A family with 2 children − aged 9 and 11, respectively – planned to spend a summer holiday in Albania.
The call
Anastasia contacted us at the agreed time − we had reserved a time slot on the website − and asked us several relevant questions about our specific needs and interests. In about 30 minutes, we created together our bespoke summer holiday.
We explained that we wanted to spend about 10 days in Albania, mainly to relax and sunbathe on the beach. Still, we would be interested in visiting the capital and a couple of iconic sites in the country. We would also be keen on doing outdoor activities such as white-water rafting and rock climbing. Anastasia suggested we try river hiking – a new activity for all of us. Crucially, we would need to rent a car to get around.
Concerning accommodation, we wanted to stay as much as possible in smaller family-run hotels and guesthouses. We thought that taking two adjacent rooms would be the best option for our family.
The reservation
Anastasia emailed us a detailed description of our tailor-made holidays and a quotation the following week. It included all the elements we discussed and agreed upon during our call. She also sent to us useful advice to purchase our flight tickets.
As a result, we approved and signed the quotation electronically and made a deposit payment. As soon as we booked our flight tickets, we forwarded the details to Anastasia so that she could arrange a car rental pick-up at the airport. We were looking forward to our holiday in Albania!
Butrint National Park, Albania, Europe
The preparations
Two weeks before departure, we received a comprehensive travel book setting out the complete itinerary by email. It also included many other things, such as additional stops along the route that we could enjoy, travel advice, and recommendations for restaurants and local culinary delights.
Thanks to a specific reference number sent by Velstana, it was also available online via a link and on a handy free app − that can even be used in offline mode − available for iOS and Android devices.
Trip details
Day
1
Arrival in Albania & Exploring the capital
We arrived at Tirana Airport in the early afternoon and went directly towards the car rental desk. Picking up the car went very smoothly; the personnel were very nice and helpful. We then drove to our 4-star hotel located in the very heart of the Albanian capital. We could not help taking a dip in the swimming pool located on the hotel’s rooftop before starting to explore vibrant Tirana.
The city turned out to be fascinating! Such an extraordinary blend of cultures in one place. We strolled Tirana’s streets, visited a couple of very interesting museums, such as Bunk’Art, and enjoyed the delicious local cuisine. We found all the useful information about sites to visit, restaurants, local specialities to try and so much more in our unique and comprehensive road book. Read moreHide
Day
2
Outdoor capital of Albania
In the morning, we departed Tirana to make our way to the outdoor capital of Albania, namely Permet. As we had some time, we decided to follow Velstana’s advice to pass by Durres, the second biggest city in Albania located on the Adriatic coast. We visited its historic centre and then relaxed for a couple of hours on a beach located not far from the Durres, another useful advice we found in our road book. Upon arrival in Permet, we headed directly to the meeting point with our instructor to take part in a rock-climbing session. It was a thrilling experience for all of us. We spent the end of the day in a charming guesthouse located in an old mountain village on the outskirts of Permet, with a beautiful view over the valley. For dinner, we enjoyed a traditional homemade meal prepared by our hosts.Read moreHide
Day
3
Rafting, Hot pools & River hiking
In the morning, we had a little walk to explore our gorgeous tiny mountain village. Then we had a tasty breakfast on the panoramic terrace of our guesthouse. Afterwards, we went to the Vjosa River for another thrilling experience, namely white-water rafting. It was such a fun! Our guide was very professional, supportive, and funny at the same time. We all enjoyed it so much!
We had a couple of hours to spare and we could not miss another local attraction: natural hot pools situated nearby.
In the afternoon, we had another exciting activity arranged for us: upstream-river hiking. It was as nice as the two previous ones!Read moreHide
Day
4
Gjirokaster, the pearl of Albania
We left Permet and drove to Gjirokaster, a beautiful Albanian town listed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. We explored each of its narrow-cobbled streets, visited a couple of Ottoman-era mansions, took in the panorama of the city from the castle, and bought some traditional souvenirs at the local bazaar. Of course, we enjoyed delicious lunch and dinner at the best restaurants in town that we once again found in our road book. We spent that night in a family-run boutique hotel located very close to all the main attractions.Read moreHide
Day
5
Arrival at the Albanian Riviera
We left the Albanian hinterland and drove to the Riviera. En route, we stopped in a unique natural phenomenon – the Blue Eye – a natural spring with a magical blue color and a famous archeological park, namely Butrint. At the Riviera, we followed Anastasia’s advice and stayed in Himara, a former Greek settlement and fisher village. Nowadays, it is one of the loveliest places of the Riviera, and not as noisy and overcrowded as Ksamil. But at the same time, you will find there everything you need for a perfect holiday by the sea. We stayed in a lovely small hotel located within walking distance to the city center, restaurants, bars, and Himara beach.Read moreHide
Day
6
Sunbathing and swimming
That day we decided to relax. We sunbathed on a nice beach that was recommended in our road book, and we swam and snorkeled in the warm water. Our children were in seventh heaven!
In the late afternoon, we explored the lovely town of Himara and enjoyed a delicious dinner in one of its restaurants.
Day
7
Abandoned village with scenic views and hidden creeks
We explored the surrounding area that day. The Albanian Riviera had so many hidden gems! We discovered an ancient castle, a little fishermen village, and the highlight of that day was the charming half-abandoned, hilltop village. Such an exciting place for the whole family! Our children could not stop making up stories about ghosts in that place. And it was definitely worth a visit at least for the breathtaking views! On our way back, we stopped by a small hidden creek to swim and sunbathe. Read moreHide
Day
8
Relaxing day
We decided to unwind on one of the largest beaches of the Albanian Riviera recommended by Velstana. It was just a 20-minute drive away from Himara. To add a cultural touch, we visited another fortress located nearby and offering a marvelous view of the surroundings.
Day
9
Llogara pass and the Adriatic Sea
We drove away from the Ionian coast and made our way north on a scenic road through Llogara Pass towards the Adriatic coastline. Of course, we had a break at the top to enjoy a breathtaking panorama. In our roadbook, we found a short hiking suggestion. Of course, we could not miss it! In addition, we explored a picturesque tiny island, home to a monastery, and relaxed on a lovely sandy beach. We stayed in a family-owned hotel near Orikum. The view from our balcony was stunning!Read moreHide
Day
10
Last day of our Albanian holiday
After a delicious homemade breakfast in the hotel’s garden, we took a last dip in the Adriatic Sea. And, alas, it was time to return to Tirana Airport. We smoothly returned the rental car and caught our flight. The whole family was looking forward to the new adventures with Velstana!
Pricing and services for this tailor-made family holiday in Albania : €670 per person
Included:
9 nights in hotels or guest houses of good/very good comfort (2 double rooms or one family suite)
breakfasts included every morning
2 evening meals at the guesthouse on Day 2 and Day 3
Car rental for 9 days, including third-party liability insurance and standard coverage in case of damages and theft (CDW and TP)
White-water rafting on Day 2
Rock climbing on Day 2
River hiking with a guide on Day 3
1 Travel Book accessible anywhere, anytime, detailing your one-of-a-kind itinerary
Excluded:
Flight tickets
Meals, other than those listed in your itinerary
Fuel for the rental vehicle and rental deposit
Some locally payable car-rental-related charges, including optional excess reduction
Entrance charges and costs, when you are exploring at a leisure
Personal expenses
Travel insurance
and, in general, everything that is not included in your itinerary
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.
