When Ernst Stogmuller and his wife sold their hourse in Wales and moved to Croatia and eventually Montenegro, they knew this would be the best decision of their lives. In 1999, the couple retired from their jobs as professional pilots and decided to become expats and pursue an exciting life as retirees abroad. They sold their property and bought a house in Croatia but eventually, they made Montenegro their permanent home.
Why Montenegro? Ernst didn’t make this decision overnight – he’d done plenty of research to make sure that Montenegro would be a suitable place to retire and relax.
With the Adriatic Sea on the south west and Croatia to the west, Montenegro is a beautiful country that’s known for its pleasant Mediterranean climate and warm sea. For eight months each year, the weather in most parts of Montenegro is sunny and warm, around 25 degrees Celsius, perfect for t-shirt and shorts. Ernst particularly enjoys sitting out on his terrace and having lunch at least twice a week, even in the coldest months of January and February.
In Montenegrin, the country is known as Crna Gora or Black Mountain. The mountains of Montenegro include some of the most rugged terrain in Europe, reaching heights of around 2,000 metres. The country is also home to diverse and stunning landscapes: from the karst region of Mount Orjen to the Zeta River Valley. As outdoor lovers, Ernst and his wife loves to go hiking to explore the nearby countryside and its flora and fauna. Even at the height of winter, the hills are blanketed in bright yellow mimosa trees and other endemic flowers.The great outdoors are right at his doorsteps and pollution-free air welcomes him every morning.
But these are just the fundamental attractions of Montenegro. For expats, there is a whole world of advantages that would appeal to retirees, vacation home owners or simply location-independent professionals. Montenegro uses the Euro, which is a stable currency. As compared to Western Europe, it is also a relatively cheap place to live and travel, with budget flights servicing the nearby Dubrovnik International Airport in Croatia (only 68km from Budva, Montenegro). Other practical factors include cheap and developed medical treatments and facilities and good banking systems. EU citizens can even have their medical expenses incurred in Montenegro reimbursed by their national health services.
So if you’re considering relocating abroad, be sure to check out Montenegro – Ernst is pretty sure you’ll fall for it too.
Photo |Milachich
Iberostar Hotels & Resorts’ Montenegrin hotel invites you to discover history, culture, and tradition that only this country known as the “Pearl of the Mediterranean could produce.
