In the summer of 2021 my parents and I went for our first ever trip to Montenegro , a country that has build a name for itself in a real short amount of time.
With a stunning coastline, ancient cities, old castles and some amazing national parks, it get’s all too obvious why so many choose Montenegro as their next destination!

Now our hotel of choice became Hotel Palmon Bay and Spa, a newly built hotel situated along the sea in Herceg Novi town.
This luxury hotel features comfortable rooms with breathtaking views, in and outdoor swimming pools and a private beach.

That is only a small portion of what this hotel has to offer though, so read on further and find out if this place is worth your time and money!

1. Location
2. Rooms
3. Facilities
4. Wellness & Spa
5. Restaurant + Breakfast
6. Conclusion

Location

Hotel Palmon Bay is situated along the boulevard of Herceg Novi.
A 2,4km long boulevard that features dozens of restaurants, some clubs and a long stretch of beaches to relax at.

I’d advice you to just stroll across the boulevard and slowly walk your way towards Herceg Novi Old town, which will take around 30min.
And for those who rather take the public transport, the nearest bus stop is a 1min walk from the hotel and brings you straight to the center.

The Old Town of Herceg Novi is easy to recognize by it’s fortress along the coast.
Forte Mare is it’s name. There is another one a bit uphill that’s also worth visiting called: Kanli Kula but I’d say Forte Mare is the better one!

And then the old town itself, while it isn’t large it definitely has it’s charm.
Small cosy streets with plenty of restaurants, souvenir shops and a public square full of life.
Definitely worth the visit!

Got tired of your surroundings then I’d say Herceg Novi is the perfect base to start exploring the rest of the country!
The staff at Palmon Bay are really helpful in providing a rental car if needed.

Rent one and start driving along the coast and take in the amazing scenery Montenegro has to offer!
Passing ancient cities like Kotor, Perast, islands and some of the most beatiful national parks you’ve ever seen!

Rooms

Now on to the rooms itself:
All rooms have airconditioning and a balcony overlooking the promenade of Herceg Novi or offer a stunning mountain view instead.
They all feature a private bathroom with a shower, hairdryer and free toiletries.
Also provided are: a minibar, safe, TV and room service!

Now the balcony and the views in general are what really made this place special to me!
Perhaps we got lucky seeing we were on the highest floor and in a perfect corner but the views were simply stunning!
Coming back ‘home’ after a walk along the promenade or coming back from a far away trip felt great!

The simple pleasure of coming back, sitting down on our balcony and watch the boulevard all lit up at night is something I won’t forget!

I could easily see myself coming back to Palmon Bay and Spa but then with someone of the opposite gender haha.
Traveling with my parents is nice but I can also imagine myself spending hours on that bed, ‘admiring the view’😉😅

Facilities

The hotel features 1 indoor and 2 outdoor swimming pools.
One of the outdoor swimming pools is in the hotel’s garden but is not worth your time.
It is small, undeep and doesn’t serve any function except that it looks cool(I guess haha)

The main swimming pool is amazing though! You’ll have to walk through the hotel’s garden, cross the pedestrian road and enter a seperate section of the hotel where the pool is located.

Here you will find plenty of sun loungers, free towel service, a small restaurant, showers and on top of that a private beach!

Jump into the ocean and go for a snorkeling session or take a dive in the swimming pool instead!
Pick what’s best for you and enjoy your well deserved holiday!

Wellness & Spa

Now on to the main selling point of the hotel if you ask me.
The hotel name kinda gives it away doesn’t it? Palmon Bay Hotel andd … indeed Spa!

So yes the hotel features a really spacious Spa center on the main floor.
Upon arrival you will be greated by a really friendly lady who offers you a bathrobe, towels and slippers.
Then you can get dressed in one of the dressing rooms which also provides showers and a secure safe.

The Spa has an indoor pool with natural mineral water.
I had never swum in such water before but I sure as hell was ready to try haha..
The mineral water felt really refreshing and clean, a real unique experience that freshens up the body and mind. But there is more!

