Has anyone been on holiday to Albania

[rubytuesday55]

Looks like Albania might be a good place to travel too this year any advice on where to stay and what to do? nice hotels and best time to go

I watched two programmes about the Balkans (Katya Adler narrated them) before Christmas. No specific resorts but perhaps providing some interesting background information for you. Albania featured in the first programme

I’ve been over a decade ago. I can’t remember specific hotels, but I stayed in the countryside and then the capital Tirana. The countryside was much more peaceful and I enjoyed visiting castles. However the food at the hotel was very basic. Tirana I found very noisy and quite stressful, with chaotic traffic. There was more to do there though and meals out were very good value.

My sister went back in the summer. It isn't somewhere I would have thought to go, but they had a great time, looked liked there was a fair to bit to do and see. Sorry, I can't remember where she went.

great I will watch them

Good to hear she had a lovely time I will go and report back

It’s one of the few places I’ve been where I had trouble communicating with people because they couldn’t speak English, so maybe bring a small phrase book with you.

I went just over a year ago, flew into Tirana and had 2 nights there and did the mountains as well as the city then hired a car and travelled around for 10 days. We went down the middle through berat, gjirokaster, the blue eye and down to the bottom of the riviera I think it was sarande first then ksamil an we stopped all the way along back up to Durres and back to Tirana for our flight home. It was breathtaking, the scenery is beautiful and one of my favourite trips. We booked booking.com along the way as wasn’t sure how long to spend in each place and mainly stayed in apartments.

Been a few times to southern Albania including via Corfu (flight to Corfu and ferry to Saranda in Albania). It’s pretty. Some nice beaches and food is okay. Infrastructure is dicey. Some things are still pretty cheap.

Definitely a great place to visit. Been there. Done lots of touring. Albania has lots to offer. Stunning nature, beautiful old towns, and even beaches. Explore the cities with walking tours. Explore the coast and the mountains on your own car. Public transport is not the best one there.

I went with my sister and parents 2 years ago to Sarante, but didn't like it as much. Although I have heard that if you go more in the mainland (and especially if you have a car to visit different places), it gets much better. We visited from Corfu and I would in general recommend doing it even as a day trip

Hi we are going this summer to with a company called Undiscovered Balkans. Obviously haven’t been yet but I have done my research and am very excited at the prospect of authenticity and being off the beaten track. Always chasing the dream! We are mixing with a more typical week in Croatia should the Albanian element be too rustic.

It's true. I have been once.
Theth - if you like nature, alps, and hiking.
Tirana - It's a big city, with modern architecture, plenty of places to visit. Very nice to visit especially on a Tirana city tour.
Bera, and Gjirokaster - If you like the old cities (best ones)
Saranda and Vlora - are coastal cities. The countryside is better than the city.

Theth is well worth the trip - and the hike to the blue hole is well worth that too.

As others have said, Gjirokaster, Kruje, Berat, Butrint, Korce (especially the museum of icons) and Tirana itself have a lot to see

Most of what was to see in Durres is long gone thanks to development.

I preferred Sarande to Vlore.