We decided to retire in Albania and have residency. Albania has everything as far as variety in landscape from mountains, seas and Europe's last wild River. The food is of high quality. People are friendly and like to talk to foreigners especially Americans. On Albania Americans can stay a full year. It's because the US led the the NATO response to stop the genocide of the Kosovars (ethnic Albanians) by Serbia. They are very grateful and value freedom because of their Communist past.
@@dondardha1993 half the albanians don't live there and according to polls 70% of the albanians under 25 want to leave the country and yet somehow you think its great place to retire.
@@georgestamatakis697 because a 20 year old doesnt want to retire,you smart a**. Greek youngsters are moving out also. Youngsters are moving out from Balkans because want more opportunites. But to Retire is the best place,its Safe,Cheap,Great food and Climate..what do you want more??
We found a few great coffee shops in Tirana! Definitely not chains and great coffee! We were impressed with Albania too, such a cool place! Thanks for checking out the video 😁👍
I was working in Minot ND for the last 3 months roads are ok there also, but I am still impressed that you didn't mind the roads in Albania, I am from Albania by the way😂
@fluzz2222 thank you for this information. We are planning a trip to Albania next month and were wondering if we should rent a car at Sarande to maximize what we can see during our visit. I hope it is safe to park the rental car on the street at night.
@ChipyRose yes its very safe. Just make sure you lock your car and don't leave anything that would make a thief want to break into your car. No pursues or backpacks that might give the thief a reason to break in. I drove from Kosova all the way to Saranda, Ksamil, dhermi, and so on. On the way from Ksamil to Saranda and back, the roads were a little crowded but not bad at all. I had no problem driving in Albania, but when I drove in New York, my anxiety was skyrocket high. When in New York, I thought I was gonna get hit they way they would cut you off to get into your lane.
@@fluz2222 oh wow! Yes NYC traffic can be chaotic (we were just there but someone else drove). Thank you for your tips on Albania driving. We can’t wait for our upcoming trip.
100% I'm an American Ex Pat...I live here now...and this Place is the NEXT SPOT to see!!! The food is awesome and the people are very accommodating to Americans in Particular. The Coastline is Unparalleled to insane crystal clear waters and beautiful Beaches! Albania is General will become the leading country in the Balkans...Hands Down!
@@MaxandSidney Southern Albania is insanely beautiful. Especially Saranda and Ksamil. Ksamil has four small islands very close to the coast. So you can even swim to one of them if you are a secure swimmer.
Albania will be first depopulated country in Europe soon because of corrupt state in those last 30 years,i come back from usa have 5 year here now i think to immigratr again in usa ,everywere corruption and evil
@capitalpoint4618 would love to know more. We're looking for potential landing spots in the area and facinated to know more about the American Ex Pat community in Albania
Thanks for this review. I'm an Albanian living in U.S but definitely agree with the way you explained it all. I would also add that Albania is cheaper than Italy, Greece and Croatia. 😊
Thanks for watching, we’re so glad you approve! It’s very helpful to get input from Albanians. And yes, that is a great point! Far cheaper and just as beautiful in many areas!
I enjoyed your Tirana videos.I plan to go to Paris in late Sept. and then on to Tirana to spend a few months after I retired early last November.I could save lots of money staying there a few months then travelling thru Europe.I'm an energetic,healthy 62yo and I want to visit as much of Europe as I can.This will be my 4th time in Europe and will be full time.
So glad you enjoyed the videos! That sounds like a fantastic adventure, and Tirana is definitely a good home base for it. Thanks for checking out our channel and have a great time exploring Europe! 😊👍
For people working remotely Albania will save you a ton of money and give your life a new meaning. For around €600-700 in Tirana (much cheaper in other cities and towns)there’s rent and food covered for a month compared to say London on average to rent a house alone will set you back £2000+ a month let alone other expenses.
I shall go to Albania and other Balkan countries in one shot. I travelled over 70 countries in the world and people are friendly everywhere in the world. It depends how you walk talk or move . If you are nice then trust me people will be nice . I never had any problem in the world. Think positive Z. Love 💕 from Buffalo New York. Kool video
Well thats true , if u pay respect to the place u get respect in return i agree , but whats special about the Albanian hospitality is that for us the guesst is very importand , importand at the point that for example when we hosted jews in the 2ww none of them was handed to the nazis even though families lost their dear ones doin so , and we even saved 20k Italian soldiers from the nazis too , whome by the way not long ago invaded us , so , the " be respectfull and u'll be respected " is only the first layer of our hospitality , and this i dont think u can find it everywhere , but who knows maybe im wrong... Respect
Nice description of Albania 🇦🇱. As an American Albanian, it was amazing to see how beautiful the country is, especially since my parents escaped from Communism as young teenagers with their families. It was horrendous back then. Definitely a beautiful country to see now. I saw it for myself in 2006…and was amazed at the beauty then. I believe they have made great strides to welcome people of all cultures now. ❤️🇦🇱
Thanks for watching! We really enjoyed our time there, it is a beautiful region of the world, and it is so nice that it is now open to rest of the world 🇦🇱❤️
Albanian-American here. Nicely done! My family and I are headed to Albania in a few days, we were last there in 2021 & I had no issues driving. Tirana was a bit hairy, but very similar to some US cities. All the best!
