All about holidays in Albania in 2021 based on tourist reviews. Top White Sand Beach Resorts, All Inclusive Tour Prices & Food Expenses. Sights and places of interest. Advice for vacationers with children.
Albania is an unusual and new destination for Russian tourists. There are very few flights there, not everyone knows about it either. However, Albania is a picturesque country with an interesting history and wonderful holidays can be organized there.
Holidays in Albania
Albania is comfortably located on the sea coast between Greece and Montenegro. Due to many years of isolation, the formation of tourism began here quite recently, but the country is steadily developing and has been receiving Russian tourists for several years.
The only international airport is located in the capital of the country, Tirana. There are no regular direct flights, there are with transfers in European cities from Moscow. However, in the summer months, charter direct flights are opened - for example, Ural Airlines have such flights.
Russia and Albania have a partial visa regime. In the summer of 2021, you can visit the country without a visa if your vacation in Albania does not exceed three months. The rest of the time, a visa must be issued.
If you are traveling on your own, it is better to book a transfer from Tirana airport to the hotel online at KiwiTaxi. Upon arrival at the airport, the car will already be waiting.
Vacation season at the sea in Albania
Located in the Balkans, Albania is famous for its really hot summers! Winter is short here - only about two months. In mid-March, summer is celebrated, and the beach season in Albania begins in April.
Rains in these places are a rare phenomenon, and the most comfortable summer temperature is not even by the sea, but in the mountains - about +23 ... + 25 ° С.
In summer months in Tirana the temperature can rise up to + 40 ° С, but it is much more pleasant to be on the coast. The coastal wind forms the optimal resort temperature - about + 30 ° С.
Towards the end of summer and the sea warms up to + 25 ° C, so it is optimal to plan a vacation with children in Albania in August or September. The beach season closes at the end of October.
Prices for tours to Albania in 2021
Tours from Russia to Albania have appeared recently, therefore not every travel agency will offer you this direction. Therefore, it is better to look for tours online on the Travelata and Level.Travel services - search by major tour operators and tours at the most favorable prices.
Charter flights to resorts fly from Moscow. In 2021, the cost of a tour to Albania for two starts from 70 thousand rubles. This includes 7 nights in a resort in a 3 * hotel. Some hotels are located literally a few meters from the sea.
If a week at the resort is not enough for you, there are options for 14 days - from 86 thousand rubles for two on the same conditions.
But the "all inclusive" system is a very rare phenomenon in Albania. In 2021, there are simply no five-star hotels in the resorts, and breakfast is mainly included in the price of meals.
According to tourists' reviews, there is no point in waiting for a high level of hotels and inns from Albania. The country is just gaining popularity; you simply will not find high-class services here. But if you want to relax in an unusual, picturesque and inexpensive place, this is the place for you.
Prices for holidays by the sea in Albania in 2021
The country accepts the euro, but the local currency is also available here. One Albanian lek is equal to about 50-60 Russian kopecks.
Prices in Albania will definitely delight you! You can have lunch in an inexpensive cafe for 650 lek, and in a restaurant - for a maximum of 2000 lek. Sandwiches here cost 200 leks, and pizza only 500.
Surprisingly, for the same 500 leks you will get two sun loungers and an umbrella on the beach for use. However, there are not many beaches equipped with sun loungers in Albania, so you don't have to pay for anything at all.
Drinks are also inexpensive! You have to pay about 135 lek for a cup of cappuccino, and beer costs about 180-200 lek for 1.5 liters. Albania is known for its delicious wines. A bottle of table red wine costs about 300 leks and, according to tourists, these are really high-quality drinks. A canister of water with a volume of 5 liters costs only 100 leks - we recommend drinking purchased water.
Transport costs will not hit your budget either: a city bus ride is 40 lek, between settlements - from 60 lek. Just do not forget that it is hot in Albania and there are many serpentines - traveling by bus between cities is not always comfortable.
If you want to plan your own routes and not depend on public transport, then rent a car. Through the Rentalcars.com service, you can book a car in advance without overpayments. A liter of gasoline in Albania costs 170 lek.
Vacation at the sea in Albania - 2021: which resort to choose
Resorts in Albania are diverse both in size and type: there are both sandy and pebble beaches. It depends on which sea the resort is located on. Albania is the meeting point of two seas, the Adriatic and the Ionian, and, according to tourists, the difference in currents and water temperatures can literally be felt physically if you go into the water on the beaches of the Vlore resort.
Resorts of the Adriatic Sea
Durres
Durres is a large city on the Adriatic coast with a population of 200 thousand people. It is interesting that the Albanians themselves consider the city to be a large and noisy city; tourists from Russia do not think it as such. There is entertainment for every season and for different tourists. In Durres, you will find large shopping centers, fitness clubs, pharmacies. And closer to the beaches there are amusement parks, embankments, clubs, cafes and restaurants.
The length of the coastline in Durres is about 15 km, the bottom is gently sloping, so the resort is perfect for families with small children. In the center and on the outskirts, the city looks different: the rustic flavor is gradually replaced by multi-storey buildings, and green landscapes closer to the center coexist with large hotels and shops.
Find out about your holiday in Durres.
Shengjin
Even 20 years ago, Shengjin was a small fishing village, now tourists from all over Europe come here to rest. The resort is suitable for those who go to the sea to improve their health: the coniferous forests around the resort make the air healing, and the landscapes charming. Shengjin has both well-groomed beaches and historical monuments.