Every hotel guest can also enjoy a steam bath, multiple sauna’s, a hot tub and the salt room.
Extra options like massages are also being offered for a certain amount of time of your choosing.

Same goes for foods and drinks which can be delivered to you while you enjoy the VERY comfortable loungers next to the pools!

Restaurant

For those who prefer dining at the hotel and stay in for the night, the hotel offers a rooftop restaurant called: ‘Olive Terrace’.
Located on the 6th floor, the perfect place for a romantic dinner while you witness the stunning views over the promenade!

Later in the evening the restaurant becomes a bar as well, so do you fancy a nice cocktail while enjoying some stunning sceneries?
Then ‘Olive Terrace’ is where you should be!

Breakfast

The breakfast had a really good variety of local delicacies and Western European things one would expect.
English breakfast… eggs, sausages everything you might be looking for.

At the same time they also provide plenty of fruits, sweets and vegetables, there is something for everyone.
I’d give the breakfast a 7/10, I have seen better but I have also seen much much worse haha.

Conclusion

Palmon Bay is the best hotel Herceg Novi has to offer, a newly built hotel that has comfort, quality and high service as it’s top priorities!
And with a big Wellness and Spa section and multiple swimming pools I’d say they are doing a real good job at that!

Same goes for the rooms: they are clean, cosy, offer stunning views and are a perfect place to come back to after a long day of exploring.
Sitting down on the balcony and watching the day turn into night, seeing the promenade of Herceg Novi lighting up, such a sight to behold!

So I’d really recommend this place when you are visiting Montenegro and seek that touch of luxury you don’t have back home.
The hotel also has the best location in Herceg Novi and is a great gateway to the other amazing sights of Montenegro!

Sold on my story and wish to experience the luxury of Palmon Bay by yourself?
Then book your stay through the Palmon Bay website or the Booking.com link down below⬇️

The post Review- Palmon Bay Hotel and Spa | A new and spectacular stay in the Herceg Novi Bay appeared first on .

Kotor a city that has left it’s mark on many generations.
If we look at the history of the city then we can find it dates back to hundreds of years ago!
Switching from one ruler to another back in time.

Nowadays it belongs to Montenegro and the place has a significant impact on the country in a whole!
Tourism is becoming a huge thing in the country and biggest cause of this is Kotor city.
Cruise ships come and go to witness Kotor and the stunning Bay surrounding it.

So let’s not delay any further shall we, scroll down and find out what the city of Kotor has to offer!

1: San Giovanni Castle

The hike to the Castle of San Giovanni is one the most exciting things to do in Kotor. Follow the Old City walls and slowly make your way uphill, while you witness the stunning views over the Bay of Kotor.
A fairly short but exhausting hike I’d say, especially in summer so I recommend bringing plenty of water.

Either on your way down or on your way up you’ll pass the Church of Our Lady of Remedy.
This all depends on whether you are sneaking into the castle from behind(through the Ladder of Kotor hike) or pay your way in and hike up from the city itself.
In any case I’d say the Church is the most scenic spot in Kotor and the best place for all you photography enthusiasts out there!

2: Ladder of Kotor

Just a few minutes away from the Old Town of Kotor is the entrance to this breathtaking hike.
A hike that will completely destroy and exhaust you in summer but also a hike that will reward you with the best views over the whole Bay of Kotor and the castle!

The hike is not dangerous in any way just very exhausting(especially when you walk there in summer while it’s 38 degrees, good job Dave😅)
But seeing the Bay of Kotor and the city itself from above is something you’ll never forget!

Another pleasant and unexpected surprise is the abandoned village next to the castle.
I had no idea it was there and I just stumbled upon it by accident.
As long as you walk towards the castle and not follow the hiking trail all the way to the top then you’ll find it as well.
An interesting sight before entering the castle itself!

So as I mentioned before on the 1:San Giovanni section, you can also enter the castle while hiking this trail(and avoid paying the entrance fee).
I’ve seen some warnings online that you might be send down and there’s someone checking the back entrance but I found it completely deserted and lots of people entered this way.