Thanks for watching! We didn't get the chance to drive, but it definitely didn't seem bad outside of the central city! Hopefully we can rent a car next time and drive down the beautiful coast 😊
I have exact two weeks of vacation time coming November. I was planning on spending it all in Turkey as that’s where I will be flying in to. But am now thinking of spending few days in Albania as-well. From what I have seen, looks like an amazing country. How will be the weather in mid November? Will 4-5 days be enough to get some feel of the country? Will be flying to Tirana from Istanbul. Thanks!
My Parents are Albanians but I was born and raised in Germany. I love Germany, yet I am very happy to see Albania get somewhat of a little Hype Boost. It is still a Work in Progress, but i have noticed significant Change in the last 10 years when i visited the country. You support the Trend Up and I can not thank you enough ❤ Great Video. Next I will look up your Videos about Germany :)
In Albania no one disturb turist is safest more from others country also if u need help all albanias around will come to help u is beauty country and cheap also good food have a good life nite also in summer in north south everywhere u can enjoy beaches the ebauty of rivers lakes seas mountain depends what u want but albanian oferr all of this.
thank you for this informative video! i’m doing a six-day solo trip in september and i am HYPEEEEE. i love the balkans and heard incredible things about albania. your video was extremely nuanced and well done and helpful🥰
So glad it was helpful! We didn’t get to see as much of Albania as we hoped, but we absolutely loved everything we did see!! Thank you for watching and have an awesome time in September! 😁
Heading to Albania 🇦🇱 for the first time in a couple of weeks. Very excited to see what it has to offer. I will be in Tirana for 3 days, then hiring a car to travel around the country for the next week or so. Thank you for posting this vlog. Very helpful 👍
Hahaha, I can definitely see my Midwestern American accent would make it hard to differentiate between Tirana and Toronto 😂 thanks so much for watching!
Thank you for being so welcoming! It’s such a beautiful country with really cool cities! We didn’t have enough time, we definitely want to come back! 🇦🇱❤️
Max & Sid- Very good! I visited for FIRST TIME in life outside USA, last Spring Break (I'm a college professor). Only 7 days, but I did ~ 2 days per city: Tirane, bussed to Sarande and then to Vlore, then Taxi back to Tirane Airport. Had a GREAT time, but will def spend AT LEAST 3 weeks next time. I want to visit Duress and Korce! Seriously considering retirement expating to Albania, to live cheap, but also visit rest of Europe! YAY!
I havent been since 2019, but between 2016-2019 i used to be frequently as i married an Albanian, now divorced sadly, but i still love the country. Spent some time in Durres and Tirana, but mostly in Burell, not a big fan of the food out there tho, so id love to travel more through Albania and explore. My issue, biggest one, was the language and prices upping to double if i spoke and they caught on i was norwegian and not albanian😆If i go again this or next year, ill be sure to ask my exs family to recommend a guide i can hide behind to get Albanian prices and who can drive, the furgons scared me witless😁
At around 6:27, you say that albania was ripe with crime during communism. This is not true, and every albanian, communist or anti-communist can verify. It was actually after communism that albania became a crime paradise, and it even resulted into war (the 1997 war).
@hennryhill2095 -that time was when the country was transitioning. Let’s put it this way, if u keep someone in jail for a long time completely out of touch and all of sudden u free them, they aren’t gonna fit in on a different era. During that time the country was entering a democratic era and it was an absolute disaster. Corruption was very high and still exists but NOT to the same level as it was, things slowly are improving…. I lived there during late ‘90’s for a year and even thn was the best time I had. People are so welcoming and warm. Talking about warmth, people in the other part of Albania that is a country on its own now Kosova, there people are even kinder and welcoming, except there are no beaches there, only beautiful landscapes toward the south ( Kosova- a little promotion there 😁). Albanians are known for their hospitality, it’s part of a culture. So no, Albania is very safe. That chaos in the ‘90’s, was when the country was coming out of the communism. The communism there WAS exactly like it is NOW in North Korea. Hearing stories from locals when under communism, it’s sad to hear, and let alone having to live. When someone tried to escape the country (during communism) if caught at the border they were shot right there. What this people ( Albanians) went through was extremely tough times, their past was extremely painful…I’m so glad they are out of that terror and catching up with the rest !!
Those poor Albanians suffered the most during communism. The country was like north korea or even worse. I'm hungarian, live not that far away, but know not too much about this country, worth a visit I guess. Thx 4 the vid
I left Tirana almost 30 years ago and have followed all these years Albania's progress from far away beautiful Naples, Florida. My family can't wait to start spending summers there in a yearly basis.
Great video, thank you for making this. We're excited to head there this week! We're thinking of renting a car whilst we're visiting Tirana and now we know we've got to take that more seriously
Absolutely, thanks for checking out our channel! Have a great time in Albania, it sounds like you will get to see more than we did. Can’t wait to come back!
