Canadian media: Albania, the secret of the Balkans

– Among the destinations offering attractive opportunities for travel on an economical budget, Albania is gaining ever more attention from international tourists.

With the beaches of the Albanian Riviera, UNESCO World Heritage cities and sites, natural landscapes and renowned hospitality, the country offers various opportunities for holidays and exploration with a favourable ratio between cost and quality, writes Marie-Ève Leclerc in an article published in the Canadian travel outlet “Milesopedia”.

From authentic Mexico to Albania, which is presented as one of the least explored destinations, the author has visited six countries and shares her advice on how they can be enjoyed at minimal cost, in some cases even for free.

At a time when traditional destinations are becoming ever more expensive, some countries continue to offer attractive opportunities for tourists using the Canadian dollar.

Drawing on her experience of travel and stays in countries where the cost of living is lower than in Canada, the author recommends several destinations where unforgettable experiences can be had with a good quality–price ratio.

Albania: The Secret of the Balkans

Albania is emerging as a destination offering an excellent quality-price ratio, with the beaches of the Riviera, UNESCO sites and its renowned hospitality.

After spending a full week in Albania’s capital, Tirana, working remotely, the author decided to return to discover the country’s natural wonders.

She had the opportunity to take a day trip to Lake Bovilla, which she highly recommends and which cost her only 28 euros.

If she had had more time, she would also have visited the city of Berat, which is part of the UNESCO World Heritage.

Here are some of the other treasures that can be discovered in Albania:

The Albanian Riviera starts in Vlora and stretches to Saranda, offering beaches with crystal-clear waters, especially in Ksamil, where a day at the beach, with an umbrella and sun loungers, costs only around 10 Canadian dollars.

The ancient city of Butrint, part of the UNESCO World Heritage, bears witness to 2,500 years of history and can be visited for around 8 Canadian dollars.

Further north, the mountainous region of Theth offers opportunities for spectacular hiking and exploration, especially toward the Blue Eye and the Grunas Waterfall, while traditional guesthouses offer full-board stays for around 35 Canadian dollars a day.

On the Ionian Sea coast, Gjipe Beach, reachable after a short hike, remains one of Europe’s last well-kept secrets.

For an authentic experience, the villages of the Albanian Riviera, such as Dhërmi and Himara, offer apartments with sea views for around 40 Canadian dollars a night.

The panoramic Llogara road, with its sharp hairpin bends passing above the sea, offers some of the most beautiful views in the Balkans.

Daily budget:

• Boutique hotels: 25–60 Canadian dollars
• Traditional food: 10–20 Canadian dollars
• Rental cars: 25–40 Canadian dollars a day
• Guided excursions: 20–45 Canadian dollars

Saving money in Albania

In Tirana, the author and her colleague, Marie-Claude, particularly enjoyed their stay at the “Tirana Marriott”.

Outside Tirana, tourists should turn more to independent hotels or accommodation through “Airbnb”, where a very good quality-price ratio can be found.

Albania is very well connected with the rest of Europe, but has far fewer direct connections with the rest of the world when it comes to non-stop flights.

However, it is very easy to find flights at very low prices from Europe’s main air hubs.

Thanks to the large number of airline partners, programmes such as “Aeroplan” and British Airways Club’s “Avios” make it easy to travel from Canada to Tirana, including a stopover along the way.

Flying Blue’s promotional offers are also an opportunity to consider for travelling to Europe without spending much.

In this way, tourists can take advantage to visit a second destination on the way to Albania or on the way back.

That is exactly what the author did. She booked a direct Montreal–Athens flight, in economy class, and then, through a separate booking, a flight from Athens to Tirana.

Among the other destinations listed by the Canadian travel outlet “Milesopedia” are Colombia, Mexico, Brazil, Morocco and Guatemala, presented as ideal alternatives for tourists seeking to discover different countries with an excellent quality-price ratio. /