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

A trip abroad with children can be a lot of fun. But if Turkey and Thailand are already boring, and there is not enough money for more expensive options, you should think about a visit to Montenegro. This country is very pleasant for tourists, 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 follow the rules of the road and not cross the road in the wrong places. Even small children can walk there without any particular risk at any time of the day.

Montenegro is picturesque and elegant. The main part of the mountain ranges is concentrated near the sea. You can come to this attractive country without a visa. It is possible not to use the help of travel agencies, organizing a trip on their own.

Frequently mentioned cheapness is actually characteristic of leisure activities in Montenegro. But we must 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, over the past few years, the situation is changing, and no one offers such affordable prices as before.

What is more pleasant is a wide variety of food. In Montenegro, it is:

• can be prepared according to the national or European format;
• has quite large portions;
• made from carefully inspected environmental and sanitary inspection products.

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 difficult to choose an attractive excursion. Tourists carry in national parks and old monasteries in ancient castles. Montenegrin resorts can boast an abundance of evening, night entertainment.

Cities here are relatively small. Because they allow you to enjoy the calm and relaxed atmosphere. For those who want to get away from the oppressive megacities overflowing with concrete boxes, this is almost an ideal option. Even the largest metropolitan city can easily get around and inspect within one day.

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

Montenegrins are calm and generally friendly. But it is important to understand that any medal has two sides. Rest in Montenegro is no exception to this rule. So, quite a large part of the rest here comes from Russia. And not all of our compatriots, to my great regret, behave in a dignified manner. When the peak season comes, the beaches are overcrowded. Due to the abundance of boats, boats, constantly located near the shore, it is impossible to sail away from him. Yes, and the sanitary condition of the water this situation is not reflected in the best way.

Montenegro is dominated by pebble seaside sites. They are not as pleasant as the areas covered with sand. Often there are mentions that local workers cannot cope with cleaning the beaches. Due to the lack of urns, they are often overfilled. In some places to enter the water from the rocky shore is difficult, especially for young children.

The cost of products and other goods on the beach shops, in coastal kiosks is unreasonably high. The condition of public transport stops in small towns 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 the recognized tourist centers. Even those who are not too picky in their leisure time pay attention to such shortcomings.

But if no problems frightened the travelers, or if they considered that the advantages of Montenegro are more important, we must figure out how to prepare for the trip. It is appropriate to disassemble first of all the case of self-dispatch. When contacting travel agencies, they will write out for themselves what and how their clients should do. When sending with a child from a parent remaining in Russia, you need to get permission to leave. But a visa is not required, since Montenegro has 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 economy of tours, and the holidays are not so long, they are unlikely to have to deal with such a procedure. It is recommended to purchase local currency (Euro) in advance. The exchange of dollars is unprofitable economically, no one will change rubles in principle, and other monetary units are unlikely. Upon arrival in the country, you must immediately register with the travel agency.

Since medical services in Montenegrin clinics are expensive, it is advisable to issue a reliable insurance. Yes, it is quite expensive, especially for those who go to the mountains knowingly or who are going to take up other extreme hobbies. But such support is quite reasonable. If there is no experience of self-planning and organization of tourist trips, it is better to purchase a comprehensive voucher.

But we must remember that package holidays do not always satisfy people. The photos often feature the best apartments or rooms, and it’s not a fact that they will be provided on arrival. There is no possibility to spend holidays in different resorts. Tours always sell only on one resort. Tours only occasionally contain offers with kitchens.

Because it is difficult to expect that it will be possible to relax comfortably with young children who need special food. Independent organization of leisure is more difficult, but still it is necessary to give preference to it, if there is an intention to get really unforgettable feelings.

Independence from travel agencies also will allow to save, if the large company goes on a resort. This option is definitely more profitable for a trip with 2 or 3 families at once, 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 the locals and other tourists.