@@MaxandSidney I like your channel! We're nearly a week in and loving it. The roads in Tirana make getting a car less appealing but we've spoken with several folks about pretty legit (and cheap!) bus routes so that might be our best best.... we'll see
Rent a car in Albania which is pretty cheap compared to other countries in Europe and the transport issues are no more. Albania really has it all you name it we have it except for desert anything else you will find in Albania
Do you recommend a car rental company in Sarande? I’m getting quotes of about $100/day with Enterprise (which is the only international car rental I can find in that city). Maybe it’s because it will be in peak August time.
Thank you for sharing this video. The information provided is excellent! I have a question for you. I'll be traveling to Tirana in two weeks, and I'm concerned about the popularity of the contactless/card payment system in Albania. Would it be wiser to carry Euros with me, or should I opt to withdraw Albanian Lek at the Tirana airport?
Thanks for watching! We took out Albanian Leke at the airport. A lot of places are cash only, but you will still find card payments here and there. I would assume some places accept euros too, but not entirely sure about that one. Have a great time in Tirana!
Nice Video! I stay in Albania every summer and love it there. A few minor corrections….they actually have plenty of “Ride share” they just don’t have ride share apps. Its more like unlicensed cabs. But if you talk to any local, most have contact info of someone they know who gives rides for cash in their personal car and its cheaper than Uber because they don’t have to give them a cut. Also, the gangs of drug traffickers and weapons dealers are NOT a thing of the past:)…They are still quite prevalent. But they are of little threat to tourists. So your main point is still correct, it is a VERY safe place to visit……safer than any major American or European city in my opinion.
It sounds like a place where you don't need a smartphone to survive. If there was a global internet shut down, Albania would hardly bat an eyelid. Sounds like paradise to me.
A quick fact , Albania is bordered by 2 seas , the Adriatic and the Ionian , Adriatic ends up in Vlore and the the Ionian starts. While the Adriatic is cool and all that , the Ionian sea part is a whole other level. Dishes i would suggest is , speca me gjize, fli(northern part), speca te mbushur , byrek ,ajke speci(bro its soooo gooood its like a souce made from milk cream and salt my favourite , just cant eat too much bcs its so heavy !!) , suxhuk, and a lot more, also sea food is great here. U can really eat anything in Albania and it will be really good , bcs we have heavy influence from Greece , Italy and Turkey wich are the best cuisines in the world. Also white fetta chesse. As far as desserts go my favourite is Trilece!!
Thanks for all of the info! We will definitely have to check out the Ionian coast next time! And we will definitely seek out all of those dishes you suggest, they all sound amazing! Thanks for checking out the video 😁👍
I'm in Thailand now and after watching quite a few videos I think this will be my next stop. Any tips, advice or contacts you can send my way to find rentals would be appreciated. tyvm!
Albania is the safest country for a non oblivious person. We have some crazies roaming through the streets, vendettas and organized crime. So all you need to be worried about is don't engage with mentally ill people, don't get in very serious beef with anyone and don't go on an adventure looking for a marijuana field deep in the woods that someone told you. On the other hand here in Albania, it's actually safe to get in a stranger's car, you are not getting lured in some back alley, there are no kkk type cults, there are no shop scams, no red light districts, no bodyguards, no enforcers, no loan sharks.
Just in case you missed it: Albanian currency is called Aleksander (Lek nick name) to remind Albanian Emperor Alexander the Great. 350 BC. Ps : Word Aleksander (A+le+ne+ander) has a meaning in albanian lenguage only. ❤❤❤✍✍✍🧠🧠🧠🦅🦅🦅
Next time you're in Albania you should go to a traditional restaurant and order a "Fli". Although the best fli is in the Accursed Mountains in Kosova😅🇽🇰❤️🇦🇱
Can you please Visit Pogradec there are a lot of Beautyfull playses fountins arcades and a Lake not a artificiale one Luke the Tirana Pogradec is very small but there are si many scary places and drunks
That’s a lie Albanian are over the world 🗺️ and they are not racist towards colored people,we are racist only about lands around us who did genecide in our population and that’s fair enough
Hi Max, your video is spot on what to expect from a visit in Albania, congrats! Just a small clarification under the communist regime there were a lot of problems for the local people but crime was not one of them. Just saying cause you mentioned some problems with criminal gangs and so forth. Crime under the regime was virtually non existent, trouble started in the mid 90s after the collapse of communism since the country collapsed financially and was driven to what can merely be described as a civil war..
Thanks for the info, we’re always learning so much! We really enjoyed our visit, and we definitely want to come back and see more of the country, there is SO much we missed! Thank you for watching 😁
About the albanian cuisine, you should definetly try these foods: Japrak, a seasoned rice put inside a grape leaf Trilece, a sort of cake made of three different types of milk, topped with caramel Tullumba, some sort of spanish churros, dipped in sherbet, a typical albanian sweet topping Bakllava and Kadaif, two sort of cakes, topped with sherbet aswell Byrek, a typical albanian street food which is a sort of "salty cake", you can have different types of fillings 8spinach, cottage cheese, meat...) Tave Kosi, a really famous albanian food which consists of lliver and yoghurt cooked in a clay dish This is all i can remember honestly
I love and agree with you on everything you have said and you seem to have a very unbiased review and showing. But would you ask for albanian food in India ? Lol I'm glad you've enjoyed them, nice of you to give an amazing review.
