mwp1

The drive from Dubrovnik around kotor bay then through the mountains from budva to Podgorica was really stunning scenic drive, took me about 3 hours with a stop for a coffee

Obruni Boy

I flew Montenegro Airlines from LGW to Tivat some 4 years ago. Very basic but acceptable for the short flight. At the time I think it was an all economy flight, no alcohol drink trolley service and dry sandwich for food. Tivat airport had a quick passport control and smooth exit. I left from Podegrica and after that would choose Tivat any day.

paulaf

Interesting thanks they offer business class now but it's significantly more expensive than BA. They seem to only have 4 aircraft too! They often seem to get diverted if delayed as Tivat airport closes as it has no runway lights for evening flights! So would hate to book that then get delayed and diverted to Podgorica. I'm sure the drive is lovely in daylight and when not rushed.

Obruni Boy

The drive is interesting but there is a big drop in elevation from Podgerica to the sea. The main road down the mountain is smooth but has a few sharp hairpin bends that my wife hated. I don’t think I would really want to do the drive in the dark and after a long day. Podgerica city though is a bit of a dump and not the best place to spend a night.

paulaf

That's what I wondered we're both experienced drivers and travellers but is it too much in the evening? Thinking about staying overnight in a local hotel instead any thoughts on that?

Obruni Boy

As I said Podgerica is not nice and if I remember quite a drive from the airport (25 minutes?). If there is a close airport hotel that could work but as to where I can't help. Tivat is much better and the approach through the mountain valleys is one of the best you will ever experience.

Kgmm77

You really don’t want to be taking the mountain road in the dark, think Top Gear alpine switchbacks. But from memory the main road is the tunnel under the mountain anyway.

As for hotels, you’d be doubling back into Podgorica which doesn’t really make sense.

EvilDoctorK

Tivat would really make a lot more sense then ... It's super close to Kotor .. Driving down from Podgorica and arriving at midnight trying to find your hotel isn't impossible, but if it's easily avoided then I certainly would choose to avoid it .. the main road (E80) with the tunnel and then up the coast is okay, but it's a ~90 minute drive and you won't see any of the nice views anyway at that hour .. there is no merit to staying in Podgorica anyway, it's a singularly uninspiring place ( but the rest of the country is lovely, good choice !)

If you do go to/from Podgorica definitely avoid the switchback road up the back of Kotor .. It looks shorter but it really isn't and would be quite dangerous at night. The switchbacks are okay and definitely good to drive up for a sunset view from Kotor, but the bit on the plateau after them is really narrow and slow and quite dangerous even in daylight.

paulaf

Yes Tivat would be better but I'm unsure about Montenegro airlines reliability and their reviews are terrible, wish BA had picked Tivat instead! Who do you fly to Tivat with?
Google maps gives me 3 choices of route all very similar distances, one as you say approaching Kotor from behind around Lovcen national park, do you mean avoid that? Then 2 others both going through Budva firstly one form the north the M2.3 similar to the first route towards Kotor but then deviates south to Budva before I guess a sharp right back upto Kotor. The 3rd route which Google maps thinks is the quickest, goes to Vranjia across Skadar lake then to Petrovac then to Budva along the coast. Which route would you advise please? I've attached a link showing directions to a random place in Kotor, not sure it will work though. Many thanks, it sounds like you know the area well.

EvilDoctorK

The route that Google chooses is the one to go for .. there's a long tunnel before it joins the coastal road which means unlike the other routes you avoid having to drive up and over the coastal mountain range

The northerly one through the national park is the one to definitely avoid .. to be undertaken at leisure in daylight it can be charming, but with the clock against you at night don't do it

paulaf

Many thanks that's very helpful. Still toying with flying with Montenegro airlines but the reviews are dreadful old aircraft and many delays.

LiHS

YM currently have 3 perfectly nice Embraer 195 planes (all around 10 years old) and one ancient Fokker 100 they're getting rid of after the summer (as well as a second Fokker in storage). It seems the F100 is scheduled on the LGW-TIV route, and I would definitely prefer to avoid it.

If you want to get to Kotor before nightfall, which is eminently sensible, you might want to consider connecting on LH in FRA or MUC to TIV (weekend flights only iirc), or on OS in VIE to TGD for a 14:15 arrival, giving you ample time to drive to Kotor. If you decide to fly to DBV and get a rental car you're likely to be charged a hefty fee for taking the car out of Croatia/EU; also avoid weekends as the border crossings usually have the longest queues then.

If you don't need a car during the rest of your stay in Montenegro, the TGD airport website advertises fixed-fare taxis to Kotor for 55EUR. Just a thought.

paulaf

Many thanks for this, yes I noted it was the Fokker too on Montenegro, presume you'd avoid due to its age and therefore safety?
Like the look of Lufthansa as it flies to Tivat, do you think 1 hour 20 mins is long enough to connect in Frankfurt and likely to get luggage through? Business class fare is not too bad either.
we're hiring a car and have put myself of DBV due to the border crossing issues.

Tiger_lily

If you can buy the ticket with 1hr 20 as a valid connection time then in theory it’s possible. Reality might be different

paulaf

Yes I understand about MCT but is Frankfurt difficult to negotiate? suppose also depends if flying in and out of different terminals.