We are planning to drive from Albania to Dubrovnik and back, covering Podgorica/Kotor and the coastal areas.
Our travel will be during the 2nd half of April, including the Easter weekend. Are there any closings/delays we should be considering ?
Secondly, is there a preferred direction for driving the coastal area of Montenegro(Ulcinj/Stevi Stefan/Budva) - northbound vs southbound ?
Posted by
TX, USA
5019 posts
I don’t know that the direction makes a difference. I drove that part of Montenegro going north. Border crossings will be your main concern and I don’t know if you can predict how long that will take. Traffic gets very slow going through Kotor.
I haven’t driven in Albania (just took the minivans) so am no help there.
Come back and report!
Posted by
Magyarország / Rep of Texas
21228 posts
I don’t know if you saw it, but I took the liberty of posting some videos on Montenegro on your other thread: You are going to a beautiful place. https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/montenegro/podgorica-to-dubrovnik-by-car
On the driving. First, make sure the car you rent can cross all three borders. I have no idea, but there is always a chance not.
Next, one of the reasons I love the region (been to Montenegro several times and Albania once) is that its fascinating, beautiful and these are places where I can have a better-quality experience (for my taste and interests) on the same budget as something lesser in the West, or Croatia for that matter.
If you were to travel to Croatia and stay in a certain type of accommodation and use busses to get around you could do the exact same for most likely the same cost in Montenegro and Albania but possibly better accommodations and with a private driver. Just something to think about.
That rental car will do you no good in any of the stops. You just pay 20 to 40 euro a night to park it. And while “reputation” isn’t always reality you are going to two countries that have a reputation for theft from cars so be careful.
Which direction? The rental car may dictate that. You might be able to take an Albanian car to Montenegro, but not a Montenegro car to Albania and then you have to ask the same for Croatia. I have no idea. Just something to check out.
We are planning to drive from Albania to Dubrovnik and back
Wait, you said, and back? You mean Albania to Dubrovnik, then drive back to Albania? That will save you a large drop off fee, but time is time. Again, hiring a driver(s) makes it a one-way trip which is time better spent … maybe.
All that aside, doesn’t matter the direction. But if you do find more time by going one-way, you might have the opportunity to explore the high country in Montenegro …. Pretty beautiful.