3: Explore the streets of Kotor Old Town

Kotor’s streets are filled with life and full of charm. Bustling streets filed with old historic homes, ancient churches, grand sights all over the Bay and cats LOTS and LOTS of cats!

The city has lots of simularities with Dubrovnik in Croatia, each having it’s own strengths and weaknesses…
My pick would be Dubrovnik but Kotor also has some very exciting attractions and things to do, especially The Ladder of Kotor and the San Giovanni Castle.

So I’d say visit them both, which can be done pretty easily on just 1 vacation.
There are lots of organizations offering 1 day trips from Kotor to Dubrovnik or vice versa.

4: Cathedral of Saint Tryphon

The Cathedral of Saint Tryphon is the most impressive church of Kotor’s Old Town. It is the most popular thing to see in Kotor after the San Giovanni Fortress, and one of the most well-known Cathedrals in Montenegro.
On the church you’ll see the numbers 1166 and 2016, which translates to the date the church was built in 1166.

And the other number shows the year the renovation and repairs have been completed.
The Cathedral has suffered serious damages by multiple earthquakes, the last one being in 1979.
Massive repairs have been made ever since which have been completed in 2016.

5: Walk the castle walls and watch the city gates

The whole city is completely surrounded by old castle walls and majestic entrance Gates providing you access to the city itself.

Several sections of these walls can still be accessed and walked upon.
None of it can be compared to Dubrovnik’s castle walls though to avoid you any misconceptions.
The walls of Dubrovnik can be walked upon for hours and brings you to multiple towers, viewing points etc.

While in Kotor it’s just a small section that is still available.
A very charming part nonetheless which provides you with sights over parts of Kotor Old town and the newer section of the town as well.

Then there are still the entrance Gates that are worth mentioning.
There are 3 of them: The Main Gate, The Norhtern Gate and the Southern Gate(as seen above).
With the Southern one being the most beatiful one if you ask me and The Northern one as a close second.

6: Dine at one of the many restaurants

Dining in Kotor is an experience on it’s own with the cosy streets all around you.
Walk down the public squares, the busy streets or instead get lost in the smaller alleyways and find some place special.

The restaurants I would recommend: Konoba Scala Santa (if you love seafood that is).
If seafood is not your thing and you rather have a big steak on your plate then go for the: Tanjga restaurant!
It is located outside the Old Town which is a shame but the food really makes up for it!

7: Lantern shop

It’s simple, who doesn’t like these kind of lanterns right?
I was just casually walking down the streets when I looked inside this souvenir shop and well they know how to draw my attention.

A small but very cosy souvenir shop with a Middle Eastern kind of vibe!
And now thanks to this place I really feel like visiting Istanbul again….
So I guess you all known now what my next destination will be don’t you?😅

8: Kotor Bazaar

A very small but cosy Bazaar, filled with touristic knick knacks, souvenirs and all that kind of stuff.
The perfect place when you don’t want to visit one single shop but rather choose from a wide variety.
Pick something nice to bring back home for either yourself or someone you hold dear.

9: Kotor beach

Now perhaps not the biggest beach you are gonna find in Montenegro but nonetheless a very refreshing one after you’ve been walking through the heat in Kotor’s Old Town.

Or perhaps even worse, if you’ve been hiking the Ladder of Kotor in the middle of a hot summer day!
(Yeah you guessed it, I’ve done the hike while it was 38°.. well done Dave😅)

The beach is a five minute walk north of the Old Town, past the Port of Kotor and Park Slobode.
So a really decent walking distance I’d say and a great way to spend your afternoon!

10: Stay untill nightfall

Something I’d recommend in nearly every city.
There is a reason why the: ‘like night and day’ phrase exists.
Watching a city in broad daylight versus watching a city at night is an immense difference and Kotor is no different!

Dine at one of the amazing restaurants in the city and watch the day turn into night.
Then walk the cosy streets and see everything all lit up under the night sky, a truly romantic place I’d say!

But what I would also recommend is for you to watch the city at night from afar.
Reason being: the Sain Giovanni Castle walls are completely lit up at night!
As you can see on the picture above a true sight to behold and it gives you a good understanding of how huge the place is.

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