About six times smaller than the UAE, tiny Montenegro in southeast Europe makes up in attitude what it lacks in size.
Bursting with gorgeous mountains, pristine coastlines and untouched islands, minuscule Montenegro is also now home to the first One&Only luxury resort in Europe.
The One&Only Portonovi opens on Sunday and the country is welcoming tourists. Travellers will need to show a negative Covid-19 certificate taken at least 72 hours before arrival, or prove full vaccination status, for entry to the European nation.
A luxury nautical playground
Located in Boka Bay – a sheltered idyll on Montenegro's Adriatic coast – One&Only Portonovi has 113 guest rooms and suites, all of which have been positioned to enjoy endless views of the surrounding marina, bay and mountains.
The hotel is also home to the first Chenot Espace in the world – a new wellness concept that combines state-of-the-art facilities with scientific treatments designed to enhance guests' vitality and health. There's also a new eatery from Michelin-star Italian chef Giorgio Locatelli to explore, as well as a farm-to-table Montenegrin cuisine concept.
In the heart of a nautical playground, the luxury resort is ideally located for travellers who prefer to arrive by yacht. There's also a helipad and easy access to Tivat Airport for those arriving by air.
Adjacent to the Unesco World Heritage site of Kotor, One&Only Portonovi has been designed to reflect the architectural style of the old Venetian palaces of the region. This means travellers can expect grand facades, terracotta roofs and endless private gardens, coupled with an array of indoor and outdoor pools. A private sandy beach gives guests direct access to the sea.
Michelin-starred dining and Montenegrin cuisine
Sabia by Giorgio Locatelli, the Michelin-star chef’s first restaurant in the region, serves up Riviera-style Southern Italian cuisine with a focus on fresh seafood and vegetables. Tapasake Club is the energetic soul of the resort, where guests can lounge by the pool during the day, and enjoy performances by legendary DJs by night. Elsewhere, La Veranda focuses on locally sourced ingredients and Montenegrin-inspired cooking styles, with an open kitchen and live cooking stations.
Rooms and suites come with fireplaces for when the nights get cold, huge bathrooms and floor-to-ceiling windows and terraces for guests to relax against the backdrop of the mountain and bay views.
The one-bedroom presidential suite has a private wine cellar, outdoor dining area seating up to twelve people, indoor and outdoor fireplaces and a separate butler entrance. There are also two villas – a three-bedroom and a two-bedroom – each of which has its own outdoor shower and private pool, hydrotherapy pool and incredible views over the Adriatic Sea. A tennis club, kids' and teens' clubs and schedule of activities provide more in-house entertainment.
The world's first Chenot Espace
One&Only has paired with leading wellness brand Chenot to offer guests a transformative journey of detoxing and resetting the body based on the Chenot Method. Tailored programmes and treatments scientifically designed to enhance vitality and promote optimum are on offer, together with the level of luxury that One&Only is known for.
Chenot Espace is spread across 4,000 square metres and has 28 treatment rooms with everything from neuro-acoustic deep relaxation treatments, acupuncture and ozone therapy to intravenous nutrient therapy and hydro-colon treatments on offer.
Montenegro's compact size makes it ripe for exploring and what's on offer away from the resort does not disappoint. Take to the water for a diving or sailing excursion, go island-hopping to discover hidden shorelines, visit Unesco sites and medieval villages or get into nature by exploring the country's national parks.
Rates from €825; www.oneandonlyresorts.com
