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We will give guests a 100% refund of any money we have received if they cannot travel due to Covid 19.Villa Ruza is a traditional, detached stone built house located right on the seafront (first line) of Tivat Bay in the village of Donja Lastva. Villa Ruza has 2 floors, 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms and is available for up to 6 guests. Villa Ruza is fully air conditioned so you are in control of the temperature, detached with a beautiful terrace facing the sea. Villa Ruza was completely renovated to the highest standards in 2017 and is now available for families and friends to enjoy. At Villa Ruza we have combined the benefits of traditional local materials with all the conveniences of modern living. Villa Ruza faces west and enjoys the sun all day and the most amazing sunsets as the sun si...We will give guests a 100% refund of any money we have received if they cannot travel due to Covid 19.Villa Ruza is a traditional, detached stone built house located right on the seafront (first line) of Tivat Bay in the village of Donja Lastva. Villa Ruza has 2 floors, 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms and is available for up to 6 guests. Villa Ruza is fully air conditioned so you are in control of the temperature, detached with a beautiful terrace facing the sea. Villa Ruza was completely renovated to the highest standards in 2017 and is now available for families and friends to enjoy. At Villa Ruza we have combined the benefits of traditional local materials with all the conveniences of modern living. Villa Ruza faces west and enjoys the sun all day and the most amazing sunsets as the sun sinks over Tivat Bay and behind the mountains. Behind are the mountains which separate us from the Bay of Kotor. Villa Ruza was once owned by Naval Admiral whose grandchildren we purchased the house from.
House Rules
Pets not allowedKid friendlyNo smoking
The most important house rule is that all our guests have a great holiday and enjoy themselves and Tivat Bay. We trust you to respect Villa Ruza.
Bedrooms
1 Super King1 King2 Singles
Bathrooms
2 Full baths
Meet the host
James H
Hosting since January 2013
Languages spoken: English
Response Time: Within a few hours
Interaction with guests: As soon as you make a booking I will send you our House Book which will provide all the information you need on how to find Villa Ruza. It will include details on how you get access, where everything is, how to arrange airport transfers and loads of local recommendations. In the build up to your holiday I am always available to help with arrangements and to do what I can to make your holiday a huge success and as easy to arrange as possible. During your holiday our local team are available all the time to help you however they can.
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Villa Ruza is a lovely heritage property located in Donja Lastva, a small village just outside of Tivat and an ideal base for exploring Montenegro’s Bay of Kotor. The owners recently completed an extensive renovation preserving the exterior and completely re-doing the interior, bringing it up to modern standards with air conditioning and tasteful décor reflecting its seaside location. The house is charming and comfortable, with a large, well-equipped kitchen and dining area, three bedrooms with excellent beds, and spotlessly clean and contemporary bathrooms with good hot water and shower pressure. There is also an outdoor seating area and patio making it easy to enjoy the sun or shade, whatever you prefer. You have a lovely view of the bay and the spectacular sunsets and there is a small beach around the corner where locals swim every evening (and you can too). Down the road, you can access a waterfront promenade that takes you to Porto Montenegro, an exclusive shopping, hotel, condo and marina complex within a 15 minute walk. The complex has several restaurants and designer shopping and is the mooring station for many super yachts which make for interesting sight-seeing! There are two grocery stores a 10 minute walk away making it easy to stock up on essentials when you arrive. The owner provides extensive information on how to manage the house, as well as suggestions for day trips and activities in the area, restaurant recommendations, transportation options and the best way to ask the owner of the small restaurant next door to prepare fish he caught earlier in the day for your dinner. The villa management team on the ground is responsive and helpful, and booked taxis for us to tour the area as we did not have a rental car (and really didn’t need one). One item to note is the village church next to the villa and the church bells that ring on the hour (and sometimes on the half hour) between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m. This is not an issue unless you’re a late riser or take long afternoon naps and is really part of the charm of village life. If you’re looking for a vacation property that’s comfortable as well as interesting, then Villa Ruza is an excellent choice. We thoroughly enjoyed our stay.
