I Spent 5 Months In This Trending Country And Here’s What Surprised Me The Most

I Spent 5 Months In This Trending Country And Here’s What Surprised Me The Most

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If you comply with any journey blogs or learn journey information, (and since you might be right here studying this, I will assume you do!) then you’ve gotten undoubtedly examine Albania.

This small nation situated on the Balkan Peninsula in southeastern Europe has been gaining increasingly more consideration lately for vacationers on the lookout for one thing totally different, inexpensive, and exquisite.

colorful fishing boats saranda albania

Digital nomads additionally adore it, and for good reason.

I spent 5 months in the beginning of 2021 residing in Albania, and I am a kind of individuals who gained’t shut up about it.

Despite having been to many extra nations since then, at any time when individuals ask, “what country has been your favorite” or “what country left the greatest impression,” the reply is all the time Albania. 

Here Are Some Things That Surprised Me The Most About Albania: 

berat albania white houses
If you get to Berat, ask for Lili (you’re welcome)

Keep The Promise

The very first thing that stunned me probably the most about Albania was the individuals.

The individuals you will discover on this nation are a few of the nicest, most useful, and most welcoming that I have ever encountered in all my years of touring and residing overseas.

You may need heard individuals check with “Balkan Hospitality,” and that is completely a factor. Balkan individuals may appear a bit tough across the edges, however that is only a little bit of a tough exterior that a few of them have constructed up over time.

I can’t let you know the variety of instances we’ve got interacted with some gruff older males whom we had been a bit intimidated to method at first however ended up consuming rakia round a desk with their household by the tip of the dialog. 

In Albania, there’s a time period: BESA, which suggests to maintain the promise.

This is extra of a lifestyle right here, and the individuals will exit of their manner that can assist you and make you are feeling welcome, permitting them to be reliable and maintaining the promise of peace. 

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gjirokasta albania buildings
The city of Gjirokaster can’t be missed

For instance: One time we took a public bus to a different metropolis and upon reaching the vacation spot, the driving force realized we had been not sure the place to go. He didn’t converse any English and was shouting at us and demanding my telephone, scary proper?

Upon taking my telephone he known as our guesthouse and discovered the place it was, after which proceeded to principally maintain our palms and escort us there, ensuring we had been okay.

We had been actually speechless at how out of his manner he went to assist us. This is the Balkan hospitality that I am speaking about. Name one other nation the place this could occur, I’ll wait. 

A Not-So-Secret Secret 

It’s humorous as a result of most individuals I converse to about Albania have by no means heard of it, and it appears the one ones who do know are different vacationers and digital nomads.

While it was once a little bit of a secret, Albania has been rising in reputation for a lot of causes.

After going viral on TikTok recently, Albania just isn’t such a top-secret vacation spot anymore. Yet, after we arrived in Albania in January 2021, we had been stunned to see so many different ex-pats residing right here already.

When doing our analysis, we assumed it was comparatively unknown, nevertheless it ended up being the one nation the place we made so many pals shortly as there was a fairly well-established neighborhood of ex-pats and locals right here. So, if Albania was a secret earlier than social media, it wasn’t a really well-kept one.

Note: lots of these we met had been Americans, as we are able to keep a year visa-free

woman standing in Gjirokaster
 castle Albania
An Albanian couple helped us get in right here after we confirmed up simply at closing, so good!

From Budget To Bougie

Albania is an affordable destination, that is completely true, and most vacationers who come already know this.

I got here to Albania realizing this and was nonetheless stunned at how little you possibly can spend right here and reside comfortably.

My residence in Saranda price underneath $500 a month and had sea views and a pool, to not point out high-speed wifi and sensible TVs. I have pals who pay underneath $300 a month for his or her residence as a result of they made some good native connections, so it may be achieved. 

You can get a beer for underneath a greenback at most locations, and meals (apart from imported objects) could be very low-cost as nicely.

However, one factor to know is that you may additionally splurge in Albania, and a few lodging and eating places can run you Western costs after which some.

Pro-tip: turn into regulars at a few of the seashore bars within the early days of the opening season (springtime) and be handled to a free bowl of contemporary mussels each time and in all places you go!

korca beer and mussels on the beach albania
Enjoying free mussels on the seashore in Saranda

In the tip, it’s all about the way you wish to reside, however do understand that the Albanian Riviera will get pricey because the summer time season approaches, so ensure that to know any rental agreements beforehand.

Many individuals I know had their hire doubled in the summertime, so that is one thing to work out earlier than signing something. 

Beach Please 

Ok, let’s discuss concerning the seashores. Most individuals who come to Albania within the hotter months accomplish that looking for the Albanian Riviera, and for good cause.

Albania has probably the most lovely seashores I have ever seen. The rocky shores make for crystal-clear water, and the sunsets are unimaginable.

Saranda has some first rate smaller seashores round it you possibly can take pleasure in, and naturally, Ksamil is changing into increasingly more well-known as being as lovely because the Caribbean. 

@maldivosaur Best seashores in Albania half 1 #hot #holiday #beach #destination #travel #traveldestinations #albania ♬ Calm Down Andre Soueid – andresoueid

One factor to comprehend, although, is that whereas not almost as crowded as different fashionable European locations, lots of Albania’s seashores are removed from a secret come summer time.

While beautiful, I was so stunned that these locations get crowded shortly, and costs begin to creep up.

If you might be actually on the lookout for a quiet place to flee, head north and search out some smaller seashore cities alongside the coast. Ask any native, and they’re going to most likely insist you be part of them and their household on a visit (significantly). 

bunkers in albania
Bunkers Bunkers Everywhere

Postcard Perfect Views 

I was, and proceed to be stunned at simply how lovely Albania is. Everywhere you look, there might be a turquoise coast crashing under the cliffs, or mountains and gorges, rivers, and every part in between.

One factor that I couldn’t consider was the crystal clear green-blue of the Vjosa river that runs from Greece throughout Albania and into the Adriatic Sea.

This river is so lovely and necessary, in actual fact, that it has simply turn into the primary Wild River National Park in Europe. 

If you might be fortunate sufficient to name Albania dwelling for some time, you’ll seemingly be stunned to see how simple many of the nation is to discover through public busses and, in fact, by renting a automotive. 

(*5*)

Yes Means No And No Means Yes 

While English is extensively spoken in Albania, the official language is Albanian, known as Shqip. When talking Shqip, one factor to concentrate to is how individuals point out sure and no.

Yes is Po, and No is Jo. Not too tough, proper?

Now comes the tough half, Albanians point out sure with a shake of the pinnacle, which means they’re saying Po and shaking their head, which seems to be and seems like No to a foreigner. 

@maptrekking how cute is that this place?! #albania🇦🇱 #travelalbania #visitalbania #traveltiktok ♬ albania. – ssuzieed

When they imply no, they nod their head up and down and say Jo. Still with me?

If you suppose it’s a bit complicated to learn, think about residing it. You would suppose it could get simpler, and it did, however even after months, there have been nonetheless many conditions the place this interplay triggered some confusion.

Luckily, Albanians are understanding and affected person with foreigners, so it’s all good. 

I hope my expertise leads you to e-book that ticket, bus, and even the ferry from Corfu, Greece to discover Albania and all it has to supply.

Don’t inform me I didn’t warn you concerning the Rakia energy, although!

But significantly, in case you are on the lookout for an attention-grabbing and distinctive place to discover, with great individuals and interesting tradition… the reply is all the time Albania. 

woman in field in albania with mountains
Thanks for all of the recollections Albania!

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