love on the aegean: falling for montenegro
Post-Belgrade, we hopped on a bus and booked it for Montenegro. Even though this was a late edition to the itins, it’s long been on our list of places to explore and I am happy to report: it did not disappoint.
When people ask about our trip, questions always include, “which stop was your favorite??” Even though it’s unlikely I’ll ever commit to one answer, Montenegro is a serious contender.
Warning: seriously photo-heavy post ahead.
Budva
Our first stop was Budva, and though we had heard mixed reviews, we had a blast. It was definitely more touristy than our second stop of Kotor, but the coastline was gorgeous, the old town was adorable, and the local family we stayed with through AirBnb was incredibly sweet. Wins all around.
Also, it’s impossible to catch this town at a bad angle. Really, Montenegro was one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever had the pleasure of exploring.
Though our internal clocks were finally up to speed, we were still feeling pretty low-key. We spent most of our time on or near the beach, drinking local beers with the best of them. Seriously, these guys can DRINK. Pints were poured starting at 9 or 10 AM each morning, and it wasn’t uncommon to see little glasses of white wine paired with a breakfast pastry. These are my people.
The best thing we did? Rent a little paddleboat and head out to sea.
The worst? A boat tour around the harbor and out to Sveti Stefan. It’s not that it wasn’t gorgeous, but meh. Kinda boring. Skip it unless you’re going to go onto the actual island (we didn’t have time because we left this until the very last day.)
Kotor
If you’re looking for charm, Kotor has all of it. It’s hoarding charm. It kidnapped charm and locked it behind the fortress walls and spread it around every little cobblestoned street and buried it underneath perfect red-tiled rooftops.
Each day, cruise ships dock in the Bay and try to steal the charm, but so far, fortunately, they have been unsuccessful. They were relentless–I think they wanted to take it back to their boats full of endless fro yo–so I’m telling you now: go to the Bay of Kotor before it becomes the new Dubrovnik.
More on this when we get to Croatia, but this leg of the trip sealed the deal: I have officially seen more than enough capri pants & visors for one lifetime.
Still, despite our first run in with the fun vacuums that came in hoards each day, Kotor’s charm kept us in its good graces.
On our last afternoon, we hiked up to the old fortress to take a peek at the views. There are no words. This was a really tough hike—partially because of the heat, but mainly because of the steep incline—but it was 100% worth it. We almost skipped it in favor of eating more gelato, but I’m glad we didn’t.
We stayed at the Old Town Hostel Kotor, and I have to say—I was seriously impressed. It was 25 EUR each, and they put us in a huge apartment on the top floor, which was complete with a little kitchen. We spent our two nights in Kotor down in the lobby, drinking rakia with the other guests and the manager, Ross, who was a party throwing pro. He took two shots of rakia for every one he poured, and led us all to a pub around midnight to keep the party going. On night two, he made mussels for everyone and hosted a huge group dinner. We missed most of night two because… well, night one was pretty epic.
Up until this point, we had skipped out on the organized social outings at other hostels, mainly because we were a solid five years older than the average guests. There was a little bit more of a variety in age here, and we spent time swapping stories with a left-handed dentist from Boston, a local Montenegrin who had been bar hopping since age ten and didn’t understand why things were different in the states, and an 18 year old kid from Atlanta who was making himself appletinis that were “sooooo strong you guys.” He later recruited me as his wingman to help him meet some local girls, and I actually think I may have found my calling. (Hint: my first bit of advice was to stop drinking appletinis.)
As for Montenegro, I will absolutely be back for more. The prices were right, the people were amazing, and the scenery? I’m not even sure pictures can do it justice.
xo!
the romantic
Lazy Travelers
The Lazy Travelers are two transatlantic best friends who have mastered the art of exploring a new city. Though Ashley is based in London and Carolyn is in Philadelphia, we'll use any excuse to reunite around the world. We’re professional bar hoppers, pub crawlers, and food testers, and you’ll never see us zipping around, checking things off a list of “must-sees.”