Visited October 2019
Written 11 October 2019. This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Meander564222
Thanks for sharing all the detail. You summed Villa Ruza and the local area up beautifully.
Written 14 October 2019. This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Adrian098
Sandhurst, United Kingdom21 contributions
Villa Ruza
A fantastic villa along the coast and close to Porto Montenegro. Very spacious, well equipped and comfortable. An ideal location to explore the region: Kotor, Kotor Bay and further a field.
Visited September 2019
Written 2 October 2019. This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Meander564222
We are glad you think that Villa Ruza was a fantastic Villa. Glad you enjoyed exploring Porto Montenegro. It is evolving very quickly there.
Written 7 October 2019. This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Liz
Market Harborough, United Kingdom3 contributions
Fantastic property in a fabulous location!
We had a fantastic stay in this wonderful house! We were delighted with the location of the house in terms of its ‘central’ location on the coast - perfect for visiting the Bay of Kotor, the beaches of the Lustica Peninsula, the coast down to Budva and Petrovac, and inland to Lake Skadar and lovely Cetinje. We loved wandering down to Porto Montenegro for dinner and people/yacht-watching. We really appreciated all the information provided in the house book and used a number of the recommendations - sadly we didn’t have time to do everything!
The house itself was absolutely lovely - from its waterfront location, to the really high standard of decor/equipment, it was a pleasure to stay in! The bed in the master bedroom was the most comfortable bed I have ever slept in - it’s enormous - I need one at home! And the air-con was a huge bonus as it was very hot, and it meant that we all slept really well. As you can imagine, we didn’t want to come home!
Visited August 2019
Written 20 September 2019. This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Meander564222
We are so glad you had a great holiday at Villa Ruza. Villa Ruza is in an amazing location which does set it apart. The nicest house you have stayed in the last 25 years! That makes all the work we do for our guests worthwhile.
Written 23 September 2019. This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
David C
20 contributions
Another superb stay it the Villa Ruza
This was my second visit to the Villa Ruza.
Villa Ruza is a cool and comfortable property that made our stay in Montenegro really superb. I could walk out of the house each morning and swim in the warm water in front of the house and take breakfast on the patio in the shade of Bougainvillea at the front of the property with breathtaking views of the mountains and the sea before you. It was very hot that week but the stone house remained cool and airy and the air-conditioning enabled a great nights sleep. To sum up, Villa Ruza did not disappoint, from its cool antique ships lighting to its high quality furnishing and remarkable stone floor. The large beds are very comfortable, the house is spotlessly clean, the bathrooms are excellent and the kitchen is well equipped. The friendly and responsive local team make sure everything is perfect. The local community are very welcoming, from the grocery shop a few minutes walk away to the fish restaurant and bar very close by where the owner Zoran will prepare fish he has caught earlier that day for dinner. We Lived like a locals in luxury and will definitely return again!
Visited August 2019
Written 18 August 2019. This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Meander564222
I think you captured the essence of the Villa Ruza experience. Luxury seafront accommodation in the heart of the community.
Written 27 August 2019. This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Uta H
Erkrath, Germany1 contribution
Wunderschönes Haus mit dem Meer vor der Tür
Villa Ruza ist ein liebevoll saniertes Haus direkt an der Bucht von Kotor gelegen und bietet allen nötigen Komfort. Wir waren mit der Familie dort und haben uns sehr wohl gefühlt. Der kleine Garten liegt zur Meerseite hin und bietet sowohl sonnige als auch schattige Plätze, an denen man wunderbar sitzen und auf die Bucht schauen kann. Mit wenigen Schritten ist man auf dem kleinen Schiffsanleger, von dem man sofort ins Meer springen kann; ein paar Schritte mehr, und man kann den kleinen Kiesel-Stadtstrand von Donja Lastva nutzen.
