Free Guide for Best Places to Stay in Albania
We just came back from traveling in Albania and we visited so many amazing and unique areas. From the mountains, to the riviera, and the historical towns in between. We LOVED our time in Albania.
This guide will show you the wonderful places we stayed and LOVED as well as many beautiful spots we saw along the way that I would have also loved to have stayed in and would go back to someday.
This is the result of lots of research and thought put into these curated spots.
In the notes section of each I will list reasons why these places appeald to me and why I think they would be great stays or why I KNOW they were. I will indicate which places we stayed in ourselves as well.
Please feel free to reach out to me any time with any questions at planformedani@gmail.com or planformedani on instagram.
Also know that if you book hotels through my recommendations I do receive a small commission at no cost what so ever to you! It could help me to keep finding and recommending these great spots!
23 Places • 21 Saves • ago
Free
If you are looking for a far more detailed guide with all of the things to see, do, and eat in these places check out my full road trip itinerary here. There are over 60 places and SO MUCH information written up about all you need to know for your trip!
This guide is a full itinerary for a road trip from North to South in Albania.
It will start with basic info you should know for traveling within Albania such as visa info, currency, safety, weather, pharmacy, etc.
It will cover everything you should do and see as well as where to stay and eat in each place. It will also include alternative ideas for each place and things we didn't get to reach.
Throughout this guide I will cover
Theth (a mountain paradise)
Durres (a laid back beach town)
Berat (a UNESCO world heritage city) and surrounding wineries
Himare (an incredible town on the Albanian Riviera)
Ksamil (the Southern tip of the Albanian Riviera & across from Corfu Greece)
Tirana (the capital city of Albania)
Dhermi ( a town we didn't make it to that I wish we did)
I will also create mini guides for each of these locations in case you're not spending that much time in Albania and want to hit specific places.
Most importantly I am HAPPY to consult with you about ANYTHING you want to know in this itinerary. You can reach me very easily at planformedani@Gmail.com and at planformedani on instagram. Do not hesitate to reach out before, after, or even if you're not purchasing this guide. I am always just happy to help!
Adventure • Foodie • Nature • People & Culture • Road Trip • Wine • Coffee • Beach • Mountain • Relaxation
$10.00
Theth (the mountains)
Theth is an amazing place to visit. If you're a hiker, nature lover, enjoy peace and quiet, enjoy waterfalls and beautiful rivers, the list goes on. We absolutely loved our time in Theth and loved where we stayed. We hope to revisit and see so much more!
Villa Gjeçaj Guesthouse and Restaurant
@planformedani
10/10!!!! I couldn't have been happier with this place. Came for the cheese board I saw on trip advisor and stayed because it was the best place EVER! The family who runs the place is amazing and so kind and helpful. The place itself is beautiful, clean, and has INCREDIBLE views. The food was amazing and we ate some of the best meals of our trip here! I would highly recommend having multiple meals here so you can try things! We were VERY happy with our stay here and hope to return someday!
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Bujtina Miqësia
@planformedani
This was my second choice after looking at pretty much every guest house in Theth. The bath and window situations looked so beautiful and had such incredible views. Food looks great and the place has 8.8 on booking.com! I also read and noticed their last like 20+ reviews are 10/10. Definitely a good sign and so many mention the kindness of the hosts. This seems to be a common theme in Albania.
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Guest House Rrashkadoli
@planformedani
Didn't even realize booking.com had this feature until right now. But you can search "best reviews at best price". This is the spot that came up when I did that! A 9.6 on booking is legit. I honestly don't think you can go wrong in Theth. This place looks stunning and again has tons of mentions about the kindness of the hosts.
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Gurra Family Guesthouse
@planformedani
I was debating this one for our stay as well. Has great reviews and it looks like it has great food as well.
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Berat
The entire city of Berat is a UNESCO world Heritage site. The town is nicknamed the city of 1000 windows. It is on a river and it really feels like you're stepping back in time when you visit here. The castle is an incredible experience and you must watch the sunset there! There is so much to see and do here and we loved exploring this area.
