|
Originally Posted by camsean
(Post 31910586)
We visited Albania in 2017 and loved it. We particularly liked the world heritage at Berat, which is around 3-4 hours south of Tirana.
Hoxha's bunkers in Tirana were also great to visit. Albania - 10/10. Would visit again :D Thanks for the TR! |
So - back to the airport on Monday morning. Grabbed a cab from right outside the hotel and half an hour later we were at the check-in area. The economy queue was heaving but thankfully there was one person at the desk in the queue for Club Europe so I was seen within seconds. I wasn't checking in bags but needed a boarding pass as BA don't give out electronic boarding passes at TIA so I am told. There was priority security which seemed slightly quicker than normal and then passport control. I got rid of my last few bits of local currency and headed to the lounge upstairs. It was extremely quiet during the time I was here. It looked a bit like a forest inside.....!
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...ae96bdab_c.jpg There was a small square table in the middle which had some breakfast food on it and some olives and other nibbles along with some crusty looking sandwiches. No crisps or nuts to snack on. Juices, local beer, spirits and some white wine were available if you wanted to indulge. The food and drink selection wasn't amazing but wasn't horrendous either. Headed down to the gate slightly before boarding and had to laugh at the fact we were bundled onto a bus for what would have been a 20 second walk from the door..... Hey, I suppose it gives someone a job! BA2649, TIA - LGW, G-MIDS, A320 Met on board with some pleasant crew at the front and settled into 1F for the 3 hour flight back to Gatwick. One of the local Albanians who was sitting behind me was a real PITA. Whether he had't been on a plane before in his life or was just deciding to be a complete kn0b end, he was a disgrace. Plane pushed back from the gate, safety demonstration was completed and crew were in their seats when he decided to have a FaceTime conversation with whatever girl he was going to London to meet. This continued for a few minutes until one of the crew eventually realised where the sound was coming from and gave him short shrift to stop his conversation. "One minute" was the reply from him. "Unless you want me to get the captain to return to the gate and have you taken off this plane, you will hang up now". He took that advice. What is it with some people?! https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...e6658a2e_c.jpg Some nice views climbing out of Tirana and then of the coast as I sipped on a gin and tonic. https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...cc1c0aab_c.jpg https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...edd5f8ba_c.jpg https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...b02a900a_c.jpg https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...09a5e5c5_c.jpg https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...e8d081c1_c.jpg A main course of mushroom gnocchi was on offer today along with a few other options. This was really tasty. The crayfish cocktail was a nice starter. Dessert was delicious! https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...9a2f4245_c.jpg The rest of the flight was spent watching some programmes on iPlayer and enjoying the views - especially of the mountains - as we passed over Europe. https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...a8a4e5d2_c.jpg https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...00f22510_c.jpg https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...6439d7a6_c.jpg https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...b27bd934_c.jpg https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...e4a41a73_c.jpg Crew on this flight were great. Constant drinks refills offered and packs of nuts offered with drinks after dinner. Nice to see a proactive crew (and I even got a mini bottle of red to take with me for the bus to Heathrow!). We landed into a horrible day in Gatwick - very bumpy on the way down! https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...7b63bcf1_c.jpg Bus to Heathrow took a bit longer due to some heavy traffic but I had a long layover so wasn't worried about timing. Got to Terminal 5 and tried to get on an earlier flight which wasn't possible. I spent a few hours in the FLounge before catching the flight up the road to Aberdeen. BA1318, LHR - ABZ, G-EUYA, A320 Unremarkable flight up to Aberdeen. Half decent beef and chicken salad as a snack with a massive pot of hummus as a starter. Dessert was the best thing about this tray. https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...abe57c1b_c.jpg Thanks for following my latest TR. Hopefully some of the pics appealed to some of you and you might consider Albania as a future travel destination! :) |
Thanks for posting Stu
|
Originally Posted by Grande Annee
(Post 31912326)
Thanks for posting Stu
|
Nice post. Went to Tirana & Elbasan in November 2018 for the Albania v Wales game, enjoyed the trip. Was good to see your photos which brought back a few memories.
|
Thanks for the report. Tourist info is so scarce. I'm thinking of going for about a week in March 2020. Few questions if you don't mind?
