We had a great trip to Albania. The country is beautiful and it being a small country it was very easy to get around and driving distances were very reasonable. Traveling in August is hot and dry, and seeing all the dry river beds makes us want to return in June, when I'm sure the country is lush and beautiful. This being said, we loved all of the fruit dripping from the trees, figs, pomegranates, grapes, nectarines, plums, and all of the other fresh produce was exactly what we were hoping for.
The hotels we visited had the most impressive views including Kerculla and Arameras pools were just magical. Kerculla was a beautiful hotel, breakfast was lovely and the view during breakfast at both hotels was incredible. Service at all the hotels was just okay. Service overall in Albania and attention to detail is not quite up to western standards but it was fine.
Our river hiking and rafting trips were fun but with dry weather, the water was limited. But still was ok. Service with the rafting company was ok. They don't explain much of anything but I think they are still learning how to do these tours!
Berat and Gjirkaster were fun to explore - driving was challenging but that was part of the fun!
The donkey experience was great because it was just our family. The boy and mom were really good and they did a good job - as a farmer I felt proud of them starting this aspect of their farm and I think their signage was fun along the donkey walk, their presentation at the table was great and we stayed until dark! This was an unexpected highlight of the trip. Really got an authentic experience with a local family.
On the other hand Bote Farms was totally the opposite. It was an ok experience, the food was good, but the pool is a algae filled not great experience, their was not enough space for all the guests to lay in chairs around the "pool", and there was just not much to do. It is not something, as a farmer, I felt was authentic. It would have been better to call it a light cooking class with a meal and skip the part hanging out by the pool. The animals were not great, kinda dirty and hot. The owners were nice and all, but if we are travelling to be in Albania I don't want to visit a place not run by Albanians. And they called it a farm to table event. but there was not really a farm. Just some gardens.
Glamping in Nivica was fun, but hot during the day. Tents were nice, but there was nothing to do during the day, and it was just hot. No one really welcomed us much at all to say where we were and about the place. It is a great spot and fun to get there in the trucks, but it lacked a little cohesiveness. Food was good, the guide was nice, and the hike was fun, and lunch at the local restaurant and a walk through the town were great.
We enjoyed the restaurant suggestions and overall they were good, but food did vary from place to place and was sometimes quite bland at the hotels and a bit overpriced. We would have enjoyed more local, out of the way, true local restaurants that locals eat at as other options for us vs tourist restaurants.
Not sure what else to write about! Thermal baths were a little bit of a let down since they are not hot, more like warm and they were a bit full of algae. Cool place though! We didn't stay long...
Hotel Reviews
Hotel Prado Luxury
Himare
Hotel Prado Luxury in Himarë was the most luxurious hotel we stayed at, with a big beautiful room and a large wrap-around balcony facing the ocean. The pool was nice and the breakfast was great. The only downside was the presence of many families with young children, which made the pool area noisy at times. The beach had rocky areas but the beach chairs were good.
Camp Nivica was a unique experience but challenging due to the heat and lack of air conditioning. There was not much to do during the hot days, and the first day was rough as my wife was not feeling well. The food was fine, but there was no welcoming or explanation about the camp from the staff. The hike the next day was great and the guide was excellent. We would consider returning in a cooler season to see the camp in a different light.
Arameras Beach Resort
ksamil
Arameras Beach Resort in Ksamil had an incredible location away from the busy and crowded town beaches, which we appreciated. The property and pool were stunning and we took many pictures there. The room was a bit unusual and the food was average and somewhat overpriced, but overall the hotel was great.
Kerculla Resort in Gjirokastra was a beautiful hotel with amazing views and a great pool. The breakfast was huge and the design of the hotel was impressive. However, it was located on a hill outside of town, which made getting there a bit challenging, especially driving up the hill.
Hotel Mangalemi in Berat was nice but the room was quite small. The bathroom was beautiful and we had a small balcony with a view. The breakfast was the most limited of all the places we stayed, but still fine. The staff were very nice and the location was great.
Hotel Rogner in Tirana was very nice. We stayed only one night and the staff were very friendly. There were no complaints at all, and the hotel met our expectations well.
Activity Reviews
Farm-to-table experience at Botë Farms
Albania
The farm-to-table experience at Botë Farms was not very authentic for us. It felt more like an American-style agro-tourism setup rather than a real farm. The meal was fine and the people were nice, but it lacked the genuine farm experience we were hoping for.
Walking with donkeys through the Drino Valley
Gjirokastra
Walking with donkeys through the Drino Valley was one of the highlights of our trip. The family hosting us was wonderful, and their son spoke English well. It felt like a real, authentic experience connecting with the local culture. My son loved spending time with the donkeys and the whole experience was joyful and memorable.