Field Notes are firsthand travel recommendations for and by our ECT Clubhouse members. Get the lowdown on destinations across the globe from travelers and locals alike. This week, digital nomad, Mariana B, shares her tips for traveling through Albania.

I’m Mariana, and I’ve been road-tripping in Europe for the past 3 years. Long story short, after a little existential crisis of spirit in the Covid years, I packed my bags, became a digital nomad, and have not looked back since. So here we go... 

About Albania. It has been on my bucket list for a while, so I decided to hit the road and see what the hype and overly saturated-Instagram photos were all about. In my travel through Albania, I was lucky enough to get guidance from locals along the way and flexible enough to just fly by the seat of my pants for a portion of the trip. The world does guide you in the right direction when you unclench your bum, go off-script, and just vibe with a place.

Eat

Oda: One of the little gems I found was Oda. It is cash only, they greet you with a little cup of raki (fire whiskey sent from the gods via plums), and the food, ambience, and live music from little old Albanians is the best Balkan welcome you can wish for. Be warned that sometimes the twinkling lights in the garden turn on and off because the electricity is a bit shotty, but the music and the group dancing keep going. 

Other recommendations shared: A truly authentic food experience in the little village of Berat, a UNESCO World Heritage spot. Head to the Clubhouse for the details.

Stay

Mrizi i Zanave Agroturizëm: Albania is fantastic for practicing the idea of high/low travel. On the agriturismo side of things, I recommend Mrizi i Zanave Agroturismo (pictured left). It is a pretty farm, inexpensive, and very cozy - kid-friendly and solo traveler-approved. When you go down for lunch or dinner, there is no menu and no fancy options - just whatever the farm has! Come hungry, because once you pick the protein you want (ie. which animal), they will literally fill your table with goodies - fresh salad, cheeses, grilled mousakas, fruit, etc. 

Do

Road trip: This 10-day itinerary includes 4 days in the mountains of northern Albania and the rest of the 6 days riding the coastline from Himare to Ksmil. It represents most of what I did, with a few minor adjustments after some boots-on-the-ground lessons learned - mainly believing too much of the Albania Instagram accounts and diving recklessly into the bucket list travel trap. Highlights include the local 'farm-to-table' restaurants, driving through the Llogara pass, and the beaches from Albanian Riviera (from Himare to Ksmil).

Head to the Clubhouse to access Mariana’s 10-day road itinerary!

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