Holidays in Montenegro with children: the best resorts and entertainment options

A tourist trip abroad with children can be a lot of fun. But if Turkey and Thailand are already boring, and there are not enough money for more expensive options, it is worth considering a visit to Montenegro. This country is very pleasant for vacationers, the main thing is to know its characteristic features.

The undoubted advantage of a visit to Montenegro is almost absolute security. Compared even with our country, not to mention the Asian states, street crime is almost absent here. It is enough to observe traffic rules and not cross roads in the wrong places. Even young children can walk there without much risk at any time of the day.

Montenegro is picturesque and elegant. The bulk of the mountains is concentrated near the sea. You can come to this attractive country without visas. It is quite possible not to use the help of travel agencies, organizing a trip yourself.

The often mentioned cheapness is in fact characteristic of leisure activities in Montenegro. But you need to understand that it manifests itself only in relation to other resort regions - Greece, Cyprus, Turkey. More recently, the cost of rest here was really very low. However, the situation has changed over the past few years, and no one is offering prices as affordable as before.

What is much nicer is a wide variety of food. In Montenegro, it:

• can be prepared in national or European format;
• has a fairly large portion;
• made from products that are carefully monitored by environmental and sanitary inspection services.

In this Balkan country, leisure is very diverse.Someone sunbathes and bathes, someone goes to the mountains, someone goes for walks in parks and gardens. It is not particularly difficult to choose an attractive excursion. Tourists are taken to national parks and old monasteries, to ancient castles. Montenegrin resorts boast an abundance of evening, nightly entertainment.

The cities here are relatively small. Therefore, they allow you to enjoy a calm and relaxed atmosphere. For those who want to get away from crushing megalopolises crowded with concrete boxes, this is almost an ideal option. Even the largest metropolitan city can be easily walked around and explored in one day.

Due to the similarity of languages, it is quite easy to understand various labels, signs, tablets, signs and announcements. Moreover, the local staff speaks good Russian. No problem, you can find the translated menu.

Montenegrins are calm and generally friendly. But it’s important to understand that any medal has two sides. Holidays in Montenegro is no exception to this rule. So, a fairly large part of vacationers here come from Russia. And not all of our compatriots, unfortunately, behave in a dignified manner. When the peak season comes, the beaches are crowded. Due to the abundance of boats, boats, constantly located near the shore, it is impossible to sail far from it. And on the sanitary state of water, this situation is not reflected in the best way.

In Montenegro, pebble coastal areas prevail. They are not as pleasant as areas covered with sand. It is often mentioned that local workers cannot handle cleaning beaches. Due to the lack of ballot boxes, they are often crowded. In some places, it is difficult to enter the water from the rocky shore, especially for young children.

The cost of products and other goods at beach shops, in coastal kiosks is unreasonably high. The state of public transport stops in small cities is often unsatisfactory. Problems can be with the sanitary condition of the streets, and with the walls of the houses (they are often painted by street "artists"). The class of service in Montenegrin hotels is lower than in recognized tourist centers. Even those who are not too picky in their leisure time pay attention to such shortcomings.

But if travelers didn’t frighten any problems or if they considered that Montenegro’s advantages are more important, you need to figure out how to prepare for the trip. It is appropriate to analyze, first of all, the case of self-dispatch. When contacting travel agencies, they will themselves write down what and how to do their clients. When sending with a child from a parent remaining in Russia, you need to get permission to leave. But a visa will not be required, since Montenegro maintains visa-free relations with Russia.

The need to obtain a visa, however, arises with a trip duration of 30 days or more. But since Russian tourists go there mainly because of the cost-effectiveness of the tours, and the holidays are not so long, they are unlikely to have to deal with such a procedure. It is recommended that you purchase your local currency (Euro) in advance. The exchange of dollars is economically unprofitable, no one will change rubles in principle, and it is unlikely that other monetary units will be. Upon arrival in the country, you must immediately register at the travel agency.

Since medical services are expensive in Montenegrin clinics, it is advisable to take out reliable insurance. Yes, it’s quite expensive, especially for those who are obviously going to the mountains or are going to engage in other extreme hobbies. But such support is quite reasonable. If there is no experience of independent planning and organization of tourist trips, it is better to purchase a comprehensive package.

