Apartments Villa St. Bar

I really love this place.

Villa St. Bar left me with mixed feelings, though we had a pleasant stay and the price was attractive. It sits in a quiet mountain area, and you can walk to Old Bar. The outdoor space was a real highlight: a well-kept pool among olive trees, lots of loungers, a barbecue, swing, and sofas under a canopy. We rented two of the three apartments, around 80 square meters each, one with a garden view and one facing the mountains. The bedrooms had large, comfortable beds, and a wooden crib with a thick mattress was provided. A highchair was available on request. Both balconies had a table and highchairs, and each apartment had a clothes dryer. Towels were changed free of charge. We also had an iron, ironing board, and hairdryer in both units. The bathroom was okay, but more hooks and shelves would have helped. The apartments weren't equally practical. One had a decent kitchenette with a dishwasher, table and chairs, and two large wardrobes. The other had a very limited kitchenette, fine for coffee or tea and quickly reheating food, but not much else. Even finding room for a chopping board was hard, and we had to wash dishes in the bathroom. There was no table for proper meals, which was frustrating on a 10-day stay when we didn't always want to eat out. The kitchens were basic, but had the listed dishes, glasses, and cutlery, plus washing liquid, a sponge, and a cloth. We got four coffee capsules at the start and had to buy more ourselves. There was one roll of toilet paper, with any extra to buy ourselves. When we asked about a washing machine, we were told it was with the property manager. The living room sofa beds were fold-outs and uncomfortable, as well as noisy. Children might manage on them, but adults probably wouldn't sleep much. The whole property is managed by someone who's thorough and dedicated, and it's easiest to communicate with them in Russian. We were given house rules and expected to follow them, with polite but firm reminders if we didn't, so there's no messing around in the pool. The atmosphere lacked Balkan hospitality, and I did feel discreetly watched, with two cameras in the lounge area. Even with those downsides, we enjoyed our time and recommend it, especially at this price.

I was only at the restaurant, not staying at the hotel, so I can't say much about the rooms. The location is great, right under the fortress in Stari Bar. From the photos, the rooms look good. I hope to stay one night sometime so I can give a more informed review. Nearly 2,000,000 people read my reviews each year, so accurate information matters to me.

Set in a beautiful natural landscape, this apartment in Stari Grad is clean, thoughtfully equipped, and full of little details. The pool, partly shaded by the olive grove, is a welcome break from the Balkan heat and has a memorable view over the city as it runs down from the mountains toward the sea. You hear cicadas from the garden, sometimes joined by the muezzin from the nearby mosque and church bells, a reminder of the city's long, layered history. The owner is kind and easy to talk to, and happy to help with questions. Russian or Polish sign language works best. It's a lovely place to start a Yugoslav adventure and set off on more trips.