Albanian Travel Tips

     Albanian Tourist would like all Albanian visitors to maximize the pleasure of their journey. Our worldly staff have put together a "smart travel" section of travel tips for Albania. These tips should be valuable for the delicate tourist, techie traveler, to the hardened backpacker.

 

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Suitcases

     Suitcase travel in Albania is "OK 90-95% of the time". Many wonderful parts of Albania are similar to Greece and Italy in which rolling suitcases can get your heavy luggage to the right spots. However, when venturing off the tourist path, cobblestone streets, street inclines, or mountain excursions will make anyone into a bag carrier. Just be mindful that lifting a suitcase once in a while is necessary unless coming out of a taxi, on a full tour, visiting beach areas, or using a hotel. Albanians are truly a friendly crowd to foreigners and are eager to assist if anyone needs a helping hand.

 
         
         
         
  mobile cellular albania

 

Mobile Phones

      There are 2 options to acquire a mobile phone in Albania. The easy choice is to buy a cheap, prepaid phone from one of the multiple Albanian carriers; AMC, Eagle, Vodafone Albania. The second choice is to travel with a phone capable of removing the SIM card, or a dual SIM card phone, and inserting an Albanian SIM card. (Note: Smart phones have built in WIFI technology which allows free calling back to many developed countries. Albania is widespread with WIFI signals at hotels and most upscale cafes.)

 

         
         
         

Stay Hydrated

     Albania in the summer can be a hot location. Swimming, sunbathing, hiking, and dancing can dehydrate anyone. We recommend everyone drink plenty of bottled water. (Albanian tap water, usually served in restaurants and cafes, is drinkable and and close to European Union standards, but we don't recommend everyday use). Bottled water is plentiful in Albania and Albanian bottled water companies are considered very safe. Stay hydrated and enjoy your travels!

 

 

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European Plugs

     Remember your power adapter! Albanian power circuitry uses the 2 pronged European plug with 220V. Mother Teresa International Airport or most Albanian camera shops will have adapters if you forget to pick some up at home. Also most airports along the route to reach Albania will also have plug adapters. For those with sensitive electronics, be aware of power conversion settings.

 

 

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Expectations

     Albania is a "new tourism destination" from an unfavorable past. Albanian Tourist believes all visitors who knew of Albania 20 years ago should embrace the new Albania. The Albanian people today are not the old "backwards" few of Eastern Europe. So relax, learn the splendor of this emerging nation, and spread the greatness of this hidden tourism gem! (Lonely Planet awarded Albania the #1 Tourism Destination of 2011.)