Hotel Vila Aleksander
@planformedani
One of my favorite spots we stayed on our trip. Berat is an incredible city and this hotel was perfect! The couple that run the hotel were so kind and thoughtful and welcoming. Breakfast on the terrace every morning was truly perfect. The views over beautiful Berat were incredible too. The bed was comfortable the shower was great and I truly was SO SO happy we stayed here. Highly recommend!!
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Tradita e Beratit - Hotel & Restaurant
@planformedani
The food looked incredible here and it's the one spot I wish we didn't miss. It also looks like an adorable place to stay! I have been seeing it a LOT on instagram and it seems they're putting a lot of time and effort into creating great experiences for their guests! It would definitely be my next choice if we were to go back!
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berati castle hotel & restaurant
@planformedani
Another experience I know I would have enjoyed would be to stay up in the castle! It was the most beautiful place to watch sunset each night and we loved it up there!
Just remember if you stay up here you'd have to walk or drive down to everything else... but that's not enough of a deterrent. The views up there are incredible and this place has excellent reviews and looks so charming!
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Rezidenca Aurel
@planformedani
Another spot with great reviews and a nice looking terrace. Having a terrace is always something I look out for as it is so enjoyable to have meals and drinks outside and be able to see the views of a beautiful city.
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Hotel Colombo Berat
@planformedani
I am adding this to the list in case you're a luxury type person. This place looks like it should be a government building or something! But it's a hotel! It has an indoor pool and a lot of amenities. If this is your thing then this is the spot for you. In my opinion it doesn't have the "charm" of some of the spots in the main area of Berat. But if you want a nice place to stay that is a little more upscale this is it. It's still walkable to everything you'd want to see and do in Berat and has great reviews also. I just assume the experience is less personal.
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Pupa Winery & GuestHouse
@planformedani
If this guesthouse is anything like our experience at the winery and lunch then it will be INCREDIBLE. If i was returning I'd love to try staying here! We had a wine tasting and lunch here and the property is insanely beautiful! It would be such a relaxing place to spend a night, drink wine, enjoy the views, and just relax!
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Himare
Himare is a beautiful little beach town on the Albanian Riviera. We loved our time here so much. There is a castle and there are so many amazing places to beach hop around and eat. We based ourselves here for the longest part of our trip and we are so glad we did. I am going to list a few places here too but honestly the place we stayed was beyond incredible and I so highly recommend it I almost don't want to list any others.
ARXONTIKO Hotel and Restaurant
@planformedani
I can't say enough about how much we loved this hotel.
First of all : book a sea view room. The view is just stunning.
Second of all: make sure you eat here! The food was incredible we had a lunch and a dinner here besides having the most AMAZING breakfast every day.
The family that runs this place is just beyond words. They are SO KIND, so thoughtful, so welcoming, we wished we could have stayed here longer and this was the longest stay of our trip! The room was clean and bright and beautiful, the shower was great, the AC worked great. This place was 11/10!!! Perfection!
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Sea View Hotel Himare
@planformedani
What draws me to this one is the pool! Of course you don't need a pool at the beach, but the idea of sitting by one before or after a beach day is so nice to me. This place looks really clean and nice and has excellent reviews and I would highly consider it if staying in Himare again.
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Agrotourism himara
@planformedani
we didn't stay in any of these on our trip but they seem like such a great type of accommodation. Often they grow their own food, have animals, and are in beautiful settings. I'm sure we would have enjoyed this place and it has exceptional reviews!
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Ksamil
Ksamil is a resort/beach club type town at the Southern end of the Albanian Riviera. You should be prepared for incredible looking water, but also for more crowds during the high season and needing to be prepared to book a spot on the beach each day.
Hotel Mira Mare
@planformedani
A beautiful place to stay in Ksamil. We were there during high season so I think it's also a plus that this hotel is a little bit away from things and a bit quieter.
The couple who runs the place was so kind and thoughtful. The terrace is the highlight! We ate the most wonderful breakfast up here and also had happy hour drinks overlooking Ksamil. The room was clean and bright and had a balcony to hang out on. Overall we loved our stay here and would recommend it! They also had an actual small parking lot which is pretty unheard of in Albania and we were super thankful for!