But we must remember that package holidays do not always satisfy people. The photographs often show the best apartments or rooms, and not the fact that they will be provided upon arrival. There is no opportunity to spend holidays in different resorts. Vouchers always sell at only one resort. Tours only occasionally contain offers with cuisines.

Therefore, it is difficult to expect that it will be possible to relax comfortably with young children who require special nutrition. Self-organization of leisure is more difficult, but you should still give it preference if you intend to get a truly unforgettable experience.

Independence from travel agencies will also save money if a large company travels to the resort. This option is definitely more profitable for a trip at once by 2 or 3 families or one large family. And one more “thing” that is important to stock up on (and, of course, not only when traveling to Montenegro) is elementary politeness and respect for local residents and other tourists.

When choosing between the country's airports (Podgorica and Tivat), it is worth giving preference to the second option. There, flights are cheaper, and transfer to hotels on the coast is also more profitable. Tickets are advised to purchase at least 2 or 3 months. Almost always, an early purchase of airline tickets will save.

But you cannot ignore other ticket parameters. The cheapest offers often do not allow you to take luggage with you without additional payments. As a result, sometimes “affordable” tickets are more expensive than seats on board leading airlines. It makes sense to use the train only if there are substantial funds or if there is a strong fear of flying. Even the most “greedy” air carriers put forward more favorable rates than Russian Railways.

After arriving in the country it is advisable to use a car. Making a reservation is immediately after purchasing tickets and booking a home.

After booking a car, you must immediately prepare the navigator and electronic maps for it.

Airport transfers are organized mainly by private taxi drivers. The fee for such a service is very high. Traveling by bus is justified only for single trips or traveling with luggage. Families with children will have to pay approximately the same fare as taxi services.

It is worth considering the high cost of medicine in the Balkan country. If insurance is not purchased, you will have to pay from 150 euros for a single doctor’s appointment (in the easiest case). More or less serious treatment is already worth hundreds of euros, and during surgery surplus thousandths are common. Therefore, the purchase of insurance is justified. To pay in various cases, you must take on the road the local currency (Euro), because they change money only at extremely unfavorable rates.

If you plan to buy food in limited quantities over the tour and nothing more, you can cost 50 or 100 euros per day. But with comfortable leisure time and the use of spa benefits, you will definitely need to give 2 or 3 times more. This amount will allow you to get some entertainment and take excursion programs. If you are planning to dine in small restaurants, regularly go on excursions, you will have to spend from 300 euros per day or more. The most elite vacation options will cost 1000-2000 euros per traveler per day.

A one-time visit to a budget cafe or restaurant will have to give an average of 10 conventional units. In fast food establishments, the bulk of dishes cost from 2 euros or a little more. Whether such savings are likely to be harmful to health is up to the travelers themselves. The cost of goods in large retail chains is approximately the same as in Russia. There are only minor differences in both directions on individual positions.

Buying a local SIM card with an Internet package will cost about 15 euros.It will turn out to buy such a card even in ordinary stalls, but we must remember that all numbers will have to be registered with the presentation of a passport. It’s more correct to purchase SIM cards in the offices of mobile operators - there they will definitely transfer all the data to the service units. Setting up mobile Internet should be entrusted to the operator’s personnel, otherwise there is a great risk of instantly losing all the money from bank cards.

For the first visit to Montenegro with children, you can choose:

• Becici;
• Budva;
• Saint Stephen;
• Rafailovici.

At each of these resort sites, conditions are created for ordinary leisure. When planning to travel to the Balkan country for a long period (2 months or more), it makes sense to settle in Herceg Novi. There are not too many excursions, and rest on the sea is not too good. However, housing at this resort is relatively cheap, prices for all other goods and services are also more affordable. It will be possible to live in a quiet and calm environment without encountering an influx of tourists.

Other resorts for beginners are not too suitable. So, Kotor is considered extremely hot and devoid of quality beaches. A lot of tourists with children in need of recovery go to Petrovac. And the beach there is not too big. Ulcinj is bad in that you sometimes have to get from the apartment to the coast for about a kilometer (in sultry hours this is unpleasant).

