We will be travelling to Albania late June/early July this year. We have just booked a flight to Tirana and would prefer travelling with a rented car sticking mainly to the costal areas.
Having read the warnings about hazardous driving and bad road conditions in Albania we are wondering
-if it is possible for foreign tourists (at all) and
-where (close to the airport) to hire a car?
-are driving conditions really so bad that it is almost impossible for foreigners to drive? – Two years ago we stayed in the Ulcinj area in Montenegro close to the Albanian border, how much worse would you say are driving conditions in Albania?
In addition, we read about heavy environmental pollution throughout the country....
-are the beaches heavily polluted?
-is it possible to swim in the sea?
Thank you very much for your answers, it is highly appreciated!
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It%26#39;s not as tragic as that!
If you ever drove in Southern Italy, expect something of the kind... Chaotic driving and surprises but if you do not drive as in a German Highway you will be quite safe..
contact@albaniantrip.com and they could probably arrange the hole thing for the car and more...
The air is polluted in Tirana, in certain parts of the town specially but the rest of the country is quite ok... There%26#39;s plastic and urban pollution in some parts of the beaches, but you can certainly swim in the sea... The period you have chosen to travel is not yet the highest peak so it will be ok swiming everywhere...
And this country is very very interesting and different from what you%26#39;re used to randomly visit in Europe...
Have fun!
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Thank you very much, now we are not that worried any more ;-)
The link about the car rental looks very promising, we will check it out (since Europcar, Hertz and Sixt seem quite overpriced in Albania, right?!). Great help, thank you!!
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Yes it%26#39;s possible.
There are car rental kiosks in the airport immediately after you exit customs. Cars are very expensive (100 Euro per day or more)
Road conditions range from OK to %26quot;you got to be joking!%26quot; The biggest problem is lack of experience and concern for other by many Albanian drivers. Poorly maintained cars, drinking, and hot mediterranean blood makes for a lively drive. If you have driven in Naples, you can make it here but you do need to take care. Every day the road infrastructure gets better but there is still a long way to go before the Germans get jealous!
There is pollution in the sea, primarily around Durres in summer. Having said that, I have been in the sea there at all times of year and have had no problems (yet). At the more remote beaches, it is much better, particularly as you head south along the Ionian.
Good luck. If you have other questions, e-mail me at sksintirana@hotmail.com
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