Navigating the financial side of your Albanian holiday requires a quick strategy shift. Albania uses a dual system, meaning you can use a mix of Euros and Albanian Lek almost everywhere.

 

However, there is an important catch: Lek is a closed currency, which means you cannot buy it at your home bank before your trip.

You will need to bring Euros with you and change them once you arrive. Fortunately, there are lots of exchange places to do this easily in every town, beach resort, and airport terminal.

Some places accept card payments, check the charges before you do this.

When traveling through a country experiencing a rapid tourism boom, you are bound to notice a few growing pains in the local infrastructure.

There seems to be a slight misalignment of resources in Albania, with rubbish collections being quite scarce. Unfortunately, this issue is widespread throughout the various areas we visited, which explains the litter spots on otherwise beautiful beaches.

This logistical hurdle aside, everywhere we went was clean and well-kept. The locals clearly take immense pride in their spaces, doing their best despite the lack of frequent municipal collections.

The people are incredibly helpful, carrying that classic Eastern European way of being authentically friendly without being overly commercial or fake.

The Final Verdict: The hotel setup and overall staff hospitality are excellent. I would highly recommend visiting Albania for an unforgettable, high-value holiday—just remember to bring those earplugs to block out the vibrant nightlife and high-energy coastal buzz!