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36 Comments
@mrsoaroundworld
Looks so lovely! I have heard a lot about it, but never visited – and loved the comment about the visors. Where were they from? 😉 And no cruises, please
@mrsoaroundworld recently posted..A fun girls weekend in LA, California-style
Lazy Travelers
knowing we had similar feelings about croatia, i think you’d LOVE montenegro.
and seriously, no cruises, no visors!
Lazy Travelers recently posted..love on the aegean: falling for montenegro
Bethaney - Flashpacker Family
Looks beautiful!!! I’m really keen to explore more of the Balkans. I went to Croatia and Bosnia quite a few years ago and the scenery was breathtaking.
Bethaney – Flashpacker Family recently posted..A Week in Hospital in Koh Samui
Lazy Travelers
it’s such a gorgeous part of the world, and seriously underrated i think! have heard great things about bosnia, as well. definitely on my list for a return 🙂
Lazy Travelers recently posted..love on the aegean: falling for montenegro
Britany
Wine for Breakfast?? Why is that not a thing everywhere? This place sounds amazing.
Britany recently posted..The Chill and Charm of Shoreline Trails in Traverse City, Michigan
Lazy Travelers
cha, i knooww. let’s make it a thing. world domination with wine!
Lazy Travelers recently posted..(new + improved!) jetsetters: @travconfessions
Laura
Wow! I don’t know much about Montenegro, and it was never high on my list of places to travel, but it looks incredible (and incredibly beautiful!) I think I will have to add it to my travel wish list 🙂
Laura recently posted..Things That Are Awesome, Vol. 95
Lazy Travelers
you definitely should! it was surreally beautiful.
Lazy Travelers recently posted..(new + improved!) jetsetters: @travconfessions
Lance | Trips By Lance
Thanks for turning me onto a place I’ve never considered before. Looks like a great spot worth a couple of days.
Lance | Trips By Lance recently posted..My Manly Bucket List to Support #Movember and #ManlyMoments
Lazy Travelers
can’t recommend it enough, definitely add it to the list 🙂
Lazy Travelers recently posted..(new + improved!) jetsetters: @travconfessions
Erin at The World Wanderer
Oh these photos!! Have to say it reminds me of the Croatia I know, far from tourists. My grandfather was born there and we stay in his old town, far from the cruise ships. 😉 I really must get to Montenegro though. Seriously, this place sounds stunning. Also, great advice to the 18 year old. 😉
Erin at The World Wanderer recently posted..Arrive Feeling Refreshed: the Dos and Don’ts of Air Travel.
Lazy Travelers
yess, i’d love to see your family’s version of croatia. i really did love the people and the culture, i just hated the hours when the cruisers were docked. but more on that later…
Lazy Travelers recently posted..(new + improved!) jetsetters: @travconfessions
Bespoke Traveler
Disappointed you didn’t pose as the ballerina in one of your shots, but Montenegro looks absolutely gorgeous! 😉
Bespoke Traveler recently posted..Leadenhall Market
Lazy Travelers
hahaha omg, i WISH i could pose like that ballerina. but i definitely would have fallen into the sea and cracked my face open.
Lazy Travelers recently posted..(new + improved!) jetsetters: @travconfessions
SnarkyNomad
Someday that guy’s gonna find a girl who loves appletinis just as much as he does, and loves him all the more for it.
SnarkyNomad recently posted..The GRAYL: Water purification, all in a bottle
Lazy Travelers
ooh, did i hit a nerve with that one?
Lazy Travelers recently posted..(new + improved!) jetsetters: @travconfessions
Caitlyn
Oh, I’m with you! It’s such a lovely part of the world, and I will take Kotor over Dubrovnik any day. Remind me later in life never to go on a holiday where I have to wear a name tag.
Caitlyn recently posted..Belgrade, the Balkan let-down
Lazy Travelers
i really did like dubrovnik, but i think i would have been more tolerable of the mass amounts of tourists had i gone there before kotor.
so with you on the name tags.