Besonders empfehlenswert ist eine Bootstour in der Bucht von Kotor; wer es etwas mondäner mag, läuft oder radelt (2 Räder sind im Haus vorhanden) nach Porto Montenegro, einer neu errichteten Marina der Spitzenklasse (wird zur Zeit weiter ausgebaut). Dort und im dahinterliegenden Tivat gibt es reichlich Restaurants. In Tivat können auch SUPs und Kanus gemietet werden.
Anka, die das Haus vor Ort betreut, hat uns dabei unterstützt, ein Motorrad auszuleihen; damit haben wir schöne Touren ins Landesinnere und auf die Halbinsel Lustica gemacht (Achtung, die Straßen sind jenseits der Küste in einem erbärmlichen Zustand).
Vielen Dank an unsere Gastgeber James und Lili und ihr Team!
Visited July 2019
Written 31 July 2019. This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Meander564222
Sounds like you had plenty of adventures in Montenegro. We are glad you and your family found Villa Ruza comfortable and welcoming.
Written 3 August 2019. This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Away Again D
Leamington Spa, United Kingdom9 contributions
Magnificent Waterfront Villa
After a leisurely 1hr 40 drive from Podgorica Airport through stunning scenery, and a wonderful lunch stop on the shores of Lake Skadar we descended from the mountains arriving at the Bay of Kotor and Villa Ruza. The Villa sits a few metres back from the water in a little square complete with a small church and a great local cafe/restaurant. A lovely old building the villa has been brought right up to date - a few years ago think, but, we felt like we must be the first guests it felt so fresh. The owners have kept the sense of character whist adding all modern conveniences and the whole property is light, airy and spacious the views from the bedrooms are tremendous. Outside a well tended garden with a fine stone table provides areas of shade to sit if it gets to hot with some very comfy loungers to lie in if you are instead working on your tan! It's also a great spot to to spy what fish the cafe owner "Zoran" has caught that day for your dinner.
We had a car but taxis are cheap and the Bay is so worth exploring. Kotor is perfect for losing yourself in and the castle towering above the town supplies the best views - a serious trek up and don't try it in the heat of the summer, we went in first thing one morning and were back down by 09.30.
We found two bikes at the house and these got used every day for popping to the supermarkets 3 mins away or riding down into Porto Montenegro where the millionaires and billionaires keep their ocean going play things.
All in all we had a fantastic break as a family group. Mum , Dad two adult children and a Grandma. Nobody was ever bored and all agreed we would love to visit again
Visited July 2019
Written 27 July 2019. This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Meander564222
Amazing family holidays are at the core of what we want to achieve at Villa Ruza. Glad the garden was looking great too. We have terrific gardners who do a great job with the help of an automatic irrigation system.
Written 28 July 2019. This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Rose
2 contributions
Perfect swimming location!
Villa Ruza was a beautiful home for our family holiday. Its location is perfect and offered us everything we could have wanted. It was certainly a trip to remember! Thanks for your help in ensuring our trip was smooth and enjoyable.
Visited June 2019
Written 30 June 2019. This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Meander564222
Family holidays are so important. We are glad that yours was such a success.
Written 8 July 2019. This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Daydream820902
1 contribution
A truly lovely holiday destination in all aspects
Villa Ruza - wonderful, location - absolutely beautiful, Montenegro - amazing. What more can I say? Other than to thank the team who help to manage the Villa - Boyan, who met us at the airport and took us to Villa Ruza and also helped us with car hire, Zorita, who welcomed us at the Villa and Gratzia who took us on a wonderful boat ride. We had a memorable holiday and hope to return
Visited April 2019
Written 25 April 2019. This review is the subjective opinion of an individual traveller and not of Tripadvisor LLC nor of its partners. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Meander564222
We are glad you had such a great holiday. Our team in Montenegro are amazing. We could not offer the holiday experience we do without them.
