress gate and find ourselves in the Old Town of Budva.

22. Narrow streets, shops with souvenirs, cozy cafes... classics of the European Middle Ages.

23. Near each bar there is a table to sit with a view of the city.

24. In the old city, people live as they did many centuries ago - the entrance, as expected, is directly from the streets, without any porches or stairs.

25. In the Old Town fortress, in some places there are observation decks with picturesque views.

26. Bye Julia nyashka separated and went shopping, I met a very funny young female dog.

27. To prevent her from jumping from the fortress onto the rocks after the cat, I had to pull her by the tail.

28. Colorful squares.

29. Cafe windows with all sorts of utensils.

30. Full Reputation!

31. And a little about what I didn’t like about Montenegro.
A lot of people smoke in Montenegro. And right in some cafes, bars and restaurants. Yes. Inside.
In many establishments it was possible to hang an axe, especially when football was shown.

32. Children are barkers in cafes and shops.
I am not against children helping to the best of their ability and desire.
But when you see the same child during the day without a hat and the same child eight hours later, you want to believe that the child was at least fed.

What else catches your eye: unlike the rest of Europe (where even the buyer can be fined for a fake), here there are fakes at every turn. In the shops of Budva and other cities there are almost only fakes. Just our Impulse.
Moreover, they are not worth the price they sell for African-Americans, but are not worthless at all.

33. So, in the boutique with the photo, a fake Chanel cost 280 euros. Well, that is, like with a claim that it might be real - for those who don’t know.

Perhaps there are no more such direct disadvantages.

34. A few more pictures of the Montenegrin evening resort capital.

35.

36.

37.
That evening in Budva promised to be the only one, because the rest of the days were scheduled with new trips.
And then... Yulia and I juliesecret We decided to go on a whole day of excursions.

At first it was a pity, because the program of each day was special. But then we discussed and decided that we needed a pause in order to live it in the format of “an ordinary day for a real lazy holiday girl.”

And on the last day, instead of already sitting on the bus at 7 am, we slept, took our swimsuits and went to have breakfast on the embankment.
They took the same complex. For general information: pancakes, fresh carrot juice and latte - 8 euros.

38. (I didn’t order crayfish, crayfish is a strong compliment from the establishment 52 stsuko degrees).

39. It was the first 100% sunny day! An incredibly warm, fine, very summer sea day.

40.
Every now and then we met someone from our group... Without saying a word, many decided to skip the last day :) We were tired :)
Yulia and I spent half a day on the beach, I opened the swimming season.
Then we walked around Budva again.

41. There are many fishermen in the port. You can go fishing or on a sea excursion.
Ride a boat - 20 euros per hour.

42. Sunny Budva turned out to be even more beautiful.

43. Locals:)

44. Tourists

45. Wonderful English girls

46. ​​Heavenly weather! It was a pity that we were leaving the next day...
As usual, one more day was not enough for the perfect layout. This always happens.

47. At sunset we are with