Inside ‘real-life Love Island’ where super-rich drop £3k a day & kinky clubs sweep up boozy Brits booted out from Ibiza
DOWNING £160 bottles of champagne, revellers stand in waist-high water as they dance to the latest club hits just yards from a pristine white-sand beach. Periodically, foam is sprayed over the scantily-clad tourists, who have the option of hiding under one of the reed umbrellas. Darren FletcherThe destination is focused on being Instagram friendly for tourists[/caption] Darren FletcherYoungesters are still finding love in the party town[/caption] Darren FletcherBut that doesn’t stop some tourists from getting rowdy while partying[/caption] Darren FletcherFoam parties right by the beach are one of the draws to the country[/caption] Back in the town centre, sexy dancers are taking up positions on podiums as the clubs start to open their doors, with girls dressed up to the nines and blokes hoping to scoreflocking inside. As one reveller tells me: “It’s just like Love Island.” But this isn’t Spain
DOWNING £160 bottles of champagne, revellers stand in waist-high water as they dance to the latest club hits just yards from a pristine white-sand beach.
Periodically, foam is sprayed over the scantily-clad tourists, who have the option of hiding under one of the reed umbrellas.
Back in the town centre, sexy dancers are taking up positions on podiums as the clubs start to open their doors, with girls dressed up to the nines and blokes hoping to scoreflocking inside.
As one reveller tells me: “It’s just like Love Island.”
But this isn’t Spain or Greece, this is Montenegro – the Instagram-perfect party destination hoping to sweep up the wave of boozy Brits being shooed out of holiday hotspots like the Balearics.
In particular, the gorgeous town of Budva is trying to position itself as the new Mykonos, offering ordinary punters the chance to come and party like wealthy celebrities – for a fraction of the price back home.
Here, a bottle of Moet is just £160 – while in London it would be north of £450. Grey Goose is just £180, compared to more than £330 in the UK’s capital city.
One beach club that is seeing an influx of Brits is Galija, a short drive away from Budva. That’s likely thanks to the dazzling array of celebrities it has hosted, including Victoria’s Secret model Alessandra Ambrosio.
In recent times, Montenegro has been the go-to holiday destination for countless A-list stars including the Beckhams, and Rita Ora.
Over past decades, even Princess Margaret liked the private town of Sveti Stefan, just a few mins away from Galija, for her short-haul breaks away from prying eyes.
But now, the influencers have arrived, turning the pretty ancient settlement into something, erm, not quite so cultural.
As Galija manager Djordje Bukvic tells The Sun: “In Montenegro the main goal is to go out and be pretty.”
Instagram perfect
He explains: “Here at Galija, we’re a little more pricy, but people come here for the aesthetic. There’s been a trend on TikTok about getting ready for Galija Beach.
“Girls come here in full glam, heels and everything. They pose and take the photos before relaxing and going swimming and things like that.
“We’re very much in an Instagram era and here is very aesthetic, it’s Instagrammable.
“Montenegro likes to represent a bit of luxury and exclusivity, that’s something you get here.”
It’s like being on Love Island Niamh, Irish tourist
The club has been hosting DJs from Mykonos and gives Mediteranian clubs a run for their money with themed parties.
Irish tourist Niamh, 25, said: “We came here to party, and it’s like being on Love Island. It’s just so stunning.
“Everyone has been so friendly, it’s such a change from other places in Europe.”
She’s enjoying a girls trip to the Balkan nation with Hannah and Seanin, both 25, who have also been impressed with Montenegro.
Hannah said: “It’s been very reasonable. Really good fun.”
Tequila bribes
The girls have opted to spend their afternoon in Torch Beach Club – a formerly British-owned establishment which boasts an Ibiza-vibe with loud music and dancers from 3pm.
Owner Ranko is keen to get more Brits to see Budva as the next big party hotspot, as they get thrown out of neighbouring Croatia and nearby Ibiza.
He told The Sun: “We would love more Brits here, and we get a lot in my club, but that could be because it was British-owned.
“I’ve been paying to have our posts promoted in the UK to get more clients from there.
“[Brits] can be a bit of trouble, but we know how to deal with that. I’ll often offer shots in return for good behaviour.
“I’ve sent tables 20 shots of tequila for free, and we pour it out from the bottle at the table so they can see that we offer premium drinks.