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Poda Boutique Hotel
@planformedani
PODA seems to dominate a large section of Ksamil and all of it looks nice. We did enjoy a sunset dinner at their restaurant and their beach bar set up looks great so I can only assume the hotel would be a great spot as well. It's right in the middle of all of the action and has a pool as well!
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King Hotel
@planformedani
This looked like another luxury ish spot that had another very central and ideal location. If you want to be a bit more on the high end during your time in Ksamil this place looks like your spot as well!
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Sunlight Hotel
@planformedani
This hotel was right by ours so it is a bit out of the way of the craziness which is nice. It also had a really nice looking pool that a lot of the guests seemed to be enjoying. It's got great reviews and is walkable to everything in the main area of Ksamil!
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Dhermi
Dhermi seems to be very similar vibes to Himare which we loved. It is a little more calm and chill. It is within driving distance of mountains and beaches for day trips and just looks like a great spot to spend a few days. This is one place we didn't go that I hope to go to when we return someday. I still did a lot of research on this area and here are some major spots that came up for me!
Zoe Hora
@planformedani
This is definitely a higher end spot but looks so beautiful. I've seen a lot of influencer types here so you know it must be great. We'd have liked to have tried it out even just for a night! Looks like the kind of place you can just relax and don't even need to leave!
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Empire Beach Resort
@planformedani
Make sure to note this one is adults only! It looks like an excellent choice for a stay with lots of amenities and beauty! You can book rooms with mountain or sea views and the pool looks beautiful. Looks like another great spot to spend a relaxing few nights.
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Elysium Hotel Dhermi
@planformedani
I am convincing myself to come back to Albania as I am researching these hotels. This place looks like another great luxury get away. Beautiful views, parking, and a lot of amenities and activities and a great pool. This is high on my list for when we return!
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Durres
Wave Beachfront Apartments
@planformedani
We loved staying here! The view was INCREDIBLE and it was so nice to sip coffee out here in the morning and wine at happy hour. The brothers running this place were so extremely kind and helpful and gave us great recs for the area! It was very clean!
Only minor issue was the AC was in the main living area and the bedroom didn't get super cold. But we were comfortable and happy for one night here and the view made it worth it!
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Empire Hotel
@planformedani
Only an 8.0 rating on booking but this hotel looks SO FUN! The pool situation looks beautiful and the rooms are really decorated and fun looking. If you're looking for a decorative adventure this looks like it! The balcony rooms look really great as well!
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Premium Hotel Beach
@planformedani
We walked by this place a couple times and it looked really nice! We didn't go inside but it was a great location and looked really nice and clean and well taken care of from the outside. We even saw a beautiful wedding diner going on here.
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* * *
CURATED BY
My name is Danielle and I have been planning trips for the past 10 years.
One thing special and unique about my guides is that I am not producing guides that I didn't currently use myself. The places in my guides are places I have been, the itineraries are itineraries that I have personally followed. Everything is real and I have vetted myself.
My travel planning story started with a honeymoon to Italy and since then it has grown each and every year. I love all kinds of travel! It's hard to fine a niche because I fit into so many categories. I love nature, hiking, and being outdoors. I love beaches and sunsets and sipping wine and cocktails in pretty places. I love learning about people and cultures and history. I love street art and busy cities and I also love small towns and quieter places. I will sleep in a hostel and I enjoy a beautiful hotel. I love South and Central America and I am obsessed with Europe. I've been to Asia twice and hope to get back in the next few years. I love to eat and one thing you'll always get from me are true and great reviews of places that I've personally eaten! I have just returned from Albania and I am working on guides from that trip!
My full time job is as a School Leader of Social and Emotional Learning in Philadelphia. All my travel is done on school breaks and in the summer. I have still managed to visit over 36 countries and countless cities along the way. Being a teacher my whole life is about planning and I do believe I am exceptional at it. I work VERY hard to plan incredible trips and now you can hopefully benefit from that as well!
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Free Guide for Best Places to Stay in Albania
We just came back from traveling in Albania and we visited so many amazing and unique areas. From the mountains, to the riviera, and the historical towns in between. We LOVED our time in Albania.
