Getting to Perast From Dubrovnik Airport
Taxi A taxi all the way to the apartment in Perast is about €80 or less when booked in advance. At the airport they often try and charge well over €100 – so it’s worth trying to book in advance. Try these drivers:
Auto taxi 00 382 69045016
Jason: 00 382 69286278
Taxi 17 00 382 810738
Otherwise you can get a taxi across the border and (about €40/50 and then a local bus to Perast (Direction Risan, Perast, Kotor) which is 2 € Please note the last bus to Perast from Herceg Novi is rather early at around 7pm.
Car hire at Dubrovnik airport
Car hire is currently just outside the airport and there are several companies to choose between including:
Last minute rent a car (reservations@rentacarlastminute.hr)
Mob: 00 385 91 608 7674
Uni rent (reservation@uni-rent.net)
Tel: 00 385 21797327
Herz (reservations@hertz.hr)
Tel: 00 385 627277
Budget rent a car (reservations@budget.hr)
Tel: 00 385 20773290
Getting to Dubrovnik from Dubrovnik airport
From the airport, taxis are available but not inexpensive (about 200kn). A bus service to the Old City is available through Atlas, and meets all scheduled flights, with the drop off location in the Old City at Pile Gate or the bus station in Gruž. The Airport bus costs 35 kn
Staying in Dubrovnik
My favourite place to stay is Vesna’s Cottage - a former atelier surrounded by the sprawling suburbs of Lapad but screened by a lush walled garden, Vesna’s Cottage is a little piece of countryside in the city. The cottage is simple, but lovely with ceiling timbers painted green and blue – best for informal groups, families with children or young people.
There are plenty of other private apartment options in Dubrovnik – here is a good place to start
Dubrovnik to Perast/Kotor by bus
There are several daily buses from Dubrovnik into Montenegro – the following go along the coast past the village of Perast and on to Kotor – 10.30, 15.00, 19.00 and 20.30* (*Monday, Wednesday and Saturdays only) You should be able to get off the bus very close to my apartment. Otherwise you can go to the station in Kotor and get a local bus back to Perast (25 mins ) Times do change so it’s best to check the international timetable (click on the PDF of time sorted by companies) As of Jan 2009, Kotor, Montenegro costs 100 kn. When traveling into Montenegro and the airport sit on the right hand side (not behind driver) for best views, and vice-versa for the return. On all intercity buses you pay a separate fee for luggage. This fee of 2 € per piece of luggage is paid to the driver upon boarding.
Parking at the apartment
There is parking by the road just above the flat – this is the most convenient place as there is usually plenty of space and it’s easier to go down a few steps to the apartment than up from the waterfront. There is also more competition for parking by the waterfront.
The patio
There is a small private patio (to the front of the apartment) with views up to the mountains. This is the patio seen from the bedroom. The patio is filled with plants and there are tables and chairs for dining out side. Adjacent to the patio are some pretty stone steps leading down to the waterfront – from here you can sit and enjoy a glass of wine a with views over the bay.
Swimming / beaches
Although there are no sandy beaches in Perast you are free to sun-bath and swim by the many stone jetties along the waterfront. The water is very clean and lovely to swim in. My favourite place to swim is very close to the apartment – down the steps and a few hundred yards to the left. In late afternoons and evenings I like the Pirate bar at the other end of the village, here you can get a drink and swim or watch the sunset with a fantastic view of the two islands.
The Adriatic coast is a 20 minute drive with the famous sandy Jaz beach near Budva or if you prefer quieter sandy beaches, these can also be found on Lustica peninsula with its beautiful wild landscape 20 minutes drive from Perast.
Air conditioning
There is aircon in the bedroom and living area
TV
I don’t have a TV at the apartment, but there are books, a few toys adn games, a small selection of music CDs, speakers for iPODs and DVDs
Wifi/internet
If you have a laptop/smartphone there is free wifi in Hotel Conte by the waterfront in Perast. In Kotor there are several internet cafe’s which charge about 1 € for 30 mins.
Accessibility
The stone steps leading down to the shore and to the apartment from the road may be difficult for people with mobility problems. My mum who is 80 managed the steps (slowly) but without any problems.
Getting around: local buses
There are buses in either direction along the bay leaving from the main square approx every 30 minutes during the summer season. I tcosts €1 to Kotor €2 to Herceg Novi
Returning to Perast the bus leaves Kotor just by the entrance to the South Gate. Small mini buses go along the seafront road and largest buses will drop you on the top road.
Getting around: buses from Kotor
Here is the timetable for buses from Kotor station. There are several buses a day from Kotor to Budva, Bar, Ulcinj, Dubrovnik, Zargreb, Split & beyond.
Shopping
There are 2 general stores in Perast selling a small amount of fruit and veg, beer and wine, bread, dairy products and other provisions. Both are on the waterfront. The first is down the steps to the side of the house and a few hundred metres to the right. The second is just off the main square. In Kotor there is a daily market selling fruit and veg and cheeses, oil and other things just beyond and outside the main gate. There is a (small) supermarket further up past this market on the left before the bus station.
Drinking water
It is best to drink bottled water for drinking. Still and sparkling are both available in the local shops.
Cash machines
There is one in Risan and several in Kotor, but there is not currently a cash machine in Perast
