Serbia for a week- where to stay and sights to see?

Not direct to your question, but maybe there is something in it that will help.

In May we flew to Dubrovnik, spent a few nights; then went down the coast to Perast and spent another couple of nights, then on to Kotor for the afternoon and then inland to Titiograd (Podgorica) where we arrived late and caught a flight on Air Serbia to Belgrade early the next morning (about $65 a ticket). We only went to Belgrade because it was the easiest way to get to Budapest. It was a morning flight so after we got checked in at the hotel in Belgrade we had a guide show us the town. We flew on to Budapest the next day (about $75 a ticket).

We sort of modified our trip in mid stream because after Dubrovnik and Kotor we had pretty much our fill of mediaeval tourist attractions. The best parts of the trip were Perast, the drive from Dubrovnik to Perast and then the drive from Perast to Titograd (hired guide) and surprisingly Belgrade.

The drive along the coast from Dubrovnik to Perast was beautiful and we got to see some other towns, resorts, villages along the way.

Perast is an amazing town on Kotor Bay with few tourist, great view, terrific food at a café on edge of the water. Staying there in lieu of Kotor (about 20 minutes away) I think was the best move we had made. http://www.img.montenegro.travel/sites/montenegro.travel/files/multimedia/www_montenegro_bild_studio_me/objekti/foto/2012/02/tumblr_mc19t8lvte1qb0bzxo1_1280.jpg

The drive through the mountains to Titograd was amazing with stops for the local Prosciutto and Cheese along the way.

Kotor: A small version of Dubrovnik. Every bit as interesting as Dubrovnik, but every bit as much the same as Dubrovnik. We ate lunch and left. As a result we skipped Bar and Budva and spent a day fishing instead.

Podgorica (formerly Titograd) was everything I expected, pretty much the remains of a communist dump. But we arrived at dusk and left at dawn so it worked well.

Belgrade was surprising. We only had a full day and we pretty much filled it. But unless there is some special topic of interest I think its at best a 2 full day stop.

Hotels
Dubrovnik: Hotel Villa Sigurata in the heart of the old town inside the walls. Really a good place. Enjoyed it and the owner.

Perast: Hotel Restaurant Conte. This could be a 5 star hotel with better training. As it was, it was still pretty perfect.

Titograd: Ramada Podgorica. Yes, broke my vow to never stay in an American franchise hotel in Europe. But .... well, there isn't much in a place formerly called Titograd. It actually was very nice with a very good restaurant with the best views in town.

Belgrade: Townhouse 27. Outstanding hotel, staff, experience.

Budapest: The best must be kept confidential.

Guides
Montenegro: Enika Bajkovic. Pretty much "okay" Lets say a 3.5 out of 5 (PM if you want contact info)

Belgrade: Kristina Filipovic. Every bit of a 5 out of 5 (PM if you want contact info).

It was a good taste of the area. Good enough to know we will be back in maybe two years.

Hi,

If you are interested in seeing historical remnants of the area, ie, going back to the 1600s, I suggest going from Belgrade to Novi Sad, can be done as a day trip, accessible by public transportation, ie, bus. I am sure your hotel can advise you and would be surprised indeed that Americans are interested in seeing Novi Sad. It was known as the "Gibraltar of the Danube" an Austrian Habsburg fortress against the Ottoman Turks, the reconquest of Serbia by the Austrians, then Hungary leading up to the Peace of Karlowitz in 1699. Part of the fortress grounds is a history museum.