Written 13 May 2019. This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Nick L
Hatfield, United Kingdom15 contributions
A beautiful, spacious villa with amazing views across the bay
We had such an amazing holiday. Villa Ruza is an amazing property, comfortable, spacious, well equipped and with such beautiful views across the bay (especially at sunset!). The whole bay is stunning and best seen by boat. We loved exploring and particularly loved Rose on the Lustica peninsula, Perast and the trip up to Mt Lovcen with amazing views across the Albanian mountains. Its some drive though! Porto Montenegro, is just a 20 minute walk away, with some great restaurants too.
Lily and James (the owners) and their team, made everything so easy and made us feel so welcome too. We used Bojan too for all our transfers and our car hire and we would highly recommend. All in all, Villa Ruza was such a beautiful place to stay and we would highly recommend it. As for Montenegro, it's so beautiful!
Visited August 2018
Written 23 September 2018. This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Meander564222
We are glad you had a great holiday. That is our top priority. We are very proud of the renovation that has been done at Villa Ruza and also our amazing team who work so hard to make sure all our guests are well looked after.
Written 5 October 2018. This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
karupoeg10
Saue, Estonia5 contributions
Fantastic family holiday
We have stayed in Villa Ruza for one week in July. Waterfront location with swimming areas for kids in walking distance. Great for families, spacious inside and outside. Make sure you make use of very comfortable beach lounge chairs that we have taken to the patio. Very clean and fresh rooms, lots of light on the second floor. Fully equipped great size kitchen, we were cooking for two families. 2 bicycles included. Everything you need to have a good time. We were driving around - easy access to Tivat and Kotor (very recommended) by car. There is a very friendly fish restaurant next door and we have ordered takeaway dinner from the restaurant. Very relaxing neighborhood. Not noisy, not overcrowded. Waterfront is great for walking and cycling. The owner and a local representative are accessible and are ready to answer questions anytime. The stay was extremely pleasant.
Visited July 2018
Written 21 August 2018. This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Meander564222
Villa Ruza is part of a friendly local community which has a great feel. It sounds like you got the best out of your holiday at Villa Ruza.
Written 24 September 2018. This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
You can swim in the sea right in front of Villa Ruza. Just around the corner is a safe, gently sloping beach.
The Church of St Roko is our other neighbour. I recommend you look inside. Don Nikola (the priest) is very welcoming. The church bells ring between 07:00 and 22:00 daily. On the hour and every half hour. It is all part of the charm.
The area is very popular with visiting artists who enjoy painting the sea, sky and mountains.
There are plenty of opportunities to sail at Porto Montenegro where they have a fleet of J70’s and Blu 26’s available for rent. I can make all the introductions there.
If you like architecture then the ancient Venetian city of Kotor is just one local example in the UNESCO protected Bay of Kotor.
Getting around
Once you book your holiday with us I will share the House Book which provides loads of information on how to get around. If you need an airport transfer, or you want to go on a trip deeper into the country then I can arrange that for you. If you are planning your holiday in the peak months of July and August then I would not hire a car. You can order a taxi which will collect you from Villa Ruza with 10 minutes notice. You can also travel on the local 'Blue Line' bus which costs €1 per person for as far as you want to travel on that bus. There is a bus stop 100 meters from Villa Ruza, and you can pretty much get off where you want.
Access
Car not needed
How to get there
Donja Lastva is to the north of Tivat about 3 km before you get to the ferry crossing at Lepetane. Villa Ruza is right next to the Church of St Roko in Donja Lastva. I will provide detailed directions when you book your holiday.
Activities nearby
Fishing spots availableTennis courtWatersports
Things to know
Check in / out timings
Check in after 3 p.m. • Check out by 11 a.m.
Cancellation policy
100% refund within 24 hours after booking (provided the stay is at least 60 days away).
100% refund* if you cancel at least 2 weeks before check-in
No refund available if you cancel thereafter
*Booking fee is excluded from refund amount
About this property
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