A family of four – 2 parents and their two children aged 9 and 11, respectively – planned a 2-week holiday in Albania.
The call
Stan contacted us at the agreed time − we had reserved a time slot on the website. He asked us several relevant questions about our specific needs and interests. In about 20 minutes, we crafted together our bespoke family holiday.
We explained that we wanted to spend 2 weeks in Albania. Our holiday should strike the right balance between relaxing at the beach or some other soothing place and exploring several historic sites and cultural gems in the country. We were also keen on practicing outdoor activities such as white-water rafting and hiking with a guide. Stan also suggested we do a speedboat trip to discover the Albanian Riviera’s treasures. Obviously, we would need to rent a car to get around.
Concerning accommodation, we wanted to stay as much as possible at smaller family-run hotels and cosy guesthouses. Booking two rooms – one for us and one for the kids – would be ideal.
The reservation
Stan emailed us a detailed description of our tailor-made holiday and a quote the following week. It included all the elements we discussed and agreed upon during our call. He also sent us useful advice concerning flight options.
As a result, we approved and signed the quote document electronically and made a deposit payment. As soon as we booked our flight tickets, we forwarded the details to Stan so that he could arrange a smooth car hire at the airport. We were looking forward to our getaway in Albania!
The preparations
Two weeks before departure, we received a personalised road book setting out our comprehensive itinerary. It also included among other things additional stops along the route that we could enjoy, travel advice, recommendations for local restaurants, and local culinary delights.
Thanks to a specific reference number sent by Velstana, it was also available on the internet and on an easy-to-use app – that can also be used in offline mode – that we could download for free on our iOS and Android devices.
Trip details
Day
1
Arrival in the Albanian capital
Upon arrival at Tirana Airport, we picked up the rental car that Velstana pre-booked for us. We stayed at a nice boutique hotel situated in the heart of the city. This was convenient to visit Tirana on foot, as the main attractions were located within walking distance of each other. We found a list of suggestions in our personalised roadbook for a nice self-guided tour of Tirana. Among other things, we visited a bunker turned into a museum, which proved to be very interesting ! We also went to the bazaar market and felt in a new world ! We had dinner in a nice local restaurant suggested by Velstana. Read moreHide
Day
2
Shkodra and its lake
We left Tirana behind and made our way north towards Albania’s cultural capital, namely Shkodra. En route, we could not miss the historic town of Kruja – dear to the Albanians - with its hilltop fortress offering a stunning panorama. We arrived in Shkodra and explored the lovely old town. We also went to a sandy beach – located a 30-minute drive away – lapped by the warm Adriatic Sea. We went for a dip and unwound at the sun-kissed beach the rest of the day. What a relaxing start of our holiday !Read moreHide
Day
3
The surroundings of Shkodra
Velstana suggested that we headed towards an off-the-beaten-path natural spot to swim in the warm waters of a canyon located a short drive away. It was a brilliant recommendation. We enjoyed it a lot. We returned to Shkodra. We visited its hilltop fortress and took a walk along the lake before having dinner at a nice seafood restaurant serving freshwater fish caught in the lake.
Day
4
The City of a thousand windows
We made our way south towards the city of Berat. We stopped along the way at a castle before having lunch at a nice restaurant on the stilt offering a stunning panoramic of the lagoon – this lunch stop was suggested in our roadbook. After a couple of hours’ drive, we arrived in Berat dubbed “the City of a thousand windows”. We explored the lovely old town. The main sights included its hilltop castle, its picturesque neighbourhoods teeming with beautiful Ottoman houses and quaint narrow alleys. It felt like a journey in the past ! We stayed at a cosy boutique hotel located in the heart of the old town. Read moreHide
Day
5
A memorable canyon experience
We went exploring a canyon and waterfalls located South of Berat with a guide. Our guide embarked us by 4x4 on a thrilling full-day journey ! We went for a hike surrounded by impressive canyon walls, swam in natural pools and admired the rock formations and caves. This private tour was one of the highlights of our holiday in Albania!
Day
6
An intense day
We said goodbye to the “City of a thousand windows” and drove southwards to Permet, i.e., a small town surrounded by beautiful valleys. En route, we stopped at Apollonia Archeological Park upon Velstana’s recommendation. The site was well-preserved and interesting. It was home to ruins of an ancient Greek colony dating from the 7th century BC.
