Read reviews of tourists about Albania - the hidden gem of the Mediterranean. What do they write about the weather, hotels, beaches, sea, excursions and entertainment? Pros and cons of holidays in Albania in 2021.
Reviews about the weather in Albania
The long Albanian coastline has a warm Mediterranean climate. The sun shines three hundred days a year. The swimming season starts at the end of April and lasts until October.
ksenia-deva: "In June, the sea in Saranda is cold, but there is still a mountain river nearby, which flows into the sea, and this makes the water even colder than usual."
July and August are dry and hot. The air temperature rises to +28 ... + 35 ° С, and sea water to +25 ... + 26 ° С. Thanks to the winds, the heat near the sea is easily tolerated, and in the central regions it can be uncomfortable.
According to tourists, the velvet season in Albania is warm and beautiful. In September in the afternoon +25 ... + 27 ° С. The sea is warmed up to +24 ... + 25 ° С.
Oleg Porkonov: "Albania in September - the sun, stuffiness. The streets are warm, even stuffy. City dust and exhaust gases affect."
It rains in late autumn and early spring. Winter in Albania is mild and humid. In the mountains, the climate is more severe, there is a lot of snow.
Alexander G .: "I am sure that in the summer, in the season, everything plays with different colors. But in January, it is a complete disappointment."
Albania hotel reviews
For several decades Albania was closed from the rest of the world. Now she is trying to attract travelers, so a lot of housing for tourists is being built in resort areas. According to tourists' reviews, hotels in Albania do not always correspond to the declared star rating. Compared to Turkey and Egypt, the service there is minimal.
There are few comfortable 5 * hotels. Vacationers are more in demand for budget 3 * hotels, inexpensive apartments and farm houses.
To make your holiday in Albania a success in 2021, study the reviews of tourists about hotels.
Ljudmila93592: "At the Regina Hotel 3 * everything is great with food and service. There is nothing to find fault with, rooms, cleaning - everything is fine."
denisa d."Hotel Mondial 4 * is my favorite place. It has a rooftop bar and amazing views."
LeraRomanova: "About Aler Luxury Hotel Vlora 4 * impressions are good. They received us hospitably, the staff at the reception are helpful and polite."
Some hotels in Albania received negative reviews from tourists.
Natalia: "We rested at the Ujvara Hotel 3 *. Breakfasts for 6 EUR are meager and monotonous: 2 mini-grilled sausages, 3 slices of tomato and cucumber each, fresh omelette floating in oil, croissant and coffee."
Reviews about beaches and sea in Albania
The coast is washed by the waters of the Adriatic and Ionian Seas. There are many coniferous trees near the beaches, so the air smells of sea water and heated pine needles. In addition to sandy beaches, Albania has small pebble beaches.
For a beach holiday, the largest resort in the north, Durres, is good. According to reviews, tourists love the clean beaches of the seaside town of Vlore. They are ideal for bathing children. On the Adriatic coast, the sandy beaches of Shengjin, Lezhi and Velipoye are in demand.
If you like a more secluded holiday, choose the small resort of Saranda, which is located in the south of the Albanian coast, opposite the Greek island of Corfu. Its sandy beaches are washed by the clear Ionian Sea. Noise and crowds of tourists do not happen here!
From June to October it is pleasant to relax on the sandy shores of Lake Ohrid, the deepest in Europe. Tourists stay at the hotels of the picturesque city Pogradec.
rylada: "On the rocky beaches, the water is generally superb, but aqua-shoes are desirable - where the rocks are larger, there are a lot of sea urchins."
Elena fk: "Vlora is a nice and cozy town with amazingly beautiful beaches."
ZhuchOK: "We drove almost the entire coast of Albania from north to south, and I can confidently say that Dhermi Beach is the best we have seen."
Reviews about excursions in Albania
Vacationers are taken on excursions to the lakes, Tirana, Durres, Shkoder and Berat. During such trips, tourists are shown the Ottoman Bridge in Mesa, the ancient fortress of Rozafa and the city-museum of Gjirokastru, which is included in the list of UNESCO monuments. From Vlora they travel by sea to the National Marine Park "Karaburun-Sazan". One-day tours cost 40-60 €.
To make your holiday in Albania in 2021 go without problems, read the reviews of tourists about the excursions.
Ann: "You can only get to the Marine Park by boat. There is a lot of different living creatures and vegetation under the water. I thought this could only be seen in Egypt."
Irina: "We were impressed by the beauty of the floods of turquoise rivers, fields of wild daffodils among the bunkers and a delightful sunset." More about the excursion →
Little Mermaid: "We went to Lake Coman. It is very beautiful, but if at least someone told me how long the road is and what it is ... I would definitely not go. No one returned to the hotel."
Entertainment reviews
According to tourists' reviews, in 2019-2020, jeep safaris, kayaking and rafting on rivers, paragliding, trekking in the mountains, horseback riding and cycling were popular in Albania. With children, we advise you to visit the capital of the country - Tirana, climb the cable car to Mount Daiti and go to the archaeological museum-reserve Butrint, which is located in the south of Albania. There are water parks and attractions in Durres, Saranda and Vlore.
berkutinalbania: "Butrint National Park is a beautiful park! Nestled among the thickets of eucalyptus and other overseas trees, it immerses you in the era of great conquests."
j-unona: "We visited the Blue Eye karst spring while traveling in Albania and were amazed at the beauty and appeal of this place."
kas100: "Tirana, the capital of Albania, has never been a favorite city for tourists, but there is plenty of exoticism here."
Pros and cons of vacation in Albania
Albanian resorts are not as promoted as popular holiday destinations in Montenegro and Greece. Nevertheless, tourists from Russia and other countries willingly travel to this country. Many of those who have visited Albania have left positive comments and would like to return again.
pros holidays in Albania in 2021:
- Warm comfortable climate.
- Clean Adriatic and Ionian seas.
- Nice sandy beaches.
- Picturesque Albanian Alps.
- Hospitable locals.
- Good roads.
- Delicious cuisine.
- Architectural and historical sights.
aland1: "The cities in Albania are distinctive. When you drive through them, it feels like you got into a time machine and moved back to the past."
Minuses:
- The garbage issue has not been resolved.
- The service is not well developed.
- There are no direct flights from Russia.
Yuri M .: "I traveled through Montenegrin Tivat. I rented a car there."
The nuances of rest in Albania and tourist advice
Every year from April 1 to October 31, Russians can enter Albania without a visa. At other times, people enter the country on a Schengen visa.
In addition to the residents of Russia, Belarusians and Ukrainians have a rest at the Albanian resorts. Russian is heard on beaches, in hotels and excursions.
Albanians are quite conservative in their views. Avoid topics about politics, religion, and same-sex marriage when dealing with them.
Supermarkets accept not only local currency - lekibut also the euro. The course is indicated on the signs above the ticket office.
For those who cook on their own, it is more profitable to buy food in the markets. There they are 10-15% cheaper than in stores.
There is no central heating in Albania. If you want to travel to this country during the off-season or winter, find out in advance how the room is heated.