Lalzit Bay
This is a resort in the central part of Albania, nearby is the Cape Kepi Rodonit. The place is known for its white sandy beaches and coniferous forests that stretch along the coastline. Here you will find peace and quiet and peaceful rest.
Ionian Sea resorts
Ksamil
Tourists call this resort the local Seychelles, and no wonder! In order to see real paradise beaches with your own eyes, you don't have to fly to the ocean. It is these beaches of Albania that are included in the TOP of the best beaches in the world. The sand here is almost snow-white and gives the water a pale blue hue. At the same time, some small bays have a pebble bottom.
From Ksamil you can go to Greece for an excursion to the island of Corfu, but this requires a Schengen visa. And for lovers of secluded relaxation, tourists advise the Monastery Beach, located near the Monastery of St. George.
Learn about your holiday in Ksamil.
Saranda
Saranda is a small town with an excellent level of service. The best hotels are located here, the excursion business is well developed. Tourists recommend the ruins of Butrint for visiting.
The most visited beaches in the city are Keparo and Lukova. The terrain is hilly and the bottom is mostly pebbly. Tourists from all over the world come to these beaches with the purest water. Lovers of underwater excursions are very popular here, and the inhabitants of Saranda even opened several diving schools in the city.
Not far from Saranda there is a resort called Borsch.This beach in Albania is famous for its incredible blue sea and landscapes.
Learn about your holiday in Ksamil.
Vlore
This resort is interesting for its location. It is located at the junction of two seas - the Adriatic and the Ionian.
It is quieter here than in Durres, with slightly fewer inhabitants. There are two types of beaches - sandy on the Adriatic and pebbly on the Ionian coast. The peculiarity of the rest in Vlore is the lack of first line hotels. It is simply not there, since the beach is separated from the city by a wide road.
From here you can go to the Illyrian city of Apollonia and the monastery of Ardenitsa.
Find out about your holiday in Vlore.
What to see in Albania
Despite the fact that there are still not many tourists in Albania and excursion activities are not well developed, there are enough unusual and interesting places in this country. Here you will find attractions both for nature lovers, almost untouched by man, and for those wishing to visit cultural monuments and shrines.
Riviera of Flowers - a resort area between Vlora and Saranda. It is considered the most picturesque place in Albania. These are unspoiled beaches, clean and incredibly beautiful - in these areas, the construction of high-rise rear is prohibited. You can live in the Riviera area only in small private houses.
Ancient road of Egnantia - an unusual landmark of Albania. This road is several hundred kilometers long, before it crossed the provinces of Rome. Now the road is partially destroyed and overgrown with grass, but it still looks impressive.
Venetian Tower in Durres. The ancient Byzantine tower is majestic and free to visit. There is a bar and a cafe right in the tower, which will make the walk even more pleasant - we have already said about the low prices in Albania.
Capital Tirana... It is convenient to go there from Durres on excursions - the distance is only a little over 30 kilometers.
On vacation in Albania in 2021, visit the National Marine Park "Karaburun-Sazan" in the area of the resort of Vlore. Here you can go diving, and what you see will definitely not leave you indifferent: in addition to the richest flora and fauna, you will see the remains of ancient ships and ships of the Second World War.
Also, tourists are advised to visit the walled city Kruja with a long history and city Shkoderlocated on the shore of the lake. Beautiful mountain Give a height of 2600 m, a cable car leads to it. There are many churches and fortresses in Albania, and you will definitely see them not far from your chosen resort. For example, in the area of Dhermi Beach (Saranda city) there are thirty Orthodox churches.
Reviews about holidays with children in Albania
Holidays in Albania with children is a controversial topic. Many tourists advise against taking their children with them for several reasons. This is both intense heat and the lack of high-quality hotels (many prefer an all-inclusive vacation with a child, and in Albania this is almost impossible). It is also difficult to get around here by any transport. Therefore, we advise you to travel with your child to large resorts in late August - early September. At this time, the sea is already very warm, and the heat subsides a little.
However, there is another side - in June there are fewer tourists, which means that the nights are quieter, which will be a big plus when relaxing with a child.
Tourists with small children are advised to choose resorts where there are beaches with a shallow bottom - Shengjin, Durres, Lalzit Bay.
Unfortunately, Albania does not yet have a full-fledged infrastructure for families with children - water parks and amusement parks have not yet been built. However, the warm sea, white sand and numerous underwater inhabitants will please the child no less!
Reviews of tourists about the rest in Albania
Now in Albania there is no division into luxury and budget vacations. The price of the tour consists of a complex flight, and accommodation is quite inexpensive. Albania is known as a tourist country quite recently, and many of its resorts are developing in parallel and at approximately the same pace.
Tourists note that hotels, despite the average prices and location by the sea, sometimes do not quite meet expectations. Therefore, many advise you to take a hairdryer, mosquito repellent, and a spare towel with you. The room may not have air conditioning. Therefore, you need to go on vacation to Albania in 2021 with a minimum knowledge of English, so it was not a problem for you to ask for an iron, fan or hairdryer.
Some vacationers generally compare Albania ... with Cuba! Or with Abkhazia, which is more understandable for a Russian tourist. Incredibly beautiful nature and a standard of living that many of us have already forgotten. But, perhaps, the charm of the resorts of Albania is precisely in this?
