Perla Residence Hotel & Spa Podgorica: An Honest Review

Our September 2024 family stay at Perla Residence Hotel & Spa surprised us in the best way. This hotel, on the outskirts of Podgorica city center, screams comfort, convenience, and understated luxury. In this review, we give you the good and the not-so-great so you can decide whether this hotel is right for you.  

You may also want to check out our roundup of the best Podgorica hotels for families.

Key Takeaways

Perla Residence Hotel & Spa is a highly-rated hotel. It offers excellent value for money, particularly for families and those looking for longer stays.

Here’s a quick breakdown of the highlights (and a few niggles) to help you decide if it’s worth spending your travel budget on.

The Good Stuff

• Spacious Rooms: Apartments have full kitchens, private bathrooms, and balconies
• Delicious Breakfast Included
• Friendly and Helpful Staff
• Up To 50% Discount For Long-Term Stays
• Bonus Amenities: Indoor pool, sauna, spa, and fitness center

The Not-So-Great

• Located slightly outside the city center
• Some rooms might have street noise
• Small fitness center and spa facilities

Already sold? You can check availability for your travel dates here. Otherwise, we’d be delighted to share more about our Perla Residence in Podgorica stay.

Family-Friendly Accommodations at Perla Residence

Finding the right family-friendly accommodations for your holiday can be tough. However, at Perla Residence, we found everything we needed for a great family stay in Podgorica.

We stayed at Perla Residence for two nights in September 2024 to be closer to my mother-in-law, who was visiting us. We would definitely return and might even consider one of their serviced apartments for an extended stay, especially since they offer up to 50% discount for long-term stays.

The apartments at Perla Residence feature spacious rooms and practical layouts. Additionally, the fully equipped kitchens made it easy for us to prepare meals for the kids throughout the day. We can’t praise the staff enough—nothing was too much trouble, and they were always happy to help with a smile.

Perla Residence has 28 guest rooms and apartments spread over five floors. It’s a fantastic option for families, no matter how big or small. Unlike many hotels that only cater to smaller groups, Perla Residence understands that larger families often struggle to find suitable lodging.

Have you ever felt the stress of booking separate rooms for the kids? At Perla Residence, you can all stay together in spacious apartments, making your experience much more enjoyable. No more worrying about what the kids might be charging to the credit card or whether they’re actually in their room!

Perla Residence Room Options

When booking a room at Perla Residence, you’ll find several accommodation options with notable variations in size and layout.

The smallest rooms are deluxe double rooms, which typically accommodate two adults and one child. These might work if you have a very young child under 3 who can sleep in a cot. However, for families with older children, a one-bedroom apartment provides more comfort.

Our Experience with One-Bedroom Apartments

During our September 2024 stay, we booked a one-bedroom apartment with two children (ages 7 and 9). We used the double bedroom, while our children slept on the sofa bed in the living room. The space felt quite tight, with the sofa bed essentially consuming most of the living area.

Interestingly, my mother-in-law’s one-bedroom apartment offered a markedly different experience. Her unit featured:

• A private hallway
• A study room
• More spacious living room and kitchen

So, even within the same room type, there can be significant differences in layout and spaciousness.

Two & Three Bedroom Suites

If we were to stay at Perla Hotel again, we’d book a two-bedroom apartment. Especially as the kids are getting older and need their own space. For families like ours looking for more room to spread out, the options are quite impressive.

The two-bedroom suites can sleep up to 6 adults and a young child in a double room, a twin room, and a double sofa bed in the living room.

The three-bedroom executive apartment is bigger still! It accommodates 7 adults and one young child in a double room, a twin room, a single room, and a double sofa bed in the living room.

All The Room Amenities You Need At Perla Podgorica

The furniture and layouts at Perla Residence are carefully chosen to make you feel at home. The wide, open living areas are beautifully decorated and all the room types include the following modern amenities:

Sleeping & Bathroom

Extra-long comfy beds (> 2 metres)
Linen
Towels
Bathrobe
Slippers
Free Toiletries
Hairdryer
Toilet & Toilet Paper

Other Amenities & Services

Free Wifi
Soundproofing
Minibar

Mosquito Net
Telephone
Iron
Hypoallergenic
Socket Near the Bed
Wake-Up Service/ Alarm Clock
Laptop Safe
Wardrobe or Closet
Drying Rack for Clothing
Upper Floors Accessible By Elevator
No Smoking

Hotel Perla’s Onsite Facilities and Services

The facilities Perla Podgorica offers are impressive. However, some guest reviews mention a few areas for potential improvement.

Dining Options At Perla Residence Hotel & Spa

One of the major highlights during our stay was the delicious breakfast included in the room price. Served in the restaurant opposite reception, you’ll find everything from fresh pastries and coffee to cereals, fruits, and hot dishes.

However, it’s worth noting that breakfast is the only meal served in the hotel restaurant. For other meals, guests have several options:

1. Local Restaurants: You’ll need to head out to one of the nearby restaurants for dinner. We enjoyed a delicious meal at Tortilja Bar Bonito just round the corner. We also walked to Hard Rock Cafe in the city center one evening and had a great meal.
2. In-Room Cooking: There’s a Voli supermarket within walking distance where you can stock up on basics and prepare light meals in your private kitchen.
3. Food Delivery: The hotel allows delivery from local restaurants registered on the Glovo App. We ordered dinner this way one night, and the receptionist called our room when it arrived so we could go downstairs to pay.
4. Room Service: A limited range of food options and alcoholic drinks is available through room service.

