day-trip from dubrovnik to kotor, montenegro?
May 13th, 2006, 03:53 PM
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day-trip from dubrovnik to kotor, montenegro?
we will be in dubrovnik in june. kotor was recommended to us. thinking of renting a car for a day to drive down (we don't like tours). anyone do it? anyone been to kotor? any places to visit on the trip down?
May 21st, 2006, 04:49 PM
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Kotor is breathtaking, I wouldn't miss out on this. Renting a car is a great idea as the roads won't be to crazy in June. The scenery will amaze you. Sorry I don't know of any places to visit as I always just pass by there on my way further down to a town called Ulcinj.
May 25th, 2006, 04:25 AM
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We took the Atlas tour that stopped in Perast and took a boat out to the tiny church, St. Mary's of the Rocks, on an island. It was stunning. We also enjoyed going to Sveti Stefan. Skip Budva. The tour didn't stay in Kotor long enough, so you will appreciate having your own car and making your own schedule.
May 25th, 2006, 09:02 PM
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Lina-I'm also interested in the Atlas Montenegro tour. According to the Atlas website, the other tour is: "MONTENEGRO - through historical places of Kotor`s bay." It's the one that works with my schedule.
Although I usually don't like tours, this might be the easiest way to go. But I'm not sure I could deal with a whole day bus tour. How long was it? Did it take all day?
Although I usually don't like tours, this might be the easiest way to go. But I'm not sure I could deal with a whole day bus tour. How long was it? Did it take all day?
May 26th, 2006, 05:46 AM
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JEFF_, I"m glad you posted this, because we too are considering taking the Atlas tour of Montenegro when we are in Dubrovnik in November. I'm hesitant to take an all-day bus tour, but I think this may be the easiest way to go. I'm interested in reading the response from those who have done it.
As an aside, we were also thinking about doing the Mostar tour but there are none available during our timeframe, so we are going to just drive there ourselves. DH is a little nervous, but I think (or hope!) we can handle it.
Tracy
As an aside, we were also thinking about doing the Mostar tour but there are none available during our timeframe, so we are going to just drive there ourselves. DH is a little nervous, but I think (or hope!) we can handle it.
Tracy
May 26th, 2006, 06:44 AM
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There's a Croatia trip report with a paragraph in it about the Atlas tour to Kotor, etc., in the below link.
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threadselect.jsp?fid=2
If you do a search for Kotor, you will probably find more info on your own.
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threadselect.jsp?fid=2
If you do a search for Kotor, you will probably find more info on your own.
May 26th, 2006, 06:49 AM
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Looks as if the link doesn't work; here's the paragraph about Atlas:
Excursions: We all loved our day trip to Montenegro with Atlas. We took the “Montenegro Blue” trip which stopped in Perast and Saint Mary of the Rocks Church (on an island), Kotor, Sveti Stefan, and Budva. The Bay of Kotor is exceptionally beautiful. Because the restaurant in Sveti Stefan was closed, we ate in Budva. It was the only city that we didn’t like at all. While the view is lovely, the Old Town is not cared for. There are few shops and restaurants but lots of graffiti and trash. The new part of town is ugly, in our opinion, but we loved the other stops.
Excursions: We all loved our day trip to Montenegro with Atlas. We took the “Montenegro Blue” trip which stopped in Perast and Saint Mary of the Rocks Church (on an island), Kotor, Sveti Stefan, and Budva. The Bay of Kotor is exceptionally beautiful. Because the restaurant in Sveti Stefan was closed, we ate in Budva. It was the only city that we didn’t like at all. While the view is lovely, the Old Town is not cared for. There are few shops and restaurants but lots of graffiti and trash. The new part of town is ugly, in our opinion, but we loved the other stops.
May 26th, 2006, 08:54 AM
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That excerpt is from my trip report. The correct link is: http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34715103
As I mentioned in the report, we took the Montenegro Blue tour vs. the other Atlas Montenegro tour because it stayed on the coastline. I don't typically like bus tours either, but this was a comfortable and easy way to see Montenegro. The guide spoke on the bus, but we were on our own at each stop (not herded as a group). In Perast, we had a local tour guide explain about the church and nearby monastary and it was one of our highlights. From the bus, you can see the Bay of Kotor from every angle and from seaside as well as from hilltop. The water is so clear and blue!
