Wow! I’ve never thought of Albania as a travel destination. Seems like a lovely place. It’s amazing given how short of a time since the end of communism. Did you try to use Google translate for the menus?
We use Google Translate all the time...it's really helpful, especially in places like Albania where a smaller proportion of people speak English. Although if you speak Italian, I think you'd get pretty far in Tirana! It seemed to be a common second language.
Go as soon as you can. I went from the UK, $90 round trip!! It’s safe and interesting,easy to get around the country. Nearby, North Macedonia and Montenegro are worth a visit.
Fantastic!! The reward for going where the nomadic tribe isn’t to discover that there are people and great food in every city is one of the messages in your video. The value that one gets for one’s money is so gratifying, as it ensures that the journey can continue indefinitely, that one can always return to balance out the annual budget if one needs to with some low-cost/HIGH-value options, and that you were right...there are deals EVERYWHERE if you’re just willing to go where the demand for a particular place hasn’t skewed the price in the seller’s/service-providers favor. Lastly, places like Tirana remind one of how unnecessarily expensive some places are that are providing a much lower-value experience. Thank you for sharing. I enjoy you both and your reports because I totally trust you and your honesty and competency with the numbers. This is crucial: unless one is forced by a profession or is inclined by temperament to report precise and accurate numbers, we sadly overestimate our ability to do so accurately. This is one main difference between you and SO many vloggers. I think it’s an advantage worth considering with regard to promoting your channel for what it is: accurate numbers of free travelers who like the good life but are not open to being fools with their money which they trade with people who might share their level of financial competency. Buying and selling at the right price is fun. You both look great and happy. The absence of stress, the presence of good food and exercise is adding years to your life. Wishing you both safety and fun!!!
Thanks so much -- we really appreciate your comments each week. It's so gratifying to make videos when we know that they provide value to fellow adventurers! We do love our numbers so we always try to be as accurate as possible! 😂
That seems like a great bargain! You did really well. Have you ever liked a place so much that you asked to stay for another month? I could see us doing that. : )
We have extended a couple times when we found a really nice spot. However, it was usually during the off season when our hosts had no other pending bookings.
We also thought the international food scene was quite interesting,. Our impression is that many locals gain work experience overseas and then bring back new flavours to the capital city.
Wow! that was very budget-friendly. All those restaurant meals looked fabulous and there seems to be quite a bit of natural space around the city. Perfect place in my opinion.The airBnB looked awesome :)
I wouldn't want to give the wrong impression about the natural space. The Grand Park is certainly a large and wonderful place to spend time but otherwise the city centre doesn't have a lot of parks. But the trees on the busy streets sure are nice.
@@OurFreedomYears I think the fact that the mountains are nearby gives that sense of more natural space even if the city doesn't have it in large amounts.
@@cyclingonplants7444 That is a very nice aspect of Tirana...beautiful nature is only a short drive away. In fact we're going on a road trip in our next video!
Tirana looks pretty nice. I went to Shkodër for the day from Montenegro and it was a bit of a dump tbh. It was very polluted and had a dodgy vibe too; it wasn't somewhere I'd want to stay. Tirana looks far better! Loving your travels and videos; they're so useful to me. The one thing that would be additionally useful is a report on the wifi speeds. I recently went nomadic and I work online for myself so the strength and speed has to be pretty good. I know you guys are retired but I'm guessing the speeds in the places you visit must be okay or you wouldn't be able to edit and upload your videos? Thank you both again for providing such value. I really look forward to your videos.
So sweet - thank you so much! Generally the wifi speeds have been pretty decent in all the cities we've visited...although sometimes it does take quite a while for a video to upload. Tirana is quite a bit larger than Shkoder and certainly offers lots more in terms of sights, restaurants and shopping. Definitely worth your time to check out if you're planning a return trip to Albania.