This guide will show you the wonderful places we stayed and LOVED as well as many beautiful spots we saw along the way that I would have also loved to have stayed in and would go back to someday.
This is the result of lots of research and thought put into these curated spots.
In the notes section of each I will list reasons why these places appeald to me and why I think they would be great stays or why I KNOW they were. I will indicate which places we stayed in ourselves as well.
Please feel free to reach out to me any time with any questions at planformedani@gmail.com or planformedani on instagram.
Also know that if you book hotels through my recommendations I do receive a small commission at no cost what so ever to you! It could help me to keep finding and recommending these great spots!
23 Places • 21 Saves • ago
Free
If you are looking for a far more detailed guide with all of the things to see, do, and eat in these places check out my full road trip itinerary here. There are over 60 places and SO MUCH information written up about all you need to know for your trip!
This guide is a full itinerary for a road trip from North to South in Albania.
It will start with basic info you should know for traveling within Albania such as visa info, currency, safety, weather, pharmacy, etc.
It will cover everything you should do and see as well as where to stay and eat in each place. It will also include alternative ideas for each place and things we didn't get to reach.
Throughout this guide I will cover
Theth (a mountain paradise)
Durres (a laid back beach town)
Berat (a UNESCO world heritage city) and surrounding wineries
Himare (an incredible town on the Albanian Riviera)
Ksamil (the Southern tip of the Albanian Riviera & across from Corfu Greece)
Tirana (the capital city of Albania)
Dhermi ( a town we didn't make it to that I wish we did)
I will also create mini guides for each of these locations in case you're not spending that much time in Albania and want to hit specific places.
Most importantly I am HAPPY to consult with you about ANYTHING you want to know in this itinerary. You can reach me very easily at planformedani@Gmail.com and at planformedani on instagram. Do not hesitate to reach out before, after, or even if you're not purchasing this guide. I am always just happy to help!
Adventure • Foodie • Nature • People & Culture • Road Trip • Wine • Coffee • Beach • Mountain • Relaxation
$10.00
Theth (the mountains)
Theth is an amazing place to visit. If you're a hiker, nature lover, enjoy peace and quiet, enjoy waterfalls and beautiful rivers, the list goes on. We absolutely loved our time in Theth and loved where we stayed. We hope to revisit and see so much more!
Villa Gjeçaj Guesthouse and Restaurant
@planformedani
10/10!!!! I couldn't have been happier with this place. Came for the cheese board I saw on trip advisor and stayed because it was the best place EVER! The family who runs the place is amazing and so kind and helpful. The place itself is beautiful, clean, and has INCREDIBLE views. The food was amazing and we ate some of the best meals of our trip here! I would highly recommend having multiple meals here so you can try things! We were VERY happy with our stay here and hope to return someday!
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Bujtina Miqësia
@planformedani
This was my second choice after looking at pretty much every guest house in Theth. The bath and window situations looked so beautiful and had such incredible views. Food looks great and the place has 8.8 on booking.com! I also read and noticed their last like 20+ reviews are 10/10. Definitely a good sign and so many mention the kindness of the hosts. This seems to be a common theme in Albania.
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Guest House Rrashkadoli
@planformedani
Didn't even realize booking.com had this feature until right now. But you can search "best reviews at best price". This is the spot that came up when I did that! A 9.6 on booking is legit. I honestly don't think you can go wrong in Theth. This place looks stunning and again has tons of mentions about the kindness of the hosts.
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Gurra Family Guesthouse
@planformedani
I was debating this one for our stay as well. Has great reviews and it looks like it has great food as well.
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Berat
The entire city of Berat is a UNESCO world Heritage site. The town is nicknamed the city of 1000 windows. It is on a river and it really feels like you're stepping back in time when you visit here. The castle is an incredible experience and you must watch the sunset there! There is so much to see and do here and we loved exploring this area.
Hotel Vila Aleksander
@planformedani
One of my favorite spots we stayed on our trip. Berat is an incredible city and this hotel was perfect! The couple that run the hotel were so kind and thoughtful and welcoming. Breakfast on the terrace every morning was truly perfect. The views over beautiful Berat were incredible too. The bed was comfortable the shower was great and I truly was SO SO happy we stayed here. Highly recommend!!
