Have you been to the Albanian Riviera? Are you wanting to visit Saranda? Tell us your thoughts. We think taking a boat excursion is a great way to see the area!
Oh boy!!! Jay & Sarah you both have been in Albania for so long now and you have not found out yet that Albania has wonderful sandy beaches. There actually are more sandy beaches in Albania then pebble beaches (they are not gravel, but pebbles smooth small stones). Albanians prefer pebbles beaches as the water is clear and there is no sand that gets in every nook and crany. You need good water shoes to enjoy them though. It worst for overwight people. That means there is more for you to explore in Albania. So north of and including Vlore all beaches are sandy. Vlore: plazhi i ri, plazhi i vjeter. Darzeze, Divjake, Spille, Golem, Durres, Currila, Gjiri i Lalezit, Shengjin, Velipoje (Shkoder). There is also Pogradec lake (Ohri).
Ah this is great to know! Yes we know that north are more sandy, we have been there before in other trips. This is mainly just about the south riviera and mostly pebbles. Pogradec we have been to, also to Shengjin and Velipoje. Thanks for the reply and for watching! AGREED on the water shoes!!
Next time, during the warm summer monthz, try the big ships. It is more fun because there are more people, they play loud music and there is a lot of dancing and simming.
There are already a few of these boats doing trips in the evening.. . and one or two smaller ones in the day. That sort of stuff is not for us. If we were in our 20's we'd be all over that... but at our age, no thanks. I can hear the music from my apartment in Mango Beach... I can't imaging trying to talk to someone on one of those boats.
We are in Tirana right now sorry I didn’t email you. We are not far from Skanderbeg not sure where you are. We are pretty tired from the bus rides today.
Hey! I found you guys by watching "Retire Overseas with Patrick." You should make a video about yourselves. Why you decided to retire in Europe. If that is your long-term plan. Where are you staying now that you are back? How much you are paying for rent, if you are ok sharing that. Monthly cost, videos usually get a lot of views. What is your monthly budget? Once again, if you are ok sharing that info. How are you finding places to stay?
Hi thanks for coming and subscribing! We did sort of do that in one of our videos, we actually did an interview for an expat site, but good observation - we should probably do a video something like that.
At the first couple there was nothing there. Where we had lunch at sat on beach loungers there was no beach bar service but maybe in the summer months they do. You could always walk up and get one. Our group had a cooler on the boat that we offloaded when we got there. If you go down to Saranda or Ksamil yes there are beach bars. You will pay to rent your chair for the day and then pay for the drinks (unsure you may have to walk up and get them) and they will be incredibly overpriced as with any captive audience. There is actually a wide range of prices for stuff, you need to ask before. you sit down anywhere. As in 2 places within 100 feet of each other might charge double the price for the same thing and this is not just at the beach.
@@JayandSarah ok so we better double check prices. Unfortunately this happens everywhere. We much sooner your slow beach day adventure than fight over beach lounges.
If there is no posted prices or menu with prices, always ask before ordering anything. Once you know what the average local price is then you know what is reasonable. In markets for produce, there is negotiation on pricing once you have been here long enough and been to the same vendors and they realize you aren't just here for 3 nights on a holiday. That is our experience. And lots of stuff you might think you will find here, you won't at all. I spent an hour yesterday trying to find a can of baked beans. Nothing. You'd have to make your own from scratch.
In our previous two trips here, we ate lots of Byrek. This time... it's been almost 3 months... we have had Byrek twice. Primarily because our area is in the more tourist part (our accommodation) and the local Byrek places have not even been opened yet. They are starting to open now. There is just not enough local foot traffic to support that type of business without full on tourist numbers. So consequently, we don't walk into town until at least noon and by then, we have already made breakfast at home. I'd rather have a North American style breakfast anyway, or a bagel.. but for sure Byrek is pretty lower in cost. IT's tasty for sure. Not very filling unless you buy the larger ones.
Have you been to the Albanian Riviera? Are you wanting to visit Saranda? Tell us your thoughts. We think taking a boat excursion is a great way to see the area!
I'm enjoying your longer videos and your shorter ones. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks Warren!!!!
Nice way to spend the day
Completely, would do that anytime again!
Beautiful
Absolutely!!!