Choosing between the airports of the country (Podgorica and Tivat), it is necessary to give preference to the second option. Air tickets are cheaper there, and transfer to the hotels on the coast is also cheaper. Tickets are advised to purchase at least 2 or 3 months. Almost always, the early purchase of air tickets will save.

But you can not ignore the other parameters of the ticket. 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 the leading airlines. It only makes sense to use the train if you have solid means or with a strong fear of flying. Even the most "greedy" air carriers push more favorable rates than Russian Railways.

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

After booking the car, you need to immediately prepare the navigator and e-cards for it.

Airport transfers are organized mainly by private taxi drivers. The fee for this service is very high. Travel by bus is justified only for single trips or travel with luggage. A family with children will have to pay about the same fare as for taxi services.

It is necessary to take into account the high cost of medicine in the Balkan country. If insurance is not purchased, you will have to pay 150 euros for a single doctor's appointment (in the simplest case). More or less serious treatment costs already hundreds of euros, and during surgical operations, thousands of accounts are common. Because the purchase of insurance is justified. For payment in various cases, it is necessary to take the local currency (euro) on the road, since they only exchange money there at extremely unprofitable rates.

If you plan to buy in excess of the tour food in limited quantities and nothing else, you can get by for a day 50 or 100 euros. But with a comfortable leisure and use of the benefits of the resort just need to give 2 or 3 times more. This amount will allow you to get a certain amount of entertainment and take advantage of sightseeing programs. If you are going to dine in small restaurants, systematically go on excursions, you have to spend from 300 euros per day or more. The most elite vacation options will cost 1000-2000 euros per traveler per day.

When 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 majority of dishes cost from 2 euros or a little more. Whether such savings are worth the probable harm to health is up to travelers themselves. The cost of goods in large retail chains is about the same as in Russia. There are only minor differences in both directions for individual positions.

Buying a local SIM card with an Internet package costs about 15 euros. It will be possible to buy such a card even in ordinary stalls, but it must be remembered that all numbers will have to be registered with the presentation of a passport. It is more correct to acquire SIM cards in the offices of mobile operators - there they will accurately transfer all data to service departments. Setting up the mobile Internet should be entrusted to the operator’s staff, otherwise there is a 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 areas, the conditions for the usual leisure. When planning to go to the Balkan country for a long time (2 months or more), it makes sense to settle in Herceg Novi. There are not too many excursions, and the 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 peaceful atmosphere, without encountering an influx of tourists.

Other resorts for beginners are not too suitable. So, Kotor is considered exceptionally hot and devoid of high-quality beaches. A mass of tourists with children in need of rehabilitation travels to Petrovac. And the beach is not too big there. Ultsina is bad because sometimes you have to get about a kilometer from the apartments to the coast (in the hot hours it is unpleasant).

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

Many of them create cheating is not clear why.

Even very experienced tourists, preparing for a trip to Montenegro with a small child, often cannot recognize deception. 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, the most profitable is renting rooms to a villa. In such separate rooms are usually provided bathroom, air conditioning, balcony and TV. But the Internet is either completely absent, or it works very poorly.

It is recommended to clarify in advance whether it is possible to use the kitchen and iron. The owners of each villa themselves set such rules. 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. They put a couple of beds, a mini cabinet and a closet; even the dining table is often carried out to the balcony. You need to be interested in the presence of a children's bed.

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

But hotels offer a wider range of services. The only drawback 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 venues are available in major cities. This is not only Budva, but also Kotor, Tivat, Bar. It should be borne in mind that in such places there are always many tourists, so you can not count on solitude.

Some inferior to the "leaders" in infrastructure:

• Baošići;
• Becici;
• Rafailovici;
• Kumbor;
• Djenovici.

From the smallest resort towns draw attention to themselves Stoliv, Bigovo and Morin. They are practically not equipped and suitable only for families with the youngest children. If you need something other than the beach, such places will not work. As for hotels, it is not recommended to choose the cheapest. There is no particular difference between them and the apartments.

