Hotel Sahara in Ulcinj

Hotel Sahara sits in Ulcinj, on Montenegro's southern coast, and is a good fit for couples or solo travellers who want a quiet base near the sea. The accommodation on offer here sleeps 2 guests in 1 bedroom, with 1 bed and 1 private bathroom — a compact, straightforward setup for a two-person stay. The wider property comprises 8 two-room apartments, 3 one-room apartments and 1 VIP apartment, so the scale stays small and unhurried rather than resort-sized. Shared facilities include a pool, a beach bar, a restaurant, a terrace, a playground and private parking, along with 24-hour reception. Rooms come with wireless internet, cable television, a safe, a mini-bar and a kitchenette, which makes light self-catering easy between meals out. Rates start from 25 EUR per night, keeping it an affordable option for exploring Ulcinj's beaches and old town.

About the area

Ulcinj rewards a base set slightly back from the seafront. The town spreads across a hillside above its bay, and the residential streets behind the promenade stay noticeably cooler and quieter than the strip itself, while still putting the sand, the market and the bus station within a short walk or a two-minute drive. This is Montenegro's southernmost town and it feels it: minarets and church towers share the skyline, Albanian and Montenegrin are both spoken in the shops, and the cooking picks up chilli, peppers and southern sweets you won't find further up the coast.

Two beaches define the choice. Mala plaža is the compact sandy bay under the Old Town, good for a quick swim and busy in high summer; Velika plaža, south-east past the Port Milena fishing channel, runs for kilometres of flat sand with room to walk away from everyone. Beyond it the Bojana river splits around Ada Bojana, where wooden restaurants stand on stilts over the water. Inland, the old salt pans of the Ulcinj Salina draw flamingos and tens of thousands of migrating birds each spring and autumn — one of the more remarkable sights on the Adriatic flyway, and only minutes from town.