How long was the walk from HGI to center of town? Would you stay in HGI again (or where)? How many days would you suggest in Tirana? Do you think weather will be good and there will be a lot open mid March in Durres? How many days Durres? Train Tirana to Durres was ok? Any tips for train? Single woman traveling alone, Albania safe? Any other travel tips? (anything greatly appreciated) Thanks in advance. |
Originally Posted by fmkgb
(Post 32068508)
Thanks for the report. Tourist info is so scarce. I'm thinking of going for about a week in March 2020. Few questions if you don't mind?
How long was the walk from HGI to center of town? Would you stay in HGI again (or where)? How many days would you suggest in Tirana? Do you think weather will be good and there will be a lot open mid March in Durres? How many days Durres? Train Tirana to Durres was ok? Any tips for train? Single woman traveling alone, Albania safe? Any other travel tips? (anything greatly appreciated) Thanks in advance. Walk from the HGI to the main square is probably 20-25 minutes. I'd definitely stay at the hotel again - it was really nice. I didn't do much other research about other hotels but there didn't look to be much else of a decent standard. 3 nights in Tirana was perfect for me. Left me with enough time to explore the main part of the city and also go up the mountain. I think you will be safe during the day walking around yourself. I would just keep your wits about you in the evening / when it is darker (as anyone should really do in a city they don't really know). Didn't do Durres. Hope you have a great trip! |
Originally Posted by stu1985
(Post 32070919)
Hi fmkgb - thanks for reading the report! More than happy to answer your questions!
Walk from the HGI to the main square is probably 20-25 minutes. I'd definitely stay at the hotel again - it was really nice. I didn't do much other research about other hotels but there didn't look to be much else of a decent standard. 3 nights in Tirana was perfect for me. Left me with enough time to explore the main part of the city and also go up the mountain. I think you will be safe during the day walking around yourself. I would just keep your wits about you in the evening / when it is darker (as anyone should really do in a city they don't really know). Didn't do Durres. Hope you have a great trip! |
Originally Posted by fmkgb
(Post 32068508)
Thanks for the report. Tourist info is so scarce. I'm thinking of going for about a week in March 2020. Few questions if you don't mind?
How long was the walk from HGI to center of town? Would you stay in HGI again (or where)? How many days would you suggest in Tirana? Do you think weather will be good and there will be a lot open mid March in Durres? How many days Durres? Train Tirana to Durres was ok? Any tips for train? Single woman traveling alone, Albania safe? Any other travel tips? (anything greatly appreciated) Thanks in advance. Hope that helps for future planning - don't forget to do a TR from your cruise! |
Originally Posted by Tocsin
(Post 32075377)
Haven't been yet, but some of our googling brought up a blog from a US woman who travelled in Albania: https://eternalarrival.com/travel-bl...-albania-asap/
Hope that helps for future planning - don't forget to do a TR from your cruise! |
Thank you, very useful. I am (in theory) doing a TP run to TIA (twice in a week) in Oct.
|
Originally Posted by PGberkshire
(Post 32996531)
Thank you, very useful. I am (in theory) doing a TP run to TIA (twice in a week) in Oct.
|
Originally Posted by stu1985
(Post 32997455)
Glad you found it useful! Hopefully (fingers crossed) things will be back to normal(ish) by October....! Enjoy Tirana when you get there!
Hopefully the bars and clubs are back to some normality |
Looks like finally getting to Albania this November.
What will the weather be like? If we rent a car in Athens is there a problem bringing it over the border? How is the drive from Athens to Northern Albania? Would 10 days be enough to circle the country and Tirana and Shkodra for a few days each? |
Originally Posted by fmkgb
(Post 35528281)
Looks like finally getting to Albania this November.
What will the weather be like? If we rent a car in Athens is there a problem bringing it over the border? How is the drive from Athens to Northern Albania? Would 10 days be enough to circle the country and Tirana and Shkodra for a few days each? |
| All times are GMT -6. The time now is 8:13 am. |
This site is owned, operated, and maintained by MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. Copyright © 2026 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Designated trademarks are the property of their respective owners.