About prices for accommodation, food, entertainment, transportation and more. Tourist tips on how to save money in Montenegro.
Montenegro is an incredibly picturesque region that warmly welcomes travelers from around the world. When you visit, it's not enough to simply stay in your hotel; you need to be active, curious, and prepared for adventure. This area offers a wealth of experiences, from forests and seas to mountains and stunning beaches, as well as ancient temples and castles. Every year, Montenegro's popularity in the tourism world continues to grow, prompting the need for a comprehensive understanding of everything related to your stay. Travelers value insights on financial matters, so we aim to provide you with some recommendations in this regard.
How to Save Money on Travel
To fulfill your dream of visiting Montenegro, you have a few options. One convenient way is to visit a travel agency and choose a suitable package. This approach can save you both time and money, as it typically includes insurance, flights, transfers, and hotel accommodations.
Alternatively, some tourists prefer a more hands-on approach by embarking on a self-directed itinerary search. This allows them to customize their stay based on personal preferences and budget. However, it requires arranging insurance, booking flights, and securing accommodations independently.
For budget-conscious travelers, you can also find affordable organized tours to Montenegro online. This method is advantageous because there's no additional commission or markup. You can often discover "hot" deals on various websites, complete with information about the discounts, which can range from 5% to 25%.
Experienced travelers often find the latter method to be the most cost-effective and safe. To be practical about organizing your vacation and save money, consider using popular online search services, where you may only pay an additional 1% to 5%, compared to using a travel agent.
How Much Money to Bring
Montenegro uses the euro as its currency, so it's advisable to have some euros on hand when traveling to avoid extra conversion fees. You can easily exchange dollars at local banks.
Montenegro has become relatively expensive in recent years, so it's wise to bring a certain amount of money to ensure financial freedom during your trip. While tourists often enjoy the all-inclusive system, it's not as popular among local organizers.
For a comfortable stay, it's recommended to budget around 75 EUR per day per person. Some travelers find it possible to manage well on 50 EUR per day, covering expenses like food and excursions, but that might require more frugal spending. On the other hand, having 100 EUR per day allows for a more comfortable experience.
If you prefer a more lavish vacation, consider budgeting based on the following guidelines:
For 7 days - allocate at least 500 EUR;
For 10 days - plan for around 700 EUR;
For a 14-day trip - budget approximately 1000 EUR.
If you're a thrifty traveler and aim for an economical vacation with essential excursions, it's advisable to bring at least 400 EUR per person for a week. This budget will provide a decent vacation experience, although it may not allow for extravagant spending.
Accommodation Costs in Montenegro
The cost of accommodation in Montenegro is heavily influenced by the season. Prices tend to rise significantly during the summer months when most tourists visit. Additionally, the popularity of the resort areas plays a role; the more popular they are, the higher the prices. Some of the most renowned resort areas include Budva, Herceg Novi, and Tivat.
If accommodation isn't included in a tour package, independent travelers must seek the best-priced options. It's advisable to book well in advance because as summer approaches, the availability of budget-friendly offers diminishes.
Hotels
Here's a sample pricing guide for accommodation in Montenegro:
Middle-class hotels (3-4 stars) - starting from 40 EUR, and off-season prices may drop by 25 - 40%.
Top-tier hospitality - ranging from 70 to 114 EUR per night.
Apartments
In Budva, apartments typically cost around 90 EUR, while a hotel in Tivat with a stunning sea view may be slightly more expensive. Rooms along the waterfront with private beach access can start from 1200 EUR.
Private Houses
For those planning an extended stay in Montenegro, seeking accommodation from private homeowners might be a better option. Unlike fixed nightly hotel rates, most house owners can offer flexible rates based on the length of your stay.
Where to Find Accommodation
Discover your ideal accommodation option by using specialty websites on the Internet or certain Facebook pages. Prices on these platforms are generally quite similar, so the choice of where to find your place to stay doesn't make a significant difference. Some apartment owners also post offers directly on their websites, often providing bonuses for first-time bookings through referral links.
