I just got back from Albania and to be honest I wasn't really impressed. It's cheaper than most other European countries but not SE Asia cheap. Plus the infrastructure and transportation isn't very good. The food variety is lacking too. I did go at the end of the high season when it was still crowded and the weather was really hot so that also swayed my opinion. Right now is probably a better time to go so hopefully you have a better experience.
@@kleerogers If you've never even been there to visit, as your comment reveals, you have ZERO idea what a vacation or living there is like. That's a simple fact. You have ZERO idea if Thailand "wins"...and certainly NOT hands down because you have ZERO experience on which to make an informed comparison. All you can do is go on hearsay. It is great to love Thailand, and to be excited to ecstatic about living there. I take no issue with that. The issue is that you have ZERO experience to make any kind of comparison of what it's like there.
@@le_th_ where did you get the idea I had zero experience with Thailand? I have spent years in Thailand, right now I am in Canada, burt over 25 years I have spent year in Thailand if all added up, all over Thailand.
I can't believe this! I have Chiang Mai as my base, but I'm still looking for a second base to live for half the year and am going to Albania in a few weeks for the first time. I am SO looking forward to your next few videos comparing Albania to Thailand (especially Chiang Mai). This is mind-blowing! Have a fantastic time in Albania (I hope!) and please let us know the similarities, and the good & bad between the two. I'll keep tuned.
Have a wonderful time! I hope you discover if it's a possible half-year possibility. One never reall knows, with any informed certainty, until you go and see for yourself if it works for you.
I spent a month in Albania while researching retirement locations. My takeaways....hospitable people (the only country that NOBODY tried to scam me), affordable housing even in the capital city, excellent food especially if you like Italian and Greek, weather is very temperate, and very favorable visa requirements for Americans. I wish they had a service like Grab food delivery, but it's nice to get out and spend time in the cafes.
I’ve been there 2x’s for a month, friendly people, nice beaches, good food and the prices are reasonable. Transportation needs serious improvement. Affordable for Europe, but much different than most of the countries. I spent most of the time in the Sarande area. I liked it, but I can’t say that I like as well as anywhere in S E Asia.
I visited Albania in 2006 (a long time ago now, I know) and the strongest memory I have is that they were the most hospitable people I've ever come across. I had a couple of amazing interactions in particular where I was embraced as a foreigner and made to feel extremely welcome. Aside from that huge positive, there wasn't a lot else to inspire me to settle there. There were some lovely scenic and historic places but nothing particularly remarkable compared to the rest of Europe.
Wow thats quite a surprise. Looking forward to the videos. Hope you will make a trip some day to my other favourite "Armenia". Have a safe and fun trip!
Great tip about the 1 year free visa-any modern oceanfront rentals like Thailand -600 bucks for a newer condo cheap in Thailand -would like to find something nice in Albania oceanfront for 6 months
We spent 4 years in Tbilisi, Georgia. I would say it’s another country that is very affordable and a former Soviet’s colony. Very mountainous and the landscape in the summer is beautiful. It is cold in the winter just like northern Virginia. Food and housing is just like here in Thailand. There is a Carre Four just like Walmart, double decker with food on the first floor and. Household goods on the second floor. However, Thailand is still my favorite for all the food and tropical fruits.
Have you been to Vietnam? There’s many towns in the mountains where the weather is a lot cooler, for example Dalat and Sapa! It’s certainly a much more affordable place to visit if your living in Thailand. I know there’s no retirement visa as yet, though many people just do a border bounce every 3 months! I look forward to your Albanian vlogs. My daughter recently visited and she loved it!
Thanks for sharing! Yes, we have been to Vietnam, but only Hanoi. Glad to hear that your daughter loved Albania. Stay tuned for our videos from there. And thanks for watching our channel! 😊🙏🏻
when I heard you say you will be landing in Tirana, I thought you were coming to my hometown Toronto, lol. We say it like that. Like locals from New Orleans call it " N'awlins" Really like your channel, will be following your adventure!
