Albania is rugged, it's raw and it's beautiful.
When we first visited Albania last year, we instantly fell in love. We fell in love with it's beauty, delicious cuisine and welcoming people. We couldn't wait to return this year and explore more of what the country has to offer.
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Albania is the up-coming travel destination in Europe. Social media has been wondrous in highlighting the beauty of the country and tourists are beginning to flock to see it for themselves. It's not surprising that people want to come and explore the jagged peaks of the Albanian Alps or the crystal clear waters of the Albania Riviera.
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We have been lucky enough to explore this culture rich country from north to south and east to west, visiting some of the top places in Albania. To find out our best places to visit in Albania click here.
Before you pack your bags and jet your family off to Albania, it is important to note that Albania is still a very poor country. Despite it's beauty, it is not still up there financially with other popular tourist destinations. Therefore you should visit Albania with an open mind. Expect the unexpected. Things like waste disposal and roads are still underdeveloped and therefore expect to see litter and crazy potholes among other things.
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Why we love Albania
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I think we love Albania for it's simplicity. Sometimes it's like we are stepping back in time. In today's world it is extremely refreshing to experience a country that isn't as advanced as western Europe. In fact, it is grounding for us.
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Be prepared to see coffee shops full, groups of elderly men gathered around chess boards and children actually playing outside until the sun disappears. If you want vegetables you walk to the market to get them, meat is bought from the butcher and cheeses from the deli. Our children have spent their days under the shade of the citrus trees, using rocks to crack open walnuts and snacking on deliciously sweet grapes from the gardens. This is still their way of life and it is so liberating to step back into that rewardingly slow paced life.
It is easy to be influenced by the glitz and glamor social media portrays. Suddenly people find themselves wanting a slice of luxury and when they visit a country they become disappointed to discover the authentic side of that country. When we travel, we do not always want 5* luxury or swings in the ocean. We want to follow the paths of the locals, we want to talk to them and listen to their stories. We want to see and experience real life and sometimes that means we experience the ugly side too. We have open minds and open hearts when we travel and we take each experience as a learning opportunity.
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We don't focus on the trail of ants in our room (they're just doing their thing picking up the crumbs after our boys!), or the fact that the bedsheets are outdated and the shelf is hanging off the wall. We focus on the fact that outside our hotel room is a part of the world we are yet to explore. We focus on the kindness of our hosts, welcoming us into their homes. We focus on the fact that after a long day of exploring, we have a clean, safe bed to return to for the night. We want to raise our children as these types of travellers. We want them to experience the beautiful and ugly together and not be frightened to face it. At the end of the day, travelling for us is about stepping out of our comfort zone and experiencing something new.
For us, Albania offers these raw experiences. The locals have welcomed us with open arms. They have allowed us to share their lives and experiences. Through them, we have seen the beauty that this country has to offer. It may not be the instagram definition of beauty but it is real beauty. We have found ourselves high up in the Albanian Alps, in the home of an elderly lady keen to show us her knitted creations. Sharing a Raki with a family whilst they tell us their stories of the war. We have been gifted treats by locals we met in coffee shops and welcomed into the homes of others to celebrate family occasions.
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For us as a worldschooling family, we could not wish for such a welcoming and wholesome experience for our boys.
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We are a family of 4 living and travelling full time in our self converted Luton van.Â
Our aim is to provide other families information, guides and top tips to help them on their next adventure, whether that's world travel, van life or home education.