Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Holidays

Use our Travel forum for recommendations on everything from day trips to the best family-friendly holiday destinations.

Albania recommendations?

17 replies

Jungfraujoch · 02/01/2024 16:29

Seems to be an upcoming destination not yet taken over by mass tourism.
Anyone been last year and did you love it?!

OP posts:
rochethenut · 02/01/2024 16:31

not yet taken over by mass tourism.

masterful understatement there! 😂

blackfluffycat · 02/01/2024 16:34

I think there is a reason for that.

Jungfraujoch · 02/01/2024 16:43

Have you been?

OP posts:
rochethenut · 02/01/2024 17:25

Jungfraujoch · 02/01/2024 16:43

Have you been?

Now that would be a niche thread

TypicalCoach · 02/01/2024 17:31

I went in 2012 and 2017 as used to trevel the ballans, nice enough place, genuinely not tonnes to do, the capital is small and again not much to see.

Decent hikes in the north.

South in Sarande has hotels and beaches but your not far from Greece which had better beaches.

I don't know what this new craze is about going their but people will be disappointed and you'd have a better time in Croatia or montenegro

HottestEverRecordedTemperature · 02/01/2024 17:33

Agree. I lived there for 2 years - granted now 15 years ago.

I'd not willingly go back. although parts of it are beautiful. I'd only do tours with official / registered tour agencies as parts are still unbelievably dangerous.

Plenty of other gorgeous places in the Balkans.

WowIlikereallyhateyou · 02/01/2024 17:40

My recommendation would be dont go. It is beautiful in places,but let me put it this way. It is one of the few places my extremely well travelled husband needed bodyguards to work in, and genuinely felt uncomfortable there.

Jungfraujoch · 02/01/2024 17:57

Recently?!

OP posts:
WowIlikereallyhateyou · 02/01/2024 18:11

If that question was aimed at me, it was 4 or so years ago. So not that long ago.

WowIlikereallyhateyou · 02/01/2024 18:12

Croatia/ montenegro, i agree with other poster,would be my choice.

PincNeon · 02/01/2024 18:37

Bit surprised by the responses here. I like getting off the beaten track, yes, but I’m certainly not someone who travels to danger spots for fun and the previous posts don’t reflect my experience.

We went around 2018 and hired a car to travel around, including a brief visit to Kosovo (which I didn’t much like), and thoroughly enjoyed it. The driving was tough and we really should have had a 4x4 to handle some of the roads. As it was, in a hatchback it was genuinely whiteknuckle - but due to the lack of decent paved roads and not seeing a soul for great stretches (the worry was that we would knacker the car and be stranded!) rather than feeling unsafe from a crime point of view. On the contrary, we found people to be helpful, interested and welcoming in that way people often are in countries that don’t get loads of tourists.

The north was lovely for hiking, while the south has interesting historical towns (some of which can be visited by a day or overnight trip from Corfu). Tirana was ok and I didn’t like Durres at all apart from the Roman amphitheatre.

So it depends on what you want in a holiday. Albania requires a bit of work and planning, and can be frustrating (and eating monotonous in parts of the country), whereas in Croatia in particular enjoying history, beautiful places and great food is effortless.

Jungfraujoch · 02/01/2024 18:37

Thanks for all the comments - interesting!

OP posts:
Moonie5 · 02/01/2024 18:39

I traveled there twice in the past 2 years, with DH and rented car, no tour guide. I had zero problems and never felt unsafe.

florencesthoughts · 02/01/2024 18:55

Hi OP

Went in September 2022, me and my best friend (in our 30s). Would highly recommend the country. Renting a car is a must if you want to explore the country.

Flew in Tirana and drove down to Serande, where we stayed as our base. Did a day visit to Ksamil for a beach day. Drove to Blue Eye (underwhelming as quite busy). Butrint national park really good as was Gjirokasher.

Ended trip by driving back to Tirana day before flight and staying there overnight so easy to get to airport next day.

Didnt feel unsafe once. It was very beautiful, cheap and people friendly. The driving is a bit chaotic (not many rules) but if you live in a big city and used to that driving then it’ll be no difference.

Jungfraujoch · 02/01/2024 19:13

Thank you to the more positive posters! My DH and I would hire a car and explore. We love history and culture. Not really massive beach people but obviously the odd one is great to cool off! Thinking of maybe a couple of days in Tirana then off exploring staying in different places or perhaps as a PP did base ourselves in Sarande.

OP posts:
Moonie5 · 02/01/2024 20:48

Actually I did feel unsafe once and that was when driving in Tirana 😂 That’s the only thing I might not recommend…and driving in general is adventurous, go slowly and expect other drivers to do some crazy things. Still a car is absolutely essential because public transport is almost non-existent.

lifestylechoice · 02/01/2024 21:36

Maybe it's improved.. we went about 15 years ago and it was by far the poorest, most chaotic place I've ever been.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page