6:30, something you confused. During the communism, the only unsafely you could get yourself in was if you did something against the government of that time. There were tourists during that time, but you needed permission to enter. Same as North Korea now. The period between 1992-2005-6 (more or less), was the most unsafe time for a tourist in Albania. Especially 95-2000. Before and after that, it was and is a safe place for a tourist. And as you said, you might get scammed (especially from Taxi drivers), so it's best to have somebody to speak for you, but other than that, nothing I haven't seen on other West European Countries
Advice #4 could also be mentioned for Greece. If there are sidewalks they are mostly occupied by parked motrorcycles (sometimes cars also), trees, plant boxes, kiosks, cafeteria tables, and the occasional dumped sofa, matress, garbage bags.
We decided to retire in Albania and have residency. Albania has everything as far as variety in landscape from mountains, seas and Europe's last wild River. The food is of high quality. People are friendly and like to talk to foreigners especially Americans. On Albania Americans can stay a full year. It's because the US led the the NATO response to stop the genocide of the Kosovars (ethnic Albanians) by Serbia. They are very grateful and value freedom because of their Communist past.
What an interesting place to retire, I imagine it’s a very high quality of life! We were only there a short time, we’d definitely like to visit again!
Yes it is well known that usa has prevented many genocides. Except for those that they commit themselves.
Its a great place to retire because its still cheap to live,and because you are close to Italy or Greece if you want to travel
@@dondardha1993 half the albanians don't live there and according to polls 70% of the albanians under 25 want to leave the country and yet somehow you think its great place to retire.
@@georgestamatakis697 because a 20 year old doesnt want to retire,you smart a**. Greek youngsters are moving out also. Youngsters are moving out from Balkans because want more opportunites. But to Retire is the best place,its Safe,Cheap,Great food and Climate..what do you want more??
I went to Albania a few months ago! I loved the coffee culture there. They have a ton of coffee houses, and they are all local.
We found a few great coffee shops in Tirana! Definitely not chains and great coffee! We were impressed with Albania too, such a cool place! Thanks for checking out the video 😁👍
Thank you bro ❤
Driving in Albania is way easier to navigate than in New York. As a North Dakotan, I drove perfectly fine in Albania, but in New York, I almost cried.
Very good point! Driving in New York might be the scariest thing of all! I would definitely take Albania 🇦🇱 😁
I was working in Minot ND for the last 3 months roads are ok there also, but I am still impressed that you didn't mind the roads in Albania, I am from Albania by the way😂
@fluzz2222 thank you for this information. We are planning a trip to Albania next month and were wondering if we should rent a car at Sarande to maximize what we can see during our visit. I hope it is safe to park the rental car on the street at night.
@ChipyRose yes its very safe. Just make sure you lock your car and don't leave anything that would make a thief want to break into your car. No pursues or backpacks that might give the thief a reason to break in. I drove from Kosova all the way to Saranda, Ksamil, dhermi, and so on. On the way from Ksamil to Saranda and back, the roads were a little crowded but not bad at all. I had no problem driving in Albania, but when I drove in New York, my anxiety was skyrocket high. When in New York, I thought I was gonna get hit they way they would cut you off to get into your lane.
@@fluz2222 oh wow! Yes NYC traffic can be chaotic (we were just there but someone else drove). Thank you for your tips on Albania driving. We can’t wait for our upcoming trip.
100% I'm an American Ex Pat...I live here now...and this Place is the NEXT SPOT to see!!! The food is awesome and the people are very accommodating to Americans in Particular. The Coastline is Unparalleled to insane crystal clear waters and beautiful Beaches! Albania is General will become the leading country in the Balkans...Hands Down!
Wow, that must be such an awesome place to live! We definitely want to see more of the coast next time. Can’t wait to return!
@@MaxandSidney Southern Albania is insanely beautiful. Especially Saranda and Ksamil. Ksamil has four small islands very close to the coast. So you can even swim to one of them if you are a secure swimmer.
Albania will be first depopulated country in Europe soon because of corrupt state in those last 30 years,i come back from usa have 5 year here now i think to immigratr again in usa ,everywere corruption and evil
@capitalpoint4618 would love to know more. We're looking for potential landing spots in the area and facinated to know more about the American Ex Pat community in Albania
Thanks for this review. I'm an Albanian living in U.S but definitely agree with the way you explained it all. I would also add that Albania is cheaper than Italy, Greece and Croatia. 😊
Thanks for watching, we’re so glad you approve! It’s very helpful to get input from Albanians. And yes, that is a great point! Far cheaper and just as beautiful in many areas!
I'm Irish- went to Albania in April. Really liked the country.
Same here! It is a really beautiful place!
I am Albanian,it was pleasure to hear your voice it delivers a good vibe, Good Bless You Sir!
I'm Albanian ❤️🇦🇱 thank you for this
I enjoyed your Tirana videos.I plan to go to Paris in late Sept. and then on to Tirana to spend a few months after I retired early last November.I could save lots of money staying there a few months then travelling thru Europe.I'm an energetic,healthy 62yo and I want to visit as much of Europe as I can.This will be my 4th time in Europe and will be full time.
