{"id":114277,"date":"2024-07-29T09:56:04","date_gmt":"2024-07-29T08:56:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.travmagazine.nl\/expect-the-unexpected-in-albania\/"},"modified":"2024-09-18T14:13:13","modified_gmt":"2024-09-18T13:13:13","slug":"expect-the-unexpected-in-albania","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.travmagazine.nl\/en\/expect-the-unexpected-in-albania\/","title":{"rendered":"Expect the unexpected in Albania"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"flex-shrink-0 flex flex-col relative items-end\">\n<div>\n<div class=\"pt-0\">\n<div class=\"gizmo-bot-avatar flex h-8 w-8 items-center justify-center overflow-hidden rounded-full\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"group\/conversation-turn relative flex w-full min-w-0 flex-col agent-turn\">\n<div class=\"flex-col gap-1 md:gap-3\">\n<div class=\"flex flex-grow flex-col max-w-full\">\n<div class=\"text-message flex w-full flex-col items-end gap-2 whitespace-pre-wrap break-words [.text-message+&amp;]:mt-5 overflow-x-auto\" dir=\"auto\" data-message-author-role=\"assistant\" data-message-id=\"01ec28e6-39d9-423c-aa4a-7c1ecc2ca7fd\">\n<div class=\"flex w-full flex-col gap-1 empty:hidden first:pt-[3px]\">\n<div class=\"markdown prose w-full break-words dark:prose-invert light\">\n<p><strong>If you go on holiday to Albania, you are guaranteed to experience a holiday that you can live on for years to come with &#8216;strong&#8217; stories.<br \/>\nWhat can tourists expect from it? <\/strong>  TravMagazine went on one of the two study trips that TUI Netherlands organized to the country.<br \/>\nWe look back at the tour operator&#8217;s offer, the excursions made and the findings of Chantal van der Meer and Vera Schilder of the sales team of TUI Netherlands, and Ali Chhaib of TUI Experiences.   <\/p>\n<h3>Accommodations<\/h3>\n<p>  Albania is, despite the fact that the tour operator already offered it ten years ago, a &#8216;new&#8217; destination for TUI.<br \/>\nThe TUI offer in Albania is diverse, from &#8216;simple&#8217; to &#8216;Instagrammable&#8217; hotels.<br \/>\nArjan Kers (CEO TUI Netherlands &amp; Belgium), Manfred Lahey (Head of Product Sun &amp; Beach TUI Netherlands) and Kirsten Frazer-Zwiers (Product Manager Albania TUI Netherlands) visited the country last year to explore the possibilities for re-inclusion in the travel offer.<br \/>\nChantal: &#8216;The hotels are fresh and modernly furnished. We offer beautiful accommodations near the seafront, where you can stay on a bed and breakfast basis, half board or all-inclusive. All-inclusive here can be a bit different than expected, but it is clearly indicated on our website. So it&#8217;s good to mention that in the sales conversation. We have a lot of contact with our partners about these kinds of matters, because we want to offer a level of service that the Dutch are satisfied with. But try to see through certain things and see the charm of them.&#8221;     <figure id=\"attachment_114266\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-114266\" style=\"width: 900px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-114266 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.travmagazine.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/albanie2-1-scaled-e1722242903576.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"900\" height=\"508\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.travmagazine.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/albanie2-1-scaled-e1722242903576.jpeg 900w, https:\/\/www.travmagazine.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/albanie2-1-scaled-e1722242903576-300x169.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/www.travmagazine.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/albanie2-1-scaled-e1722242903576-224x126.jpeg 224w, https:\/\/www.travmagazine.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/albanie2-1-scaled-e1722242903576-768x433.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/www.travmagazine.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/albanie2-1-scaled-e1722242903576-784x443.jpeg 784w, https:\/\/www.travmagazine.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/albanie2-1-scaled-e1722242903576-56x32.jpeg 56w, https:\/\/www.travmagazine.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/albanie2-1-scaled-e1722242903576-700x395.jpeg 700w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-114266\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Ali, Vera and Chantal<\/figcaption><\/figure>  The group will spend the first two nights at Hotel Delight in Golem, which is about 45 minutes from the airport.<br \/>\nThe hotel is within walking distance of the beach, where you will find a long boulevard with many restaurants, beach bars and sunbeds.<br \/>\nHotel Delight, like all the hotels TUI offers on the coast, has a swimming pool.<br \/>\nThe rooms are fine and equipped with a rain shower.<br \/>\nThe breakfast is varied and tastes good.<br \/>\nPrices on the boulevard can be very reasonable, but also comparable to the prices in the Netherlands.<br \/>\nThe second overnight hotel is Sol Tropikal Durres, which is located right on the beach.<br \/>\nThe entertainment team here really packs a punch, with beach volleyball, a cooking workshop and a kids&#8217; club.<br \/>\nThe last hotel we stay in is Melia Durres.<br \/>\nThis hotel has by far the best restaurant of the hotels we stayed in, but also the most beautiful swimming pools, location on the beach and the modern rooms are beautiful.<br \/>\nThe fact that it is remote does not detract from the experience.<br \/>\nSite inspections also took place at Brilliant Hotel &amp; Spa, hotel Monaco Garden, Klajdi Resort, Epidamn White Sensation (the &#8216;Instagrammable hotel&#8217; and fully booked months in advance) and M\u00f6venpick Lalez Durres.             <figure id=\"attachment_114268\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-114268\" style=\"width: 900px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-114268 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.travmagazine.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/albanie4-1-scaled-e1722242942990.