8 Helpful Preparations To Make When You Travel To Albania

Albania can be a fulfilling place to visit and easy to enjoy especially when you are prepared in advance. There is nothing worse than having a mid-trip epiphany about something you did not prepare or plan for. My wife and I have learned these lessons over the years through trial and error and use them frequently when we travel to Albania.

These lessons served us well while on our trips to Albania; we had access to more resources, we saved precious time, we had a better cultural learning experience and overall enjoyment. As you prepare for your trip to Albania, here are eight essential things you will need to know before you go.

1. Get A Mobile Phone Plan

Most mobile phone companies offer an international plan with unlimited calls, texts and data usage allowances. Check with your service provider to see what they offer. Airbnb rentals typically provide free Wi-Fi (check the listing before you book, when checking in make sure you get the Wi-Fi password and test it before your contact leaves). Many hotels, resorts, restaurants and cafes will also have free Wi-Fi. The international data connection is also extremely helpful when you need to use the GPS in your mobile phone. Addresses in Albania are not always accurate.

2. Take Cash

Credit cards are not used in most places in Albania. I suggest bringing cash to exchange into Albanian LEK.

It is best to exchange cash in Albania for several reasons:

• The rate of exchange is far better than banks and airports
• You can exchange only the amount that is needed
• Currency Exchanges are plentiful in major cities

It is easy to verify simple conversions from US Dollar to Albanian LEK, depending on the rate of exchange $1 is typically equal to 110 LEK. For simplicity you can estimate 2000 LEK being like you have a $20 bill or 1000 LEK being like you have a $10 bill.

Cash in excess of $10,000 will have to be declared at customs and/or when crossing boarders. It is unlikely that you would need this amount of money to travel to Albania. It is helpful to be aware of this head of time.

There are several potential benefits to utilizing a travel credit card. The points are the first perk. Some Travel Credit Cards make it very lucrative to utilize their card when traveling. You can still use you travel credit card to book Airbnb, hotels on travel sites, rental cars but not at places like gift shops, most retail stores or the roadside fruit and vegetable stands.

3. Home Preparation

Typical trips overseas can last longer than a week. Depending on how long you plan on going, you may want to ensure your home will be standing when you return. A few recommendations if you are taking a longer trip it is helpful would be to notify your alarm company, adjust thermostats schedules and turn off your water.

For a more in-depth checklist stay tuned for future post: 14 Tips To Prepare Your Home For Extended Travel.

4. Get A Driver’s License

Pack your driver’s license if you plan you rent a car in Albania. When driving in Albania US Citizens can use an International Driving Permit (IDP) issued in the United States. Please see further information from the US Embassy about driving in Albania. Be careful of potential scams from outlets selling IDPs at inflated prices. Check pricing in a few places first, AAA is always a good place to start.

In 2017 I was pulled over by the police at a checkpoint while driving in Berat, Albania. I simply provided my regular driver’s license and the documentation for the car rental and that information was sufficient. I had not broken any laws so once I provided the information, once they examined it; we were free to go.

5. Learn The Traffic Rules

Keep in mind when you travel to Albania that the rules of the road may be a bit different than you are a custom to at home. For example, when entering a rotary, it is normal in many parts of the world to assume the person in rotary has the right of way. In Albania, cars entering the rotary will expect the cars within the rotary to slow down and allow them through. Also, it is common for cars to pass other cars in two-way traffic.

There are many other differences, it may be best to travel with a local driver for the first few days to get an understanding before attempting to drive on your own. I also suggest you familiarize yourself with the street signs before driving in Albania as well. Here is a link with translated descriptions of Albania’s street signs. Here is additional information about Driving and Road Safety Abroad.

6. Make Copies Of Key Information

Make two sets of copies of your passport, credit cards, travel itinerary and emergency contact numbers when you travel to Albania. Bundle these sets of copies together. Bring one set with you on vacation and leave the other set in your home. I recommend you keep the originals in a Passport Wallet that can be hung around your neck during travel. The best place to keep copies would be on a secure server that can be accessed in case of emergency. If you prefer to have the copies in paper form do not leave in luggage or your wallet in case either are lost or stolen. If you lose your passport you will have to go to the US Embassy in Tirana to apply for a new passport. Be prepare to pay a fee for a new passport and do not forget to bring new passport photos.

7. Learn Before You Travel To Albania

In the event your phone or other devices are low or out of power bring physical reading material. This is especially helpful when you are traveling with children. Check out the Traveling With Children section for more advice on how to visit Albania with young ones.

Read up on Albania history before you go. You will want to understand a little of their culture before your trip. I recommend reading about “Skanderbeg” the national hero of Albania. If you have never heard of Skanderbeg now would be a good time to learn about him. When you are in Albania you will hear about Skanderbeg daily. His life story is interesting, Skanderbeg, born and raised in Albania was sent as a hostage to the Ottoman court, received military training and served the Ottomans then later lead Albanians in a revolt against the Ottomans for many years. If you are looking for books to learn about Albania’s history check out our Resources Page for a few book recommendations.

8. Learn A Few Words

You will find people in most major cities speak English but, in some situations, it is helpful to know a few Albanian words at least to respond. Google Translate is a good start but you will need to learn how to pronounce the letters before you are able to pronounce the works. Click here for a simple explanation of the letter sounds. It is important to know that, unlike English,

Albanian words are always perfectly pronounced based on the sound each letter in the word makes. There are no words that are spelled differently than they sound.

Common word translations:

Hello – Përshëndetje
How are you? – Si jeni?
Please – Ju lutem
Thank you – Faleminderit
One – Një
Good – Mire
Yes – Po
No – Jo (pronounced “Yo”)

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We learned these tips over time visiting and utilized them on later trips. It is just smart to think ahead for possible hang ups or setbacks on any trip. Consider whenever traveling you want to spend as much time enjoying the trip as possible. These 8 preparation tips will ensure you are not spending money on unnecessary items or services when you travel to Albania.