THE ARRIVAL
Hyatt Regency Kotor Bay Resort
I arrived to Podgorica Airport at night and traversed the mountainside roads above the bay in darkness so I did not see the magical views below til morning. My first hotel in Kotor was the Hyatt Regency with 252 rooms and suites plus seven restaurants and bars. I’m not normally up for big, branded hotels, but this one was wonderful and sits in a UNESCO World Heritage protected area. This Hyatt sits right on the bay which is a bonus for both sunbathing on their natural beach, the biggest on Kotor Bay and boat tour departures from their marina. I took a Boka Bay tour with some fellow guests that included a stop at ‘Our Lady of the Rocks,’ an island with a picturesque church and checked out a Bond-like Blue Cave and saw the coastline towns from the water. Rooms are oversized with balconies. The breakfast buffet was top notch with tons of choices and a great place to meet fellow travelers and get tips. There are two big outdoor pools and one indoors. And there are two spas, including a medical more serious one. An expanded meetings area was being built while I was there to accommodate bigger groups in 2025.
Kotor Cable Car
The highlight of my first day in Montenegro was heading to the Kotor Cable Car just in time for sunset. This was probably one of the coolest and most magical sightseeing things I’ve ever done. Only hot air ballooning in Cappadocia at sunrise beats this by a bit. This attraction recently opened in mid-2023. Absolutely everything about it is impressive from the manmade elements to breathtaking views made by Mother Nature. It is the least “touristy” sightseeing spot designed in such a hip way with attractions and activities for all ages. The 11-minute glass gondola ride to the top gets your jaw dropping while you scramble to get just the right Instagram picture as you ascend from the historic Kotor town to the wilderness of the mountains. The panoramic view makes you understand why Montenegro has one of the most beautiful bays in the world.