Review: ultra-luxe One&Only Portonovi (Montenegro)

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Immediately: Evaluation of One&Solely Portonovi (Montenegro)

The Adriatic Sea has a brand new nautical playground: the ultraluxurious One&Solely Portonovi Resort in Montenegro. With its spacious rooms, suites, and villas, Riviera-style eating helmed by Michelin-starred Chef Giorgio Locatelli, and idyllic location on the secluded entrance to Boka Bay (which is a UNESCO World Heritage Website), this 60-acre retreat is a must-stay for discerning vacationers. The resort’s world-class services embrace a non-public seashore, eleven swimming swimming pools, and a superb Chenot Espace wellness middle.

One&Solely Portonovi options in my high 10 checklist of the most effective luxurious seashore resorts in Europe.

Have you ever ever stayed at One&Solely Portonovi? In that case, what was your expertise? Depart a remark.

On this evaluation (extra information and images under my YouTube video):

PROS & THINGS I LIKE

One&Solely Portonovi is a wonderfully positioned sanctuary from which to discover the charms of Montenegro, a nonetheless largely undiscovered vacation spot. Standing on the sting between the east and the west, Montenegro has been influenced by completely different civilizations and religions, creating a novel, fascinating and wealthy cultural heritage. Apart from its historic websites, Montenegro additionally gives a few of Europe’s most spectacular coastal surroundings. Medieval castles, Venetian stony partitions, and vibrantly painted Orthodox monasteries cling to mountains that rise sharply from crystal-clear waters. It’s simple to get to the resort because it’s only a one hour drive from both Dubrovnik Airport (Croatia) or Tivat Airport (Montenegro); transfers could be organized by the resort.

The ultraluxurious property enjoys a superb location on the entrance of Boka Bay, one of many sunniest year-round spots on the Adriatic and infrequently dubbed “the southern-most fjord in Europe.” With its shimmering waters, dramatic mountains and a meandering shoreline fringed by lush forest, Boka Bay is likely one of the most beautiful bays on the planet and has been categorized as a UNESCO World Heritage Website since 1979. The bay is dwelling to numerous hidden lagoons and coves, in addition to century-old moated walled cities like Kotor. Visitors of One&Solely Portonovi can journey between the various secluded seashores and historical cities which have preserved their unique structure and attraction with the resort’s personal non-public boat.

One&Solely Portonovi is designed by well-known architect Jean-Michel Gathy and his crew from Denniston Worldwide Architects. Taking cues from the tradition, historical past and geography of the vacation spot, the resort’s dazzling structure has been designed to include the grand façades, majestic colonnades, and gabled terracotta rooftops, symbolic of Montenegrin structure. The property is comprised of a number of multi-story, neoclassical pavilions, that are modeled after the historic Venetian-style palaces and mansions of the area. All through his design, Gathy saved three phrases in thoughts – luxurious, house and privateness to make sure final luxurious is supplied to One&Solely’s visitors.

One&Solely Portonovi contains a magnificent inside design, created by Hirsch Bedner Associates. The decor is at its most lovely within the majestic foyer, which completely frames the views of Boka Bay via monumental floor-to-ceiling home windows. Barrel vaulted ceilings in a platinum tone, completed with wooden marquetry, embody the foyer house together with marble partitions and flooring. Above the heads of visitors hangs a cover of hand-blown glass in smokey, amber tones mounted to a community of intertwining branches that kind the form of a mimosa tree, from which Montenegro’s eponymous nationwide flower sprouts. Beneath the cover, sits a boulder sculpture crafted in likeness of the area’s topography of jagged cliff edges and jutting rocks.

Scattered all through the property, One&Solely Portonovi’s 113 residential-style rooms and suites provide an opulent home-away-from-home expertise. Throughout my go to, I stayed in a stunning Bayview Room, which featured a heat coloration scheme of pure wooden flooring and millwork with strokes of gray and burnished bronze. The toilet doubled as an prolonged lounge house fitted with a fire, a central chaise lounge and a window-side daybed. The latter could possibly be transformed right into a {couples}’ tub, designed to face the blissful panoramas of the Adriatic waters past. Flooring-to-ceiling sliding home windows – designed to maximise the views of the bay – gave method to an outside patio with views of the seashore membership and bay, fostering an open feeling.

