Miscellaneous Tips, Shkoder, Albania - Reviews and Hotel Information

We arrived from Podgarica by taxi, I would have preferred
an alternative means of transport as I think the 60 Euros
could have been had for 30 or 40 Euro but my travel
companion was hot and bothered and with the temprature
on arrival after arriving on the night train from Belgrade
was already 30+ at 9am. I never think arguing with a female
is good when they are in a bad mood. Well the 1 hr + drive
was fantastic passing through the mountains and Lake Skadar (Scutari)
and we needed a comfortable place, good shower, change of clothes
and a meal to chill out after leaving Budapest the previous day at 13.05.
We were welcomed by Hasan who although in his late 60`s or early 70`s
was so friendly. The receptionist could speak English but Hasan only in
French and Italian. There was a choice of luxury or very comfortable,
we opted for the cheaper at 18 euros, the lux version was 26 euro I
think. In fact we had to wait half an hour while the electricians was
putting the finishing touches to the newly renovated room. They had
a restaurant where we could get meals and they served breakfast.
There were TV`s in the room and an en suite bathroom.
The hotel had it`s own water supply and generator which was a blessing
as some accom and hotels would be hit by water rationing and power cuts.

Hasan took over the building after his father. His father was a dentist
who worked in Italy pre war, then when WWII came and the Itallians
occupied Albania, the building was chosen as their headquarters, and the
Germans came too. After the war ended and Hoxha came to power with
his communist dictatorship and a period which must have been the hardest
50 years of oppression for it`s people. The building was turned into a state
orphanage and left to fall apart. Then in the early `90`s with the demise of
Hoxha and communism, Albania was again free. Hasan and his family restored
the building and after several years even secured good contacts in Italy and
other western countries with tourist agencies to begin with a new found interest
in Albania. Then with the pyramid schemes came civil war and anarchy, so all dreams of
having a prosperous hotel and good life were dashed.
Then in 2003 tourists started to trickle, and I mean trickle back, so in
2008 his hotel was totally refurbished and renovated to a very good standard.
Hasan and his wife Kydrete (He told me a wonderful story how they met, he was
the teacher and she was his student, and have been married many years).
There are wonderful pictures of his family on the wall and once he took me
to a local cafe and kebab place and could see he was well respected.
Our 2 day stay was highly memorable and one of the best stays I have had
in my life. Some places in Albania have people which are 10 times more
friendly than most western european countries and a luxury that would
cost 10 times more in any Western European capital.
This is the final frontier in Europe to find those undiscovered places.

Miscellaneous Tips, Shkoder

Shkoder Hotels