Sitting on the right-hand side of the aircraft as we started to descend into Tivat airport (this is the best side to sit) as you are able to view the breathtaking mountains of Montenegro as you approach Tivat airport. Once we had collected our luggage, we were whisked off to the luxurious Regent Porto only 15 minutes away. We had a very warm welcome on arrival at the hotel by the valet and bellboy with a quick check-in and 5 minutes later I was in my very well-appointed Deluxe Sea View Room.
The hotel is of a Venetian style and just sits beautifully within the heart of The Marina. A spacious lobby with giant windows entices you to the outdoor terraces which is where we were for our fabulous Tapas-style lunch at The ONYX. Al Fresco dining in October with the lovely Marija, Director of sales, who was the perfect host for our 3-night stay. Porto has plenty of new fine-dining international restaurants and high-end shops all on the doorstep of Regent. A place to sit, eat and people-watch. Essentially Porto is an affluent area of Montenegro which is the place to be seen with the many yachts and super yachts moored. After dinner at a local restaurant on our first evening, it was a nightcap in the Onyx bar and a not-so-early night. A la carte breakfast of truffle eggs was served in the Murano Restaurant surrounded by beautiful glassware. A boat was then waiting to take us around Boka Bay… what a contrast.. this is where the mountains meet the sea!! Boka Bay is stunning and made me feel like I was in a fairy tale with the red roofs of the villages and the pristine winding streets of Kotor, a town within the ancient city walls and many squares and churches steeped in history… a surprise around every corner – I loved it!
The boat then dropped us at the One&Only Portonovi hotel – now this has the WOW factor from the moment you walk in you can almost feel the air change with the scent of lavender as you walk around the property. Beautifully rooms oozing luxury and the villas are spectacular and even have their own bars – the space you have is just incredible. We were treated to a late lunch here served with their own Montenegro wines which were also amazing and well paired with starters of seabass carpaccio followed by slow-cooked lamb and plenty of side dishes all fit for a King. It took a little longer to get back over to Porto by road, however, this is when the ferry comes in very handy. A 5-minute crossing is €5 per car or free if on foot which saves you an hour’s trip by road which operates 24/7. The following day we were up early and headed off on a 7-hour Private tour of the Old Royal Capital of Cetinje and the National Park of Lovce. Traditional lunch at a local family home in a rural estate where they made their own honey and brandy – a great combination. The finale of this trip was the 461 steps to the Mausoleum of Peter the Second ‘The Greatest Montenegro Man that ever lived’ WHY? you just need to do the steps and you will find out for yourself! All in all, I loved Montenegro especially the old towns and this destination left me wanting to explore more.