In the late afternoon, we went river hiking with a guide. We enjoyed it a lot! We relaxed our legs and bathed in natural hot springs at the end of the day whilst surveying the spectacular scenery. We stayed at a lovely family-run guesthouse and had a delicious homemade dinner there. From the terrace, the view of the valley was spectacular.Read moreHide
Day
7
Rafting and hiking
We went white-water rafting in the morning. What a thrilling experience suitable for everyone as the river was not fast during the summer ! After relaxing a little, we went hiking in the mountains to explore waterfalls. Velstana provided us with a description of the trail and the GPS coordinates to follow on a smartphone app. This was relatively easy and really enjoyable. Read moreHide
Day
8
Gjirokastër - The second pearl of Albania
We headed towards another gem of Albania, namely the old town of Gjirokastër. Walking around the old town was delightful. We visited the hilltop castle and Cold War tunnel, several fascinating Ottoman-style house-museums, a bazaar market, etc. Upon Velstana’s recommendation, we also went for a gentle one-hour walk in the mountains behind the old town. We stayed at a cosy guesthouse with a lovely host. Read moreHide
Day
9
First day in the Albanian Riviera
We left the Albanian hinterland behind and ventured towards the Riviera – a stretch of coastline along the Ionian Sea in southern Albania. We stopped along the way at a natural pool dubbed the Blue Eye, which is in fact a mesmerizing natural phenomenon. We also visited a coastal fortress before reaching our destination. We stayed at a nice 4-star hotel offering a swimming pool and a private beach. There was also a nice promenade with a few bars and restaurants, which was ideal for dinner. Read moreHide
Day
10
Beach day
We followed an insider tip provided in our personalised roadbook and went to a secret beach just a short drive away from the hotel. The scenery was amazing. The beach – lapped by the warm turquoise water - was not crowded. We unwound by the sea the whole day for a soothing experience.
Day
11
Cultural and natural heritage
We discovered Butrint National Park – another Albanian site listed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Visiting this archaeological wonder with Greek and Roman ruins was fascinating. Velstana warned us that beaches in and around Ksamil were likely to be overcrowded and not as nice as on the previous day. We glanced at some of those beaches and agreed that we would be better off returning to the area of our hotel. We were right, as we found a long and peaceful sandy beach where we spent the rest of the day. It turned out to be one of the best beaches according to Velstana’s insider knowledge. Read moreHide
Day
12
Amazing boat trip
We did a private speedboat tour to explore several bays, caves, and creeks that were not accessible on foot. We swam, snorkeled and had a relaxing and memorable time at a pristine beach. This was a brilliant way to discover an iconic and well-preserved of the Albanian Riviera !
Day
13
Another relaxing day on the Riviera
We relaxed and sunbathed on the beach the whole morning. In the afternoon, we went to visit a charming half-abandoned hilltop village just a short drive away from our hotel. The panorama was stunning.
Day
14
Time to head home
We drove northwards along the coast towards Tirana. We stopped at Llogara Pass, which offered a breathtaking view of the Riviera ! Sadly, we did not have time to go for a hike – recommended by Velstana – in the Llogara National Park. We continued towards Tirana Airport and returned the rental car before catching our afternoon flight. Overall, we spent a memorable family holiday in Albania ! We looked forward to discovering a new destination with Velstana in the future. Read moreHide
Pricing and services for this family holiday: € 1,250 per person
Included:
4-star hotel accommodation or at cosy guest houses – 1 double room and 1 twin room
Breakfasts every day
2 evening meals at the guesthouse on Day 6 and Day 7 – drinks excluded
Car rental for 14 days, including third-party liability insurance and standard coverage in case of damages and theft (CDW and TP)
Full-day private excursion with guide on Day 5
River hiking with a guide on Day 6
White-water rafting on Day 7
Private speedboat tour on Day 12
2 prepaid local e-Sims with a validity of 14 days and 2 GB of data each
1 unique, personalised roadbook setting out all your trip information including a detailed description of the day-to-day itinerary, suggested stops along the route, suggestions for hiking and walking routes, insider tips, practical advice, suggestions for local restaurants, traditional food to try, etc.
Excluded:
Flight tickets
Car fuel and security deposit
Some locally payable car-rental-related charges, including optional excess reduction
Meals, other than those listed as included in your itinerary
Entrance charges and costs, when you are exploring at a leisure
Personal expenses
Travel insurance – contact us if you are interested in the latter
The abovementioned sample prices are for guidance only and are not binding. The total cost of your holiday will depend on a number of factors, including time of year of travel and choice of accommodation and transport. The actual cost of your holiday is as set out in the Booking Confirmation.