Package holidays to Montenegro, and when to go it alone

Montenegro has become a proper holiday destination for British travellers, and the official figures show it. Here’s what the numbers say, what protection a package gives you, and when, in my view, you’re better off going independently.

What the numbers say

In 2024 Montenegro’s statistics office, MONSTAT, recorded 111,844 UK arrivals and 569,616 nights. That works out at about 5.1 nights each, the profile of a short beach break or a week split between the bay and the Riviera. Spanish visitors, by contrast, stayed about 2.7 nights, typical of a multi-country tour. For me, five nights is enough for the coast but not for the mountains, which is why I set out a full week in Montenegro in a week.

What a package protects

The big advantage of a package is ATOL. The Civil Aviation Authority describes ATOL, introduced in 1973 and run by the CAA, as a scheme that financially protects package trips including a flight. You should be given an ATOL Certificate. Should the ATOL holder collapse mid-trip, the scheme keeps your holiday going where it can, letting you stay put in your accommodation, and refunds what you pay to replace any protected element. Claims must be made within 12 months of the failure. Travel agents can sell ATOL holders’ packages without holding their own licence, so the name to check is the one under «Who is protecting your trip?» on the certificate. It isn’t travel insurance, so you still need a policy, especially as your GHIC only works in Montenegro with a local certificate.

If you are staying the night, see the best hotel deals in Budva for your dates: the well-placed rooms go fast.

Flights tip the balance

On the 2026-27 winter timetable, Podgorica has Wizz Air UK from Gatwick and Ryanair UK from Stansted, and Tivat, which handles over 80% of its traffic in summer, comes into its own from spring. Details are in flights to Montenegro. A package that bundles the flight takes away the hassle of connections, and if something goes wrong the organiser is responsible. Even so, I’d always compare with flight and hotel booked separately.

When I’d book a package

With young children, older relatives, or when I only wanted a week by the pool on the Budva Riviera. What I don’t like about many packages is that they stay on the coast and leave out Durmitor, Lake Skadar or the inland monasteries, which for me are the best of the country. Remember too that the coast road and border crossings get congested in summer, gov.uk warns, so a package with coach transfers isn’t always quicker.

So you do not lose the morning at the ticket office, browse tickets and tours in Budva on GetYourGuide.

The approach I prefer

Going independently, with a hire car, driving on the right, and booking the odd day trip locally for anything I’d rather not drive. A week covers the coast, Cetinje, the lake and the north, and to add another country, see Montenegro and the Balkans.

If you are staying the night, see the best hotel deals in Budva for your dates: the well-placed rooms go fast.