@@OurFreedomYears actually, I've just seen that Airbnb released a new update yesterday where they verify the wifi speed - handy! ruclips.net/video/HCjWjmOhQms/видео.html
What an absolute bargin! Well done ladies, all of your research and planning has really paid off, and yes your airbnb was worth it! Excited to see where you go next 😁
This is my second year teaching and living in Tirana (originally from Texas.) I love love love watching this beautiful country get more attention! I see vloggers around the square and smile:) If you come back to Albania you need to travel around Albabia, there's some incredible beaches south and some stunning mountains up north. Again all super well priced. Our ocean front airb&b in Sarande was like 22£ a night.
How wonderful that you're making a home away from home in this beautiful country! We've really been enjoying our time in Albania. We've made our way down to Sarande now and will be enjoying the next month here. 😊
I went to Sranade with some friends over Spring Break!!! Its my favorite place so far!! Very jealous you guys are spending a whole month there!!! Definitely go to Ksamil Beach. It'll likely be abandoned and you will have the whole white sand blue water beach to yourself like we did over spring break. And you'll wonder why we ever spent time going go to crowded, expensive beaches 🤣🤣
@@fbsoul1 Përshëndetje! Means hello in Albanian. I don't think they speak much English there, but it doesn't take long to learn a few words to get by. Maybe two or three months of looking at RUclips. There are a lot of good videos to teach you Albanian.
Thanks. Really enjoyed the video. What did you do for phones? Do you change your SIM card (and number) every time you change country? Also what is your insurance for your travels in Europe?
Great to hear that you enjoyed the video! Here's our blog post with all the details about our data plan ourfreedomyears.com/logistics-of-our-life-on-the-road/ Also, here is what we do for health insurance bit.ly/3hWbnFL
If you stay for a year, Tirana is full of very, very nice apartments for $400. The $800 to feed two people is very high. My wife and I usually spend abouat half that. I'm not sure where they spent their time, but Albania has five years of compulsory English, so in Blloku/Stadium/DT you almost never run into waiters, shop clerks, etc. who don't speak English. I've had much more language problems almost everywhere I have gone. BTW, Blloku is full of toursists. lastly, shopping will blow you away. It isn't Milan, but it is MUCH better than the other Eastern European cities.
Thanks for sharing all these great tips! Of course, we always spend more than average for our apartments because we're renting short term on Airbnb. And we ate a lot of meals out while we were there so it really drove up the cost of food -- but so worth it!
You must have been here during high season, we have been here for 3 months & pay for a brand new apartment $ 450.00 euro monthly includes TV & High Speed internet.
No, I rented a room for two days, talked to locals and found the apartment I am now renting. I did discover when I arrived in August that it was still High Season.
What an excellent deal -- you did a great job landing that apartment! We always end up paying much more than the local rate with our short term Airbnb rentals. However we still enjoy traveling too much to stay in one place longer than a month.
Yes, we always end up paying much more than the local rate when we rent short term from Airbnb. But it was worth it to spend time in this wonderful city! 😊
It's a lot of extra work to travel with them but totally worthwhile. Nothing like having some downtime with a couple pups after a long day of sightseeing!
Thanks for promoting Albania! It doesn't get much attention,and I don't feel that most people realize that it's a great place to visit,and also a really great value! Great job! 👍👍
Hi there folks, thanks for a great video, do you mind providing a link to that airbnb apartment, planning a trip March 2022 from California, thanks again
Also, do you have a post on the equipment you use? I couldn't see a video. Your videos are filmed really well and the sound level is great. Are you able to share what camera, mic and editing platform you use to make them so professional-looking? And is this equipment heavy?! And thank you for continually answering all of my questions; it really is appreciated!
That's so nice to hear! We do it all with very basic equipment, including using iMovie that comes free on a Mac! Here's a free download of all our packing that includes our tech gear. bit.ly/3jrW7Cu We also shared it in our recent packing video bit.ly/2YNkYuA
Looks like you had a great experience! Would love to hear you talk about how you approach situations where no English is spoken, whether it be a restaurant, grocery, public transit or whatever..
We really rely on Google Translate to get by, especially here in Albania where fewer people speak English. Often we will type out a request in English and then show the Albanian translation -- or say if ourselves if we're feeling confident about the pronunciation! 😂
And that's a wrap on Tirana! Are you surprised by how little we spent? What's your favourite budget-friendly destination?
Incredible value in a beautiful, interesting city.