Lazy Travelers recently posted..(new + improved!) jetsetters: @travconfessions
Mary Anne
Looks like you had a great time… The hubs better watch out, you might be moving there soon.
Lazy Travelers
seriously, the amount of times i said “i could totally live here” during our brief montenegrin stint…
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Gerard ~ GQ trippin
OMG. This is definitely our kind of trip. This post is post-heavy, but with these kind of pics, I don’t mind!
Gerard ~ GQ trippin recently posted..Visiting the royal tombs in Hue – turns out I’m royalty!
Lazy Travelers
it’s just so hard to narrow it down when they’re all SO PRETTY. need to get back asap, and i think you & q would definitely love.
Lazy Travelers recently posted..the wino’s new york city culinary staples
Leah
This place looks AWESOME! I can see why it didn’t disappoint. And something else that didn’t disappoint are the hops on the hubs. Who says white men can’t jump?
Leah recently posted..Visiting Pearl Harbor and the USS Arizona Memorial on O’ahu
Lazy Travelers
ugh, montenegro was the first place i convinced him to take a jumping photo and the rest of the trip was all “look at meeeee, look how high i can jump!!!!!”
Lazy Travelers recently posted..dubrovnik: cities with walls are just better
Traveling Ted
I always get asked what my favorite country is too or my favorite destination. I think I am going to for now on answer Montenegro even though I have never been just on the strength of these pictures and this post.
Traveling Ted recently posted..Welcome to Chiang Mai
Lazy Travelers
i think it’s a safe answer! although i do recommend you see it first hand someday 🙂
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Pola (JettingAround) (@jettingaround)
I have a thing for the mountains + water combo and would love to visit Montenegro one day. Actually, more of the Balkans in general! Great photos as always, guys.
Pola (JettingAround) (@jettingaround) recently posted..Photos from Jetting Around’s 3rd Anniversary Celebration
Lazy Travelers
if mountains + water are your thing, then YES. hop to the balkans asap!!
Lazy Travelers recently posted..no travel required: #frifotos
Raul (@ilivetotravel)
I loved Montenegro, both Kotor and the interior with the black mountains that give the country its name. The views of Kotor Bay from the road that crosses the mountains behind it is superb – it’s my banner photo on my Twitter profile! Glad you guys got to go to Montenegro
Raul (@ilivetotravel) recently posted..Photo of the Week – Mayan Ruins of Altun Ha, Belize
Lazy Travelers
i know you did! montenegro is always associated with raul in my mind because of it 🙂 maybe you & sofia can honeymoon there together someday?
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Kieu ~ GQ trippin
The hubs got hops!! lol.. I LOVE YOUR PHOTOS – the more the better. Especially in places like these, seriously need to get G on board for a trip that way. The architecture looks beautiful.
Kieu ~ GQ trippin recently posted..Visiting the royal tombs in Hue – turns out I’m royalty!
Lazy Travelers
we might need to have a g vs. hubs jump off, no??? IN montenegro? i say yes.
Lazy Travelers recently posted..no travel required: #frifotos
lola
you had me at “it’s hoarding charm. it’s kidnapped charm.” i’m sold. only issue is that i wanna go with you and the hubs!
lola recently posted..It’s #Movember – That Means Mustaches & #ManlyMoments
Lazy Travelers
WELL, lucky for you, miss lola, i would go back in a heartbeat. you just name the time & the place!
Lazy Travelers recently posted..no travel required: #frifotos
Craig Zabransky
I SO want to explore this region one day… especially before capri pants take over the place and it’s charm diminishes… thanks for all the photos here, definitely help sell it along side your poetic prose… love the left handed dentist… nice.
stay left, Craig
Craig Zabransky recently posted..The Sunset Sunday 2014 Calendar – Chasing the Sunset
Lazy Travelers
i think you’d love it, craig! and i never knew what turmoil left handed dentists face. she didn’t get a job because of it! you learn things in montenegro.
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