Albania
Albania is an undiscovered country on the Mediterranean. Nestled between Montenegro and Greece, with plenty of coastline and inland mountains. The natural beauty of Albania is undeniable.
Planning a trip to Europe? Check out these helpful articles –
10 Practical Packing Tips, 7th one is the Easiest
Places to See
Vlorė
Golem
Gjirokaster
Himare
Berat
Tirana
Sarande
Ksmail
Llogara national Park Area
Activities to Do
Llogara National Park & Drive Pass
Visit Butrint & Blue Eye
Beaches: Dhermi, Gjipe, Palasa & Jala
Mount Cika
Boat trip to Gramma Bay
Relax at Ksmail Beach
Hike the Albanian Alps (Thethi National Park)
Lake Komani Boat Trip
Day trip to Corfu from Sarande
What to Eat & Drink
Seafood
Grilled meat platter
Grilled fish (whole)
Stuffed grape leaves
Stuffed veggies
Byrek
Petulla
Baklava
Raki
Places to Stay
Chic Boutique Hotel & Spa (Vlore)
Flower Hotel & Resort (Golem)
Planning Resources:
Accommodation – I always check these three websites to see my options when booking hotels or apartments to stay in : Booking.com, Airbnb.com and Expedia.com (includes VRBO & Hotels.com)
Tours – When searching for activities and tours, I use Viator and Get Your Guide
Transportation – I stalk Google Flights for both domestic and international flights. For trains, Eurail for multi-day passes and Trainline for one-off train tickets. I often use Enterprise for rental cars, but will go with any reputable company that offers a good deal.
Albania’s Best Hidden Gem – without a doubt it’s Gramma Bay. The boat ride along the coast from Vlore to get there is stunning (but ROUGH waters on the return trip). The beach at Gramma Bay is the real showstopper though….pure, unadulterated beauty. There is one small restaurant serving a very limited menu: fish, potatoes, wine, beer…what else do you need? Be sure to bring cash for the restaurant and visit before it’s completely overrun!
Alex’s Insider Tips
1
Carry Cash-
make sure to always have cash, as many places still do not accept card. Even if they do, there can be power outages and the system can be down (this happened to us at our 5* hotel). The best rate for getting Albania Lek is with your debit card at a bank in Albania.
2
Drive Carefully-
cops and on the lookout for foreign plates and rental cars. We've heard they will force you to pay cash on the spot for driving offenses. We drove for a week in Albania without any issues, but we were very careful. We did see many cars pulled over by the police though.
3
Don't Skip Vlorė-
the beaches in this area are absolutely gorgeous! They are not getting the same hype as the ``Albanian Riviera`` down by Ksmail, which makes them all the better.
4
Tourism is Up & Coming-
if you go into your trip with this mindset, then you will have a much better time. Certain things we experienced in relation to tourism just wouldn't happen in most other European countries, which was frustrating at times. It's important to remember that Albania was essentially closed off from the world until the fall of communism in 1991. They are very excited to show off their country to tourists, so just have an open mind during your trip. The country truly is stunning!
My Must Have Guides For European Travel
Everything you need to know about visiting Europe
What can I expect from Albania?
Natural beauty, amazing food and an incredibly inexpensive trip!
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September 10, 2018