I've been scoping out and gathering info on Albania for a couple years now, and I have to say, all looks really good so far, with one big draw back. I've been living in the tropics in Costa Rica for the last 30 years, and having grown up in Chicago, I swore to myself that I would never ever again live somewhere that gets cold. There's a postcard-worthy beautiful little city on the ocean in Southern Albania, but from what I've heard in the winter months you will definitely need a coat or at least a jacket. Winter will be here soon, so please, in your travels around Albania should you travel to that southern town on the coast, please give weather updates in your videos. I've subscribed because I am seriously interested.
Hi there! Even when I lived on the SoCal beaches of LA (Manhattan & Hermosa beaches, as well as Playa del Rey by LAX), we needed a jacket at night. You'd be hard-pressed to find a more gorgeous region of the world, or a better climate, that also has pretty much *anything* you might need, in terms of education, entertainment, food, business opportunities, some of the most cutting edge (and expensive) healthcare in the word, and insane traffic because everyone wants to live there. lol As a global traveler, may I suggest you plan a two week (or longer) trip there at the "coldest" time of year? See if you can get away with a jacket. I avoid Chicago like the plague because of the temperature extremes, and those winds coming off the lake in late November on Michigan Ave....OOF!...they sliced right through multiples layers of winter clothing that was quite comfortable for me to wear living in Manhattan (NYC, not the beach lol) at the time. I can understand how that left such a heavy, decades-long, lasting impression on you. Happy travels, whatever you decide!
Tbilisi Georgia is also a great alternative. Great , low cost food that is extremely delicious, great infrastructure, wonderful people, 35 cent bread that you can buy directly from a bakery etc. Americans can stay there for 365 days without a visa. Really charming and very European. Tbilisi the capital has a subway system to get around. Love, Love , Love it there.
Tirana is the same latitude as Medford, Oregon with very similar weather, maybe a little less cloudy and wet during winter. I'll take hot year-round over that.
I'm going to have to look into the latitudes here. I live in NorCal (SF Bay area), and when I hear you say Medford, OR, but the channel owner has said it's the same latitude as South Carolina, some is VERY OFF here. Unless Albania is as long as California is, how can that be possible?
Hey Tony, they say Albania is mostly Muslim, but some visitors claim the mosques are usually empty, even on Fridays, while the churches are full on Sunday. It might be something to confirm while you're there. Also, consider visiting Saranda.
Hi, Can you help me with some advice. We are due fly up to Chang mai tomorrow and stay in the old town. Do we cancel? How bad is the old town affected by the flooding? 👍
idea of DTV was to attract high paying tourists and the wealthy the digital nomad who isn't dependent on any job and who did not want to spend much and get a taste of Thailand and then consider future high category visas like the investment visa but all they are allowing are remote workers and freeloaders... the soft power activity DTV is not yet given to anyone.. I have applied twice for medical treatment and acute DVT treatment but twice rejected and advised a medical tourist visa 😂
For me culture matters. Albania vs Thailand -> European (western) culture vs Asian culture. Asian culture appeals to me more. To be honest - when I hear “Albania” I think of the bad old days but I realize things have changed and it may be worth a look.
I just got back from Albania and to be honest I wasn't really impressed. It's cheaper than most other European countries but not SE Asia cheap. Plus the infrastructure and transportation isn't very good. The food variety is lacking too. I did go at the end of the high season when it was still crowded and the weather was really hot so that also swayed my opinion. Right now is probably a better time to go so hopefully you have a better experience.
Yup, not a country I would ever consider visiting or moving to, Thailand wins hands down, no comparison
@@kleerogers If you've never even been there to visit, as your comment reveals, you have ZERO idea what a vacation or living there is like. That's a simple fact. You have ZERO idea if Thailand "wins"...and certainly NOT hands down because you have ZERO experience on which to make an informed comparison. All you can do is go on hearsay.
It is great to love Thailand, and to be excited to ecstatic about living there. I take no issue with that. The issue is that you have ZERO experience to make any kind of comparison of what it's like there.
@@le_th_ where did you get the idea I had zero experience with Thailand? I have spent years in Thailand, right now I am in Canada, burt over 25 years I have spent year in Thailand if all added up, all over Thailand.
