Relaxing in Montenegro
After two weeks of non-stop travel and socializing in the UK, I needed to unwind. I needed to step away from big cities, lounge on a beach, go for quiet, peaceful walks, and get eight to ten hours of sleep every night. After perusing SkyScanner and trying to figure out where to go, I landed on Montenegro. I’d never been, and to be quite honest, I didn’t know much about the country. I landed on Montenegro because EasyJet had a good deal for a holiday package. For nearly three weeks, I’d stay at an all inclusive resort near a small town called Herceg Novi. Before this, I never stayed at an all inclusive resort and had no idea what to expect. While I usually don’t gravitate towards resorts, the deal I got was easy and exactly what I needed. There was no thinking involved — I had the flight and private airport transfer included with my holiday package, and being in an all inclusive, there was no need to think about cooking. Everything was on demand, including champagne.
I spent most of my time on the resort. I had a routine. I woke up early, went for a walk, went to breakfast, lounged by the pool and read my book. By around two in the afternoon, an older couple that I met, Annette and Ian, meandered down and we went for lunch together. After that, I’d lounge on the beach and take a quick dip in the Adriatic. By 5, the sun would go behind the mountains and it’d get cooler. I’d go back to my room, shower, and get dressed for the evening. By 7, Annette, Ian and I would go for dinner and then have a couple of drinks. Most nights, I was in bed by 11 and it was incredible.
I did, of course, venture outside of the resort — I was there for nearly three weeks! I went to Herceg Novi a couple of times, went on a boat tour, and visited the jaw-dropping town of Kotor. Kotor was incredible and reminded me why I love the Balkan region so much. I went to a Konoba, a type of restaurant serving local cuisine, with a friend, where we had the best local fish and wine. We wandered through Kotor after midnight, feeling completely safe and enjoying the quiet atmosphere. Everything was clean, the people were friendly, and the weather was hot and dry. While I felt like I saw the majority of Kotor within a day — it is a small town — I could easily find myself getting lost there for days on end and not getting bored. I can’t wait to go back.