One&Solely Portonovi can also be dwelling to a few unique three- and four-bedroom villas, that are nice for accommodating bigger journey events. The four-bedroom Villa Orjen comes with its personal non-public seashore, roof backyard and jetty, providing the right playground for households. Villa Lovcen boasts panoramic views of the Adriatic with open archways main onto the villa’s very personal courtyard and personal gardens. These looking for final privateness will discover it on the blissfully secluded Villa Rumija. A two-storey coastal hideaway throughout the resort, the residence consists of three en-suite bedrooms which open onto landscaped roof decks, every its personal non-public haven of indulgence and leisure. All three villas have been named after the trio of black mountains that rise from the Adriatic basin and maintain nice historic significance within the area.

The resort’s major pavilions – which home the general public services and lodging – are surrounded by expansive lawns and luxurious gardens that are dwelling to 11 swimming swimming pools. The principle pool complicated is positioned on the non-public seashore and contains one giant infinity pool which is split into two interconnecting sections: a serene pool for adults and a soothing pool for households. At brief distance from the primary pool, overlooking the seashore, are three temperate swimming pools of various water sorts and temperatures. Different swimming pools embrace a 26 m (85-ft) indoor spa swimming pool (extra on that under), the lap pool on the vigorous Tapasake Membership, and 5 non-public swimming pools throughout Villa Lovcen, Villa Rumija, Villa Orjen, and the completely different resort clusters.

Immediately positioned on the blue, tranquil waters of the Adriatic Sea, One&Solely Portonovi provide two several types of seashore experiences:
- The resort boasts a pristine golden-sand seashore, which is barely accessible to visitors of the resort (one of many few non-public sandy seashores within the nation). Exuding a serene atmosphere, the seashore space overlooks the magnificent bay and is surrounded by 4 swimming pools. Plush solar beds with towels and umbrellas can be found to visitors, and seashore service is supplied all day lengthy. The seashore faces west, providing attractive sundown views.
- Positioned between the primary resort and One&Solely Personal Residences is Tapasake Membership, a vibrant pool membership and buzzing social spot, which is open to each resort and out of doors visitors. The pool membership doesn’t provide a seashore as is partly suspended over the water, overlooking the resort’s non-public yacht harbor. Visitors can lounge by the pool through the day (with a alternative of sunbeds or luxurious cabanas) and luxuriate in performances by legendary DJs by evening. Tapasake Membership can also be dwelling to a wonderful Japanese restaurant (extra on the under).

Meals lovers are spoilt for alternative at One&Solely Portonovi, a must-visit culinary vacation spot in Montenegro. Championing native producers and specialty farmers, the resort’s award-winning Govt Chef Nancy Kinchela showcases the flavors and tradition of Montenegro and the Mediterranean. The property options 3 eating places and one bar:
- The resort’s signature restaurant, Sabia by Giorgio Locatelli, is helmed by famend Michelin-starred chef Giorgio Locatelli, his first restaurant on the continent. Serving Southern Italian delicacies with a deal with recent, regionally sourced seafood and greens, Sabia gives indoor and outside eating, with mesmerizing views of the Adriatic shoreline and mountains.
- The resort’s vibrant Tapasake Membership is dwelling to a up to date Japanese restaurant, which serves scrumptious tapas type dishes of ceviche, carpaccio, sushi and sashimi, in addition to a number of marinated fish and meats cooked over scorching coals, together with salads, vegetable tempura, and spicy, flavorsome small bites.
- Conventional native delicacies with a contemporary twist is obtainable at La Veranda, One&Solely’s genuine Montenegrin restaurant, which is positioned one ground under the foyer. Every morning, this venue additionally serves a lavish breakfast buffet (complimented by à la carte dishes).
- The Caminetti Bar is positioned subsequent to the foyer. Right here, visitors can marvel at breathtaking sundown views as they sip completely crafted cocktails in trendy environment.