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Tradita e Beratit - Hotel & Restaurant
@planformedani
The food looked incredible here and it's the one spot I wish we didn't miss. It also looks like an adorable place to stay! I have been seeing it a LOT on instagram and it seems they're putting a lot of time and effort into creating great experiences for their guests! It would definitely be my next choice if we were to go back!
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berati castle hotel & restaurant
@planformedani
Another experience I know I would have enjoyed would be to stay up in the castle! It was the most beautiful place to watch sunset each night and we loved it up there!
Just remember if you stay up here you'd have to walk or drive down to everything else... but that's not enough of a deterrent. The views up there are incredible and this place has excellent reviews and looks so charming!
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Rezidenca Aurel
@planformedani
Another spot with great reviews and a nice looking terrace. Having a terrace is always something I look out for as it is so enjoyable to have meals and drinks outside and be able to see the views of a beautiful city.
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Details
Hotel Colombo Berat
@planformedani
I am adding this to the list in case you're a luxury type person. This place looks like it should be a government building or something! But it's a hotel! It has an indoor pool and a lot of amenities. If this is your thing then this is the spot for you. In my opinion it doesn't have the "charm" of some of the spots in the main area of Berat. But if you want a nice place to stay that is a little more upscale this is it. It's still walkable to everything you'd want to see and do in Berat and has great reviews also. I just assume the experience is less personal.
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Pupa Winery & GuestHouse
@planformedani
If this guesthouse is anything like our experience at the winery and lunch then it will be INCREDIBLE. If i was returning I'd love to try staying here! We had a wine tasting and lunch here and the property is insanely beautiful! It would be such a relaxing place to spend a night, drink wine, enjoy the views, and just relax!
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Himare
Himare is a beautiful little beach town on the Albanian Riviera. We loved our time here so much. There is a castle and there are so many amazing places to beach hop around and eat. We based ourselves here for the longest part of our trip and we are so glad we did. I am going to list a few places here too but honestly the place we stayed was beyond incredible and I so highly recommend it I almost don't want to list any others.
ARXONTIKO Hotel and Restaurant
@planformedani
I can't say enough about how much we loved this hotel.
First of all : book a sea view room. The view is just stunning.
Second of all: make sure you eat here! The food was incredible we had a lunch and a dinner here besides having the most AMAZING breakfast every day.
The family that runs this place is just beyond words. They are SO KIND, so thoughtful, so welcoming, we wished we could have stayed here longer and this was the longest stay of our trip! The room was clean and bright and beautiful, the shower was great, the AC worked great. This place was 11/10!!! Perfection!
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Sea View Hotel Himare
@planformedani
What draws me to this one is the pool! Of course you don't need a pool at the beach, but the idea of sitting by one before or after a beach day is so nice to me. This place looks really clean and nice and has excellent reviews and I would highly consider it if staying in Himare again.
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Agrotourism himara
@planformedani
we didn't stay in any of these on our trip but they seem like such a great type of accommodation. Often they grow their own food, have animals, and are in beautiful settings. I'm sure we would have enjoyed this place and it has exceptional reviews!
Add to
Details
Ksamil
Ksamil is a resort/beach club type town at the Southern end of the Albanian Riviera. You should be prepared for incredible looking water, but also for more crowds during the high season and needing to be prepared to book a spot on the beach each day.
Hotel Mira Mare
@planformedani
A beautiful place to stay in Ksamil. We were there during high season so I think it's also a plus that this hotel is a little bit away from things and a bit quieter.
The couple who runs the place was so kind and thoughtful. The terrace is the highlight! We ate the most wonderful breakfast up here and also had happy hour drinks overlooking Ksamil. The room was clean and bright and had a balcony to hang out on. Overall we loved our stay here and would recommend it! They also had an actual small parking lot which is pretty unheard of in Albania and we were super thankful for!
