Anyone been to Albania? Family holiday

[PuppyPerson]

I'm considering Albania for next year.
We'll be in Italy near the lakes for a week so I'm wondering about Italian trains down to Bari and then ferry to Durres?
Italian trains are so good and cheap, and the kids will be 12 and 14 by next August, and up for a bit of adventure.
We always holiday on a budget so don't need luxury travel or accomodation, car hire not our preference, we always use local transport on holiday, that's part of the fun of us.
In Albania we'd be after beaches, some history, just a different slice of life really.
I think we'd fly home from Tirana. 6 days at Italian lakes, 7/8 days travelling to/in Albania?
I'd love any thoughts, recommendations or tips from anyone who's been. I'm thinking Italian trains and ferry rather than overland via Croatia, but happy to be convinced otherwise.
I'm also wondering if it's too long a journey, and maybe Slovenia would be better?

There was a thread a couple of months ago about Albania - you’ll find a range of opinions on it there! I’ll post a link when I find it 👍

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/holidays/4896592-albania?reply=129592269

My DD and BF went last year, loved it, hiking in the alps in the north of the country.
They found the Rivera a disaster zone, hated it, expensive and very busy.

People super friendly and very cheap, they used a hire car and local buses.

Ah thanks - yes I've read mixed reviews of the Riviera, I think there are a few very instagrammable places but others say it's not good, the water is dirty etc.
That thread is now inspiring me to look at Montenegro but I'm also interested in Slovenia...
And still interested to know if anyone has done Albania via trains from the north down the side of Italy, or overland round via Slovenia/Croatia...

Yes I have, but we drove (car hire) rather than used public transport. We went to Tirana, Kruja, Durres, Berat, Gjirokaster, Ksamil, Vlore and Shkoder before heading into Montenegro. I went with DH and DD who was 2.5 at the time and we had a great trip.