It really is! 😊
GREAT VIDEO!!! THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!
You're so welcome! 😊
Really enjoyed seeing what you did for a month and how much it cost. I think you got a bargain!
We were feeling pretty good about the final price! Let's see if the southern coast of Albania is just as inexpensive. 😊
Wow! I’ve never thought of Albania as a travel destination. Seems like a lovely place. It’s amazing given how short of a time since the end of communism. Did you try to use Google translate for the menus?
This is how my students who didn't speak much English would handle paperwork--it seemed to work decently!
We use Google Translate all the time...it's really helpful, especially in places like Albania where a smaller proportion of people speak English. Although if you speak Italian, I think you'd get pretty far in Tirana! It seemed to be a common second language.
Go as soon as you can.
I went from the UK, $90 round trip!!
It’s safe and interesting,easy to get around the country.
Nearby, North Macedonia and Montenegro are worth a visit.
Very cool! Awesome share today. Thank you👊👍😎
Glad you enjoyed it! Tirana was definitely a fun city to visit. 😊
Fantastic!! The reward for going where the nomadic tribe isn’t to discover that there are people and great food in every city is one of the messages in your video. The value that one gets for one’s money is so gratifying, as it ensures that the journey can continue indefinitely, that one can always return to balance out the annual budget if one needs to with some low-cost/HIGH-value options, and that you were right...there are deals EVERYWHERE if you’re just willing to go where the demand for a particular place hasn’t skewed the price in the seller’s/service-providers favor. Lastly, places like Tirana remind one of how unnecessarily expensive some places are that are providing a much lower-value experience. Thank you for sharing. I enjoy you both and your reports because I totally trust you and your honesty and competency with the numbers. This is crucial: unless one is forced by a profession or is inclined by temperament to report precise and accurate numbers, we sadly overestimate our ability to do so accurately. This is one main difference between you and SO many vloggers. I think it’s an advantage worth considering with regard to promoting your channel for what it is: accurate numbers of free travelers who like the good life but are not open to being fools with their money which they trade with people who might share their level of financial competency. Buying and selling at the right price is fun. You both look great and happy. The absence of stress, the presence of good food and exercise is adding years to your life. Wishing you both safety and fun!!!
Thanks so much -- we really appreciate your comments each week. It's so gratifying to make videos when we know that they provide value to fellow adventurers! We do love our numbers so we always try to be as accurate as possible! 😂
I'm with you, Stephanie--I'm TERRIFIED of heights. I wouldn't even get in to the cable car. You're brave!
Me too. So much so, I am more comfortable sitting than standing.
It was a tough 20 minutes or so...especially when the car stopped for a bit and we just dangled over the abyss!!
Looks like a beautiful city.
Yes, there are some very charming sections of the city to discover!
I am albanian from Tirana its a mess..
That seems like a great bargain! You did really well. Have you ever liked a place so much that you asked to stay for another month? I could see us doing that. : )
We have extended a couple times when we found a really nice spot. However, it was usually during the off season when our hosts had no other pending bookings.
What a delightful video! I appreciate all the hard work that went into creating it. Thank you both.
So glad to hear you enjoyed it! Hopefully you've caught up with our latest videos from central Europe... bit.ly/44sCUr3
What a beautiful couple visiting my country, enjoy guys.
Thank you for the warm welcome! We love Albania.
Welcome to Albania ❤🖤🇦🇱🇦🇱🇦🇱🇦🇱🇦🇱🇦🇱🇦🇱🇦🇱🇦🇱🇦🇱💪💪💪🤗🤗
Thank you! Such a beautiful country. 😊
That was an incredible tour and I was shocked at how little you spent! It is interesting that do much of the food was international.
We also thought the international food scene was quite interesting,. Our impression is that many locals gain work experience overseas and then bring back new flavours to the capital city.
What a great month! I’m wondering if you were tempted to stay longer after finding such a perfect AirBNB?