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"900\" height=\"675\"><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-114268\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Epidamn White Sensation<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/p>\n<h3>Excursions<\/h3>\n<p>  &#8216;Albania has become hip and trendy, partly because of TikTok,&#8217; says Chantal.<br \/>\n&#8216;The excursions we have done are actually all within driving distance of the beach hotels. Of course, we also offer excursions to the places that have also become known on TikTok and are a little further inland. These places are perfect to visit if you book a round trip or fly-drive. For me, Albania is really worth repeating, because after this week I have become very curious about the interior, with the combination of nature and culture. I would really like to do that one day by means of a fly-drive, which TUI also offers.&#8217;   <\/p>\n<h3>Tourism development<\/h3>\n<p>  Albania is a new destination for both Ali Chhaib (TUI Experiences) and TUI Experiences, with more than 50,000 products (excursions and numerous activities) worldwide.<br \/>\nWith the country&#8217;s popularity increasing at a rapid pace, the number of English-speaking guides is becoming scarce.<br \/>\nAli was impressed by the country during his stay: &#8216;I had no idea what to expect from it, because it is a completely new destination for me. It will be quite a challenge to develop tourism here as we know it in Spain and Greece, but I notice that the Albanians really have very good intentions. The infrastructure is very good, in terms of traffic it is not too bad and the hotels cooperate well. I&#8217;ve already visited a lot of destinations and I&#8217;m positively surprised about Albania.&#8217; <figure id=\"attachment_114270\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-114270\" style=\"width: 900px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-114270 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.travmagazine.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/albanie6-1-scaled-e1722242986810.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"900\" height=\"510\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.travmagazine.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/albanie6-1-scaled-e1722242986810.jpeg 900w, https:\/\/www.travmagazine.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/albanie6-1-scaled-e1722242986810-300x170.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/www.travmagazine.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/albanie6-1-scaled-e1722242986810-224x127.jpeg 224w, https:\/\/www.travmagazine.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/albanie6-1-scaled-e1722242986810-768x435.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/www.travmagazine.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/albanie6-1-scaled-e1722242986810-784x444.jpeg 784w, https:\/\/www.travmagazine.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/albanie6-1-scaled-e1722242986810-56x32.jpeg 56w, https:\/\/www.travmagazine.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/albanie6-1-scaled-e1722242986810-700x397.jpeg 700w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-114270\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Dinner at Agriturismo Huqi<\/figcaption><\/figure>  <\/p>\n<h3>Architecture, nature and gastronomy<\/h3>\n<p>  Ali: &#8216;If you are going to Albania yourself or sending your customers to Albania, be sure to check out travelagents.tuiexperiences.com where you can find excursions and activities in Albania and easily book them.&#8217; During this short study trip, there was time for three excursions.<br \/>\nA trip to Kruja where the old bazaar and the castle of the folk hero Skanderbeg were visited, with a visit to the capital Tirana in the afternoon with the stories about the communist past.<br \/>\nToday, Tirana is a city bustling with life with coffee shops, parks, squares and modern buildings that were designed by several Dutch architects.<br \/>\nLunch in Tirana at Oda, with traditional Albanian food, was delicious.<br \/>\nAnother architectural highlight during the study trip was the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Berat, with its old white houses and brown roofs.<br \/>\nThe view from the castle is magnificent on all sides.<br \/>\nSwinging through the &#8216;maze&#8217; of the historic &#8216;city of a thousand windows&#8217; was a special experience and offers beautiful squares. <figure id=\"attachment_114272\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-114272\" style=\"width: 900px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-114272 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.travmagazine.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/albanie7-1-scaled-e1722243044956.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"900\" height=\"534\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.travmagazine.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/albanie7-1-scaled-e1722243044956.jpeg 900w, https:\/\/www.travmagazine.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/albanie7-1-scaled-e1722243044956-300x178.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/www.travmagazine.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/albanie7-1-scaled-e1722243044956-224x133.jpeg 224w, https:\/\/www.travmagazine.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/albanie7-1-scaled-e1722243044956-768x456.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/www.travmagazine.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/albanie7-1-scaled-e1722243044956-784x465.jpeg 784w, https:\/\/www.travmagazine.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/albanie7-1-scaled-e1722243044956-56x33.jpeg 56w, https:\/\/www.travmagazine.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/albanie7-1-scaled-e1722243044956-700x415.jpeg 700w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-114272\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The Roman amphitheatre of Durres<\/figcaption><\/figure> The group also responded very enthusiastically to Durr\u00ebs, a port city with a large city beach, historic buildings and terraces.<br \/>\nThe day before departure there was a delicious meal.<br \/>\nFirst at Agriturismo Huqi, where Albanian gastronomy was enjoyed in abundance.<br \/>\nIn the evening, this was done again in the buffet restaurant of Melia Durres.