When it comes to a family vacation, parents fall into two types: those who want to relax, and those who have to constantly monitor the rules. In the UAE, you’ll quickly realize you’re in the second group. In Montenegro, you can finally breathe out and let kids just be kids.

Dress Code: Are Bikinis Forbidden?

Let’s start with what many moms worry about. In the UAE, even in the most tourist-friendly emirate — Dubai — there are strict beach restrictions:

❌ Topless sunbathing is strictly forbidden.

❌ Drinking alcohol on the beach — not allowed.

❌ Swimming after sunset — only on designated night beaches.

And if you venture out of the hotel into the city, it’s better to leave shorts and tank tops in your room. Travel experts remind us: “When in Rome, do as the Romans do.” In Sharjah, for example, there’s a complete alcohol ban — you won’t even find it in hotels.

Montenegro is the complete opposite. No one will scold you for wearing a revealing swimsuit or for a child laughing too loudly. The Adriatic is Europe with a relaxed Mediterranean attitude toward life. You can walk from the shower to your room in a bathrobe, and your neighbors will simply smile back.

Alcohol: Open Sale vs Dry Law

In the UAE, dealing with alcohol is a quest. Even hotels often offer not classic “all-inclusive” but “soft all-inclusive” — alcohol-free. Tourists can bring in alcohol, but strictly in limited quantities: 4 liters per person or 2 cartons of beer. Bringing in e-cigarettes and vapes is prohibited.

In Montenegro, you simply walk into any supermarket (like Voli or Aroma), buy a bottle of local wine for €5 or beer for €1, and enjoy dinner on the villa terrace. No restrictions, no hassle. That’s what a relaxed adult vacation looks like.

Aquapark in Budva: The Hit of the Season

In Montenegro, kids won’t get bored. The main highlight of a family vacation — the Aquapark in Budva.

This isn’t just inflatable slides, but a massive world-class entertainment complex covering 40,000 m². It’s located on Topliš Hill, offering a breathtaking view of the Budva Riviera.

What’s inside:

• 50 attractions and water slides

• 4 swimming pools, including a wave pool and a children’s area for toddlers

• A slide where you can reach up to 80 km/h — perfect for teenagers and dads

• 3 bars, a restaurant, and photo zones

The aquapark can welcome up to 6,000 guests daily, but the area is so vast that you won’t feel crowded.

Prices for 2025 (current):

• Adult full-day ticket — €25

• Child ticket (height 100–140 cm) — €15

• Children under 100 cm — free

Compare this to Dubai, where a family trip to an aquapark costs 2–3 times more, and with the heat at +45°C, even the pool water heats up to unpleasant temperatures.

Useful tip: bring rubber slippers — the stone pathways get very hot in the sun.

Beach Safety: A Calm Haven for Little Ones

Montenegro is unique in that there are practically no high waves. On most beaches along the Adriatic coast, waves rarely rise above 50 cm, making swimming safe even for the youngest children.

Best family-friendly resorts:
Budva, Bečići, Petrovac, Rafailovići — here you’ll find gentle entry into the sea and sandy-pebble beaches.

Villas in these resorts are literally 3–5 minutes’ walk from the water. You don’t waste time on taxis or drag a stroller across hot asphalt — you just cross the road and you’re on the beach.

Climate: No “Air Conditioner Syndrome”

In the UAE during summer, children are forced to stay in the room under air conditioning 24/7. Temperature swings (from +45°C outside to +18°C inside the hotel) are a direct path to a child catching a cold.

In Montenegro, July brings +30°C — warm but comfortable weather. At the villa, you can open the windows and sleep with the sea breeze, without the hum of a split system. Kids play outside from morning to evening, and in the evening the whole family dines on the open terrace.

What If the Aquapark Is Suddenly Closed?

Sometimes the aquapark in Budva gets rented out for private events. In that case, tourists have a Plan B — the aquapark “Ada Bojana” near Ulcinj.

It’s just an hour’s drive from Budva, and it’s considered one of the largest on the Adriatic. It has even more extreme slides and pools. Prices are similar: child — €17, adult — €28.

The Verdict

The UAE is an interesting experience, but with children it turns into endless control: what to wear, where to buy alcohol, whether we’re breaking the law.

Montenegro is freedom. Here, kids can make noise on the beach, run around the villa grounds, and eat ice cream at any café. And parents can finally relax with a glass of wine, watching the sunset over the Adriatic.

Choose the Balkans — here, families feel at home.