While searching for accommodations, you might come across options such as a two-room apartment in Budva for 50 EUR per day, capable of accommodating up to 5 people. Alternatively, a villa with a pool, sea views, and city views for 9 people could cost 212 EUR per day.
When making your choice, you can opt to rent either an entire house or just a portion of it. To avoid any confusion when selecting accommodation, pay attention to common terms often found in advertisements:
soba: a private room with its own bathroom and a shared one on the floor.
apartman: an apartment, the most common type of rental housing, which typically includes a kitchen, dining area, toilet, and shower room.
studio apartman: a studio, a room that combines a dining area, a lounge area, and a bedroom.
jednosoban apartman: translated as "one-room apartment," usually featuring a living room with a kitchen and dining area and one bedroom.
2, 3...-soban apartman: an apartment with a living room, where the number indicates the number of bedrooms.
kuca or villa: a detached house.
Should I Choose Catered or Non-Catered Accommodation?
Many travelers, concerned about currency fluctuations, opt for tours that include meals in the package. However, in the case of Montenegro, this may not always be the most convenient choice. The price difference between the same tour with and without meals can be around 300 - 500 EUR. With that amount, you can easily enjoy lunch and dinner at restaurants of your choice. Besides this factor, there are other significant reasons in favor of selecting tours without organized meals:
The freedom to choose your own cafes, restaurants, or snack bars.
Flexibility in having breakfast, lunch, and dinner at your preferred times rather than strict schedules.
A wide variety of dishes without the risk of getting "leftovers."
No need to miss interesting excursions, which often coincide with meal times.
The opportunity to save a portion of your personal budget for smaller expenses.
However, if you're visiting a town where dining options are limited, it may be more cost-effective to choose a package with included meals. This is especially useful if you prefer a leisurely vacation without many excursions.
Cost of Dining in Montenegro
Montenegrin cuisine is known for its originality and diversity, blending various culinary traditions, including Slavic, Hungarian, German, Turkish, and Mediterranean influences. The abundance of tasty dishes in cafes and restaurants can be overwhelming for tourists. Hence, the primary concern isn't what to eat, but where to dine, as it greatly impacts expenses.
There's an unspoken rule for food prices in public establishments in Montenegro: the farther it is from the sea coast, the more affordable the food tends to be. So, for budget-friendly options, consider choosing a cafe further inland.
Many cafes offer set lunches, which typically include a hot meal, a second course, a salad, and a drink, priced between 6 - 8 EUR. Look for signs or advertisements indicating this service, or inquire with the staff if it's available.
If you prefer dining in an inexpensive restaurant, you can expect the following prices:
Dinner for one person - around 6 EUR.
Combo meal at McDonald's - about 3 EUR.
Cup of cappuccino - approximately 1.3 EUR.
Bottle of water - about 0.88 EUR.
Local beer - around 1.5 EUR.
In a slightly more upscale restaurant, prices may be as follows:
Breakfast options like pancakes, scrambled eggs, or omelets (with a drink) - 2-5 EUR.
Lunch or dinner with a main course, soup or salad - 11-15 EUR.
Keep in mind that portions in Montenegro are usually generous for the price.
For fast-food enthusiasts, a hamburger may cost up to 1.50 EUR, and a large slice of pizza up to 2 EUR.
Despite Montenegro's coastal location, seafood can be quite expensive:
Hake or trout - approximately 9 EUR per portion.
Fish plate for one person - around 17 EUR.
Tuna or salmon - about 46 EUR.
Grilled octopus - approximately 20 EUR.
Lobster in sauce with vegetables - around 98 EUR.
If you plan to buy groceries, consider visiting supermarkets like MEGA Market, Voli, and Idea. They offer reasonably priced fruits and vegetables compared to Montenegrin markets, while maintaining high quality.
Excursions and Entertainment
If your trip doesn't include an entertainment program or you prefer independent travel, you have options to purchase excursions either from a tourist shop on the waterfront or online. The first method may not always guarantee high-quality events, while the second provides access to various online resources.
