Ukrainian tourist Emma Luchytska, after a vacation on Greek Corfu, went to Albania for a few days, but the popular resort of Saranda did not meet her expectations. Earlier, tourism experts had already drawn attention to the differences between Albania and photos on social media, in particular the appearance of popular beaches. She spoke about this in her TikTok.
What disappointed the Ukrainian woman at the Saranda resort
The tourist named garbage and the condition of some city districts as the first serious downside. According to her, even in the tourist part of Saranda one can see construction materials, abandoned plots, old bottles and dirt.
The contrast between the real situation and social media videos, where Albania is often presented exclusively as a resort with snow-white beaches and turquoise sea, was especially noticeable.
The second unpleasant discovery for Luchytska was the local driving culture. According to her observations, drivers may overtake without turning on their turn signals and suddenly maneuver on the road.
Difficulties also arise for pedestrians. The tourist said that when crossing the road, one has to additionally show drivers with a hand one's intention to cross the roadway. Moreover, even such a gesture does not guarantee that the car will stop.
She named the tourist's dependence on a car as the third drawback. Many of the most attractive beaches are located at a distance from resort centers, so getting to them on your own without a car can be difficult.
Other travelers had also previously drawn attention to this feature of the country. Distances to Albania's popular beaches can be significant, so when planning a trip it is important to consider not only the hotel's location but also transport.
According to Luchytska, the usual taxi ordering services are also not available everywhere. In her case, she had to arrange the trip directly with drivers via WhatsApp, and then wait for the car to arrive.
“I didn’t see the Albania that is constantly shown on TikTok,” the Ukrainian woman admitted.
How much a vacation in Albania costs
Despite the listed downsides, the tourist did highlight one important advantage of Albania. This refers to relatively low prices, which differ noticeably from the cost of vacation in many other European countries.
According to her experience, you can eat well at an establishment for about 400–500 UAH per person. For comparison, a similar trip to a restaurant in other European countries, according to the traveler's estimate, can cost about 1500–2000 UAH.
Thus, affordable prices remain one of Albania's advantages for tourists with a limited budget. At the same time, the final expenses depend on the specific resort, season, chosen accommodation, food, and the need to rent a car or use a taxi.
Ukrainians choose Albania not only for a short summer vacation but also for longer stays. The cost of renting housing can differ significantly between resort cities and depending on the distance to the sea.