Sveti Stefan is now a very chi-chi tourist resort but was formerly a fishing village. The tiny, attached houses on the island have been restored. Princess Di and many American celebrities have stayed there. It closed in mid-October last year so we couldn't have lunch there. Instead we went to Budva, a middle-class seaside resort that we did not like at all.
I would highly recommend this tour even though we didn't have much time in Kotor. Whether you go on your own or with a tour, you must have your passports!
Enjoy!
As I mentioned in the report, we took the Montenegro Blue tour vs. the other Atlas Montenegro tour because it stayed on the coastline. I don't typically like bus tours either, but this was a comfortable and easy way to see Montenegro. The guide spoke on the bus, but we were on our own at each stop (not herded as a group). In Perast, we had a local tour guide explain about the church and nearby monastary and it was one of our highlights. From the bus, you can see the Bay of Kotor from every angle and from seaside as well as from hilltop. The water is so clear and blue!
Sveti Stefan is now a very chi-chi tourist resort but was formerly a fishing village. The tiny, attached houses on the island have been restored. Princess Di and many American celebrities have stayed there. It closed in mid-October last year so we couldn't have lunch there. Instead we went to Budva, a middle-class seaside resort that we did not like at all.
I would highly recommend this tour even though we didn't have much time in Kotor. Whether you go on your own or with a tour, you must have your passports!
Enjoy!
Jun 18th, 2006, 10:00 AM
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We took the Atlas Montenegro tour that leaves Kotor and climbs the mountain to the old capitol. I wouldn't have missed that for the world -- simply amazing! You would not want to drive your own car up that mountain, though. We dislike tours, ourselves, but that one was an exception. Makes for a very long day, but I don't see how you could have done it in a shorter time by driving.
You will love Croatia, but be shocked at the differences between the two countries. One thing the tour offers is an insight into the tensions and differences between the different nations in the area. I'll try to find the link to my old trip report on that portion of our trip in 2004, and will post it later.
Have a great trip!
You will love Croatia, but be shocked at the differences between the two countries. One thing the tour offers is an insight into the tensions and differences between the different nations in the area. I'll try to find the link to my old trip report on that portion of our trip in 2004, and will post it later.
Have a great trip!
Jun 18th, 2006, 10:48 AM
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I found that trip report.
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threadselect.
jsp?fid=2&tid=34536393
If that does not work, search for;
"Croatian Trip Report Part 6"
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threadselect.
jsp?fid=2&tid=34536393
If that does not work, search for;
"Croatian Trip Report Part 6"
Jul 4th, 2006, 10:31 AM
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Hmmm ! Was just there last month. We loved the Bay of Kotor. Look at the oics on page 2 of this gallery and you too will go.
http://www.slowphotos.com/photo/show...y.php?cat=3882
http://www.slowphotos.com/photo/show...y.php?cat=3882
Jul 5th, 2006, 02:48 PM
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Hmm...I don't remember exactly how much time was spent at each stop. My guess would be about an hour. If you tour on your own, be sure to include Perast's St. Mary of the Rocks church. It is on an island but a boat takes you out there and a guide will give an excellent explanation of the beautiful paintings and artifacts. We had enough time in Kotor to visit several wonderful churches and walk around much of the walled town, but no time to shop or just sit in a cafe and watch the people. Because Sveti Stefan was closed, our stop there was shorter, but we had enough time to take lots of pictures and dip our toes in the sea. We ate lunch in Budva instead, but that was our least favorite stop. I would have gladly traded all of our time in Budva for more time in Kotor. That said, we loved the tour and thought it was well worth the money. Our guide was very good and we never felt herded.
P.S. However you travel,you must take your passports. Some passengers on our bus were subjected to extra questioning...the border patrol seemed to take their job very seriously!
P.S. However you travel,you must take your passports. Some passengers on our bus were subjected to extra questioning...the border patrol seemed to take their job very seriously!
