Jaunted

Albania

Return to the Albania Riviera

April 18, 2006 at 10:35 AM | 0 Comments

The Times of London thinks that Albania is the next big thing. Way ahead of you, fellas. Obviously, the Times is headed to Tirana because British Airways just launched nonstop service from Heathrow, but they're examining Albania at an interesting time.

Development is underway, but it's one of the few remaining places in Europe that has remained unspoiled and yet is actually a pleasant place to visit. The landscape of the place is one reason; for the last few thousand years, whenever there was an occupying force, the Albanians retreated into the mountains, which make up much of the nation's topography.

There's a brief mention of the Albanian Riviera--approximately Saranda to Vlora, along the country's southern third of coastline--but it deserves fuller treatment. Tirana is a bustling, over-stimulating city, as foreign a place as you can visit while remaining in Europe. Saranda and the coast, on the other hand, will become viable alternatives to Croatia and Montenegro (as soon as they solve the trash situation; there's a lot of it). Go now--Club Med bought property north of Saranda and will begin building there soon.

[Image via Hugo VT/Flickr]

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