All-inclusive hotel selection in Montenegro is difficult. The thing is that there are not too many objects of this class in the country. As for the direct search for housing, there can only be one opinion - best use of large aggregators.

Many of them create cheating for some reason.

Even very experienced tourists, preparing for a trip to Montenegro with a small child, often can not recognize the fraud. As a result, you have to overpay at least 20%, and this is still a relatively good result. Of all the types of Montenegrin housing, renting rooms for a villa is most beneficial. These separate rooms usually include a bathroom, air conditioning, a balcony and a TV. But the Internet is either completely absent, or it works very poorly.

It is recommended to check in advance whether it is possible to use the kitchen and iron there. The owners of each villa set such rules themselves. Without knowing them, you can greatly complicate your vacation with a one-year-old child. In addition, the most profitable rooms are often too small. There, end to end, they put a pair of beds, a miniature nightstand and a wardrobe; even the dining table is often taken out to the balcony. It is necessary to be interested in advance in the presence of a cot.

When preparing for a vacation with children in Montenegro, it is worth considering that hotels, pensions and decent apartments are similar in price.

But the hotels offer a wider range of services. The only downside is that finding a decent Montenegrin hotel is difficult. Private housing is much more represented in the tourist real estate market.

The maximum number of entertainment, shopping facilities are available in large cities. This is not only Budva, but also Kotor, Tivat, Bar. It should be borne in mind that there are always a lot of tourists in such places, so you can’t count on privacy.

Somewhat inferior to the "leaders" in infrastructure:

• Baošići;
• Becici;
• Rafailovici;
• Kumbor;
• Dzhenovichi.

Of the smallest resort towns attract attention Stoliv, Bigovo and Morin. They are practically not equipped and are suitable only for families with the smallest children. If you need something other than a beach, such places will not work. As for hotels, choosing the cheapest is not recommended. There is not much difference between them and the apartments.

Hotel Novi is an excellent choice if you need to achieve the optimal balance of cost and quality of services. The Palma Hotel is also in a good position. This hotel has its own beach and can offer tourists superb views. What is nice, breakfast is included in the initial price of the rooms.

In Ulcinj, connoisseurs recommend staying in "Hotel Mediteran Ulcinj". Nearby is the old city. It is easy to get to the beach and the promenade. The views from the hotel are pretty good. Sometimes advised to choose and "Hotel Aurel".

Kitchens work until late, even when checking in at night tourists are fed. The staff is doing their best. Rooms at Hotel Aurel are kept clean and tidy.

Speaking of entertainment in Montenegro, you should start with sightseeing leisure time. Advance booking of excursions does not make much sense. Their value rarely changes.

Hotels with animation are encountered, as already mentioned, quite rarely. But you can do leisure on your own, while it turns out to meet a lot of interesting things in any resort. For physically fit people, a great idea would be a morning (before the onset of heat) walk from Budva. For 3 hours, a tourist can explore Becici, Rafailovici, Milocer Park, St. Stephen's Island and a couple of beaches.

To save energy, you should go back by bus. In just 40 minutes you can reach the Mogren Fortress. From there you can clearly see the elegant stretch of coast. From Becici and Rafailovici many people go for walks to Budva through the tunnel.

Some of them will be glad to visit the local zoo.

There are much more options for vacationers traveling around Montenegro by bus. A visit to Kotor and Perast will cost 3 euros. A full view of the Bay of Kotor Bay opens from the fortress wall. Perast sells tickets to the bell tower of the church of St. Nicholas.

They charge 2.5 euros for a ticket to Cetinje. And there, travelers will find a legendary monastery and ancient palaces of local monarchs. You can end the program of the day with a walk in Milocer Park. The longest trip is to Herceg Novi, which costs an average of 5 euros. The road will take 60-120 minutes; the exact duration of the journey depends on the situation on the road and on traveling bypass or by ferry.

In Herceg Novi is worth a visit:

• the ruins of the fortress walls;
• street stairs;
• exotic plants.