“British guests spend a lot of money and like to party, which is what we do here.
“We’ve had some guests who have thrown up or tried to skinny-dip, but we deal with it. They normally come back the next day and apologise.”
We’re very much in an Instagram era and here is very aesthetic, it’s Instagrammable Djordje Bukvic, Galija Beach Manager
Bars and clubs across the town are buying targeted ads on social media to bring in revellers from the UK.
In party, the move is remarkably because Russian tourists have stopped visiting the Balkans country after the outbreak of the Ukraine War, which has left a deep spending hole in the local economy.
Ranko said: “We used to have Russian tourists visiting, and they’d drop £3,000 a day without thinking. Now they’re gone, we miss that.”
And by their calculations, Brits are the next biggest spenders when it comes to boozing.
Brit invasion
As of this year, 21 airlines fly directly from the UK to Montenegro, making the destination more accessible than ever before.
Last year saw 89,013 visit the tiny nation, and it’s expected that the number will continue to grow as flight links are established.
One Brit from London, aged 25, said: “The locals here seem to be happy to have tourists coming, unlike everywhere else.
“Everyone wants us to have a good time and enjoy it – they don’t mind that we can be a bit loud.
“The nightlife here is amazing. It’s been really good every night we’ve been out.
“But it is beautiful here. The water is crystal clear, beaches are beautiful and it’s really reasonable.”
History of Montenegro
Montenegro’s history dates back to ancient times, with influences from the Illyrians, Romans, and Byzantines.
It became an independent kingdom in the 19th century and was later absorbed into Yugoslavia in 1918.
After Yugoslavia’s break-up, Montenegro remained part of Serbia and Montenegro until it regained independence in 2006.
Montenegro’s rich culture is a beautiful blend of Eastern and Western influences, shaped by its history under Byzantine, Ottoman, and Venetian rule.
When it comes to politics, Montenegro operates as a parliamentary republic and became a part of NATO in 2017, with aspirations for EU membership.
Tourism is mainly the driving force behind Montenegro’s economy, especially along the stunning Adriatic coast, significantly contributing to its GDP.
Besides tourism, the energy, agriculture, and real estate sectors are also crucial. In recent years, Montenegro has seen a rise in foreign investments, particularly in luxury tourism and infrastructure.
Montenegro has experienced some political unrest, often due to ethnic and religious tensions, as well as its geopolitical orientation.
The 2020 law on religious property was a significant source of unrest, leading to protests and political tensions, with many perceiving it as targeting the Serbian Orthodox Church.
Additionally, demonstrations have taken place over corruption, government policies, and EU integration-related issues.
As of May 2023, Jakov Milatović has been president of Montenegro. He’s from the centrist political party, Europe Now Movement. Dritan Abazović serves as the country’s prime minister.
Glamour on steroids
But this is not the super-messy clubbing seen in most of Europe. Instead it’s an ultra-glam vibe where girls – and boys – make a huge effort before going out.
Brit Georgia, from London, picked Budva for a girl’s holiday with pals Claudia, Liat, Kelsey and Flora, all 28, and said they all enjoyed being able to get super glammed up.
She said: “The locals are gorgeous, and it’s really fun to try to match their dressing up level. It’s certainly an Instagram destination.
“The beauty of the nature and beaches is unparalleled.
“It’s been such a nice vibe here, which you don’t get in much of Europe.”
Pal Liat added: “The drinks are great and there are so many options to choose from.
“We’ve enjoyed the beach bars as well as a good place to chill in the day.”
I can’t imagine that behaviour that Brits normally get away with abroad would go down well here Lazar, Serbian-British tourist
British-Serbian nationals Lazar, 22, and Danica, 22, both from London, are aware that things aren’t quite as lovely as they seem on the surface.
Danica: “We come out for the nightlife, but it’s quite different to other places in terms of culture.
“People are always trying to put on a show here and try to be impressive because they know if you don’t people will look down on them.
“It’s all about putting on a show.”
They head out to Budva annually with Balkan Fun, a travel agency aimed at Balkan nationals who live outside of Montenegro.
Pal Lazar adds: “I can’t imagine that behaviour that Brits normally get away with abroad would go down well here.
“The bouncers are pretty rough with us, so that wouldn’t go down well with people looking to get wasted and behave badly.
“It’s not looked on well in the culture here.”
