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Back in the 15th century, this small island on the Adriatic coast went from a powerful fortress to sleepy fishing village. In the 1950s and ’60s, enterprising hospitality types turned the town into a Mecca for the rich and famous. The quaint red-roofed buildings and stone streets were preserved while upgrading hotel interiors to include everything the luxury traveler expects in modern accommodations.
By the seventies, the place was sprawling with celebrities. Princess Margaret vacationed at Sveti Stefan as did Marilyn Monroe and Sophia Loren. But the world changed and when the Yugoslav federation failed in the 1990s, this enchanting enclave went into sleeper mode once again.
It wasn’t until 2007 that Aman Resorts placed a bid with the Montenegro government to redevelop the 40,700-square-foot Saint Stefan’s island. Aman first opened the stone mansion Villa Milocer, overlooking the isle, in 2009 and now, the entire complex is reading to welcome guests.
Visit and explore several fine dining venues, the spa, and three pink sand beaches—Sveti Stefan, Milocer Beach, and Queen’s Beach.
Sveti Stefan is the ideal home base from which to explore the towns of Budva, Cetinje, and Perast as well as Skadar Lake and the Bay of Kotor.
Rates start at $775, including roundtrip transfers from Tivat and Podgorica airports.
—Andrea M. Rotondo for LuxuryCruiseBible.com
Photo courtesy of Aman Resorts