Montenegro just became my 35th country.
A few years ago, I set a goal for myself; to visit 40 countries before I turn 40. And this trip brought me one step closer to that number in the most unexpected, most beautiful way.
After a few chaotic weeks of work, deadlines, and the kind of busyness that makes you forget to breathe, my husband and I needed a reset. Not an itinerary packed with activities. Just us, a beautiful place, and uninterrupted time together.
Montenegro gave us exactly that.
Here is everything about the trip: how we got there, where we stayed, what we did, what it cost, and the points strategy that made a $2,000 hotel stay cost us absolutely nothing.
GETTING THERE: TURKISH AIRLINES FROM WASHINGTON D.C.
Our journey started from Washington D.C. and this was our first time flying Turkish Airlines. We paid just $45.20, plus 16,000 miles.
I will be honest; the service before boarding was not my favorite experience. Some hiccups that I could have done without. But the moment we stepped onto that plane, everything changed.
The seats were incredibly spacious. Far more room than I expected. And the detail that surprised me most, there was a chef onboard. An actual chef, preparing and presenting meals with a care and attention to detail that made the whole experience feel elevated.
Watching the meal carts come down the aisle and having food served that way, at 30,000 feet, felt like a restaurant in the sky.
I ate. Then I slept the entire flight. Zero regrets. 😴
After a layover in Istanbul, we continued on to Podgorica, Montenegro’s capital. From there, it was about an hour’s drive to our resort, and that drive alone was worth the trip. Mountains. Water. Winding roads with views that kept getting better the further we went.
I was already in love before we even checked in.
THE HOTEL: HYATT REGENCY KOTOR BAY RESORT
Before our arrival, I sent an email to the hotel letting them know we were celebrating my husband’s birthday. A simple gesture that ended up making a big difference.
Between that note and our Hyatt Globalist status, we were upgraded to a beautiful suite overlooking the bay. Floor to ceiling views. A private hot tub. The kind of room that makes you stop in the doorway and just stand there for a moment taking it all in.
The welcome from the hotel was warm and thoughtful; a birthday treat waiting for us when we arrived, along with champagne (which we happily gifted to someone else 😅). But honestly, the best welcome was walking into that room. After such a hectic few weeks, the peace and serenity of that space was exactly what I needed.
Our first night was intentionally quiet. We checked in, grabbed something to eat, and went straight to sleep.
EXPLORING OLD TOWN KOTOR
The next day we ventured out to Old Town Kotor and it was one of those places that genuinely stops you in your tracks.
Everywhere you turn, another view. Medieval stone walls, terracotta rooftops, the bay stretching out below you, mountains rising up on all sides. It is the kind of town that looks like it was designed specifically to be stared at.
We walked slowly. We took our time. We stopped whenever something caught our eye, which was constantly.
My bags had been delayed in transit, which led to an unexpected detour into a little boutique I never would have found otherwise. I tried on the most beautiful dress; the material was so soft, and walked out smiling.
Delayed luggage never felt so worth it. 😂
THE MOST MAGICAL MOMENT: A BOAT RIDE TO DINNER
This is the part of the trip I keep coming back to when I think about Montenegro.
Because of the resort’s location on the bay, many of the restaurants in the area are best reached by boat. Our restaurant for the evening — Moments — sent a private boat to pick us up right from the hotel dock.
And as we stepped onto that boat and it pulled away from shore, something shifted.
Just the two of us. The sound of the water. A gentle breeze. Just the bay, the mountains in the distance, and each other.
It was one of the simplest moments of the trip. And somehow one of the most memorable.
Dinner at Moments was exceptional. Everything we ordered landed perfectly. But the thing I am still thinking about weeks later? The wasabi butter with the bread. Unassuming. Life-changing. 🤤
On the boat ride back, we caught the sunset over the bay. The colours reflecting off the water, the peacefulness of gliding back through the evening, it was the kind of ending to a day that you hold onto.
We finished the night back in the suite, in the hot tub, looking out over the same bay we had just crossed by boat. And I remember thinking, this is exactly why I do this. This is exactly what travel is for.
THE POINTS BREAKDOWN: HOW THIS STAY COST US $0
Now for the part I love sharing most.
This entire Hyatt Regency Kotor Bay stay cost us zero dollars out of pocket.
We booked three nights using Hyatt points at 25,000 points per night, a total of 75,000 Hyatt points. The cash price for just two nights at this property was $1,987. Three nights would have come to nearly $3,000.
We paid $0.
This is what points and miles travel actually looks like in practice. Zero. Out of pocket. For three nights at a luxury resort with bay views, a private hot tub suite, and a boat ride to dinner.
A significant part of how we accumulated those Hyatt points was through the Chase Sapphire Preferred welcome bonus. 100,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points transfer directly to World of Hyatt at a 1:1 ratio. That is more than enough for a stay like this one, with points left over to put toward the next trip.
If you have been wondering how families like ours stay at properties like the Hyatt Regency Kotor Bay for free, this is how. The right welcome bonus. The right transfer partner. The right redemption at the right time.
WHAT I LOVED MOST ABOUT MONTENEGRO
Montenegro surprised me in the best possible way. I had heard it was beautiful, but I was not prepared for how peaceful it would feel.
The bay. The old town. The boat rides. The food. The unhurried pace of everything. It is a place that does not demand anything from you, it just invites you to slow down and take it all in.
After weeks of running at full speed, that invitation was exactly what I needed.
Montenegro reminded me that the best trips are not always the most packed ones. Sometimes the most meaningful travel is the kind that gives you space to breathe, reconnect, and remember why you work so hard to see the world in the first place.
MONTENEGRO: PRACTICAL DETAILS
Hotel: Hyatt Regency Kotor Bay Resort
Points used: 75,000 World of Hyatt points (25,000 per night)
Cash value of stay: $1,987 for 2 nights ($2,000+ for 3 nights)
Out of pocket: $0
Status perk: Upgraded to suite with hot tub and bay views (Hyatt Globalist)
Flight: Turkish Airlines from Washington D.C. via Istanbul to Podgorica for just $45.20, plus 16,000 miles.
Transfer cards used: Capital One to Turkish Airlines Miles and Smiles (1:1 transfer ratio)
Nearest airport to resort: Podgorica (POD), approximately 1 hour drive
Worth knowing: Many restaurants around Kotor Bay are accessible by private boat, ask your hotel to arrange transfers in advance.
FINAL THOUGHTS: 35 DOWN, 5 TO GO
Montenegro is country number 35. Which means I have 5 more countries to reach my goal of 40 before I turn 40.
Five countries. One year. Plenty of points.
If you want to learn how to build a points strategy that funds trips like this one: the hotels, the flights, the upgrades, the Travel Rewards Playbook is exactly where to start. It walks you through the cards, the transfer partners, and the booking strategies we use, step by step.
Get the Travel Rewards Playbook
And if you want a fully personalised strategy built around your specific spending and travel goals, I offer one-on-one consultations where we map it all out together.
Book a One-on-One Consultation Here
Montenegro was beautiful. The points were free. And the memories? Those are priceless. 🤍
