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There are regular busses between Tirana and Shkoder. There are also minibuses from Shkoder to Ulcinj. Then, do not worry, you will easily find your way from Tirana airport to Ulcinj. Moreover, if you are ready to hire a car (which will be more expensive, of course), you will have no problem at all.
If you're going from Tirana towards Montenegro, I highly recommend taking the train! Buses are faster, but generally leave really early in the morning, while the train goes every day at 13.00. It costs just 1 euro, and takes about 3 1/2 hours to get to Skhoder. It is a bit of an old rickety diesel-affair with run down compartments, but I think that just adds to the experience.You'll probably be the only non-albanian on the train and find people ever-friendly and trying to talk to you, even if it's using just hand & feet language :) The scenery is great along the way, and you'll get plenty of opportunity to take photos from the ever-open train windows.In Skhoder, it's about a 20-minute walk to the center (walk to the end of the gravel road form the station, take a right till you get to the big roundabout) I stayed at the Kaduku hotel, just behind the Rofaza hotel (can't miss that one),...
The hydrofoil to Saranda in Albania runs from the new harbour in Corfu town in Corfu. It's a very amateur setup and the service is actually run by Ionain Ferries. I had to buy the ticket from a shipping agent who was wandering about in the terminal as there doesn't appear to be a manned office in the terminal at Corfu. He carried the tickets (and a wad of many hundreds of euros) in his pocket.The boat runs twice a day, leaving Corfu at 0930, returning at 1245 Albanian time (BEWARE - 1 hour behind Corfu time) and another run in the afternoon. The trip takes 30 minutes.The hydrofoil has a permanent list to port of about 5 degrees, which I found to be very disconcerting and uncomfortable. There was a power failure when I was waiting to leave and the departure was delayed by over an hour. They said they couldn't print the tickets because there was no power for the computer. The tickets...
This was the first time that we had used the new airport as we had driven here. We were quite impressed with the building and it reminded us of Stansted airport in the UK!! There were a few shops to look round and a couple of places to have a drink. Once through passport control there was a tiny duty free shop!!! and nothing else to do but sit and have a drink at the only cafe! I think there was some internet access also? The airport is a step up from the old one!!
The roads in Albania ARE as bad as people say they are. Even if you are used to driving in Eastern Europe, you're in for a surprise ! It took me 12 hours to get from Shkoder to the Kosovo border. On the upside : the scenery is really great.
The procedure in Trieste is similar than in Durres: Before entering the ferry its important to get the "White Card” with a boarding number. This card will be issued in the ferry line´s office near the vessel. It will be collected together with your passport while boarding and returned to you when the ferry reaches Durres. You also will get a sheet of paper with a number for your vehicle. You need this for the customs in Albania!Arriving in Durres you leave the ferry and will be checked by the customs. On the right side of the check point are a few offices where you have to show the sheet of paper with your car number. If you don´t have a "Green Card" then this is the place to obtain a temporary insurance. You will receive another paper, which you need to return when leaving the country. Don´t lose it!Next will be the entrance fee of 10 €. Somebody will show up and collect it. Last step...
The best place to get the bus or mini buses is from the area where the road goes through the town on the way to Tirana and the other way Gjirokaster. This is near to the monument of Ali Pasha and the big hotel in Tepelene. Just over on the other side of the road from here near to a garage and little old looking shop is where the taxi's wait to pick people up.
There are two places in the town where you can get a bus/mini bus or a taxi. One place is at the bottom of the town on the main road that goes through near to the petrol station and the other place further into the town you can get taxi's from the bit next to the park and football pitch. This is the best place for a taxi as whenever i have been there they are parked and waiting for people.
In the capital Tirana you will find stops where all the buses are with signs in the front windscreen (as you will see in my picture, that bus is going to Himare) telling you were its going. Once you have left a boy will come round and ask where you are going to then you pay him the amount of money.I found that the mini buses were good and very cheap, there is a place in tirana where you go to get these. There will be people shouting the place they are going then you can ask if they will stop in whatever place you want to get off. They normally stop for a break for something to drink and eat if its a long journey.We also took taxi's when we didnt want to share with other people! But these cost alot more which you would expect.
Before 1991, only Party officials were allowed to own and drive around in cars. There were about 600 cars in Albania, most of them deluxe Mercedes and Volvos. When the restriction was lifted, Albanians brought thousands of cars into the country from Italy and Greece. At the time, there were no traffic regulations, no driver's license requirements, no traffic enforcement and no traffic lights. Fortunately, all this has changed. The quality of the roads has improved dramatically and driving around is fun as foreigners gain 'new Albanian driving skills'.
Sheraton Tirana Hotel and Towers Tirana
4 Reviews and 70 Opinions Having spent approximately 5 months in the Sheraton-Tirana, I know the "ins" and the "outs" of the...
Hotel Berati Berat
3 Opinions
Grand Hotel Europa Shkoder
11 Opinions
Reviews and photos of Albania attractions posted by real travelers and locals. The best tips for Albania sightseeing.
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Q: Hello all I'm planning to visit Albania in 2012 and i need every bit of advice going. There doesn't seem to be a huge amount of...
A: I have been to Albania several times over the years and i would say you should try and make a visit to Berat aswell as Girokaster. These places are very scenic places...
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