Albania?

[herewegoagainy]

Has anyone been to Albania on holiday? How did you find it?

I've stayed in Tirana and Berat while visiting that part of Europe, so went to other countries around there too (Montenegro, Bosnia, Croatia etc), this was back in 2012, and I exclusively used public transport. I can't remember ever feeling unsafe, even though I was travelling around by myself, and would've been mid 20s at the time. I didn't particularly like my time in Tirana as it's not a pretty city and I found crossing the road so stressful! (Cars seemed so reluctant to stop). Berat was much more laid back, and pretty. Albania was a lot less touristy than Croatia and Montenegro, and while possibly not as pretty/stunning as those countries I remember thinking at the time that it could be a good place to go back to for more of an explore. Though I haven't been back again and not sure I would now.

It was shit compared to Greece or Croatia. Everybody in Sarande wants lots of money for not very good food or service. As everywhere there are exceptions. Didn't feel unsafe though and there was some spectacular countryside

We went last year and liked it. Never felt unsafe and used a car to get around after a few days in Tirana. Found it to be a very like many Mediterranean countries - very family oriented. We had a few days in Tirana, then Vlorë, Borsh beach, which we liked, Sarande. Then we went inland to the Osumi canyon which is spectacular, and a couple of days in Berät.

There are issues with some roads, especially inland and Berät is ruined by traffic. They are in the process of messing up the coastline with over-development, probably because tourism is a major source of income.

It came across as a country really trying to pull itself up. If I were to go back I'd spend more time inland, despite the state of the roads. The countryside north of Tirana is also meant to be spectacular.

@DavidBattenburgh Albania is very new to tourism though. You cannot compare if to other countries. Especially Greece that’s had centuries of tourism!