So glad you enjoyed the videos! That sounds like a fantastic adventure, and Tirana is definitely a good home base for it. Thanks for checking out our channel and have a great time exploring Europe! 😊👍
Welcome to Albania. We try to welcome any visitor that chooses our country to spend their precious holidays
Paris and Tirana? They share so many similarities.
For people working remotely Albania will save you a ton of money and give your life a new meaning. For around €600-700 in Tirana (much cheaper in other cities and towns)there’s rent and food covered for a month compared to say London on average to rent a house alone will set you back £2000+ a month let alone other expenses.
The quality of life seems very high for the prices! We were very impressed with Albania!
stop gentrifying my country u bitvhasssssss
Albania has a wonderful climate, mountains, lakes, beaches, history and ancient places, I really like that country
Same here! Such a beautiful place and so much history! Thanks for checking out the video 😊
History? It was founded as an Italian protectorate in 1912. Unless you are referring to thieves, beggars and drug dealers. I forgot the communists.
@@georgestamatakis697 Someone jealous here ?
Of what? the most uncivilized country in Europe, with a 18B GDP and a "history" of thieves and drug dealers? Not likely@@streamal
@@georgestamatakis697Greeks and serbs are very jealous..relax greko ...RESPEKT your neighbours ..
Been here 4 and half years, love it. And the Vlore long haul internantional airport will be complete 2025, 9 hrs from New York, 3 hrs from London
I shall go to Albania and other Balkan countries in one shot. I travelled over 70 countries in the world and people are friendly everywhere in the world. It depends how you walk talk or move . If you are nice then trust me people will be nice . I never had any problem in the world. Think positive Z. Love 💕 from Buffalo New York. Kool video
Thanks for watching and best wishes on your adventures!
Well thats true , if u pay respect to the place u get respect in return i agree , but whats special about the Albanian hospitality is that for us the guesst is very importand , importand at the point that for example when we hosted jews in the 2ww none of them was handed to the nazis even though families lost their dear ones doin so , and we even saved 20k Italian soldiers from the nazis too , whome by the way not long ago invaded us , so , the " be respectfull and u'll be respected " is only the first layer of our hospitality , and this i dont think u can find it everywhere , but who knows maybe im wrong... Respect
@@iliadmalka it is what it is . Good rewards come later. No one knows when .
Going to Albania next month. This has been very helpful. Can't wait.
Nice description of Albania 🇦🇱. As an American Albanian, it was amazing to see how beautiful the country is, especially since my parents escaped from Communism as young teenagers with their families. It was horrendous back then. Definitely a beautiful country to see now. I saw it for myself in 2006…and was amazed at the beauty then. I believe they have made great strides to welcome people of all cultures now. ❤️🇦🇱
Thanks for watching! We really enjoyed our time there, it is a beautiful region of the world, and it is so nice that it is now open to rest of the world 🇦🇱❤️
Albanian-American here. Nicely done! My family and I are headed to Albania in a few days, we were last there in 2021 & I had no issues driving. Tirana was a bit hairy, but very similar to some US cities. All the best!
Thanks for watching! We didn't get the chance to drive, but it definitely didn't seem bad outside of the central city! Hopefully we can rent a car next time and drive down the beautiful coast 😊
I have exact two weeks of vacation time coming November. I was planning on spending it all in Turkey as that’s where I will be flying in to. But am now thinking of spending few days in Albania as-well. From what I have seen, looks like an amazing country. How will be the weather in mid November? Will 4-5 days be enough to get some feel of the country? Will be flying to Tirana from Istanbul. Thanks!
My Parents are Albanians but I was born and raised in Germany. I love Germany, yet I am very happy to see Albania get somewhat of a little Hype Boost. It is still a Work in Progress, but i have noticed significant Change in the last 10 years when i visited the country. You support the Trend Up and I can not thank you enough ❤
Great Video. Next I will look up your Videos about Germany :)
Thanks so much for watching our videos! We definitely enjoyed Albania, and we hope to go back to see more of the countryside and coastline!
your parents seem to have failed to raise their child based on their identity and origin, not on papers.
In Albania no one disturb turist is safest more from others country also if u need help all albanias around will come to help u is beauty country and cheap also good food have a good life nite also in summer in north south everywhere u can enjoy beaches the ebauty of rivers lakes seas mountain depends what u want but albanian oferr all of this.
So true! It’s amazing how much Albania has to offer, and everyone we encountered was extremely kind to us!
thank you for this informative video! i’m doing a six-day solo trip in september and i am HYPEEEEE. i love the balkans and heard incredible things about albania. your video was extremely nuanced and well done and helpful🥰
So glad it was helpful! We didn’t get to see as much of Albania as we hoped, but we absolutely loved everything we did see!! Thank you for watching and have an awesome time in September! 😁
Heading to Albania 🇦🇱 for the first time in a couple of weeks. Very excited to see what it has to offer. I will be in Tirana for 3 days, then hiring a car to travel around the country for the next week or so. Thank you for posting this vlog. Very helpful 👍
Yes yes yes and yes i am relocated in Albania not long time ago🇦🇱 , everything true))))))
It's an honor for us that you visited Albania thank you so much 😊
We really enjoyed it! Can’t wait to come back! 🇦🇱👍
Nice video, after 3 minutes into it we realised you were saying Tirana and not Toronto ! gave us a good chuckle. thanks for sharing
Hahaha, I can definitely see my Midwestern American accent would make it hard to differentiate between Tirana and Toronto 😂 thanks so much for watching!
