While Croatia is a hot destination right now, don’t overlook it’s neighbor to the south. Montenegro is about an hours drive south of the Dubrovnik airport. It’s an easy drive and well worth the effort. Definitely plan to visit Croatia as it truly is beautiful, but visit Montenegro before it becomes crazy crowded like Croatia.

This summer, we sailed in Croatia, but as soon as we hit Dubrovnik, we rented a car and drove down the coast to the lesser visited Old Town of Kotor. Dubrovnik is busy at almost any hour of the day, rain or shine, but Kotor is quiet, and only really fills up when the cruise ships stop by. You can walk through the narrow streets of the old town without worrying about walking single file and stepping on the heals of the person in front of you.

But, the best part of Kotor is the body of water it sits on. The Bay of Kotor is stunningly beautiful, with shores dotted with charming old towns hemmed in by craggy hills. Once you get out of the city of Kotor, the water is quiet and calm. There are several old villages that have yet to be fully restored, you can see the potential if only they had the resources to rejuvenate.

There are several little villages that sit on the inner bay. The most well known is the picturesque town of Perast. Despite having only one main street, this tiny town boasts 16 churches and 17 formerly grand palazzos. Some of the old buildings have been renovated back to their original beauty, while others sit in ruins, waiting for someone to notice their potential and save them.

Signs of increased tourism are everywhere with several new luxury hotels opening. Iberostar has renovated a grand old palace in the center of Perast that sits directly on the water. And the One and Only will be opening a luxurious new hotel right on the Adriatic at the mouth of the bay. It’s part of a Portonova, a mega yacht marina.

And a trip to Montenegro is not complete without a trip to the Aman Sveti Stephen. The charming luxury hotel is an historic village in itself set out into the sea with a just one walk way from land to access it. It’s simplicity reflects Montenegro's natural and elegant beauty. And if you are feeling religious, there are 5 chapels of varying sizes to visit, or you could just go to their gorgeous spa.