Ross’s travelogue: ‘Get here while you can!’
By Ross Stevenson
Sometimes you go somewhere and want to scream to people “GET HERE WHILE YOU CAN!“.
Years ago I came back and told Kate to get to Burma as soon as she could. She did. Was I right Kate? And then Scorch went as well. Was I right Scorchy?
For me now it is Montenegro. So far cities stayed in have been Ulcinj (south near the Albanian border) with highlights being the spectacular views, unsophisticated tourist experience, crowded beachfront scene and the waiter who, when I told him I was from Melbourne, immediately volunteered that Besart Berisha (Melbourne Victory superstar and Kosovo national) had been in his restaurant 2 days previously. It’s nicely unvarnished.
“How have we never heard of this place?”
Then tourist hotspot Budva which is a very tourist-y but enjoyable nevertheless. Great beach scene. It has, like so many cities in this neck of the woods (and there are plenty of woods), an Old Town (Stari Grad) with alleyways hiding restaurants, bars, clothes shops and fridge magnets. Very modern. Quite glamorous. Very accessible.
Then further north to Perast (pictured above). Described as the Jewel in the Montenegren crown. It most assuredly is. How have we never heard of this place? A small beachfront promenade is about it for structures. It is about spectacular mountain views and magnificent large waterways for swimming and yachting. Lovely small hotels including The Hotel Perastra which, during non-summer peak times, provides a A$255-per-night experience unlikely to be bettered anywhere in the world. Yes that’s a statement designed to inflame.
Fire away, disagreers! (Leave your comments here)
The weather is very hot right now and about to get hotter.
Locals say May or October is better. And cheaper. August especially is too crowded and too hot.
Prices here for food and drink and most everything are cheap. Stubbys in a hotel bar are $4.50. Nice to be ungouged.
A downish note. You wouldn’t especially come to Montenegro for the food. Every menu is about the fresh fish but every menu is about the same. Unfair? Discuss. (Leave your comments here)
Tourism in Montenegro used to be heavily Russian but Montenegro has just joined NATO so the Russian tourism has dropped off dramatically. Someone will fill the void.
Why not you?
Ross Stevenson returns to 3AW Breakfast with John Burns on Monday, and returns to A Moveable Feast with Kate Stevenson on July 22