For visitors who want to dedicate their time away to a severe well being overhaul, One&Solely Portonovi is dwelling to a Chenot Espace spa, some of the complete wellness facilities in Europe. That includes a superb design, the spa gives intensive and transformative journey of detoxing and resetting the physique based mostly on the famend Chenot Methodology. The Chenot Espace wellness middle additionally options hydrotherapy and cryotherapy services, sauna and steam rooms, a surprising indoor pool, a number of leisure areas and an outstanding gymnasium, making certain visitors depart feeling totally recharged. A number of rooms and suites are positioned instantly above the house, providing these participating in multi-day wellness packages quick access and whole privateness.

The resort is managed by One&Solely, considered one of my favourite resort manufacturers on the planet. The fabulous One&Solely model was created in 2002 solely for the posh resort market by Solomon Kerzner – a South African accountant and enterprise magnate – and now options among the highest-rated resorts in essentially the most idyllic spots on the planet, such because the Maldives, Mexico, Rwanda and Cape City. Every resort within the One&Solely assortment not solely gives distinctive design and ambiance which embraces the native environment, but in addition an unparalleled dedication to the best expertise on each doable stage. Luxurious lodging is complemented by impeccable service, unique wellness sanctuaries, vigorous leisure and a bunch of actions, in addition to beautiful culinary adventures from among the world’s most achieved cooks.

CONS & THINGS TO KNOW

Lodging, meals, spa therapies and actions are costly and priced based on the ultra-chic normal and legendary fame of the One&Solely model (however it’s best to know that getting in). Room charges are nicely above 1000 euros per evening in the summertime season.

At 60 acres with over 100 keys, One&Solely Portonovi is the most important resort property in Montenegro. The large scale of the resort permits for fewer crowds and a peaceable vibe however it may possibly additionally make getting round a tad harder (this isn’t the place to overlook one thing in your room when you’re on the seashore). In case you are searching for a small and intimate boutique resort expertise, you might want to look elsewhere.

In step with One&Solely’s model coverage, a costume code is enforced on the resort’s major restaurant, Sabia by Giorgio Locatelli. For instance, gents are requested to don lengthy trousers and shirts for dinner. Whereas the costume code provides to the stylish ambiance, it is likely to be barely uncomfortable throughout scorching and humid summer season days.

MY VERDICT

Location: 9/10
Design: 10/10
Pool: 10/10
Rooms: 9/10
Meals: 9/10
Breakfast: 9/10
Spa: 10/10
Service: 10/10
Worth for cash: 9/10
General expertise: distinctive 9,6/10

TIPS FOR FUTURE GUESTS & SAVE MONEY

Get monetary savings: get complimentary VIP perks at One&Solely Portonovi when reserving through Virtuoso (e.g. improve, each day breakfast, early check-in, late check-out, and $100 USD meals & beverage credit score).

Get monetary savings: learn right here my ideas for getting the most effective deal at a luxurious resort like One&Solely Portonovi (and/or obtain many free perks).

Learn my ideas for making ready your journey in time.

BEST TIME TO VISIT

The coastal areas of Montenegro get pleasure from a Mediterranean local weather with scorching, dry summers and delicate, sunny winters. The coldest months of the 12 months are December and January when temperatures can drop to round 7°C (44°F) at evening. The coast is at its greatest in Might, June and September. July and August, are the most well liked months when temperatures peak between 30-35°C (85-95°F). November is mostly the wettest month.

HOW TO GET THERE

One&Solely Portonovi is a one hour drive from Dubrovnik Airport (Croatia) and a 50 min drive from Tivat Airport (Montenegro); transfers could be organized by the resort.

Click on right here for a constantly up to date checklist of airways that supply direct flights to Tivat
Click on right here for a constantly up to date checklist of airways that supply direct flights to Croatia