Anyone been to Montenegro

[DaveyouareanuttertwatDave]

Planning a family holiday in August and looking for somewhere that has a nice sandy beach with clean seas, nice restaurants and not too many British tourists (prefer a mix of nationalities or not too much tourism). Last year we went to Cadiz in Spain and loved it as it's mainly still Spanish, beautiful beach, restaurants, etc. Been hearing great things about Croatia, Montenegro, etc so wanted to ask if anyone has been and whether they'd recommend it. What areas did you like/dislike, etc. Thanks

I've been to Kotor and while it's very beautiful the beach is small and dirty looking so if you want a beach holiday I wouldn't recommend it.

We stayed in Cefalu in Sicily last year. Most of the holiday makers there were Italian, and very few Brits. It ticked all the right boxes for us, and sounds like it would tick them for you. I would avoid the first week of August because it is very busy as it is their local festival. I would go back in a heartbeat.

I don't think any of the beaches in Croatia or Montenegro are sandy. All fine pebbles. Been to both and loved both, but Croatia is probably better with kids. It gets extremely hot in the summer though, over 40 degrees c when I went a couple of years ago!

I did a day trip to Montenegro a few years ago while I was staying in Croatia. Didn't go to the beach there or eat out though but the scenary is phenomenal there. Croatia is lovely but the beaches were stony (atleast the ones I visited in Dubrovnik)

Ok thanks everyone, I'll have a look into cefalu. Does anyone have any other recommendations? I've been researching coastal areas near Valencia in Spain if anyone has been there? Or elsewhere in Europe? Many thanks

Corsica?

Yes but the beaches are pebbles or muddy

Ulcinj has a sandy beach. Not a lot to do though. I thought that Bar had a sandy beach as well butnot sure.

Only been to one place in Montenegro but no sandy beach. Would like to see Sveti Stefan. Google it to see if sandy - it looks it. I found it so cheap compared to Croatia. A couple of years ago now but an Magnum was something like 50p, cup of tea 20p.

Try the costa de la Luz in Andalucia
Mostly Spanish and Portuguese tourists with the odd Brit and German

Sveti Stefan is gorgeous but is a shingle beach. No sand from anywhere I went in Montenegro. It's a beautiful country & we loved it. Kotor is fab as is Perast.

If you don't mind the travel time then one of the quieter greek islands would work - Naxos or Paros have sandy beaches. You'd fly to eg Santorini and then get a boat. Or the quieter bits of the Ionian islands, eg Lefkada is popular with Greeks mainly and a short drive from the mainland. Corfu and Zakynthos have quieter bits if you look carefully. Crete maybe but will be hot!

You could also look at the west coast of France eg near Royan but it will be heaving in Aug (but mainly with French not brits)

Koror is a beautiful little city, but gets full of cruise ships. Good for a few days but probably not a full holiday.
Plenty of lovely places in Croatia: my favourite is Rovinj in Istria.
Again, very picturesque but with gray beaches too. An hours drive inland takes you to Motovun - worth a visit, and some of the islands off the coast are lovely. You can even get a ferry across to Venice.

Kotor

Thanks GaryBarlow - I'd love to go back. Not too fussed about sand. Are any of the beaches in Croatia sand?

Bugger - great beaches not grey! Fat fingers

That wasn't directed at you Gary - just asking in general.

those places you mention upaladder look beautiful. Would love to see more of that part of the world.

Thanks everyone!

We used to have a house near to Valencia - it's a lovely city. Check out villajoyosa; it's a gorgeous little town (the name means "jewelled village") with an incredible long white sandy beach that is almost entirely free of annoying Brits abroad (they're along the coast in Benidorm!!).

Villajoyosa

As the others all said: beautiful costal towns, but the beaches arent particularly nice. I went 12 years ago. The restaurants were ok but nothing special. I would like to see sveti stefan though.

It's about 10 years since I went. Kotor is a beautiful city. Sveti Stefan is also lovely but neither have sandy beaches (lovely warm sea though). Ulcinj has a big beach, but that's about it. Best bit of Montenegro by far for me was durmitor national park-like amazing mountain scenery.

Bulgaria might have what you are looking for. Avoid the Sunny Beach type resorts and there are some lovely villages and (if I remember correctly) sandy beaches. I also really enjoyed the food and at the time (10 years ago) it was incredibly cheap.