I can't believe this! I have Chiang Mai as my base, but I'm still looking for a second base to live for half the year and am going to Albania in a few weeks for the first time. I am SO looking forward to your next few videos comparing Albania to Thailand (especially Chiang Mai). This is mind-blowing! Have a fantastic time in Albania (I hope!) and please let us know the similarities, and the good & bad between the two. I'll keep tuned.
Definitely will do. And very cool you will be in Albania soon. Thanks for watching and safe travels! 😊🙏🏻
Have a wonderful time! I hope you discover if it's a possible half-year possibility. One never reall knows, with any informed certainty, until you go and see for yourself if it works for you.
I spent a month in Albania while researching retirement locations. My takeaways....hospitable people (the only country that NOBODY tried to scam me), affordable housing even in the capital city, excellent food especially if you like Italian and Greek, weather is very temperate, and very favorable visa requirements for Americans. I wish they had a service like Grab food delivery, but it's nice to get out and spend time in the cafes.
Good to hear, thanks for the info! And thanks for watching!😊🙏🏻
I’ve been there 2x’s for a month, friendly people, nice beaches, good food and the prices are reasonable. Transportation needs serious improvement. Affordable for Europe, but much different than most of the countries. I spent most of the time in the Sarande area. I liked it, but I can’t say that I like as well as anywhere in S E Asia.
Im intrigued. Researching now
Maybe best to have made this video after you travelled to Albania? I am guessing you will come back to Thailand with more love for it
I visited Albania in 2006 (a long time ago now, I know) and the strongest memory I have is that they were the most hospitable people I've ever come across. I had a couple of amazing interactions in particular where I was embraced as a foreigner and made to feel extremely welcome. Aside from that huge positive, there wasn't a lot else to inspire me to settle there. There were some lovely scenic and historic places but nothing particularly remarkable compared to the rest of Europe.
I’m here now and I agree!
This is great news Tony ❤ enjoy your upcoming trip and cant wait to see some content from your channel. I am excited for you! 😊
Thanks so much!
Wow thats quite a surprise. Looking forward to the videos. Hope you will make a trip some day to my other favourite "Armenia". Have a safe and fun trip!
Thanks! 😃
I love the seasons, and couldn't go without them❤ not permanently.
Tony, I am looking forward to your adventures in Albania. Safe travels.🙂✈
Thanks Rob! We look forward to seeing you soon. 😊🙏🏻🇹🇭
Awesome! Looking forward to seeing the videos!
Awesome! Thank you! 😊 🙏🏻
Great tip about the 1 year free visa-any modern oceanfront rentals like Thailand -600 bucks for a newer condo cheap in Thailand -would like to find something nice in Albania oceanfront for 6 months
We spent 4 years in Tbilisi, Georgia. I would say it’s another country that is very affordable and a former Soviet’s colony. Very mountainous and the landscape in the summer is beautiful. It is cold in the winter just like northern Virginia. Food and housing is just like here in Thailand. There is a Carre Four just like Walmart, double decker with food on the first floor and. Household goods on the second floor. However, Thailand is still my favorite for all the food and tropical fruits.
Thai food is so delicious, no matter where you live or travel.
Tony, watch the pick pockets and gypsies. Good luck, and enjoy your trip. Stay safe !
Thank you very much!!! 😊🙏🏻
Looking into Albania now. Thanks for the info🙏
Be sure to watch our videos while we are there. We are excited to check it out. 😊🙏🏻
Have you been to Vietnam? There’s many towns in the mountains where the weather is a lot cooler, for example Dalat and Sapa! It’s certainly a much more affordable place to visit if your living in Thailand. I know there’s no retirement visa as yet, though many people just do a border bounce every 3 months! I look forward to your Albanian vlogs. My daughter recently visited and she loved it!
Thanks for sharing! Yes, we have been to Vietnam, but only Hanoi. Glad to hear that your daughter loved Albania. Stay tuned for our videos from there. And thanks for watching our channel! 😊🙏🏻
when I heard you say you will be landing in Tirana, I thought you were coming to my hometown Toronto, lol. We say it like that. Like locals from New Orleans call it " N'awlins" Really like your channel, will be following your adventure!
