Boutique Hotel Shell

Our room was comfortable and clean, with a lovely view of the sea. We liked the hotel's location, with restaurants close by and easy access to the water. The staff were helpful and friendly, especially the blonde woman with glasses at reception. She looked after us from check-in through check-out, went out of her way to make us comfortable, and shared great recommendations. Thank you to her! The breakfast wasn't very good, and the partner beach was about a 10-minute walk away. That seemed unnecessary when you can swim right in front of the hotel, and we didn't think that beach was very nice. Otherwise everything was fine, and we'd stay here again when we visit Budva.

The area felt eerie and out of season, with most nearby businesses, restaurants, and hotels shut. The roof terrace was closed and packed away. The restaurant "Shell" downstairs was far too expensive for its limited menu, and the manager, owner, or maître d' seemed like the most miserable man on the planet. Give this place a miss. I chose it based on the reviews, but wondered if I'd stayed in the same place. It's in Beicci, not Budva, about a 10-15 minute drive past Budva. You can walk along the beach wall, though it takes an hour. Room 102 was a terrible double with a tiny terrace at the back of the hotel, overlooking the street. There was heavy traffic noise, dogs barking, and a constant thud as cars went over the speed bumps. I only saw the receptionist when I checked in. The rest of the time reception was unmanned, though we used a keypad to get in and out. Breakfast was a charcuterie board with a 'choice' of eggs, but the waiter didn't understand scrambled or poached. The machine coffee was dreadful, and there were just a couple of slices of fruit. Cleanliness left a lot to be desired. I spilled a fizzy drink and the cleaner didn't mop it up. There was no shower shelf, and I could only use the hand shower because the rainfall head sprayed water out near the taps. No black tea, bottled water, or milk either, just two instant coffees and two fruit teas. The double room was very cramped, the balcony minuscule, and the bed hard and uncomfortable, although the pillows were good.

Both maids carefully cleaned our apartment every day, brought fresh towels, and pointed us toward some great spots in Budva and Montenegro. The hotel was very hygienic, and I'm grateful to the whole team at this small hotel. The restaurant and breakfast were quite decent, served on the terrace by the sea. One thing that disappointed me was the receptionist and hotel manager who greeted us at reception. Even though we waited at the desk each day, he communicated very poorly with us and wasn't much help when we asked about some more unusual places to visit in this beautiful country.

Right by the beach, and the price was a steal, to be honest. Balsha gave world class service, showed me the garage himself, and explained everything really clearly.