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Poda Boutique Hotel
@planformedani
PODA seems to dominate a large section of Ksamil and all of it looks nice. We did enjoy a sunset dinner at their restaurant and their beach bar set up looks great so I can only assume the hotel would be a great spot as well. It's right in the middle of all of the action and has a pool as well!
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King Hotel
@planformedani
This looked like another luxury ish spot that had another very central and ideal location. If you want to be a bit more on the high end during your time in Ksamil this place looks like your spot as well!
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Details
Sunlight Hotel
@planformedani
This hotel was right by ours so it is a bit out of the way of the craziness which is nice. It also had a really nice looking pool that a lot of the guests seemed to be enjoying. It's got great reviews and is walkable to everything in the main area of Ksamil!
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Dhermi
Dhermi seems to be very similar vibes to Himare which we loved. It is a little more calm and chill. It is within driving distance of mountains and beaches for day trips and just looks like a great spot to spend a few days. This is one place we didn't go that I hope to go to when we return someday. I still did a lot of research on this area and here are some major spots that came up for me!
Zoe Hora
@planformedani
This is definitely a higher end spot but looks so beautiful. I've seen a lot of influencer types here so you know it must be great. We'd have liked to have tried it out even just for a night! Looks like the kind of place you can just relax and don't even need to leave!
Add to
Details
Empire Beach Resort
@planformedani
Make sure to note this one is adults only! It looks like an excellent choice for a stay with lots of amenities and beauty! You can book rooms with mountain or sea views and the pool looks beautiful. Looks like another great spot to spend a relaxing few nights.
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Elysium Hotel Dhermi
@planformedani
I am convincing myself to come back to Albania as I am researching these hotels. This place looks like another great luxury get away. Beautiful views, parking, and a lot of amenities and activities and a great pool. This is high on my list for when we return!
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Durres
Wave Beachfront Apartments
@planformedani
We loved staying here! The view was INCREDIBLE and it was so nice to sip coffee out here in the morning and wine at happy hour. The brothers running this place were so extremely kind and helpful and gave us great recs for the area! It was very clean!
Only minor issue was the AC was in the main living area and the bedroom didn't get super cold. But we were comfortable and happy for one night here and the view made it worth it!
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Empire Hotel
@planformedani
Only an 8.0 rating on booking but this hotel looks SO FUN! The pool situation looks beautiful and the rooms are really decorated and fun looking. If you're looking for a decorative adventure this looks like it! The balcony rooms look really great as well!
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Premium Hotel Beach
@planformedani
We walked by this place a couple times and it looked really nice! We didn't go inside but it was a great location and looked really nice and clean and well taken care of from the outside. We even saw a beautiful wedding diner going on here.
Add to
Details
* * *
CURATED BY
My name is Danielle and I have been planning trips for the past 10 years.
One thing special and unique about my guides is that I am not producing guides that I didn't currently use myself. The places in my guides are places I have been, the itineraries are itineraries that I have personally followed. Everything is real and I have vetted myself.
My travel planning story started with a honeymoon to Italy and since then it has grown each and every year. I love all kinds of travel! It's hard to fine a niche because I fit into so many categories. I love nature, hiking, and being outdoors. I love beaches and sunsets and sipping wine and cocktails in pretty places. I love learning about people and cultures and history. I love street art and busy cities and I also love small towns and quieter places. I will sleep in a hostel and I enjoy a beautiful hotel. I love South and Central America and I am obsessed with Europe. I've been to Asia twice and hope to get back in the next few years. I love to eat and one thing you'll always get from me are true and great reviews of places that I've personally eaten! I have just returned from Albania and I am working on guides from that trip!
My full time job is as a School Leader of Social and Emotional Learning in Philadelphia. All my travel is done on school breaks and in the summer. I have still managed to visit over 36 countries and countless cities along the way. Being a teacher my whole life is about planning and I do believe I am exceptional at it. I work VERY hard to plan incredible trips and now you can hopefully benefit from that as well!
PERSONALIZED TRAVEl SERVICES
Connect
with
a
local
expert
to
help
plan
your
ideal
trip
Send A Tip
Support Plan For Me Dani ’s work.
Select your tip amount
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$10
$20
$50
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