Montenegro is a top Mediterranean destination for yachting this fall – Robb Report

The Bay of Kotor could be a fjord. The water is constricted in a crevice between rugged mountains, its surface dotted with islands, the edges bordered by charming medieval villages. Call him the Boka, as the locals do.

“It’s weird and striking,” says Edward Granville, who runs luxury travel company Red Savannah and has been visiting for almost 20 years. “The steep mountains drop straight into the deep blue sea, so it’s like an alpine paradise.” This dramatic setting is not in Scandinavia or even in Switzerland. It is on the Adriatic coast, the star attraction of Montenegro, a small country the size of Connecticut which, in recent years, has established itself as the new “it” destination in the Mediterranean. Forget Saint-Tropez or Monaco; that’s where the smart superyacht set goes in september.

Montenegro’s financial metamorphosis was driven by yachting, as Monte-Carlo-based broker Paola Scalabrino says. There are many beautiful natural harbors along the roughly 180 miles of coastline, and the best way to see them is from the water. (The roads are often single-track and the beaches are pebble, so it is generally more comfortable to weigh anchor than to hang out ashore.) Conditions also make sailing preferable: the winds pick up towards the end of the morning. , which facilitates even milder than in strong summer winds, called meltem, which can poison the yachts which try to attack the Greek islands.

No one could have noticed all of this, however, without the acute shortage of superyacht berths in the Mediterranean, with inventory bottoming out in the mid-2000s. This problem prompted late Canadian billionaire Peter Munk to explore alternatives , discovering one in Montenegro in the form of a former Hungarian military base which he set out to transform into a luxury marina. Munk coached LVMH CEO Bernard Arnault and Russian industrialist Oleg Deripaska, among others, to help him create what is now known as Porto Montenegro. The resort set a model for the renaissance of Montenegro, which others, including Luštica Bay and Portonovi, followed: mixed-use, luxury-oriented, and with a notable emphasis on boating. It was also at the right time, offering a convenient alternative to the Adriatic when Italy recently increased mooring fees.

When disembarking in Montenegro, the best base is Portonovi, where One & Only opened its first European hotel, complete with a world-class spa, the first satellite outpost of the Swiss Chenot Wellness Clinic. Rooms start at around $ 990, but the marquee reservation is the 161,460-square-foot Villa Orjen, which has its own private beach and pier. If you’d rather channel a hint of Saint-Tropez, opt for Porto Montenegro, where Nikki Beach has opened nearby, bringing its signature mix of boutique hotel, lively pools, and dry-clean bikinis only on the Montenegrin coast ( rates of approximately $ 770). But don’t expect to book a room at the Sveti Stefan, operated by Aman anytime soon: it’s currently on the back burner, the owner has fallen out with locals over access to the hotel’s private beach, without saying yet when it will reopen. Other hotels are coming, however. The Ritz Carlton announced a major project in LuÅ¡tica Bay, while Rosewood would head to the historic town of Budva, just down the coast.

However, as Red Savannah’s Granville points out, there is more to the country than its glitzy shore. Venture three hours inland, he suggests, and outdoor enthusiasts will discover a quilted canyon interior, perfect for rafting around the Tara River or hiking near the canyon. Nevidio while jumping between rock pools. There are also small family cellars to enjoy; the country’s light and fresh cuisine is closer to Italian than heavier Caucasian staples, which makes sense when you remember that Boka and its surroundings were part of the Venetian Empire for centuries .

There are plenty of opportunities to linger longer than a visit, with mixed-use marinas offering real estate for sale as well. And the waterfront villas come here with an unexpected closing gift: a passport. Kieran Kelleher runs Dream Estates Montenegro and helps buyers navigate local real estate; the Irish expatriate explains that the government has designated certain projects, including Porto Montenegro, as part of a plan to encourage wealthy foreigners to invest in the country. Spend around $ 533,000 or more on designated property and you will receive citizenship, along with a passport that offers holders unhindered access to the European Schengen area, as a thank you. Act quickly, however: the new government here plans to end the program at the end of the year.