While not having the hotel restaurant open for other meals is a slight inconvenience, guests have plenty of dining alternatives.

Wellness and Leisure Activities at Perla Residence

The Perla Residence has a spa and wellness centre, which features an indoor swimming pool and a sauna. The pool is open from 8 am to 8 pm, and children are welcome to use it with adult supervision. We spent a lot of time in the pool and sauna – mostly we were the only ones in there!

Some reviewers noted that the pool is quite small and a little cold for the kids. Others mentioned that some of the hydromassage areas in the pool were not working during their stay. I agree that the pool area would feel a bit cramped if there were several guests in there at the same time. But with regards the water temperature, it wasn’t too bad! We’ve been in much colder swimming pools.

While the Perla Residence does not have a dedicated on-site gym, it does offer a fitness centre. Guest reviews mention that the gym could be improved by adding heavier free weights and that some machines were broken during their stay. My husband used the fitness room once during our stay but struggled to get a good workout session in due to lack of space and equipment.

If you plan to stay for longer than a few days at Perla Residence and want to work out, Industry Gym is just 300 meters walk from the hotel. Reviewers felt that the price was reasonable and the equipment was more than adequate.

Perla hotel also provides a range of spa treatments, including massages. The massage list is considered extensive and offers good value for money. Unfortunately, we were unable to book a massage during our stay due to the spa staff being on leave.

Parking and Wheelchair Accessibility at Perla Residence

If you’ll be arriving in your car, Perla Residence offers free parking outside, which can be reserved at reception, subject to availability. Some reviewers mentioned that they ended up parking on the road outside on some nights due to the car park being full.

Inside, there is a good-sized elevator, making it great for those with mobility issues or parents with prams.

Perla Residence Wifi Policy

Perla Residence offers free WiFi available in all areas of the hotel. While a couple of reviewers mentioned that the WiFi wasn’t fast enough, we found the connection to be satisfactory during our stay.

As we rely on the Internet for work, we couldn’t live without our WiFi hotspot, the Netgear Nighthawk M1. Even when our accommodation’s WiFi connection is poor, we always have access to the internet through our hotspot. 

Location and Nearby Attractions

While Perla is located on the outskirts of the city center, it takes about 20 minutes to walk there. Taxis are also very affordable; the receptionists at Perla were always happy to order taxis for us when we needed them.

If you’re coming straight from the airport, Perla Residence is 14 km (approximately a 20-minute drive) away. The hotel offers an airport shuttle service (15 EUR one-way), which can be arranged after booking.

While Perla is located on the outskirts of the city center, you can walk it in around 20 minutes. Taxis are also very affordable – the receptionists at Perla were always happy to order us taxis when we needed them.

If you’re coming straight from the airport, Perla Residence is 14 km or a 20-minute drive away. The hotel offers an airport shuttle (15 EUR one-way) which can be arranged with them after booking. The reception staff speak good English and will be able to help if you phone or email them.

The hotel’s contact details are as follows:

Local Attractions

1. Cathedral of Christ’s Resurrection: This stunning cathedral is a significant landmark in Podgorica, known for its impressive architecture. It’s about a 5-minute drive or a 20-minute walk from the hotel.
2. Modern Art Gallery: Situated approximately 3 km (a 7-minute drive) from Perla Residence, this gallery showcases contemporary art from both local and international artists.
3. Duklja: Visitors can explore the ruins of this ancient Roman city located just a few kilometers from the center of Podgorica. A 10-minute taxi ride will get you there.
4. Old Town (Stara Varoš): Much of this Ottoman-era neighborhood was damaged during World War II, but several significant buildings and monuments remain. On pleasant days, it’s a lovely 4 km walk that takes about 50 minutes, or you can reach it in 9 minutes by taxi.
5. The Millennium Bridge: A must-see in Podgorica, this iconic bridge is just a short drive away and offers stunning views—especially at sunset—making it perfect for photos.

Perla Residence is ta great spot for exploring Podgorica’s attractions and enjoying the local entertainment.

PERLA RESIDENCE HOTEL & SPA

An excellent spot for the whole family with up to 50% discount for long-term stays!

Book Your Stay At Perla Residence

Conclusion

Overall, Perla Residence Hotel & Spa in Podgorica is a fantastic choice for families. With spacious apartments and excellent amenities like an indoor pool, sauna, spa, and fitness centre, it has everything you need for a comfortable stay.

The friendly and helpful staff truly go out of their way to make your experience enjoyable, and there’s the delicious breakfast included with your stay! Although the hotel is located just outside the city centre, getting there is easy by taxi or a leisurely 20-minute walk.  

Plus, you can stay connected with free WiFi throughout the hotel, though a few guests have mentioned that it can be a bit slow at times.

If you’re planning an extended trip, Perla Residence also offers attractive discounts for long-term stays, making it an appealing option for families or anyone looking to settle in for a while.

So, does Perla Residence Hotel & Spa sound like the perfect spot for your Podgorica getaway? Check out prices and availability for your travel dates today! 

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