I was lying on a bed without any trousers on. A young man helped me into a pair of boots that came up to my crotch and zipped them up. He dimmed the lights, put on some music, pressed a button, and left the room. Argh! The boots started slowly inflating from the toes upward, like a giant blood pressure cuff. As they tightened around my upper thighs, I started to panic. What if they just kept getting tighter until my legs burst? Just as I was about to call for help, the pressure suddenly released, and my legs felt wonderfully light. I took a deep breath and gave in to another 19 minutes of this sweet torture.
I was at Siro Boka Place in Montenegro, trying compression boot therapy, which is meant to boost circulation and reduce swelling. “It works especially well for women over 35,” my young assistant had told me, helpfully. The hotel, which opened last year, is proud of its “state-of-the-art wellness facilities.” In most hotels, that means a tiny gym. At Siro, the facilities are so good that the Montenegrin Olympic team is training here ahead of the 2028 Los Angeles Games.
But more about the hotel later. First, I was eager to get outside and explore. Siro is in Porto Montenegro, a fancy development on the edge of Tivat in the beautiful Bay of Kotor. My companions and I escaped the glitz on a morning e-bike tour around the bay, taking us from designer shops and luxury restaurants to charming old fishing villages. We cycled to the tip of the promontory to look at the islet Our Lady of the Rocks, then biked all the way around the other side until we faced Kotor’s triangular, red-roofed old town across the water. We cut inland to complete the loop via a winding mountain road, where I was grateful for the electric assist.
The next day, we hit the Vrmac mountain trails on foot, hiking to Gornja Lastva, a half-abandoned village high above Tivat, and then on to tiny St Vid church, which stands alone on the peak. The panoramic views made it the perfect picnic spot. In the afternoon, we explored the calm waters of the bay by kayak. It was blissful just getting out on the sparkling water, but with more time, you can kayak over to the famous Blue Cave on the Luštica peninsula.
These trips can be booked through Siro, which has partnered with local activity companies. Guests can go running and rock climbing; canyoning in the Drenoštica or Nevidio canyons; paddleboarding on Skadar Lake; or try a range of watersports in the bay, from fun tubing and e-foiling to wakeboarding.
Back at the hotel, group classes are offered in the fitness studios—there are about five sessions a day on weekdays and two on weekends. I tried yoga, pilates, and mindful strength, while more high-energy options include run club, Hyrox, and full body blitz. The gym—sorry, “fitness lab”—is huge (1,600 square meters) and divided into cardio, weights, and functional training zones. There’s a lovely 25-meter outdoor pool on the third floor with views over the marina.
All this exercise called for some more treatments in the spa, or “recovery lab.” During red light therapy, I had to lie in a coffin-like pod with the lid closed—not great for anyone claustrophobic. The near-infrared wavelengths are thought to help reduce inflammation, speed up muscle recovery, and rejuvenate the skin. If nothing else, the gentle warmth was very relaxing, once I stopped thinking about being buried alive.
I was a little nervous about having a body composition analysis, but it was simple. You stand on a Seca Tru machine and hold the handles, and the results are sent to an app on your phone in about 30 seconds. It seems like magic, but it actually uses “bioelectrical impedance analysis” to measure the resistance of electrical currents as they pass through the body, and it’s highly accurate compared to an MRI or Dexa (bone density) scan.It was fascinating to go through the results: muscle and fat mass, water levels, bone mineral content, basal metabolic rate (calories burned at rest), and something new to me—phase angle, which is described as “an indicator of overall health, metabolic activity and nutritional status.”
After I had time to digest my results (88 out of 100, not bad for a woman well over 35), I had a consultation with Hélène Boussiard, a French-trained clinical dietitian and a wealth of nutritional knowledge. We connected over our vegan diets, but she wasn’t as happy about my late nights and alcohol intake. Since I’ve been trying to go to bed earlier and drink less for the past 25 years, it wasn’t exactly a surprise, but her written report did motivate me to try harder.
I cheered myself up with a massage—or three. Two were done on a waterbed (well, Rivals has brought the 80s back into style), one involved stretching, and all were absolutely amazing. I could have also tried cupping, dry needling, EMS therapy, and percussive therapy, but there are only so many hours in the day.
Guests with any energy left can also work out in their rooms—they come with a Swedish ladder for pull-ups and dead hangs, a wellness ball to work the core even while sitting, plus weights, resistance bands, and a yoga mat. A restful night’s sleep is supported by meditation playlists, temperature-controlled mattresses, and sunrise alarm clocks.
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And relax… the 25-meter pool offers views of the marina and mountains. Photograph: SIRO
As you might expect, the restaurant, Siro Table, serves healthy food. The breakfast buffet includes ferments, nuts, and seeds, with à la carte options like avocado toast with poached eggs. At lunch and dinner, there are plenty of vegetable-based dishes with protein add-ons “to achieve your desired macros”—I added chickpeas and tofu to courgette spaghetti, for example. But it’s not too strict: chips, desserts, and wine are also on the menu. The ground-floor Refuel Bar serves smoothies and protein shakes, but there’s a real bar on the roof with cocktails and Friday-night DJs.
After three days at Siro, I felt like an Olympic athlete myself. Now all I have to do is keep it up at home. I wonder how much a pair of compression boots would cost me? The trip was provided by Siro Boka Place. Doubles from €120, including use of the gym, sauna, and pool, one fitness class per guest per day, and one body composition analysis. Additional treatments from €30 for 20 minutes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here is a list of FAQs based on the statement After three days here I felt like an Olympic athlete The Montenegro hotel is designed for fitness and wellness
General Beginner Questions
Q Is this hotel only for professional athletes
A No not at all While the facilities are toptier the hotel is designed for all fitness levels from beginners to advanced
Q What does designed for fitness and wellness mean exactly
A It means the hotel has dedicated spaces for exercise offers healthy meal options and provides wellness services like spas or yoga classes to help you recover
Q Im not very fit Will I feel out of place
A Absolutely not The environment is encouraging and many guests are there to start or improve their fitness journey Activities are often scalable to your level
Q What kind of fitness activities are available
A Typical options include a modern gym guided hikes or runs swimming yoga Pilates and sometimes group fitness classes like spinning or boot camps
Advanced Specific Questions
Q Im training for a marathon Can I do a long run here
A Yes Many fitnessfocused hotels have mappedout running routes treadmills and staff who can help you plan a longdistance route through the local area
Q Is there a nutritionist or personalized meal plan available
A Many wellness hotels offer consultations with a nutritionist and can tailor meals to your training needs
Q What recovery amenities are offered
A Look for a spa sauna steam room cold plunge pools and often services like sports massages or stretching sessions to help with muscle recovery
Q How does the hotel support both fitness and relaxation in one stay
A The schedule is usually balanced You might have a morning workout followed by a healthy brunch then free time for the pool or spa and an evening yoga or meditation session
Common Problems Practical Tips
Q Im worried Ill get bored after a few days Are there enough activities
A Most fitness hotels offer a rotating schedule of classes and activities Ask at checkin for the weekly program to plan your days
