Villa Merci Budva

Look, I’ll be honest – when I first pulled up to Villa Merci in Budva, I wasn’t expecting much from a 3-star place. But you know what? Sometimes the best surprises come in humble packages. This little gem sits tucked away from the main tourist chaos, and I mean that in the best possible way. You’re still close enough to walk to the Old Town (maybe 10-15 minutes if you don’t mind a bit of a stroll), but far enough out that you won’t have drunk British tourists stumbling past your window at 3 AM.

The thing about Villa Merci is that it feels like someone actually cares about the place. The owner – this lovely Serbian woman who speaks perfect English – remembers your name after day one and somehow always knows exactly when you need fresh towels. The rooms are clean and comfortable, nothing fancy but everything works (which, honestly, isn’t always a given in this part of the Balkans). I stayed in one of the upper floor rooms and had this partial sea view between the buildings – not postcard perfect, but you could catch glimpses of the Adriatic sparkling in the distance, especially at sunset. The AC actually keeps up with the summer heat, which is more than I can say for some pricier hotels I’ve stayed at in Montenegro.

What really sold me was the little terrace where they serve breakfast. It’s nothing elaborate – fresh bread, local cheese, some fruit, decent coffee – but there’s something special about starting your day there with the morning light filtering through the grape vines overhead. You’ll probably end up chatting with other guests (it’s that kind of place), and I picked up some great restaurant recommendations from a German couple who’d been coming back for years. The location is actually perfect if you want to explore beyond just Budva’s beaches – you’re right on one of the main roads heading toward Sveti Stefan or up into the mountains, and parking isn’t the nightmare it is closer to the center. Sure, it’s not luxury, and the WiFi can be spotty during peak season, but Villa Merci has that rare quality that big chain hotels never quite capture – it feels like a home base rather than just a place to crash.