I've been scoping out and gathering info on Albania for a couple years now, and I have to say, all looks really good so far, with one big draw back. I've been living in the tropics in Costa Rica for the last 30 years, and having grown up in Chicago, I swore to myself that I would never ever again live somewhere that gets cold. There's a postcard-worthy beautiful little city on the ocean in Southern Albania, but from what I've heard in the winter months you will definitely need a coat or at least a jacket. Winter will be here soon, so please, in your travels around Albania should you travel to that southern town on the coast, please give weather updates in your videos. I've subscribed because I am seriously interested.
😉👍🇦🇱
Hi there! Even when I lived on the SoCal beaches of LA (Manhattan & Hermosa beaches, as well as Playa del Rey by LAX), we needed a jacket at night. You'd be hard-pressed to find a more gorgeous region of the world, or a better climate, that also has pretty much *anything* you might need, in terms of education, entertainment, food, business opportunities, some of the most cutting edge (and expensive) healthcare in the word, and insane traffic because everyone wants to live there. lol
As a global traveler, may I suggest you plan a two week (or longer) trip there at the "coldest" time of year? See if you can get away with a jacket. I avoid Chicago like the plague because of the temperature extremes, and those winds coming off the lake in late November on Michigan Ave....OOF!...they sliced right through multiples layers of winter clothing that was quite comfortable for me to wear living in Manhattan (NYC, not the beach lol) at the time. I can understand how that left such a heavy, decades-long, lasting impression on you.
Happy travels, whatever you decide!
Albania is absolutely a contender for an affordable retirement destination. I'm leaning more towards Montenegro. It's an amazing little country!
Funny that I was already looking Albania videos these past few days.
That’s really cool!! 😎 Check out our videos from there. We are excited to get there. 😊🙏🏻
Tbilisi Georgia is also a great alternative. Great , low cost food that is extremely delicious, great infrastructure, wonderful people, 35 cent bread that you can buy directly from a bakery etc. Americans can stay there for 365 days without a visa. Really charming and very European. Tbilisi the capital has a subway system to get around. Love, Love , Love it there.
That’s awesome, thank you for that information!!! 😊🙏🏻
Tirana is the same latitude as Medford, Oregon with very similar weather, maybe a little less cloudy and wet during winter. I'll take hot year-round over that.
I'm going to have to look into the latitudes here. I live in NorCal (SF Bay area), and when I hear you say Medford, OR, but the channel owner has said it's the same latitude as South Carolina, some is VERY OFF here. Unless Albania is as long as California is, how can that be possible?
Well my husband a United States Marine says no. All though it looks so beautiful from the content ive viewed. He says its a level 2 and its a no.
Hey Tony, they say Albania is mostly Muslim, but some visitors claim the mosques are usually empty, even on Fridays, while the churches are full on Sunday. It might be something to confirm while you're there. Also, consider visiting Saranda.
Supermarkets are empty Tuesday afternoon
Thumbs up 👍 Tony…….Albania 🤔
Thank you! 👍
Hi, Can you help me with some advice. We are due fly up to Chang mai tomorrow and stay in the old town. Do we cancel? How bad is the old town affected by the flooding? 👍
Business as usual. You should be fine.
Hello as European how long can we stay in Albania? 7:58
I think it’s 90 days. 😊
Albania is good if you are not an EU citizen and enjoy Europe.
How safe is it to travel around ?
So far it has been very safe!
idea of DTV was to attract high paying tourists and the wealthy the digital nomad who isn't dependent on any job and who did not want to spend much and get a taste of Thailand and then consider future high category visas like the investment visa but all they are allowing are remote workers and freeloaders... the soft power activity DTV is not yet given to anyone.. I have applied twice for medical treatment and acute DVT treatment but twice rejected and advised a medical tourist visa 😂
What us DVT ?
Is Thailand moving towards Brics?. The dollar??
Huh
@@RJ-6615 Sorry. Auto spelling. Brics.
Corrected it. Thx!!
For me culture matters. Albania vs Thailand -> European (western) culture vs Asian culture. Asian culture appeals to me more.
To be honest - when I hear “Albania” I think of the bad old days but I realize things have changed and it may be worth a look.
Why are you staying only 8 days?
Money ?
Time constraints ?
.And 4 cities in that time, there will be some very superficial videos...
Islam is the most common religion in Albania
Forget that