As costs jump for vacations in height locations similar to Spain, Greece and France, it’s getting tougher to discover a funds destroy. On the other hand, it’s no longer unattainable to discover a cut price in the event you’re prepared to suppose out of doors the field in relation to opting for a vacation spot.

This summer time I went to Tirana, Albania’s capital town, and had an out of this world time and spent some distance lower than I’d have performed in Spain. The energetic town is terribly well-priced and a meal at a complicated eating place with wine hardly ever prices greater than £15 consistent with particular person.

A cocktail value simply £5 whilst a three-night keep within the town for 2 other people got here in at £120 in a centrally positioned Airbnb.

What to do

Albania most effective formally opened to vacationers in 1991 after the cave in of its Communist regime, which closed the rustic to foreigners.

Its tough historical past is explored in numerous top-rated museums in Tirana. I visited the Space of Leaves Museum which covers the rustic’s historical past of secret surveillance. I additionally went to Bunk’Artwork 2, a transformed nuclear bunker, which main points how citizens have been persecuted through the Communist-era police. I’d suggest visiting either one of those to grasp extra about Albania’s historical past and the resilience of its other people.

Regardless of its previous, Tirana is a full of life and alluring town nowadays with a thriving cafe tradition and pleasant citizens. I’d suggest taking the Dajti Ekspres cable automotive to the highest of Dajti Mountain for unbelievable perspectives of town. On the height, there are many actions for youngsters together with horseback driving and mini-golf.

Tirana is a comfy town and it is advisable to simply spend the day cafe hopping or stress-free within the Grand Park. It’s additionally no longer some distance from the coast and it takes simply 45 mins to achieve Durres, certainly one of Albania’s hottest seaside hotels.‌ There are some unbelievable puts to stick in Durres, lots of which might be to be had for less than £50 an evening.

Consuming and consuming

Eating places are extremely just right worth in Tirana and I discovered it laborious to spend greater than £15 a head on a meal with wine.

My favorite eating place used to be Oda which serves conventional Albanian delicacies in a wonderful open courtyard through Tirana’s primary marketplace. A vegetarian primary meal of crammed eggplant value simply 480 lek (£3.91) whilst a lamb dish got here in at 550 lek (£4.48).

Tirana has a thrilling nightlife scene with numerous bars to choose between. I beloved Radio Bar which served an enormous vary of cocktails for round £5 each and every. The eclectic bar is adorned with old-school furnishings and has a courtyard lawn.

Find out how to get there

British vacationers can get direct go back flights from London to Tirana for as low as £56 in September. You’ll be able to fly direct from London to Tirana with easyJet for as low as £36.99 at sure instances of the yr. 

Wizz Air additionally provides direct flights to town. Flights take round 3 hours direct from the United Kingdom, however vacationers travelling from different spaces of the United Kingdom can get a connecting flight to the Albanian town.

I additionally visited breathtaking Lake Ohrid in North Macedonia as a part of my go back and forth, why no longer mix the 2 for an extended destroy?