It was really nice but we're even more excited about our next apartment on the Albanian Riviera! More on that in a couple weeks. 😊
Wow! that was very budget-friendly. All those restaurant meals looked fabulous and there seems to be quite a bit of natural space around the city. Perfect place in my opinion.The airBnB looked awesome :)
I wouldn't want to give the wrong impression about the natural space. The Grand Park is certainly a large and wonderful place to spend time but otherwise the city centre doesn't have a lot of parks. But the trees on the busy streets sure are nice.
@@OurFreedomYears I think the fact that the mountains are nearby gives that sense of more natural space even if the city doesn't have it in large amounts.
@@cyclingonplants7444 That is a very nice aspect of Tirana...beautiful nature is only a short drive away. In fact we're going on a road trip in our next video!
Tirana looks pretty nice. I went to Shkodër for the day from Montenegro and it was a bit of a dump tbh. It was very polluted and had a dodgy vibe too; it wasn't somewhere I'd want to stay. Tirana looks far better!
Loving your travels and videos; they're so useful to me. The one thing that would be additionally useful is a report on the wifi speeds. I recently went nomadic and I work online for myself so the strength and speed has to be pretty good. I know you guys are retired but I'm guessing the speeds in the places you visit must be okay or you wouldn't be able to edit and upload your videos?
Thank you both again for providing such value. I really look forward to your videos.
So sweet - thank you so much! Generally the wifi speeds have been pretty decent in all the cities we've visited...although sometimes it does take quite a while for a video to upload. Tirana is quite a bit larger than Shkoder and certainly offers lots more in terms of sights, restaurants and shopping. Definitely worth your time to check out if you're planning a return trip to Albania.
@@OurFreedomYears actually, I've just seen that Airbnb released a new update yesterday where they verify the wifi speed - handy!
ruclips.net/video/HCjWjmOhQms/видео.html
Very cute as always ❤️
So nice - thank you!! 😊
What an absolute bargin! Well done ladies, all of your research and planning has really paid off, and yes your airbnb was worth it! Excited to see where you go next 😁
Up next...we take a little detour at a charming guest house in central Albania and then we're heading to the Albanian Riviera to enjoy the sunshine!
@@OurFreedomYears Now that sounds very enjoyable....love your channel ❤
This is my second year teaching and living in Tirana (originally from Texas.) I love love love watching this beautiful country get more attention! I see vloggers around the square and smile:) If you come back to Albania you need to travel around Albabia, there's some incredible beaches south and some stunning mountains up north. Again all super well priced. Our ocean front airb&b in Sarande was like 22£ a night.
How wonderful that you're making a home away from home in this beautiful country! We've really been enjoying our time in Albania. We've made our way down to Sarande now and will be enjoying the next month here. 😊
I went to Sranade with some friends over Spring Break!!! Its my favorite place so far!! Very jealous you guys are spending a whole month there!!! Definitely go to Ksamil Beach. It'll likely be abandoned and you will have the whole white sand blue water beach to yourself like we did over spring break. And you'll wonder why we ever spent time going go to crowded, expensive beaches 🤣🤣
Hi Dear Marlie, small world , I am an Arab American from Frisco, TX. Is it hard to learn the local language? can one get by with English ?
@@fbsoul1 Përshëndetje! Means hello in Albanian.
I don't think they speak much English there, but it doesn't take long to learn a few words to get by. Maybe two or three months of looking at RUclips. There are a lot of good videos to teach you Albanian.
Where is the cooler climate there? The mountains?
Thanks. Really enjoyed the video. What did you do for phones? Do you change your SIM card (and number) every time you change country? Also what is your insurance for your travels in Europe?
Great to hear that you enjoyed the video! Here's our blog post with all the details about our data plan ourfreedomyears.com/logistics-of-our-life-on-the-road/ Also, here is what we do for health insurance bit.ly/3hWbnFL
Përshëndetje!
My friend at work say "Përshëndetje"
for hello at work. I would like to visit Albania someday.
Miropafshim.
It's a beautiful country! Hopefully you have a chance to visit.
If you stay for a year, Tirana is full of very, very nice apartments for $400. The $800 to feed two people is very high. My wife and I usually spend abouat half that. I'm not sure where they spent their time, but Albania has five years of compulsory English, so in Blloku/Stadium/DT you almost never run into waiters, shop clerks, etc. who don't speak English. I've had much more language problems almost everywhere I have gone. BTW, Blloku is full of toursists. lastly, shopping will blow you away. It isn't Milan, but it is MUCH better than the other Eastern European cities.
