Iberostar Bellevue Hotel

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Just returned from 2 wonderfully relaxing weeks all inclusive at the Iberostar Bellevue in Budva, Montenegro (2 x 14 year olds, 4 parents, and 2 grandparents).
Flight delay meant we didn't get to the hotel until 10:30pm and so missed dinner, however we were pleasantly surprised to find rolls, ham, tomatoes, and olives in our rooms.
The hotel is large, over 500 rooms but the grounds are spacious and we never felt really crowded, including in the pools, except at peak times in the dining rooms (however see below for tips on this aspect). The backdrop of the mountains makes the view amazing.
Everything is kept spotless, rooms, communal areas (including toilets), grounds, pools, and beach. Any issues were dealt with promptly (broken shower) by both reception and maintenance staff.
The main pool is large enough to never be crowded and there was always space to play ball, swim, or use the lilo. There are 2 other pools, one mainly used by children (although it is deeper than the main pool) because it has small bridge you can swim under and jump off of and a toddler pool.
There are plenty of sunbeds and parasols around the pools and on the beach (the ones on the beach have to be paid for, 2 beds and a parasol are 6 Euros a day) but as usual the 'best' positions around the pool do tend to get 'reserved' early. This didn't concern us too much because I didn't mind getting up at 6am to get sunbeds and then go for a early swim or run as the sun came over the mountains, wonderful.
The grounds are dotted with palm trees and include space for the regulation boules, shuffleboard, aerobics and other activities run by the animation team.
There are 3 floodlit clay tennis courts that were very popular and free from about 9am to 4pm.
The beach is sand and shingle with small stones as you enter the water, which was beautifully clear and warm.
The hotel is in fact on the end of the Becici beach and it is only a half hour stroll (or catch the bus or mini train) into Budva which has an old walled town with lots of shops and bars or in the other direction is Becici itself with some nice restaurants and beach side bars.
There was plenty of choice food wise, all buffet style. Breakfast the standard - cereals, bread, rolls, pancakes, jams, honey, cake, fruit, cheeses, meats, and hot fare. Lunch and dinner consisted of a choice of 2 soups, at least 8 hot meals (with 3 always the same - spaghetti with tomato, cheese or bolognaise sauce), veg, chips, a huge array of salads and cold sweets, fruit and 6 different ice creams.
Needless to say we never went hungry.
We found the best place/time to eat was 7:30pm in the block A restaurant as that is when they open up a quieter section on the left of the stairs which also has a balcony with 12 or so tables.
The all inclusive deal gives you local beer, wine, spirits and soft drinks at 2 bars during the day and 3 in the evening, as well as beer, wine and soft drinks at meal times. Even though the wine comes out of the same drinks machine that gives you coke it is perfectly acceptable (red better than white in our opinion).
Some of our party went on the Montenegro Experience trip which is a coach tour stopping off at several places, one for lunch, and gives stunning mountains views winding up/down steep zig-zag roads.
The other trip we did was one to Skada lake, a huge inland lake, for a boat trip and lunch on an island - a very relaxing trip. Other trips we heard were worth doing was a boat trip from the beach round the coast for an hour to swim in another bay, a trip across the border to Albania and a long trip into the mountains to white-water raft, which one family said was the highlight of their holiday - but bear in mind it is a 4 hour coach ride each way!
The animation team work hard during the day and run all events efficiently; in particular the water aerobics is very popular. You could keep active all day with aerobics, darts, boules, volleyball, shuffleboard, table-tennis, water polo etc etc.
The evening entertainment was very varied from musical shows (all mimed by the team and not particularly good) to local singers, folk music and dancing (good) to an It's A Knockout and Mr Iberostar 'silly games' evening which were great fun.
This area is certainly up and coming and hotels like the Bellevue show what is possible with investment (interestingly the Russians are the biggest local investors, just see the million pound cruisers in Budva harbour) - however get here early as I expect in 10 years time it could be swamped with development unless the local authorities are strict.
All in all a great holiday.