last night before flight

Podgorica is a nice city, its just not a tourist city. Call Dijana, tell her your plans and ask her what to do. Usually works for me. Ask her about a winery in a 500 year old mostly abandoned village on the side of a mountain.

Or Ostrog and the hotel nearby with the view ... even if just for lunch. Or the Tara Canyon. Or her friend with the boat business at Shkodar. But get out of Kotor! 1 night ... maybe.

The prosciutto place on the P1 road maybe. Or mom is a great cook.

"Get out of Kotor"!! Not even a visit to Perast? Oh wow ok I'll have to rethink the 3 nights. Maybe cut Kotor down to 2 nights because we'll probably get there late afternoon?

You had me at a winery in a 500 year old mostly abandoned village. This is something right up my alley.

After Dubrovnik, for me at least, Kotor was nice for lunch and maybe a few hours. I've actually had lunch there a few times over the years. It is a sweet place, but so much more and so much more unique to see in Montenegro. For sleeping, Instead of Kotor, Hotel Conte in Perast. Perast, https://youtu.be/q2nckBnc7_M?si=CohK_4nsI6l7chEB AND Hotel Conte https://youtu.be/zYJcm2zlXA8?si=w7VstV-oLoVEQLr7

The trip to the winery was special https://www.instagram.com/winery.garnet/, so was the time down by the lake .... oh, and an olive oil tasing trip. Okay the olive oil was not a visual experience, sure got to see a fairly young orchard and a local’s house where they have set up an olive press and are making oil that has received awards all over the region. But meeting the family sitting outside at the picnic table and eating the food and having the oil explained as you try it. This was a very, very good afternoon.

The prosciutto? It is a bit of a tourist place, but the drive up is freeking amazing. Have you ever seen prosciutto hanging in the curing barn? Hundreds of hams hanging? Then you sit outside at a picnic table and eat the prosciutto, cheese, a nice local beer. Another good lunch. P1 Mountain Road https://youtu.be/QSz5hZVNxQ8?si=kAUpMBWDbSSztzt5 AND Prosciutto at Zora https://youtu.be/08il6EXog3o?si=PkQ6Rrueu6c_-U98 These experiences are still local. Hard to find the same elsewhere in Europe these days. Its why I say spend one night in each Split and Dubrovnik, maybe two, then head south.

The Ostrog Monastery built into the side of a cl## k ##iff and the restaurant at the Hotel Sokoline with some of the most spectacular views in the Balkans. Ostrog Monastery https://youtu.be/ixrJu6qv46M?si=WML9Hs2hOQCsKZwE AND Hotel & Restaurant Sokoline https://youtu.be/miNV1FVK7qI?si=iZC_lViMUEk6JGI

I think all of this can be done in a few days with a little assistance. It’s a remarkably small country with remarkably good roads some of which have beautiful views. But it’s worth getting some help planning it and arranging transportation. I have returned a number of times, but I still call for help to make the trip better. Dijana does planning and tours and transportation (as little or as much service as you want) for most of the Balkan countries. She is helping me out on a fishing trip to Bosnia in a few weeks. Also, a repeat trip, but still so much easier with someone that knows what they are doing in countries that don’t have much tourist infrastructure (which is what makes them wonderful .... of course, not talking about Croatia). She can just plan it for you or provide a complete experience. Dijana Krkotic, Doclea Travel, +39 38 9 765 5935 (phone or WhatsApp), [email protected], www.docleatravel.com

Oh, worried about reaching the airport. The airport is ... hmmm.... "cute". Think 1950's communist bus station with planes. Easy, fast, clean, fairly well organized and not too crowded. You can reach the airport from most of the coastal towns in under 90 minutes (2 hours from Kotor). Arrange the transportation and enjoy the scenic ride. Dont waste an day or evening in Podgorica or Cetinje. I visited Cetinje twice now. Once on the first trip and once when I returned with family right after COVID. To be honest, its a better stop for the 4th visit to Montenegro. Interesting as can be, but there is still so much better to see.

Interesting to know: The airport code is TGD. Why is "Podgorica" TGD? Cause up until 1992 the name of Podgorica was Titograd. As in Josip Tito. Very interesting man and history.

Wow, there’s some really great information here—I’m definitely taking notes! I’m not usually one to do tours, so I was wondering if taking a taxi from Kotor to Godinje is realistic. It looks like about a 2-hour drive—would that be very expensive? My plan would be to spend the night in Godinje and then take a taxi to the Podgorica airport the next morning, which seems to be about a 35-minute drive.

I'm also very interested in trying the prosciutto. I watched the videos, but I wasn’t able to find the location. I searched for “Zora” on Google Maps but couldn’t locate it.

I'm not going to lie, that airport sounds amazing. lol. I love places with that type of architecture and feel.

The name i gave you doesn't have to be a tour. But she will set up all your transfers and help you organize the flow and the days.

You have gotten some great suggestions for day trips from Mr. Ë. I visited Garnet Winery and another (Monte Grande) - both made me feel like I had wandered somewhere into a movie.

There’s nothing wrong with Podgorica (I stayed in a darling boutique hotel there for one night). It just isn’t “wow” like some of the other cities are (for me). I stayed in Perast, but have only visited Kotor and Budva. Next time I will try out staying in Budva. I liked it.

I see some lodging in Godinje, but there might not be enough money to pay me to try to drive to the village up near the winery. I do know a little guesthouse about halfway between there and the airport that would work for a last night, if you want a unique stay.

I have both driven and been driven in Montenegro. Next time I will skip driving and use a combo of bus and tour. The tours aren’t really much more expensive than a taxi would be.

I decided that, since the flight is early in the morning, it's best to stay in Podgorica. I think it will be less stressful and more convenient. It’s also easier to get to from Kotor. All the other suggestions will definitely be saved for a future trip, when I’ll have more time to really enjoy those places instead of rushing through them in just half a day. If I leave Kotor in the late morning or early afternoon, it really only gives me a few hours anyway. In Podgorica, we can walk around a bit and enjoy a really nice dinner. That being said — is there anything to do there?? lol Even just a nice area to walk around and find a good restaurant?

I sent you a couple of lodging options that I have had experience with.

If you have a few hours on your way, maybe stop at Monte Grande Winery for a wine tasting and charcuterie in the vinyard.