Avala Resort & Villas

The hotel was spotless, and we loved our time there. It’s modern, in a hard-to-beat location, and the rooms are roomy with everything we needed and more. Breakfast was fresh, amazing, and had a huge selection.

The hotel’s location beside the Old Town is its one real advantage. Beyond that, the service was the poorest I’ve experienced. The desk staff seemed untrained and weren’t helpful. The bathroom was dated, with accessories that didn’t work properly, and when I reported it, the response was basically, “That’s how it is.” There was no iron in the room, just a below-average laundry service. It’s a shame to waste such a great location unless management takes action.

The room and view were very good, but that’s only one part of feeling welcome. When I called reception to ask how the TV worked, I was asked, “Why, don’t you have a TV at home?” It was rude. The technician they said they’d send never showed up either. Dinner was a dried-out buffet of lunch leftovers, so we didn’t eat there again even though it was included in our price. The staff seemed grumpy and unwelcoming. There were no tea or coffee facilities in the room and no iron. When I asked about ironing, they pointed me to the laundry service. It cost about €8 for one item, and it had to be handed in before 7am to get it back by 9pm that day. That made it impossible to iron something for dinner that evening. We tried not to let the staff spoil our whole trip, and were glad we’d only booked two nights. The rest of Montenegro and everywhere else we stayed was wonderful, but NOT the Avala in Budva.

The hotel’s interior is a work of art, and its city-centre location puts everything close by. There’s even a private beach, reached by elevator. We had a relaxing, luxurious stay at one of the best hotels I’ve ever visited. Breakfast was fantastic, with lots to choose from: fresh fruit, pudding, cheese, pastries, and great coffee. I can hardly find words for how wonderful this place is. Highly recommended!