Thanks for sharing all these great tips! Of course, we always spend more than average for our apartments because we're renting short term on Airbnb. And we ate a lot of meals out while we were there so it really drove up the cost of food -- but so worth it!
You must have been here during high season, we have been here for 3 months & pay for a brand new apartment $ 450.00 euro monthly includes TV & High Speed internet.
Did you rent it from Airbnb?
No, I rented a room for two days, talked to locals and found the apartment I am now renting. I did discover when I arrived in August that it was still High Season.
I forgot to mention I am in the heart of the city, within walking distance from everything.
What an excellent deal -- you did a great job landing that apartment! We always end up paying much more than the local rate with our short term Airbnb rentals. However we still enjoy traveling too much to stay in one place longer than a month.
@@OurFreedomYears Airbnb is always high. Even for one month best to stay one or two nights in an inexpensive hotel and talk to locals.
"Super creepy abandoned hotel" made me burst out laughing! Looking forward to seeing videos from the coast.
It was even creepier in person! But the rest of the hike was lovely. 😊
Albania it’s a great nation to retire I guess how much day per year are full of sun ? Every time visited I see just sun in Albania 🎉❤
It's a beautiful country! 😊
Your cable car ride totally reminded us of the one in Medellín, Colombia, minus the sketchy hotel at the end!
Hopefully we'll get to Medellin one day so we can check it out for ourselves. Although I may have some trouble convincing Stephanie 😂
The price for the arbinb is really really high for Albanian and in general Balkan standard and yes Tirana is amazing!
Yes, we always end up paying much more than the local rate when we rent short term from Airbnb. But it was worth it to spend time in this wonderful city! 😊
So one thousand dollars for one person should about cover everything. 👍
It's possible!
It must be so nice to have your dogs with you. I love seeing them!
It's a lot of extra work to travel with them but totally worthwhile. Nothing like having some downtime with a couple pups after a long day of sightseeing!
Can you link me to that AIRBNB?
You can get our cheat sheet for Tirana bit.ly/3BOX9kg
🇸🇪🇸🇪🇸🇪🇸🇪🇸🇪🇸🇪🇸🇪❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
😊😊😊
Thanks for promoting Albania! It doesn't get much attention,and I don't feel that most people realize that it's a great place to visit,and also a really great value! Great job! 👍👍
So glad to hear you enjoyed the video! We had an amazing time in Albania -- it's a beautiful country.
Bravo bellissimo video.
Thank you so much - glad you enjoyed it! 😊
Hi there folks, thanks for a great video, do you mind providing a link to that airbnb apartment, planning a trip March 2022 from California, thanks again
How fun! Here's a cheat sheet with our apartment and all the places we enjoyed the most bit.ly/3BOX9kg
Is the cost for 1 or 2 pax for the monthly budget review, thank you
Our budgets are always for two people 😊
Also, do you have a post on the equipment you use? I couldn't see a video.
Your videos are filmed really well and the sound level is great. Are you able to share what camera, mic and editing platform you use to make them so professional-looking? And is this equipment heavy?!
And thank you for continually answering all of my questions; it really is appreciated!
That's so nice to hear! We do it all with very basic equipment, including using iMovie that comes free on a Mac! Here's a free download of all our packing that includes our tech gear. bit.ly/3jrW7Cu We also shared it in our recent packing video bit.ly/2YNkYuA
@@OurFreedomYears thank you very much. I never miss one of your videos; they're so interesting.
@@thevahandbook So kind - thanks so much!
Looks like you had a great experience! Would love to hear you talk about how you approach situations where no English is spoken, whether it be a restaurant, grocery, public transit or whatever..
We really rely on Google Translate to get by, especially here in Albania where fewer people speak English. Often we will type out a request in English and then show the Albanian translation -- or say if ourselves if we're feeling confident about the pronunciation! 😂
Most young people in the world speak English. It’s required in most schools now.