Sarunde - Albania

[Joeywinkle]

I thought the PH hive mind may be able to help with this one....

Has anyone been to Sarunde, South Albania? A couple of friends have been recommending it - it looks absolutely stunning and seems to be extremely cheap based on the limited research i've just done in my lunch hour . We'd be looking at flying into Corfu and getting the ferry over; has anybody done this and if so how easy was it?

Any experiences of holidaying in Albania (good and bad) appreciated.

Thanks!

[RichFN2]

Only been to the capital Tirana but looking at spending a few weeks on my next trip there with the option of exploring the Albanian Riviera.

From the homework I have done avoid that area in peak season, all beaches are private in ksamil and small and get full by 10, you need to pay the owners about £10 for a sunbed or move on.

The prices I saw were expensive for Albania but your still paying less than most places. In 2022 £10 got me breakfast, coffee, nice club sandwich with roast potatoes and 2 beers in the city centre.

If it's out of peak season go for it, it's a poor country but not as bad as Cambodia. Nowhere takes card though and data roaming charges are extortionate for Europe.

[Joeywinkle]

Nice one Rich, thanks for the insight - have seen they don't really take card anywhere! We'd be looking at going earlyish September which seems to be just out of season?

[plenty]

Sarande is lovely and will be warm in September without the summer hordes. Ksamil just south has lots of accommodation options and Roman ruins.

Albania is one of my favourite places to visit. It's got everything: weather, food, architecture, history, landscapes, friendly locals and exceptional value for money. Just avoid the resorts during peak summer.

[Joeywinkle]

thanks plenty, good to know! Ksamil was another place we were looking at - do you have any recommendations for places to stay there? Thanks

[plenty]

Can't comment on hotels unfortunately as I almost always use Airbnb when I travel. There are lots more Airbnb options than hotels in Albania and the properties tend to be fairly decent in my experience.

[Lotusgone]

Mrs L and I were staying in northern Greece (Sivota) a few years ago and went on a day trip into Albania out of curiosity. Our tour guide took us to Butrint (historical site) then to Sarande.

It was modern and clean; the beach wasn't great but there was a lovely promenade along the front. Drinks cost just over half what they were in Sivota. No problem ordering in English.

Though it was twenty-odd years after that Hoxha nonsense ended, I was still surprised at the decent standard of the roads and how many cars there were; not loads, but plenty.

There was talk (pre-Covid) of a second airport being built on the plains behind Sarande. I don't think that has come about, so you can drive for 3-4 hours from Tirana or go to Corfu and catch a boat.