Villa Geba

It’s a story as old as the travel business, presumably. When the long-established luxury destinations — the French Rivieras of the world, to choose a purely hypothetical example — become overdeveloped or overexposed, other destinations rise to the occasion. Among them is the Adriatic coast of Montenegro, home to the spectacular resort town of Sveti Stefan — which is, in turn, home to the hidden gem that is the Boutique Hotel Villa Geba, a seven-suite hotel, along with the Apollonia Suite, that quietly ascends extraordinary heights of luxury.

It also ascends literal heights, its hillside perch affording far-ranging views of the Adriatic and of the picturesque Sveti Stefan islet in the middle distance. Most of the suites have terraces, to take full advantage of the views, and all of them face out to sea. Stylistically, no two are alike, and each is named for a different mythological figure, from the Moorish-themed Salma to the grey-and-gold Elena. Each one spans at least 80 square meters and counts a full kitchen among its conveniences, as well as a lavish bathroom and plenty of living space.

A private pool and a stunning little spa round out the physical comforts, while the gastronomic ones are catered to by the restaurant, Muse, is a veteran of several Michelin-starred French kitchens. And the elegant cocktail bar, with its own impressive view of Sveti Stefan, might not be Montenegro’s busiest nightspot, but that’s by design — a hotel like Villa Geba can be relied upon to keep its atmosphere a little bit rarefied.