Agree about the food. So fresh and delicious. Next time we are going to some of the out of the city farm to table places.
Definitely! The farm to table places are probably so delicious, we definitely want to explore more out of the city next time 😁
If your ever heading back to Albania and want to explore beaches culture mountains I recommend going to Tropoje
I love how you described everything
Bravo 👏🏼
So glad it was helpful! Thanks for checking out our channel 😊
Thank you for your honesty about albania. And your are always welcome in Albania and to see you soon in Albania and have a lovely time
Thank you for being so welcoming! It’s such a beautiful country with really cool cities! We didn’t have enough time, we definitely want to come back! 🇦🇱❤️
Max & Sid- Very good! I visited for FIRST TIME in life outside USA, last Spring Break (I'm a college professor). Only 7 days, but I did ~ 2 days per city: Tirane, bussed to Sarande and then to Vlore, then Taxi back to Tirane Airport. Had a GREAT time, but will def spend AT LEAST 3 weeks next time. I want to visit Duress and Korce! Seriously considering retirement expating to Albania, to live cheap, but also visit rest of Europe! YAY!
I havent been since 2019, but between 2016-2019 i used to be frequently as i married an Albanian, now divorced sadly, but i still love the country. Spent some time in Durres and Tirana, but mostly in Burell, not a big fan of the food out there tho, so id love to travel more through Albania and explore. My issue, biggest one, was the language and prices upping to double if i spoke and they caught on i was norwegian and not albanian😆If i go again this or next year, ill be sure to ask my exs family to recommend a guide i can hide behind to get Albanian prices and who can drive, the furgons scared me witless😁
I would say from personal experience living there to go out to the south like korce and visit the smaller towns around it
There is so much of the country that we did not get the chance to explore last time around. We are hoping to be able to come back and see more!
You and all are welcome in Albania, come to Gjirokastra, the most beautiful city of Albania.
Thank you, we absolutely loved visiting! We will have to add Gjirokastra to our list for next time!
I am coming next week to Albania. Planning to stay one day in gjirokaster. Any other recomendation? Good restaurants name, hidden attractions etc
Thanks 4 the video. Im going there next month as well as several other countries near by.
Thanks for watching! Have a great time, we want to go back, there is so much more to see!
At around 6:27, you say that albania was ripe with crime during communism. This is not true, and every albanian, communist or anti-communist can verify. It was actually after communism that albania became a crime paradise, and it even resulted into war (the 1997 war).
Thanks for checking out the video and for the info!
@hennryhill2095 -that time was when the country was transitioning.
Let’s put it this way, if u keep someone in jail for a long time completely out of touch and all of sudden u free them, they aren’t gonna fit in on a different era. During that time the country was entering a democratic era and it was an absolute disaster. Corruption was very high and still exists but NOT to the same level as it was, things slowly are improving….
I lived there during late ‘90’s for a year and even thn was the best time I had.
People are so welcoming and warm.
Talking about warmth, people in the other part of Albania that is a country on its own now Kosova, there people are even kinder and welcoming, except there are no beaches there, only beautiful landscapes toward the south ( Kosova- a little promotion there 😁). Albanians are known for their hospitality, it’s part of a culture.
So no, Albania is very safe. That chaos in the ‘90’s, was when the country was coming out of the communism. The communism there WAS exactly like it is NOW in North Korea. Hearing stories from locals when under communism, it’s sad to hear, and let alone having to live. When someone tried to escape the country (during communism) if caught at the border they were shot right there. What this people ( Albanians) went through was extremely tough times, their past was extremely painful…I’m so glad they are out of that terror and catching up with the rest !!
We are flying to Albania in a few days and this video is awesome! Thanks for the tips!
So glad it was helpful! Have a fantastic time in Albania! 😊👍
I enjoyed the format of this video - learned a lot about Albania! Thank you!!
So glad you enjoyed it! It’s a mysterious country and so underrated!
Those poor Albanians suffered the most during communism. The country was like north korea or even worse. I'm hungarian, live not that far away, but know not too much about this country, worth a visit I guess. Thx 4 the vid
My best friend is Albanian American and I'm so intrigued by her culture, this was a Good Video and Editing! 10/10
Thank you! So happy you enjoyed it 😄 Albanian culture is very unique! We definitely want to go back and see more
Very informative video thank you so much!
Thank you for checking out our channel! So glad to hear the video was helpful 😁👍
I left Tirana almost 30 years ago and have followed all these years Albania's progress from far away beautiful Naples, Florida.
My family can't wait to start spending summers there in a yearly basis.
It seems like a fantastic place to spend the summer!!
Great video, thank you for making this.
