Montenegro or Croatia? Automatic translate

These South-Central European countries on the Adriatic Sea are very similar, and they are united, first of all, by one thing - the purest azure sea, mild climate, beautiful nature and great sun. But there are differences. What are they?

Croatia is a resort that Montenegro could potentially become in the future, but so far it has not grown to the level of a neighbor on the Adriatic. Just because tourism in Croatia began to develop much earlier than in Montenegro, and much more investments have already flowed here - into the resort infrastructure of the country, in particular from Germany - the Germans value Croatian resorts very highly. In addition, while Orthodoxy is the official religion in Montenegro, Croatia is a Catholic country, which facilitates the interaction of Croats and other Europeans.

Thanks to this, Croatia has long been mastered by travelers from European countries - from all parts of Europe, while Montenegro is still a country where mainly Russian-speaking tourists go to rest. This does not mean that there are no Russians in Croatia, of course, they are everywhere too, but the Russian language is muffled by English and German, as well as Polish, Hungarian, Czech. Croatia is a very common resort among travelers from southern Europe.

That is why in Montenegro, Russians are treated not so much better, but more carefully than in Croatia, because it is the Russians who give impetus to the development of tourism in this country. In Croatia, Russians are only one of many nations that gives resorts to the country, therefore, they don’t speak Russian here, although one can be pleasantly surprised to look at some excursion agencies where you will hear native language. In addition, there are Russian-speaking guides. But in Croatia, you can pull up foreign languages, especially English or German, - they are more common here than the rest.

Montenegro’s reputation as a destination for Russian tourists also has its own reasons. When our compatriots began to discover this resort - and this happened in the end of the nineties of the last century - then Montenegro was still annexed to Serbia. And when economic sanctions were imposed on the Serbs, they also extended to the Montenegrins. Result: real estate in the country fell sharply, which made it possible for Russian tourists to start buying apartments here for summer vacations. All this led to the fact that many compatriots spend all summer in Montenegro or even live here without any danger.

On the one hand, it’s convenient: coming to Montenegro, it seems that I didn’t leave Russia, on the other hand, if you want a more European mood and environment, it’s better to go to Croatia. Because it is more difficult to tighten up foreign languages ​​in Montenegro - the majority of attendants in hotels and restaurants of Montenegrin resorts - especially in Budva and Sveti Stefan - speak Russian well, only a slight accent is heard.

Of course, due to the abundance of Russian tourists, and also because Montenegro is still not as good as Croatia has recovered from the civil war, here you may have the feeling of “deja vu”. Imagine a country in some desolation, the gloomy architecture of the times of socialism has been preserved, and all the beaches are occupied by compatriots - does it not remind you of anything? Well, of course, the memories from the Soviet past with its state resorts, where there is no hot water, then you will not be served at the level.

Therefore, lovers of comfort, at a level close to European, and those who want to completely forget about their Soviet past - welcome to Croatia! Therefore, in Montenegro, much still reminds of the active construction of socialism in Yugoslavia. Of course, a certain backwardness of the country in the development of resort infrastructure comes from the still insufficient flows of foreign investment directed to the Montenegrin resorts, but this can change in the coming years. Not immediately, but gradually, because recently more and more Europeans are turning their attention to this resort. Partly due to the beautiful nature and turquoise clear sea water, partly due to the economic crisis in the eurozone, which is forcing Europeans to look for cheaper summer vacation options.

Indeed, in some aspects, Montenegro is still a cheaper resort than Croatia. For example, life here - namely, restaurants and groceries in stores - is 10-15% lower than that of a neighbor. At the same time, those who are accustomed to using the euro while traveling in Europe, commodity-money relations in this country will not cause any trouble, since Montenegro has completely switched to the euro. As for Croatia, the national currency, the kunas, is in use here, the exchange rate of which is regulated at the state level.

However, there is one subtlety. As for accommodation, it is purely economically more profitable, on the contrary, to go to Croatia - precisely because of the lack of tourist infrastructure in Montenegro. A larger offer of housing in Croatia is putting downward pressure on housing prices for tourists. In addition, the Dutch and Germans, who are very numerous in Croatia, are traditionally economical peoples and will never overpay. So the Croats have to moderate their appetites and lower apartment rental prices. A large offer on the housing market leads to the fact that you can rent an apartment for a vacation here even 2-3 weeks before the proposed trip.