Hotel Novi is an excellent choice if you need to achieve an optimal balance between cost and quality of services. “Palma Hotel” also takes a good position. This hotel has its own beach and can please tourists with superb views. What is nice, breakfast is included in the original room rate.

In Ulcinj, experts recommend staying at Hotel Mediteran Ulcinj. Nearby is the old town. It is easy to get even to the beach and the promenade. The views from the hotel are pretty good. Sometimes it is advised to choose and "Hotel Aurel".

Kitchens are open until late, even on arrival in the evening, tourists are fed. The staff shows its best. Rooms at the Hotel Aurel are kept clean and tidy.

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

Hotels with animation are found, as already mentioned, quite rare. But you can do leisure on your own, and you’ll find a lot of interesting things at any resort. For strong physically people, a great idea would be a morning (before the onset of heat) walk from Budva. For 3 hours a tourist can explore Becici, Rafailovichi, Milocer Park, St. Stephen's Island and a couple of beaches.

To save power, you should go back by bus. In just 40 minutes you can reach the fortress of Mogren. From there, an elegant stretch of coast is beautifully visible.From Becici and Rafailoviches, many people go on walks to Budva through the tunnel.

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

Much more options for holidaymakers when traveling in Montenegro by bus. A visit to Kotor and Perast will cost 3 euros. From the fortress wall will open a full review of the Bay of Kotor. Perast sells tickets to the bell tower of St. Nicholas Church.

For a ticket to Cetinje take 2.5 euros. And there travelers await the legendary monastery and the ancient palaces of local monarchs. You can complete the day's program 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 the journey in a detour or on the ferry.

In Herceg Novi worth exploring:

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

Getting acquainted with the reviews, you should be reasonable critical. Those estimates, which were given more than 5 years ago, are unlikely to reflect the current state of affairs in Montenegro. It should be borne in mind that often erroneous or paid reviews. And even human psychology can distort.

In some places in the summer can bring garbage to the shore. Except for one week, the water on the beaches will be clean. But they react to pollution much more, and therefore a false impression can be created. What does not change in Montenegro is the abundance of buildings of the Christian cult, viewed 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 take beach accessories with you than to pay their rent on the spot. Some foods are also advised to take at home. The most rational approach is as follows: saving on the voucher and taking with you the maximum amount of cash.

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

A similar situation with the cost of sun beds on different beaches.

All information reported in hotels, villas, should be checked and clarified. Quite a few people have experienced deliberate deception or delusion. It is not recommended to purchase excursions on the beaches and embankments, and elsewhere 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 are many interesting things, and before you go or go somewhere else, it is worth examining it completely.

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

Roads, despite decent quality, are difficult for motorists. Only trained drivers will be able to drive in the mountains without any problems. Therefore, it is advised to refuse car rental to anyone 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. To reach any point in Montenegro, you can quickly and without extra costs.

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

Curious that Excursions often save you money on food. Almost always in the excursion program included lunches, and occasionally breakfast. Some offers imply, however, additional payment. There is still a benefit: prices in mountain villages are lower, and portions are larger than in resorts.

Those who have been to Durmitor Park note that it is quite cold there even in the middle of summer. It makes sense to take warm jackets. You should not immediately go back from the lake in this park; more useful to go through the tourist paths.

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

In addition to general ratings and reviews, it is useful to choose how should the time of departure. You can have a rest in Montenegro since May. At this time, the number of tourists is relatively small. The sea is warming up is not enough, only well-seasoned people can swim in the first decade of May. The water is getting warmer starting from about May 10-12 (but here forecasts should be taken into account).

In summer, the number of tourists grows. At the same time rises the fee for staying in hotels and apartments. 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 the 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 for economy - the end of spring or the beginning of autumn.

The velvet season in Montenegro delights visitors with the warm sea, soft sunshine and comparatively empty beaches.

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

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