TLDR - What you’ll read below
What I’ve been up to in March
All you need to know about Albania (Not interested in Albania? How about this instead?)
Become a packing pro with my favourite accessory
What’s new this month
Hello travellers!
I’ve done this strange thing called “staying in one country” for the last month.
It has been the burning season in Chiang Mai which has meant poor air quality and a lack of visibility. I first noticed how bad it was when I realised I couldn’t see the mountains when I left my apartment, but instead got a lot of haze!
Before I came to Chiang Mai, all I had heard was how bad the burning season was and it’s why everybody leaves.
After living through it, I can say it hasn’t been that bad, with only a few days of the month have extremely bad air quality.
I’ve also had my first couple of lessons in Muy Thai.
My first time at Muy Thai!
As someone that has never tried a contact sport before, it has been nice to try something totally new and wayyy outside my comfort zone!
And I’ve loved it!
I’m not saying I will be competing any time soon but I have enjoyed it enough to make it a semi regular hobby.
But now onto the proper travelling…
Topic of the month
Albania is the country that has surprised me most on my travels.
I loved it so much, I even considered buying a house there!
I didn’t (in case you couldn’t tell with all the travelling…), but it is a country I absolutely loved and have been back to a few times now.
I’m not going to call it a “hidden gem” or “the last unheard of country in Europe” as I think the secret is now well and truly out of the bag.
Tourism has exploded, from admittedly low levels, since the pandemic and is becoming a popular summer sun destination for Europeans.
Although many people go there, the tourists sites aren’t well known.
If you’re considering going (and you should!), these are my highlights
Tirana - the capital has a mix of communist past and an EU looking future. With BunkArt showing era of dictatorship to Blloku with its modern cafe and bar scene, it is a city of contrasts. It also contains this quirky structure that has recently been modernised.
Ksamil - called the Maldives of Europe for its crystal clear water. Is it extremely expensive in summer? Yes. Is it breathtakingly beautiful? Also yes.
Berat - “The City of 1000 Windows” has a quiet pace, mosques and churches and the label of a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is the perfect place to visit on a day trip. As you can see below, it also has some good hiking and viewpoints.
Overlooking the town of Berat
Valbona to Theth - a great hike over mountains that rival the Alps.
Gjirokaster - The Stone City that holds Ottoman townhouses, a 12th Century Castle and is known as the birthplace of dictator Enver Hoxha.
Vlora - a place where I spent a month to relax in a nice city on the shores of the Adriatic Sea.
Saranda - A beach town that has it all, with cruise ships docking in the port, a party scene on the beaches and the Blue Eye in nature. It’s also home to this incredible seafood restaurant right on the beach.
This is Butrint National Park, a perfect day trip from Saranda
And I haven’t even mentioned Himarë, Dhërmi, Shkodër, Korçë, Durrës and a bunch of other places that I haven’t yet been to in Albania but I will have to add to the list for next time.
If you’re looking for somewhere similar to Croatia and Greece, but without the tourist crowds and party scene, Albania is the place for you.
April and May are great times to visit if you’re looking for a last minute get away, or wait until September to avoid the worst of the crowds in July and August.
Did you know this is also Albania?
Deal of the month
When I first started travelling, I never used packing cubes. I thought it was just extra weight for no reason.
But a couple of years ago, after speaking to many experienced travellers, I decided to take the plunge and buy some.
And I can’t believe I didn’t do it sooner!
They are so useful and makes packing a lot easier.
I find them especially helpful when packing light as it means I can have underwear in one cube and other clothing in another and it makes it a dream to pack and unpack and to stay organised.
I’ve used these Osprey ones for a number of years now, but somehow, I’ve managed to lose two of them!
I know I lost one in Kyrgyzstan and I honestly have no idea where the other is.
I’ll be buying a new set this month and I hope you do too!
The companies I use:
🏨For the widest range of accommodation, I use Booking.com to book my hotels, hostels and guesthouses.
🎒This is the backpack I use that has taken me all over the world.
📶Get data on the go with an eSIM from Airalo.
🏥For travel insurance, I use Safety Wing. Get $20 off your first policy with this link.
🚙Renting a car when travelling? Find the best options with DiscoverCars.
🚶🏻♂️Want more in depth info on the road? Join a tour run by locals with GetYourGuide.
✈️Relax before you set off with hundreds of airport lounges worldwide with Priority Pass.
💲I use Wise to send money abroad. Really easy and a lot cheaper than the bank! Give it a try with a fee-free transfer of up to 500 GBP.
Keep travelling and look forward to next month when I’ll be talking about a region of the world that few travellers make it to, and even fewer spend a substantial amount of time there: Central Asia.
Safe travels,
Dan