Kotor Photo: Jane Josifovski

Push for Luxury

One thing that always put Montenegro behind the pack of its glamorous neighbors was the lack of luxury lodging in and around the country’s most popular cities. However, with more visitors than ever crossing the border from Croatia to Montenegro, either by cruise ship or car, five-star properties are starting to populate the glistening bays. Luxury hotelier Aman, for example, was one of the first to open, and other high-end properties have followed suit. Notably the biggest opening for luxury yachters and millionaires was the Porto Montenegro, a stunning and expansive yacht marina that opened in 2010. Along with high-end residences, Porto Montenegro will also be home to a new Regent hotel later this year that will offer guests balcony views of the harbor. On the more affordable side of luxury is Starwood’s Four-Points Sheraton, which will open in the ski town of Kolašin in February. One of the most talked-about openings won’t happen this year, but the suspense of the new Chedi Hotel in Luštica Bay is enough to get people booking as soon as the site opens. The property will be the first five-star one to open in Boka Bay and will have two restaurants, a spa, a bar, a business center, and an incredible outdoor pool.

Kotor Photo: Jane Josifovski

New Cruise Itineraries

Although the locals will say there are already plenty of cruise passengers flooding the city of Kotor, 2017 is bringing even more ships and itineraries to the country of less than 1 million residents. Royal Caribbean, Norwegian Cruise Lines, and Celebrity are adding more stops to Kotor, while luxury brands like P&O, Cunard, Viking, and Azamara Club Cruises will also add stops along Montenegro’s glistening bay. Unlike Dubrovnik, which can welcome thousands of visitors at a time from multiple ships, the port authority of Kotor isn’t as developed, which still means a far less crowded and overwhelming port visit.