Avala Resort & Villas, a hotel in the shadow of the walls

Few hotels on the coast have a location like the Avala’s. It sits right against the walls of Budva Old Town, above Ričardova glava beach, with the path to Mogren starting at its door. The facilities below come from the Avala’s own website, the only source I rely on for them.

A hotel with a past

The Avala’s website says it was founded in 1937 and was one of the first hotels on the Adriatic coast, with a pioneering role in Budva’s tourism. The town’s tourist board adds a story I love. Digging the foundations, between 1936 and 1938, workers found Hellenistic and Roman graves with gold and silver ornaments, Budva’s ancient necropolis, whose finds are now split between the City Museum and museums elsewhere. I tell that story in Budva Old Town.

Rooms, villas and suites

Every unit is air-conditioned with a balcony or terrace, and some look out over the Adriatic or the old town. Standard rooms have a double or twin beds, a bath, minibar and safe, and Superior rooms sleep up to three. There are two-storey villas with a living room and private terrace, and two-bedroom family villas. The Executive and Luxury Suites are in the historic Grand Avala wing next to the old town, with views of the sea, the beach and the walls. Right at the top, on the seventh floor, is a two-bedroom penthouse over two levels. The hotel doesn’t publish its total room count online, and every category can take a cot or extra bed on request, handy if you’re travelling with children.

To sleep close to everything, search places to stay in Budva on Expedia and filter by area before price.

Pools and spa

The Avala has a glass-walled indoor pool with views of the sea and the old town, with a jacuzzi beside it, and two outdoor pools, one on the upper floor by the spa with a children’s pool and bar, and another by the villas. The outdoor ones open from 15 May, weather permitting. The spa has separate saunas for men and women, a steam room, ten treatment rooms, three of them for couples, and a gym. Guests also get Wi-Fi, free parking and access to the private beach.

Who it suits

If you want to be in the thick of Budva’s evenings and walk back to bed, this is the hotel. Families get the children’s pool and the family villas; couples, the spa’s couples’ suites. If what you’re after is a long sandy beach on your doorstep, though, Bečići will suit you better.

If you are short on time, see the best tours in Avala Resort & Villas and pick one that fits your day.

What’s around it

From the hotel, Mogren Beach is 350 metres along the cliff path, and Slovenska plaža and the centre are a few minutes’ walk. The tourist board gives it four stars on its hotel list, and the Merit Avala casino is in the same building. To compare it with other hotels in the centre and along the riviera, see my breakdown by area in hotels in Budva.

To sleep close to everything, search places to stay in Budva on Booking.com and filter by area before price.