Montenegro Becomes Europe's Next Hot Spot

The government of Montenegro, which declared its independence from Serbia in 2006, has made luxury travel a priority. The blitz to glitz being has been especially evident in Sveti Stefan, an island in the Adriatic Sea that's linked to the country's shore by an isthmus. The 15th century fishing village turned 1950s glam resort attracted the attention of Hong Kong-based Amanresorts two years ago.

Amanresorts has gained a reputation for building upscale hotels that offer spotless service in far-flung locations. The company opened its flagship property in Phuket, Thailand, in 1988. Since then, the company has expanded to Jackson Hole, Wyo.; Bhutan and, most recently, in Sveti Stefan.

The island was a fixture on the jet-set circuit long before St.-Tropez, France, or Italy's Capri. In the 1950s, movie stars Sophia Lauren, Kirk Douglas and Marilyn Monroe frolicked in the island's quarry-style pool, swimming holes and beaches. It later became a getaway for posh members of the Communist elite before falling into disrepair after the fall of Yugoslavia. Amanresorts started leasing property on the island in 2007.