A discreet escape from crowds, algorithms, and the idea that everything must be perfect. Journeys that don’t exist to be documented, but to be experienced – without the pressure for every moment to be worth posting. In the space before the season, we return to a simple luxury: to be present, spontaneous, and completely beyond expectations.
There is a special kind of luxury that doesn’t come with five stars, but with the absence of crowds. It’s that moment when you sit on a plane that isn’t full, when the city you’re visiting doesn’t try to sell you postcards, but allows you to feel it. There are no lines erasing spontaneity, no need to schedule every hour in advance. Just you, space, and the feeling that you’ve arrived at the right time – a little before everyone else.
Pre-season is no longer just a term in travel calendars. It has become an aesthetic of travel. A new philosophy of moving through the world. A step away from overcrowded destinations and perfectly filtered experiences. More and more travelers from Montenegro are choosing exactly that in-between space – between winter and summer, between obligations and rest, between the need to escape and the desire to remain present.
In that space, travel takes on a different character. It is not impulsive, but it is not strictly planned either. It is carefully chosen. Like a good book you save for the right moment.
If you look at the flight map from Podgorica and Tivat today, it’s clear that the dynamics of travel have changed. Once, traveling to European capitals required logistics and compromise. Today, it feels almost simple. Low-cost airlines have redefined accessibility – not only in terms of price, but in the idea that travel is something that can happen often, spontaneously, and without major sacrifice.
Milan is no longer a plan for summer – it’s a plan for Thursday. Berlin is no longer a “big trip,” but a long weekend. Krakow, Brussels, and even northern cities like Hamburg are entering everyday conversation as options that are realistic, attainable, and – perhaps most importantly – repeatable.
Tivat, on the other hand, remains synonymous with a different rhythm. Its routes lead to destinations that carry weight and aesthetic appeal: Paris, London, Barcelona. These are not trips you take casually, but ones that feel like a small ritual. There is a certain elegance in that contrast – between Podgorica offering speed and Tivat offering atmosphere. But the real shift is not only in destinations. It lies in the way we think about money and value today.
Pre-season is, almost paradoxically, the most accessible luxury we currently have. Plane tickets starting at around twenty euros feel like a small triumph of the system – proof that the world can be closer than we think. Of course, behind those prices lies discipline: traveling without large luggage, flexible dates, a willingness to wake up before dawn.
For those seeking a balance between price and comfort, reality looks different – €150 to €300 for a few days in cities like Vienna, Budapest, or Rome. These are trips that don’t weigh you down, but leave a mark. The kind where you can sit in a café without rushing, wander without a plan, and return home with the feeling that you’ve truly been somewhere.
And then comes the other end of the spectrum – where price rises alongside expectations. Boutique hotels, better timings, carefully selected restaurants, and memorable experiences. Here, the cost easily exceeds €500 or €800, yet still feels justified for those seeking more than just a break.
Amid all this, the bigger picture cannot be ignored. The world we travel in today is not the same as it was a few years ago. Rising fuel costs, market instability, and global conflicts have affected every aspect of travel. Airfares are no longer static – they operate in response to global circumstances. Routes shift, flight durations extend, and prices often reflect a reality far removed from tourist brochures. Still, what remains unchanged is the need to go. Maybe not farther, maybe not longer, but certainly – to go.
Travelers today are not less interested in the world, but more aware of it. They choose closer destinations, shorter stays, but more meaningful experiences. Instead of exoticism, they choose authenticity. Instead of spectacle, they choose feeling. In that sense, pre-season becomes the ideal framework. It allows for travel free from expectation. Cities are at their most honest then – without the staged scenery for tourists. Streets have their own rhythm, people their daily lives, and you have the privilege of being part of it, even if only briefly.
Perhaps that is exactly why travel means more today than ever. In a world that is constantly fast-paced, fragmented, and often overloaded with information, travel becomes a way to recalibrate. Not as an escape, but as a reset. A change of place often brings a change of perspective. And it doesn’t have to be dramatic. Sometimes it’s enough to sit on a train in another city, order coffee in a language you don’t speak, and watch the day unfold without your involvement. In those moments, the world feels simpler. Or at least – clearer.
And that is why pre-season is not a compromise. It is a choice. The choice to travel before everything becomes too loud. The choice to capture a moment that isn’t perfect, but is real. We may never have ideal conditions for travel. Prices will rise, the world will remain unpredictable, and plans will change. But there is something almost liberating in that imperfection.
Because travel is not in the perfect plan. It is in the decision to go. And maybe now – before the season begins, before everyone sets off – is exactly the right moment for it.
Pre-season is the ideal time for city breaks – this is when low-cost routes are most stable, and prices still make sense. From Podgorica, this year’s offer is the strongest yet, with a clear focus on European cities perfect for short, spontaneous trips.
From Podgorica, the most reliable and frequent pre-season low-cost options include Milan, Rome, Berlin, Budapest, and Krakow. These routes are operated by budget airlines such as Ryanair and Wizz Air, with fares often ranging from €20 to €70 one way – especially if booked early and without additional luggage.
Additionally, Paris (Beauvais), Barcelona, and Vienna fall into the category of “smart luxury” – still relatively affordable, but with slightly higher demand and price fluctuations, especially on weekends.
From Tivat, the situation is somewhat different. Flights are mostly seasonal and often tied to tourism, but in pre-season, very good options can be found to London, Paris, and Geneva, particularly with airlines like easyJet. These routes are not daily, but offer an excellent balance between price and experience – ideal for a planned yet still relaxed escape.
What sets this season apart is not just the number of destinations, but their usability. These are no longer “once-a-year” trips, but real options for a long weekend. Europe has, at least for a few days, become a matter of decision – not logistics.
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