We're excited to head there this week! We're thinking of renting a car whilst we're visiting Tirana and now we know we've got to take that more seriously
Absolutely, thanks for checking out our channel! Have a great time in Albania, it sounds like you will get to see more than we did. Can’t wait to come back!
@@MaxandSidney I like your channel! We're nearly a week in and loving it. The roads in Tirana make getting a car less appealing but we've spoken with several folks about pretty legit (and cheap!) bus routes so that might be our best best.... we'll see
Rent a car in Albania which is pretty cheap compared to other countries in Europe and the transport issues are no more. Albania really has it all you name it we have it except for desert anything else you will find in Albania
It is an amazing country, we wished we had more time to explore! We definitely want to visit again!
Do you recommend a car rental company in Sarande? I’m getting quotes of about $100/day with Enterprise (which is the only international car rental I can find in that city). Maybe it’s because it will be in peak August time.
@@MaxandSidneydid you need any special vaccination or immunization when you entered Albania ? Visa ? Travel insurance?
Thank you for sharing this video. The information provided is excellent! I have a question for you. I'll be traveling to Tirana in two weeks, and I'm concerned about the popularity of the contactless/card payment system in Albania. Would it be wiser to carry Euros with me, or should I opt to withdraw Albanian Lek at the Tirana airport?
Thanks for watching! We took out Albanian Leke at the airport. A lot of places are cash only, but you will still find card payments here and there. I would assume some places accept euros too, but not entirely sure about that one. Have a great time in Tirana!
Thanks for your nice words about Albania ❤
Of course! Thanks for watching 😊
Saranda is my favorite place.
We didn’t get over there! Definitely want to check it out at some point!
Great information
Thank you for watching! Glad you enjoyed it!
Nice Video! I stay in Albania every summer and love it there.
A few minor corrections….they actually have plenty of “Ride share” they just don’t have ride share apps. Its more like unlicensed cabs. But if you talk to any local, most have contact info of someone they know who gives rides for cash in their personal car and its cheaper than Uber because they don’t have to give them a cut.
Also, the gangs of drug traffickers and weapons dealers are NOT a thing of the past:)…They are still quite prevalent. But they are of little threat to tourists. So your main point is still correct, it is a VERY safe place to visit……safer than any major American or European city in my opinion.
Thanks so much for the info! We really enjoyed our time in Tirana and definitely want to come back to see more of the country!
Excellent content
Great video ❤
It sounds like a place where you don't need a smartphone to survive. If there was a global internet shut down, Albania would hardly bat an eyelid. Sounds like paradise to me.
thank you for this :D
Thank you for watching! So glad you enjoyed it! 👍
A quick fact , Albania is bordered by 2 seas , the Adriatic and the Ionian , Adriatic ends up in Vlore and the the Ionian starts.
While the Adriatic is cool and all that , the Ionian sea part is a whole other level.
Dishes i would suggest is , speca me gjize, fli(northern part), speca te mbushur , byrek ,ajke speci(bro its soooo gooood its like a souce made from milk cream and salt my favourite , just cant eat too much bcs its so heavy !!) , suxhuk, and a lot more, also sea food is great here.
U can really eat anything in Albania and it will be really good , bcs we have heavy influence from Greece , Italy and Turkey wich are the best cuisines in the world.
Also white fetta chesse.
As far as desserts go my favourite is Trilece!!
Thanks for all of the info! We will definitely have to check out the Ionian coast next time! And we will definitely seek out all of those dishes you suggest, they all sound amazing! Thanks for checking out the video 😁👍
Great video Max and Sid 👍🏻 Albania is so awesome 😍 I uploaded yesterday a short Albania travel video too 🎥 best cinematic greetings from Germany
Thank you so much, we’re so excited that you liked it! We will check out your video as well. Couldn’t agree more, it’s such a cool country!
you relaxed me before travelling to albania
Glad to hear it! Have a great time!
thank you❤❤❤❤❤
Thanks for watching!!
Nice video, thanks! 👍
I'm in Thailand now and after watching quite a few videos I think this will be my next stop. Any tips, advice or contacts you can send my way to find rentals would be appreciated. tyvm!
Plsss, try byrek, bakllava and tavë kosi
Looks delicious! 😋
The conversion rate from Albanian Leke to USD and EUR is pretty close to 100:1. I understand that for Americans this must be really difficult.
Good vid. 😊
Albania is the safest country for a non oblivious person. We have some crazies roaming through the streets, vendettas and organized crime. So all you need to be worried about is don't engage with mentally ill people, don't get in very serious beef with anyone and don't go on an adventure looking for a marijuana field deep in the woods that someone told you. On the other hand here in Albania, it's actually safe to get in a stranger's car, you are not getting lured in some back alley, there are no kkk type cults, there are no shop scams, no red light districts, no bodyguards, no enforcers, no loan sharks.
Very good video thanks
Try bürek! It's very nice
We tried it in Bosnia and Croatia, we will definitely have to try the Albanian version next time we are in the region!
amazing
Dziękuje
Just in case you missed it: Albanian currency is called Aleksander (Lek nick name) to remind Albanian Emperor Alexander the Great. 350 BC. Ps : Word Aleksander (A+le+ne+ander) has a meaning in albanian lenguage only. ❤❤❤✍✍✍🧠🧠🧠🦅🦅🦅
Oh wow! We didn’t know that, thanks for the info! That’s really cool!