In general, excursion prices in Montenegro are quite reasonable, typically in the range of 40 EUR, which often includes lunch. This segment of the tourist industry has not significantly increased its service costs. Here are some excursion options for travelers who enjoy exploring:
Reserved places at Lovcen along with Montenegro's sanctuaries - approximately 108 EUR.
Excursion to Skandar Lake - around 107 EUR.
Budva and Budva Riviera tour - about 77 EUR.
Visit to Durmitor, a national park - around 45 EUR.
Sea journey to Herceg Novi Bay - about 45 EUR, including meals.
Boat trip to the island of St. Nicholas - 5 EUR for a round trip.
Exploration of Boko-Kotor Bay - approximately 25 EUR.
Tara and Moraca canyons tour - around 35 EUR, with an additional 10 EUR for lunch during the tour.
Exploration of Montenegrin monasteries - approximately 30 EUR, plus 10 EUR for lunch (optional).
You can book excursions both individually and as part of a group; the choice depends on personal preferences. In the former case, you'll have a personal guide and travel by car, while the latter involves traveling with a guide on a bus with a group of 25 to 30 tourists.
Most travel agencies in Montenegro offer discounts on excursions for children under 12 years old, often up to 40% off.
Prices for Beach Vacations
The majority of tourists come to Montenegro for beach vacations, and the cost of such a vacation depends on the resort and the season. The highest prices for beach activities are typically found in Budva and Herceg Novi. You'll need to budget for expenses like renting sunbeds, umbrellas, and purchasing food and drinks.
There might not be delicatessen vendors nearby, so it's a good idea to buy food in advance. While there are cafes and stores nearby, their prices are generally 10-20% higher than in the city center.
Most of Montenegro's beaches are municipal, and you'll usually need to pay for sunbeds and umbrellas. Here are some cost-effective options in places like Budva, Sveti Stefan, Rafailovichi, Becici, Petrovac, and Sutomore:
Rental of sunbeds - ranging from 10 to 20 EUR.
Rental of a set (sunbed and umbrella) - from 10 to 25 EUR.
2-liter bottle of carbonated water - around 1.5 EUR.
Freshly squeezed juice - approximately 2.5 EUR.
When you pay for a sunbed for the day, you can use it for as long as you need; there's no hourly rate for beach equipment in Montenegro.
One inconvenience you might encounter on the beaches are paid toilets, which typically cost around 0.5 EUR.
Souvenir Shopping
Every traveler aims to bring back a memorable souvenir from Montenegro. You can find the usual set of souvenirs like magnets, mugs, and cups in Montenegro, and their cost is typically on par with other places since these products are mostly manufactured in China. Montenegro doesn't have its own significant production of such items. If you're interested in acquiring branded Italian goods, you might need to visit Bar or Podgorica to find them.
Transportation costs
The most expensive form of transportation in Montenegro is a cab. In Tivat or Budva trips within the city will cost 5 - 10 EUR. To move between cities, it is best to make a reservation on a special website, as local cab drivers often raise the fare during the trip.
Tivat Airport Transfer leaves much to be desired in terms of organization, and therefore almost all visitors usually try to book it in advance. The cost depends on the distance and usually ranges from 20 to 70 EUR.
Montenegro's public transportation provides these rates:
Bus
The most common fare in different directions is 4-6 EUR per one-way ticket;
Rail
In most cases the ticket price is 5-7 EUR, and you can get a train from Podgorica to Bar for 3 EUR.
Car Rental
Car rental with Hertz or AVIS, international companies, will cost 400-900 EUR deposit, while almost all local firms will ask for only 100 EUR. On average, you can rent a car from them very cheaply - for about 20-30 EUR per day.
The total rental time, the class of vehicle and the period of the year also determine the rental price. The rental period plays an important role: if you rent a car only for a couple of days, the final price will be 30-50% higher than if you rent it for 5-7 days.
Montenegro is a country that is always open to the traveler. The transparency and warmth of the Adriatic waters, the beauty of the coastline, the scattered resort towns, the ancient culture and the friendliness of the local population - this is what attracts thousands of tourists to the country every year. If you are going to spend a vacation there, be prepared to consider all the financial nuances of your stay in advance, so as not to get into an unpleasant situation.
