Villa Miela in the media

The 2026 Lonely Planet Guide to Montenegro: "A beautifully restored and stylishly furnished traditional house near Virpazar, with pool and tranquil views, Villa Miela specialises in multi-day itineraries which can include hiking, kayaking, bird-watching, wine/gastronomy and yoga."
Lonely Planet Publications, 2026

The Guardian interviews Emma about her favourite places in Montenegro: "People come here looking for untouched nature and to escape the crowds...on Lake Skadar, one of the largest lakes in southern Europe, is the village of Virpazar...you can paddle out into a vast expanse of water and it feels like there is no one else there."
The Guardian, 7th October 2021

Helen Ochyra from The Times is tempted to move here full-time after experiencing our villa: "Another of the joys of this trip is the chance to stay at Villa Miela. This is Ben and Emma's home, which they bought as a ruin with no running water and pain-stakingly rebyuilt, even adding a swimming pool. This is the sort of place that sparks new friendships."
The Times, September 2019.

Lonely Planet Traveler magazine has a 13 page feature on Montenegro in their April 2015 issue – and we feature on 4 of them: "Restored by an English couple, the stylish hillside Villa Miela sits above Virpazar, with rooms overlooking Lake Skdar."
Lonely Planet Traveller magazine, April 2015

Villa Miela has won acclaim from top travel media such as The Times Travel, The Guardian, Lonely Planet and others.

Are you a journalist or travel influencer?

We’re available for press enquiries and our co-founders Ben and Emma Heywood are available to comment on responsible tourism, adventure travel, as well as our range of retreats hosted at Villa Miela. We also arrange fam trips from time to time, so please get in touch using the details below to go on our list.

Contact: Emma Heywood, retreats@villamiela.com, +382 69 402374

Food & Travel Magazine tips us for organic cuisine: "Base yourself at Villa Miela Lake Retreat near the lakeside village of Virpazar, a beautifully restored stone farmhouse with a pool and sweeping views over the valley...it's enough to make you start browsing the local property listings"
Food & Travel Magazine, August 2026