Best Western Premier Montenegro

Rooms and decor

Best Western Premier Montenegro is a 48-room boutique tucked into a warm-toned building in the centre of Podgorica, one of the quietest, most modest capitals in Europe. The building does not loom large the way a big-chain hotel does — it is sized to a small city where 1970s-to-1990s blocks stand next to newer builds. Step into the lobby and you find warm brown-and-cream tones against modern chairs, with a real hot tub sitting in one corner, a detail you rarely meet at this level that makes the place feel special right away. Reception usually greets you in fluent English, and it feels more like a hotel the owner still walks every day than a faceless chain. Rooms run clean and modern — neutral walls, hardwood floors, soft beds, crisp white linens — and many have a small balcony where you can step out for air and watch the city slowly wake up. If you like a place that feels warm and personal without shouting about luxury, this one lands.

Food and amenities

The standout here is the free breakfast buffet, which reviews agree punches above the price. There are pastries baked fresh that morning, several kinds of bread, eggs to order from a chef in front of you, Balkan-style sausage and bacon, local cheese and ham to eat with olives, fresh fruit and cereal, plus espresso from the machine and juice. For a 4-star at starting rates of about $86 a night, that is strong value — many guests say it carries them right through to lunch. The lobby hot tub is the real thing, with seating to lean back and unwind after a long drive, and some people use it in the evening after a full day out at the mountains or Lake Skadar. There is free Wi-Fi throughout that reviews call stable, free parking right by the hotel (a big deal for the rent-a-car Balkans crowd), a small meeting room for business travelers, and a work desk in the room that actually works. The other thing that sets this place apart is the pet-friendly policy — travelers crossing borders with a dog or cat will struggle to find a room like this in Podgorica.

Location and getting there

Location is another strong card. The hotel sits in central Podgorica, about 750 metres from Delta City Mall, the largest shopping centre in town, an easy 10-minute walk — the mall has a big supermarket, several food courts, cafes and a cinema, which is great for a solo traveler or couple hunting for a late bite. Another 8-minute walk brings you to the St. Petar of Cetinje monument at the heart of the central square, with a stretch of local restaurants and easygoing Balkan-priced cafes nearby. For getting around, Podgorica Airport (TGD) is just a 15-minute drive, good for anyone connecting or landing late who wants to sleep near the airport without paying for a dull terminal hotel. If you plan to rent a car and tour Montenegro, this is a fine starting point — about 30 minutes to Lake Skadar, the largest lake in the Balkans, a little over an hour to Kotor, and about 2 hours to Dubrovnik over the Croatian side. It makes a tidy base for covering the whole Balkan peninsula.

Things to know before booking

Straight talk to help you decide. The most common gripe is room size — they run compact next to a Western-European 4-star, and some reviews note that a large 28-inch suitcase leaves little room to walk around once it is open. Families with older kids may want to weigh that up; a couple will likely find it fine. The next thing to understand before booking is Podgorica itself, which is not a top tourist draw like Kotor, Budva or Sveti Stefan — it is a quiet administrative capital, with no grand historic monuments or pretty beaches, better used as a stopover than a main destination. If you are coming for a full week in Montenegro, stay here 1-2 nights as a base, then move on toward the coast. Finally, street-facing rooms can pick up car noise in the morning, especially on weekdays; light sleepers should ask for a higher floor or the garden side at booking, which the hotel is happy to arrange when available.

Our take

Having read through real reviews and weighed it against the other options in Podgorica, Best Western Premier Montenegro is a tidy fit for the practical traveler — central location, a generous free breakfast, a relaxing hot tub, free parking, a pet-friendly policy and a quick hop to the airport, all from starting rates of about $86 a night. It works best for a couple or solo traveler using Podgorica as a rent-a-car base for the Balkans, or for a business traveler flying in for a short meeting who wants a convenient room near the airport and the centre. A small family can stay too, though it may feel tight with bigger kids. Anyone after Aman- or Mandarin Oriental-level luxury should look elsewhere — this is not that, and it does not try to be. On value and warm, personal service, we give it a confident 8.5/10 — pick it as your base camp in Podgorica on a first trip to Montenegro and you will not be let down.