We had a great trip to Albania. The country is beautiful and it being a small country it was very easy to get around and driving distances were very reasonable. Traveling in August is hot and dry, and seeing all the dry river beds makes us want to return in June, when I'm sure the country is lush and beautiful. This being said, we loved all of the fruit dripping from the trees, figs, pomegranates, grapes, nectarines, plums, and all of the other fresh produce was exactly what we were hoping for.
The hotels we visited had the most impressive views including Kerculla and Arameras pools were just magical. Kerculla was a beautiful hotel, breakfast was lovely and the view during breakfast at both hotels was incredible. Service at all the hotels was just okay. Service overall in Albania and attention to detail is not quite up to western standards but it was fine.
Our river hiking and rafting trips were fun but with dry weather, the water was limited. But still was ok. Service with the rafting company was ok. They don't explain much of anything but I think they are still learning how to do these tours!
Berat and Gjirkaster were fun to explore - driving was challenging but that was part of the fun!
The donkey experience was great because it was just our family. The boy and mom were really good and they did a good job - as a farmer I felt proud of them starting this aspect of their farm and I think their signage was fun along the donkey walk, their presentation at the table was great and we stayed until dark! This was an unexpected highlight of the trip. Really got an authentic experience with a local family.
On the other hand Bote Farms was totally the opposite. It was an ok experience, the food was good, but the pool is a algae filled not great experience, their was not enough space for all the guests to lay in chairs around the "pool", and there was just not much to do. It is not something, as a farmer, I felt was authentic. It would have been better to call it a light cooking class with a meal and skip the part hanging out by the pool. The animals were not great, kinda dirty and hot. The owners were nice and all, but if we are travelling to be in Albania I don't want to visit a place not run by Albanians. And they called it a farm to table event. but there was not really a farm. Just some gardens.
Glamping in Nivica was fun, but hot during the day. Tents were nice, but there was nothing to do during the day, and it was just hot. No one really welcomed us much at all to say where we were and about the place. It is a great spot and fun to get there in the trucks, but it lacked a little cohesiveness. Food was good, the guide was nice, and the hike was fun, and lunch at the local restaurant and a walk through the town were great.
We enjoyed the restaurant suggestions and overall they were good, but food did vary from place to place and was sometimes quite bland at the hotels and a bit overpriced. We would have enjoyed more local, out of the way, true local restaurants that locals eat at as other options for us vs tourist restaurants.
Not sure what else to write about! Thermal baths were a little bit of a let down since they are not hot, more like warm and they were a bit full of algae. Cool place though! We didn't stay long...