Hotel Blue Star - Budva, Montenegro     

I arrived at the hotel during high season and it was perhaps the only room left in Montenegro. I was a bit shocked to pay 100 euros per night, but the room was nice and it was, afterall the high season. I had no running water on the morning that I left, so I was unable to bathe prior to a 9 hour bus ride where I sat uncomfortably knowing that my odor was probably quite offensive to the 50 other passengers aboard. When I brought it to the attention to the person at the front desk, he was unable to do anything except charge my credit card for my stay. I didn't expect much from him, personally as he was the late night worker, however, I certainly expected running water from a 4 or 5 star hotel, which, when one does the currency conversion, was every bit as expensive as one in Paris, London, or New York.

We were there two nights between Xmas and New Year. The weather was clear and sunny but cold at night....which led to our first problem...no heating. The aircon is supposed to double as a heating system. It didn't. Vaguely warm are dribbled out at a pathetic rate. We were cold and they had no portable heaters to offer us. Someone did come to fix it but all he did was to confirm it wasn't working. Brilliant !! We were offered an alternative room only to lug our cases (no help!) up two floors to find twin beds rather than the kingsize we'd left behind ! We opted for the kingsize. Nothing else was available apparently, even tho the place seemed half empty. Which brings us to the beds. Possibly the hardest I've ever had the misfortune to sleep on. We had to use the spare thin duvet as extra padding. Never again ! Bathroom - hair dryer was next to useless. Bring your own ! The shower tray had not been installed properly and the sealant had split from the wall. Water was seeping under the shower tray and out onto the floor at the front. I dread to think what the underneath of the tray looked like ! Black with mould I would imagine ! Food varied between bad and awful. We had dinner the first night and it was bad. Breakfast the following day was even worse. I'm not sure what it was they served us as coffee...I think that it might have been well used Castrol GTX. It certainly had no taste of coffee! The food was as bad. We didn't eat in the 2nd night..... 2nd morning's breakfast was better as they had a full buffet. Where was this the previous morning ????? Even had palatable coffee. Ask for Nescafe, i.e. instant, but it is VERY milky. Beware the stairs in the hotel. They are marble and have no gripper strips across them. They are VERY slippery. I fell badly on the first night and still have problems over a month later (cartilage or ligament?). If it was the UK I'd be sueing ! A shame really. The hotel is new and smart but does not live up to expectations. Poor food and maintenance need to be addressed. I would not expect to pay €180 per night for this ! p.s. the reception staff are very friendly and helpful.