Issue link: https://www.balharbourdigital.com/i/1525926
C O U R T E S Y O F M A M U L A I S L A N D/ M A R K A N T H O N Y FOX , R E B EC C A H O P E Summer in the Med? It's no longer a slam dunk. Maybe it's the temperature: In July last summer, southern Europe sweltered in astronomically high Celsius readings, courtesy of the Cerberus heatwave. Maybe it's the congestion: Italy alone saw a 13-percent rise in registered tourist arrivals in 2023, versus 2022, already itself a banner year. Maybe it's the prices: per hospitality analytics firm Smith Travel Research, average rates for hotels in France in July last year were a staggering 87 percent higher than pre-Covid levels. Maybe it's all that and more. With ample reason to delay that Mediterranean trip a few months, we offer four ways to stretch out summer a little longer without compromising on quality. BY MARK ELLWOOD Montenegro AKA: Secret Croatia Autumn temps: Upper 70s, with waters still warm enough to swim and snorkel Ideal for: Maxxed-out Med-lovers keen for a quieter corner Where to stay: Mamula is an extraordinary private island just off Montenegro's coast, and once home to an Austro-Hungarian fortress. It underwent a radical reimagining as a wellness-focused hideout under its new owner, Samih Sawiris, the billionaire behind global luxury hotel brand The Chedi. What to do: The center of life here is the Bay of Kotor, better known as Boka Bay, a dramatic, fjord-like natural harbor. Rent a boat to dawdle on its waters, mooring at the postcard-pretty villages that dot its edges. Insider tip: Head to the vineyards beyond Boka Bay, most of them still family-owned and-operated. The best vintages are the reds, crisper than the fruitier Italian options made from grapes grown across the water, where the climate is markedly warmer. THE MEDITERRANEAN Constructed in the mid-19th century as a strategic fort guarding Montenegro's Bay of Kotor, Mamula Island has been reimagined as a 32-room luxury resort accessible by boat or helicopter. BALHAR B O U RSH O P S .CO M