Eastern Europe undoubtedly has had the worst of times in the last decade….but hot on the heels of destruction has come rapid economic development fuelled largely by tourism. Tucked neatly between Croatia to the north, Serbia to the west and Albania to the south, the newly independent state of Montenegro is the latest hot spot .
The World Travel and Tourism Council has pinpointed Montenegro as currently the fastest growing travel and tourism economy in the world. And why? Largely because it is cheap.
Once a playground for A-list celebrities, at least until war came to the Balkans in the 1990s, it is attracting the glitterati again. Recent sightings – Jeremy Irons, Sophia Loren and Claudia Schiffer will put this latest Adriatic gem on the map.
This small, craggy country, (its name coming from the Italian monte negro meaning black mountain) is not essentially a beach resort destination – its coastline is pebbly, dotted by little coves, some inaccessible, but it does have stunning scenery with densely pine covered mountains and a fascinating past.
There are countless attractions - Risan, the last stronghold of Illyrian Queen Teuta who, legend has it, drowned herself in the bay below to avoid captivity by the romans in 228BC; the island of St. George just off the coast, where the remains of a Benedictine Monastry can still be found. Or visit the Dumitor National Park to see the ice caves and the fish lake.
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| What’s to like? |
| * | Montenegro has a beautiful stretch of coastline which can be enjoyed winter or summer. |
| * | The Montengrins are helpful and friendly always. |
| * | Away from the coast there are any number of interesting attractions; beautiful forest walks, architectural gems to marvel at. |
| * | The development of the tourist industry had been rapid but you can still find quiet little harbour side restaurants to while away an hour or three. |
| * | The key to enjoying Montenegro is to make the effort to move away from the main centres. Most accessible beaches have at least one Greek style taverna to eat and drink and be happy. |
| * | If seafood is your weakness, you have come to the right place. Every shape, size and colour is available. Most restaurants charge by weight so do your sums as your meal might not turn out to be as cheap as you thought. There are good local wines to choose from too. |
| * | The level or service in most places is pretty good and you are not often ripped off. |
| * | Prices are relatively low (compared to the rest of Europe) but it is still very much a cash society and few shops or other outlets take credit cards at the moment. There are plenty of cash machines in the main centres however. |
| What’s not to like? |
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· | July and August are very busy with many holiday makers from throughout the Balkans and Russian states. With an increasing number of Western European tourists and Americans, the resorts are becoming very crowded. Montenegro has limited coastline and the beaches are both short and not very wide, so it is difficult to find yourself a quiet spot. Budva, Becici and Petrovac are the worst. |
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· | There are plenty of sunbeds and umbrella's available for hire the cost of which varies from beach to beach….expect about €2 for each item. |
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· | Local driving is manic….use of indicators is haphazard, so drive with extreme care. |
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· | Apart from the ancient buildings and ruins, local architecture is not particularly attractive. |
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· | Loud music seems to be a must everywhere and anywhere, which can start to grate. |
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· | A lot of the coastal resort areas are ‘tacky’ with stalls selling cheap, plastic tat. Many of the bars are open onto the walkways, with loud music and revellers. Great fun for teenagers! |
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· | Drink/driving has been an issue in the past, but the police are dealing with this head on, but it is something to beware of, especially in the summer months. |
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Montenegro is small and beautifully formed. Probably its biggest downfall is its ever increasing rush to make the most of its limited resources. Hopefully the country’s heritage will be able to survive the onslaught of the tourist industry, so maybe the time to visit is now.
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