Oh boy!!! Jay & Sarah you both have been in Albania for so long now and you have not found out yet that Albania has wonderful sandy beaches. There actually are more sandy beaches in Albania then pebble beaches (they are not gravel, but pebbles smooth small stones). Albanians prefer pebbles beaches as the water is clear and there is no sand that gets in every nook and crany. You need good water shoes to enjoy them though. It worst for overwight people.
That means there is more for you to explore in Albania. So north of and including Vlore all beaches are sandy. Vlore: plazhi i ri, plazhi i vjeter. Darzeze, Divjake, Spille, Golem, Durres, Currila, Gjiri i Lalezit, Shengjin, Velipoje (Shkoder). There is also Pogradec lake (Ohri).
Ah this is great to know! Yes we know that north are more sandy, we have been there before in other trips. This is mainly just about the south riviera and mostly pebbles. Pogradec we have been to, also to Shengjin and Velipoje. Thanks for the reply and for watching! AGREED on the water shoes!!
@@JayandSarah I would recommend you go to Spille, between Lushnje and Durres. It has the best sand. It supposedly cures some diseases too.
Our 3 months is almost up so we will have to wait until our next visit in Albania which maybe not until later in 2025.
Albania is unique
Absolutely. It has so much charm to it.
Next time, during the warm summer monthz, try the big ships. It is more fun because there are more people, they play loud music and there is a lot of dancing and simming.
There are already a few of these boats doing trips in the evening.. . and one or two smaller ones in the day. That sort of stuff is not for us. If we were in our 20's we'd be all over that... but at our age, no thanks. I can hear the music from my apartment in Mango Beach... I can't imaging trying to talk to someone on one of those boats.
looks beautiful
We are in Tirana right now sorry I didn’t email you. We are not far from Skanderbeg not sure where you are. We are pretty tired from the bus rides today.
@@JayandSarah no worries...it's about to rain here...we will catch you next time..get some rest and have fun in montenegro
Yes we got caught in it without any rain gear. Video to follow.
Hey! I found you guys by watching "Retire Overseas with Patrick." You should make a video about yourselves. Why you decided to retire in Europe. If that is your long-term plan. Where are you staying now that you are back? How much you are paying for rent, if you are ok sharing that. Monthly cost, videos usually get a lot of views. What is your monthly budget? Once again, if you are ok sharing that info. How are you finding places to stay?
Hi thanks for coming and subscribing! We did sort of do that in one of our videos, we actually did an interview for an expat site, but good observation - we should probably do a video something like that.
Very informative once again.
Do they sell drinks at the beach?
At the first couple there was nothing there. Where we had lunch at sat on beach loungers there was no beach bar service but maybe in the summer months they do. You could always walk up and get one. Our group had a cooler on the boat that we offloaded when we got there.
If you go down to Saranda or Ksamil yes there are beach bars. You will pay to rent your chair for the day and then pay for the drinks (unsure you may have to walk up and get them) and they will be incredibly overpriced as with any captive audience.
There is actually a wide range of prices for stuff, you need to ask before. you sit down anywhere. As in 2 places within 100 feet of each other might charge double the price for the same thing and this is not just at the beach.
@@JayandSarah ok so we better double check prices. Unfortunately this happens everywhere.
We much sooner your slow beach day adventure than fight over beach lounges.
If there is no posted prices or menu with prices, always ask before ordering anything. Once you know what the average local price is then you know what is reasonable. In markets for produce, there is negotiation on pricing once you have been here long enough and been to the same vendors and they realize you aren't just here for 3 nights on a holiday. That is our experience. And lots of stuff you might think you will find here, you won't at all. I spent an hour yesterday trying to find a can of baked beans. Nothing. You'd have to make your own from scratch.
@@JayandSarah as much as I love my baked beans I don't plan on eating in any Albania. Strictly Byrek only with a milk yoghurt style drink
In our previous two trips here, we ate lots of Byrek. This time... it's been almost 3 months... we have had Byrek twice. Primarily because our area is in the more tourist part (our accommodation) and the local Byrek places have not even been opened yet. They are starting to open now. There is just not enough local foot traffic to support that type of business without full on tourist numbers. So consequently, we don't walk into town until at least noon and by then, we have already made breakfast at home. I'd rather have a North American style breakfast anyway, or a bagel.. but for sure Byrek is pretty lower in cost. IT's tasty for sure. Not very filling unless you buy the larger ones.