And when traveling to Montenegro, especially to the area of ​​Budva and Sveti Stefan, it is better to worry about the issue of accommodation for 2-3 months in advance. And get ready to lay out a decent amount: a three-room apartment with windows overlooking St. Stephen’s Island can cost more than 1 thousand euros per week. At the same time, renting an apartment (with two bedrooms), located near the sea in a Croatian resort, will cost 800-900 euros per week.

The difference in housing prices is, of course, noticeable, however, in making a decision it is worth considering the fact that in Croatia you can rarely find apartments in the immediate vicinity of a good beach. Therefore, lovers of a purely beach holiday need to consider this fact.

It is also worth noting that if you are accustomed to the Turkish “all inclusive” system and are not ready to get food and entertainment on your own, it is better not to go to Croatia or Montenegro. Because such a service as in Turkey can not be found here, you will find service at a more modest level. That is why it is better not to go to a hotel, but to live independently - in a house or apartment, as most Europeans vacationing on the Adriatic do.

Moreover, in both countries there is no lack of entertainment for every taste. There is an active nightlife, monuments of architecture and cultural heritage, and long walks along mountain trails - choose what you like best!

So, discovering the ancient cities of Croatia and its Byzantine architecture, you need to start with Dubrovnik. The charm of this city makes tourists plunge into the atmosphere that reigned here for many centuries. Buildings built in the 12th century, above which are the stone walls that previously surrounded the city, and cozy cafes nest in small alleys among medieval architecture. Drinking coffee while sitting in a nice little cafe is one of the most popular pastimes for travelers who have chosen Croatia as their vacation destination.

Not far from Dubrovnik are picturesque old villages and the coast, which boasts numerous sandy and pebble beaches. The long coastline is dotted with moorings and boardwalks for vacationers - all of them are worth exploring and exploring. Beautiful architecture, good weather and mountainous landscape, as well as lakes, green forests and kilometers of coastline - it is difficult to find a reason not to come here to relax.

Restaurants and cafes here are inexpensive and there is a huge selection of local and international dishes. In addition, this area of ​​the Adriatic Sea is a paradise for lovers of fish cuisine, because more than 370 types of fish dishes are prepared here. Of the meat dishes, the local specialty is chevapchichi - beef and pork cutlets with lots of spices. Almost every major resort on the Adriatic coast organizes its own summer festivals, there are various open-air concerts, night fishing and folk dance shows.

Montenegro is also a great option for lovers to take long walks, thanks to its nature and remote authentic villages that blend harmoniously into the natural landscape. For romantics, this is the perfect place to get lost in the idyllic landscape and take a walk along the mountain trails.

Becici is a favorite destination for a beach holiday in Montenegro - it is a quiet place, both day and night, where you can make long boardwalks along the promenade and engage in various water sports, and then sit in street cafes with idyllic sea views, located among colorful bauble shops.

Nearby is Budva with its tiny bays and a fun nightlife. This is the main tourist center of Montenegro, so here you will find everything: not only discos, shops, bars and even casinos, but also a large number of cultural attractions. The city was founded 2,500 years ago and is one of the oldest settlements on the Adriatic coast.

Here you will find Sveti Stefan - a mini-island that is connected to the mainland by the man-made isthmus - this is a favorite vacation spot for Hollywood stars who have enjoyed the hospitality of Montenegrins for many years. At night, the promenade noticeably comes to life, which contributes to a large number of discos in the open air and bars with "live" music.

It is best to go to the Adriatic in September, since by this time the influx of tourists has fallen, traffic jams disappear from narrow streets, service and prices become more welcoming, and the weather continues to delight with the daily sun and mild climate. Where to go - to Croatia or Montenegro - is a matter of taste. If I had to travel the Adriatic for the first time, then I would look at both countries in order to determine my predilections in the future and not to be mistaken in choosing a vacation destination. So, miniature Montenegro can be traveled all over - up and down - in just a week, and a larger-scale Croatia can be watched gradually. If you like it there for the first time, you can return next year, but choose a different resort to replenish your impressions of this country.

Alexander Permyakov