@@MaxandSidney A+le+ne+ander (albanian geg) means: He was born in his mother (Mirtle aka Olimpia) dream.
Very interesting thank you
Next time you're in Albania you should go to a traditional restaurant and order a "Fli". Although the best fli is in the Accursed Mountains in Kosova😅🇽🇰❤️🇦🇱
We will definitely add that to the list for next time! Thanks for the suggestion!
I don't have an idea I am traveling there but I have only 7 days but I'm still stuck in my idea where to go....
There’s an Albania ‘American Idol’ type of show starting soon. The mayor of NYC son is a judge. Lol
Can you please Visit Pogradec there are a lot of Beautyfull playses fountins arcades and a Lake not a artificiale one Luke the Tirana Pogradec is very small but there are si many scary places and drunks
We will definitely have to look into it next time we are in Albania!
Going to Albania and just staying in capital is like not good Albania at all 😂The country has absolutely everything a tourist wants .
We saw a little bit outside the capital, but definitely not enough! Can't wait to return and explore more of this beautiful country!
Although I heard its pretty racist towards " Naturally tanned" people im excited to visit this country in 2024. This video helps alot ❤
That’s a lie Albanian are over the world 🗺️ and they are not racist towards colored people,we are racist only about lands around us who did genecide in our population and that’s fair enough
Thoughts on Durres?
Hi Max, your video is spot on what to expect from a visit in Albania, congrats! Just a small clarification under the communist regime there were a lot of problems for the local people but crime was not one of them. Just saying cause you mentioned some problems with criminal gangs and so forth. Crime under the regime was virtually non existent, trouble started in the mid 90s after the collapse of communism since the country collapsed financially and was driven to what can merely be described as a civil war..
Thanks for the info, we’re always learning so much! We really enjoyed our visit, and we definitely want to come back and see more of the country, there is SO much we missed! Thank you for watching 😁
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🇦🇱❤️👍
I staying for a year as a retire. Can I use my US driver license or I have to get international license?
Where this cable car goes?
How much the return tickets costs?
hey guys. very intersting and informal. May i ask... im thinking of starting a channel but wonered how you make money?
About the albanian cuisine, you should definetly try these foods:
Japrak, a seasoned rice put inside a grape leaf
Trilece, a sort of cake made of three different types of milk, topped with caramel
Tullumba, some sort of spanish churros, dipped in sherbet, a typical albanian sweet topping
Bakllava and Kadaif, two sort of cakes, topped with sherbet aswell
Byrek, a typical albanian street food which is a sort of "salty cake", you can have different types of fillings 8spinach, cottage cheese, meat...)
Tave Kosi, a really famous albanian food which consists of lliver and yoghurt cooked in a clay dish
This is all i can remember honestly
I love and agree with you on everything you have said and you seem to have a very unbiased review and showing. But would you ask for albanian food in India
? Lol I'm glad you've enjoyed them, nice of you to give an amazing review.
Thanks for watching the video, so glad you enjoyed it! Albania is a really interesting country, and we were glad we got to experience it!
Good content. If you only stayed in the capital Tirana you have seen practically nothing of Albania. You should go back :D
Hahaha 😅 we definitely will!!
Looks like Turkish riviera, and food😊
We will have to visit the Turkish riviera now!
Whats up with the napoleon dynamite background music?
How much is the average salary in the hospitality industry in Albania
👍🏼
Did you get sick from water
No! I don’t think so!
I want to go to Albania and see bunkers.
I thought they were all in London UK.
We love London! But we explored 30 countries last year, it's incredible how much there is to see in Europe!
6:30, something you confused. During the communism, the only unsafely you could get yourself in was if you did something against the government of that time. There were tourists during that time, but you needed permission to enter. Same as North Korea now. The period between 1992-2005-6 (more or less), was the most unsafe time for a tourist in Albania. Especially 95-2000. Before and after that, it was and is a safe place for a tourist.
And as you said, you might get scammed (especially from Taxi drivers), so it's best to have somebody to speak for you, but other than that, nothing I haven't seen on other West European Countries
Hi
Can one live and work there?
👏🏼🇦🇱🫶🏼
🇦🇱 is the best
the hotels by the water are not so good
Oh no! How so? We haven't been to the coast yet, so we will have to keep that in mind
Thank god albania is not taken over bu google and mcdonalds
That was definitely noticeable!
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Përshëndetje Shqipëria, አልባኒያ 😄 🇦🇱
ሰላም From Ethiopia 🇪🇹
th-cam.com/video/gJpsAnsjJd4/w-d-xo.htmlsi=B4naH91Kdh5RQQto
Mate not sure if any pickpockers are in albania lol
Advice #4 could also be mentioned for Greece. If there are sidewalks they are mostly occupied by parked motrorcycles (sometimes cars also), trees, plant boxes, kiosks, cafeteria tables, and the occasional dumped sofa, matress, garbage bags.
That is definitely true, we noticed on a few of the islands and Athens! Great point
Could I love a decent life for 1500 euros per month in Albania?
Probably!