<br \/>\nAli: &#8216;I think Albania has a very tasty cuisine, a bit similar to Turkish-Greek cuisine. Delicious vegetarian snacks, salads, cheeses and lots of chicken and lamb on the barbecue.&#8217;            <\/p>\n<h3>Amsterdam-Zuid<\/h3>\n<p>  About three million people live in Albania, one million of them in Tirana, and everyone drives a car.<br \/>\nNot surprising, because during the communist regime almost no one was allowed to own a car.<br \/>\nIn some places, traffic can be chaotic and busy.<br \/>\n&#8216;There is no normal middle class in between&#8217;, &#8216;it seems as if the car is more important than the house&#8217; and &#8216;in streets where you don&#8217;t expect it you see cars that in the Netherlands you only see in Amsterdam-Zuid&#8217;, according to some of the reactions in the bus about &#8216;the car in Albania&#8217;.<br \/>\nJokingly, someone wonders if there are enough parking spaces.<br \/>\nThere is no other option than a rental car, besides booking an organized excursion, for tourists.<br \/>\nThere is no public transport, for which the plans are ambitious.<br \/>\nIn a few years, an electric train will be running across the country.         <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-114260 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.travmagazine.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/albanie8-scaled-e1722243097595.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"900\" height=\"523\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.travmagazine.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/albanie8-scaled-e1722243097595.jpeg 900w, https:\/\/www.travmagazine.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/albanie8-scaled-e1722243097595-300x174.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/www.travmagazine.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/albanie8-scaled-e1722243097595-224x130.jpeg 224w, https:\/\/www.travmagazine.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/albanie8-scaled-e1722243097595-768x446.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/www.travmagazine.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/albanie8-scaled-e1722243097595-784x456.jpeg 784w, https:\/\/www.travmagazine.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/albanie8-scaled-e1722243097595-56x33.jpeg 56w, https:\/\/www.travmagazine.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/albanie8-scaled-e1722243097595-700x407.jpeg 700w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px\" \/><\/p>\n<h3>Communism<\/h3>\n<p>  The guide&#8217;s stories make the study tour group realize why some Albanians come across as a bit stiff.<br \/>\nChantal points out the importance of also giving this explanation during sales conversations.<br \/>\n&#8216;The communist era left such a huge mark and still affects people and the way they treat each other and tourists. They are not used to providing service here, but it is of paramount importance and they really want to run for you if you ask for it. But definitely don&#8217;t expect an all-inclusive like in Turkey. Knowing the history, it makes sense that they are not used to providing the same service in certain ways. We really felt welcome during the study trips.&#8217;    <\/p>\n<h3>Back in time<\/h3>\n<p>  Chantal also emphasizes several times that Albania is a country with potential.<br \/>\nIn the weeks following the study trip, the country is also put in the spotlight by TUI colleagues in national media.<br \/>\n&#8216;A lot is going to change here within the next five years, because construction is still going very fast. In some things, you sometimes go back in time in that respect,&#8217; says Chantal.<br \/>\n&#8216;When it comes to the prices (you can pay with both the Albanian Lek and the euro) of food and drinks, one moment it&#8217;s cheaper, and the next moment less cheap than you might expect. It also depends on where you end up. At the tourist spots, you pay (on average) \u20ac4 for a corona beer, \u20ac6 for an Aperol Spritz, \u20ac1.80 for a cappuccino and \u20ac6 for a pizza.&#8217;     <\/p>\n<h3>Suitable<\/h3>\n<p>  Last but not least, Vera also says that she thinks Albania is a very diverse destination with something for everyone.<br \/>\n&#8216;This is also reflected in the accommodations. We offer quieter accommodations, as well as accommodations that are located in a bustling area. I also really liked the villages and towns we saw&#8217;, says Vera.<br \/>\n&#8216;I would definitely like to go back again. I want to see more of the interior and the south, of the different beaches. During the study trip, I noticed that the Albanians are incredibly hospitable. The guides, the drivers; Everyone helps you when you ask for something. In that respect, Albania is very suitable for a wonderful holiday.&#8217; That was also the conclusion that could be heard several times from the group: beautiful beaches, culture, nature, beautiful cities, terraces and affordable good food and drinks, where you sometimes have to expect the unexpected.    <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-114264 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/www.travmagazine.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/albanie10-1024x845.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1024\" height=\"845\"><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>If you go on holiday to Albania, you are guaranteed to experience a holiday that you can live on for years to come with &#8216;strong&#8217; stories. What can tourists expect from it? TravMagazine went on one of the two study trips that TUI Netherlands organized to the country. We look back at the tour operator&#8217;s &hellip; <a class=\"more-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.travmagazine.nl\/en\/expect-the-unexpected-in-albania\/\">Lees verder<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":17980,"featured_media":114247,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[48512,48612],"tags":[],"ppma_author":[48319],"class_list":{"0":"post-114277","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-magazine-en","8":"category-report","9":"entry"},"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.2 (Yoast SEO v27.3) - 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