Hotel Splendid Montenegro

Many Montenegrin hotels and resorts get by on the often spectacular natural scenery alone but the Hotel Splendid knows that imposing 21st-century design can also be an asset. Classic arches have been skillfully combined with modern glass elements to craft Montenegro’s first 5-star hotel – that was back in 2006.

The Hotel

It’s an impressive site, no doubt about that, we’re not talking about some small boutique hotel with a rooftop pool and rose garden — this is a behemoth of a hotel, with 339 rooms, suites and apartments, and no fewer than four swimming pools and three restaurants.

It seems like the Splendid is in there to cement its position as one of the few really large and luxurious hotels, with the country’s largest conference room and SPA Center, a hotel where you can genuinely get lost. And due to its size, there’s no contradiction between family-friendliness and sophisticated hospitality.

The hotel looks straight out into the glimmering Adriatic Sea which contrasts so nicely against the golden sand of Becici Beach which is just a few steps away. The hotel-owned beach section with its comfortable sun loungers is well-maintained, and, your kids will celebrate it, also has an ice cream stand.

There’s also the sumptuous Splendid Spa with the outdoor stone sauna, the well-equipped gym, and the signature indoor pool engulfed by a line of antique-style marble columns. Meanwhile, there’s abundant privacy to be had for journeying couples without children, including one adults-only indoor pool.

And if you are traveling with children, they will be cheerful to see that there is a separate building dedicated to them. Here, they can engage in all sorts of creative activities, all the while being supervised by experienced children’s animators. Activities include face painting, karaoke, and sports games.

The outdoor swimming pools are vast and comfortable with distinct areas for adults and children who will especially love it here. And if they get tired of the pool landscape, the beach is only a couple of steps away with plenty of space and shallow waters.

Restaurants and Bars

In the Hotel Splendid, you’ll find a handful of restaurants and bars, from the Mediterranean-influenced La Bussola to the Promenada, a Japanese-Chinese Fusion restaurant with a good Sushi offering. But other items on the menu such as the Teriyaki Salmon and the Domburi Prawns are also worth trying.

In the evening there is soft and enjoyable live music on the scenic outdoor terrace, accompanied by a classy dinner party table setting. La Bussola is a vast buffet-style restaurant, serving a boundless breakfast offering in the mornings, including some authentic local dishes you might not have heard of before.

The lunch banquet is equally extensive and then it is no surprise to see specialties such as seafood paella, a wide assortment of grilled Adriatic Fare, and roasted beef on the table. Dinner is served a la carte and the restaurant transforms into a more homely place with candle-lit tables.

Enjoy an afternoon cocktail or settle in for an all-out romantic evening in the Splendid Lobby Bar, adorned with its iconic grand chandellier and chic white piano. The choice of foods and beverages is broader than you might expect for a lobby bar. And so you will find Truffle Mushroom Pasta, Linguine with Seafood, along Grilled Octopus on the well-crafted menu.

The Rooms

The rooms and suites in the Splendid are unexpectedly spacious with elegant bathrooms featuring marble countertops. The best ones look out to the Adriatic Sea from intimate balconies and terraces and are capable of housing a whole family.

And while the design is a bit on the gaudy side, the residences are still polished and tasteful. Each room is fully-equipped with bathrobes, slippers, and all other amenities you can certainly expect from a 5-star hotel. Probably you won’t watch TV a lot during your stay, but it is comforting to know that there are hundreds of channels available in many languages.

Superior Room

Measuring a lofty 42 square meters, the Superior Rooms are sufficiently spacious to accommodate you and your partner, even for longer stays. The bathroom feels upmarket, with beige and black hues dominating, and features both a shower and a snuggy bathtub.

Room Rates: from 115€ in the off season

Junior Suite

The Junior Suite can host up to four persons on a comfortable king-sized bed and an additional retractable sofa bed in the separate living room. It comes with a balcony from where you will have gorgeous sea views.

Room Rates: from 375€

Family Suite

If you are visiting as a larger family or group of friends, then one of the family suites might be the right choice. Roomy enough to accommodate up to six adults, you will sleep on an oversized oval bed and on two sofa beds. The bathrooms are luxurious with mosaic flooring. Sure, you will also have sea views.

Room Rates: from 375€

Merit Casino Royal Splendid 

On the 10th floor of the hotel, with what can only be described as a fantastic view, you will find the Casino Royal Splendid. It is operated by the Turkey-based Merit Group and is relatively modest in size, at least compared to some of their larger venues. Drinks are free and there is a light buffet.

Picture a 1980s casino movie with bearded male characters sitting at the poker tables, smoking one cigarette after the other while betting rather large stakes – the minimum for most games is 25€ – and you come pretty close to the atmosphere in this casino.

The Location

The Hotel Splendid sits just three kilometers from Budva’s Old Town. The walled medieval center is but a 30-minute walk, or a 5-minute taxi ride away. From the marina in Budva, you can take a water taxi to the nearby Sveti Nikola Island. And one of Montenegro’s most iconic settlements, Sveti Stefan is also close, just 6 kilometers.