Private Chauffeur from Dubrovnik to Montenegro
A newly married couple spending their honeymoon in Dubrovnik booked Shuttle 202 as their private chauffeur for a multi-day drive through southern Croatia and Montenegro. What a lovely journey it was, from Dubrovnik to Montenegro and through some truly beautiful places along the way. They had their own accommodation, restaurants and activities arranged. Our role was to provide comfortable private transportation between the places they wanted to visit, give them the flexibility to travel at their own pace and, as an additional service, create professional photographs along the way. Their journey took us from Dubrovnik to Mali Ston and then across the border into Montenegro, with stops in Perast, Kotor, Risan, Tivat, Budva and finally Podgorica. Here is what the journey looked like from our side of the driver’s seat. Dubrovnik Private Chauffeur We first met our couple at Dubrovnik Airport, where we were waiting for them after their flight. From the airport, we drove them to their hotel, the Dubrovnik President, where they could settle in and take a short break before heading into the city. Later, we picked them up again and drove them to Dubrovnik Old Town. After breakfast at Dubravka 1836, they explored the historic centre, walked the famous city walls and enjoyed some of Dubrovnik’s beaches. Along the way, we also found time to create some beautiful honeymoon photographs for them. Dubrovnik is one of those places where history doesn’t feel like something hidden inside a museum. For centuries it was the centre of the independent Republic of Ragusa, a small but remarkably successful maritime republic that built its wealth through trade, diplomacy and shipping. The Old Town, surrounded by almost two kilometres of monumental stone walls, still reflects that history through its narrow streets, palaces, churches and fortresses. And from a photographer’s perspective, Dubrovnik is difficult to beat. Warm stone, small streets, the blue Adriatic and changing light provide a completely different background every few minutes. After exploring the Old Town and spending some time near the sea, our first day came to an end. It was a good reminder of why Dubrovnik works so well as the beginning of a longer private chauffeur journey along the Adriatic coast. Mali Ston and an Oyster Experience The following day we picked up our couple and drove approximately one hour north of Dubrovnik to Mali Ston. This tiny settlement at the beginning of the Pelješac Peninsula has a very long connection with shellfish farming. Mali Ston Bay is particularly famous for its European flat oysters. The combination of clean Adriatic seawater and freshwater sources has created excellent conditions for oyster farming here for generations. Our couple had arranged an Oyster Experience, which took us by a small boat from Mali Ston into the bay. Fresh oysters were taken directly from the sea and opened in front of us. There were also mussels prepared in traditional Dalmatian style and local wine. It was one of our favourite moments of the journey. Not because it was particularly glamorous, but because it felt completely authentic. A small boat, calm sea, fresh oysters and a glass of wine with the Pelješac landscape around us. Sometimes these simple experiences become the ones you remember most. After Mali Ston, it was time to head south again. Fresh Oysters from the Sea in Mali Ston Bay Private Driver from Dubrovnik to Montenegro Our next drive took us from Croatia across the border into Montenegro. For travellers who don’t want to think about driving, parking, border crossings or moving luggage between destinations, travelling with a private chauffeur from Dubrovnik to Montenegro makes this part of the journey considerably more comfortable. Our couple could simply relax while we took care of the road. And it is a beautiful road. As you approach the Bay of Kotor, the landscape changes dramatically. Mountains rise almost directly from the water and small stone settlements begin appearing along the shoreline. Our first stop in Montenegro was Perast. Perast and Our Lady of the Rocks Perast is tiny, but it has an extraordinary amount of history for such a small place. Situated directly on the Bay of Kotor, it flourished particularly during the Venetian period and became home to successful sailors, merchants and sea captains. Their wealth can still be seen today in the elegant stone palaces and churches along the waterfront. For us, it was also a wonderful place for photography. We walked with our couple through the town and created a series of relaxed photographs before they took a boat to Our Lady of the Rocks. The little island has one of the most interesting stories in the Bay of Kotor. Unlike nearby St. George Island, Our Lady of the Rocks is artificial. According to local tradition, sailors began placing stones into the sea at the location where an icon of the Virgin Mary had been discovered. The tradition continued over generations until an island gradually emerged from the water. The custom survives today through the traditional Fašinada, when local people take their boats onto the bay and add more stones around the island. Surrounded by calm water and the mountains of Boka Bay, it is also an incredible place to photograph. After a very warm late-summer afternoon exploring Perast, our couple returned to something slightly less historic but very welcome. A cool vehicle, air conditioning already running and cold drinks waiting inside. These are small details. But for us, they are an important part of a premium private chauffeur service. Our guests enjoy the destination. We take care of the drive. Private Chauffeur to Kotor Our next destination was Kotor. Few places on the Adriatic have such a dramatic entrance. The mountains seem to rise almost vertically behind the medieval town, while the old fortifications climb high above the rooftops. Inside the walls, Kotor becomes a maze of narrow stone streets, small squares, churches and centuries-old buildings. The Natural and Culturo-Historical Region of Kotor has been on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 1979, and its long maritime history can still be felt throughout the Old Town. And then there are the cats. Kotor is famous for them. You will find them sleeping on stairs, sitting outside shops and occupying sunny corners throughout the Old Town as if