When Novak Djokovic’s wedding party descends upon the Adriatic coast this week, they will find a resort befitting the A-list crowd. The Aman Sveti Stefan is a sprawling property in Montenegro bordered by forested hills.
According to insiders, the resort will host Djokovic’s rumored 100-plus guests on July 9 and 10.
We check out the Wimbledon champ’s luxe lair:
What
Djokovic and his fiancée, Jelena Ristic, will likely wed at Aman’s Villa Miločer, once the summer residence of Montenegro’s Queen Marya and later Yugoslavian dictator Tito. The villa has been transformed into an eight-suite oasis decorated in Aman’s signature minimalist style. Restaurant Loggia, the wisteria-covered terrace overlooking the Adriatic, is rumored to be the location of the actual nuptials.
During the wedding, guests will probably walk the narrow causeway from the villa to the magnificently restored 15th-century village, which contains 50 guest rooms and cottages connected by a labyrinth of cobblestone lanes. Rooms feature original stone walls and are rustic yet elegant. Village lanes are bordered by fragrant fresh lavender, rosemary and wild thyme, and accented by pools, restaurants and courtyards. Best of all, the WiFi is suprisingly excellent.
Chill out
The newly opened Luceo spa is a 20,000-square-foot retreat located on Queens Beach, just a short walk to Villa Miločer. Built in Mediterranean style using local sandstone, it features an indoor-outdoor pool, Pilates and yoga studio and four double treatment rooms. Signature Aman treatments incorporating local herbs are performed by an international team of therapists, and private sauna/steam/pool suites are ideal for newlyweds like the Djokovics.
Works well
Foodies rejoice! The resort’s cuisine fuses influences from the Adriatic, Mediterranean and Djokovic’s home country of Serbia. Dine on local specialties like slow-roasted lamb with potatoes or whole local sea bream baked in a salt crust. You can indulge in regional wines — including reds featuring the indigenous Vranac grape and Bermet, Serbia’s traditional sweet dessert wine.
Needs improvement
Hotel cars that move guests from the village to the villa or spa need to be reserved well in advance.
Good to know
If you’re the type of traveler who likes to see his bed, beach and breakfast within a single glance, the villa is the place to stay. When booking a village room be clear about your priorities — outdoor terraces, closet space and seating areas vary greatly from room to room.
Bottom line
If you are not one of Djokovic’s lucky guests, a visit to the resort will be an expensive but worthwhile indulgence.
Details
From $1,290; amanresorts.com