When getting acquainted with the reviews, one should show reasonable criticality. Those estimates that were given more than 5 years ago are unlikely to reflect the current state of affairs in Montenegro. It is worth considering that erroneous or paid reviews are often found. And even human psychology can introduce distortions.

In some places, summer can bring litter to shore. In addition to one week, the water on the beaches will be clean. But they respond to pollution much more, and therefore a false impression may be created. What does not change in Montenegro is the abundance of structures of the Christian cult, examined on excursions. Experienced travelers are advised to stock up on such visits with appropriate clothing. When preparing for trips to the canyons of Tara and Morachi, it is useful to have warm jackets with you.

In the comments, it is noted that with budget leisure in Montenegro it is more profitable to carry beach accessories with you than to pay for their rental on site. Part of the food is also advised to take at home. The most rational approach is this: saving on a ticket and taking maximum cash with you.

As with trips to any other country, you must carefully study the rules of specific airlines. Otherwise, you can unknowingly take on board unsuitable things or too much cargo. Experienced visitors to Montenegro recommend walk more. This is important not only for exploring the surroundings, but also for saving.

A similar situation is with the cost of sunbeds on different beaches.

All information provided in hotels, villas should be checked and clarified. Quite a few people have come across deliberate deception or delusion. It is not recommended to purchase excursions on the beaches and on the embankments, and indeed anywhere in the city too. But the proposals of the organizers of the groups can be trusted. In reviews, it is often written that in every city of Montenegro there is a lot of interesting things, and before you go or go somewhere else, you should examine it completely.

The sea in different parts of the coast is very different. Sometimes people who went a few hundred meters to the side found a different water temperature and a clean and even bottom.

The roads, despite decent quality, are difficult for motorists. Only trained drivers can drive in the highlands without any problems. Therefore, it is advised to refuse car rental to everyone who does not have at least 2 years of driving experience. For those who have it, this way of traveling around the country is considered the best choice. You can get to anywhere in Montenegro quickly and without unnecessary expenses.

If you want to buy something in this country, then Experienced travelers recommend going to Bar or to Podgorica. In these cities, items imported from Italy are often sold. To buy jewelry, you should come to Albania for a short time. Serbian manufactured goods are still highly valued. As for food products, the prices on the Montenegrin markets are much higher than in stores.

Curious that visiting excursions often saves money on food. Almost always, lunch is included in the excursion program, and occasionally breakfasts. Some offers, however, imply an additional payment. There is still a benefit: prices in mountain villages are lower, and portions are larger than in resorts.

Those who visited Durmitor Park note that it is quite cold there even in the middle of summer. It makes sense to take warm jackets. It is not worth it to immediately go back from the lake in this park; it’s more useful to go along the hiking trails.

Judging by the reviews, short excursions can be no worse than long ones in quality. In general, Montenegro is well rated by visitors.

In addition to general ratings and reviews, it is useful to choose the proper departure time. You can relax in Montenegro from May. At this time, the number of tourists is relatively small. The sea is not warming up enough, only well-seasoned people can swim in the first ten days of May. The water gets warmer starting from May 10-12 (but forecasts are already worth considering).

In summer, the number of vacationers is growing. At the same time, hotel and apartment fees are raised. The water temperature is comfortable. In July and August there is a maximum influx of tourists, the water in the sea warms up to 26, sometimes up to 28 degrees. Taking advantage of this, the tourism industry raises prices to the maximum.

In September, the cost of living in Montenegro is reduced by 30-35% compared with August rates. The number of travelers is declining. The sea is cooled to 23-25 ​​degrees, which is still very comfortable. Any store at this time begins sales. Based on this, summer is suitable for beach leisure, and the end of spring or the beginning of autumn is suitable for saving.

The velvet season in Montenegro pleases visitors with a warm sea, soft sun and comparatively empty beaches.

You can expect that the local tan will last up to 10-12 months. In the first half of autumn, fruits, berries and vegetables ripen in the Balkans.As for winter, then it’s worth going to Montenegro only to ski resorts.

About sights, prices and excursions in Montenegro, see below.