American discovers 'Europe's most overlooked country' with £1.50 pints that 'looks like Maldives'
An American who dreamed of quitting the United States for Europe discovered a dreamy destination likened to the Maldives where pints cost as little as £1.50. Cepee Tabibian quit Texas for Spain when she was 35 years old, but it wasn't until last year that she discovered a country she says many Americans couldn't even locate on a map.
Writing in CNBC, Cepee says she had heard positive things about Albania before she decided to spend a month in the Balkan nation. Cepee spent a month in the capital, Tirana, as well as travelling the Albanian coast to 'see what the buzz was about'.
Although Cepee admits Albania may 'not be for everybody' she says it 'checks a lot of boxes' for people wanting to swap life in the States for Europe. It led her to conclude that it was one of the most 'overlooked destinations in Europe for those hoping to relocate'.
Cepee praised Albania for being affordable, picturesque, and community-minded. She wrote: 'Albania is one of the few places in Europe where you can still rent a comfortable apartment for under $500 a month, according to the women in my network. This low cost of living is one of the biggest reasons Americans are flocking there.'
She says the cost of groceries, dining out, and healthcare make the country an attractive prospect for people who want to work as digital nomads or retire to the continent. Those wanting to explore Albania can enjoy tours through the alps as well as the Adriatic Sea in the west and the Ionian in the south.
She continued: 'During my trip, I drove down the Albanian Riviera and visited Saranda, a lively seaside town with a beautiful promenade. It was September and the weather was still warm enough to swim and sunbathe, but the beaches were practically empty — a rare treat compared to places like Spain or Italy. On a clear day you can see Greece in the distance! The island of Corfu is just a 30-minute ferry ride away.
'I didn't make it to the northern mountains, but they're high on my list for next time. Remote villages, hiking trails, and gorgeous landscapes make it a dream for outdoor lovers.'
Cepee highlights Albania's tourist boom over the past decade after it was locked away under half a century of communism until 1992. She however says this means it feels 'authentically Albanian'.
Although the Albanian Riviera has seen a spike in tourism over the last few years, it is yet to become a mainstream destination for tourists. Its white beaches and turquoise waters have however drawn comparisons with the Maldives.
Travellers wanting to visit Albania can find everything from beachside resorts to quiet coves along the sprawling coastline. Dhërmi is considered one of the country's most popular tourist villages with a 3 mile-long beach, bustling nightlife and annual Kala Fest, designed to promote tourism in the area.
The beachside bars sell beers for as little as £1.50 while a room along the seafront can set travellers back as little as £25. It is however further south, in Ksamil, that has been dubbed the 'Maldives of Europe' on social media.
Beaches such as Pema e Thatë have also proven a hit with tourists thanks to their beach huts and hammocks. The huts, available to rent for less than £8, became a viral sensation on TikTok.
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Daily Record
3 hours ago
- Daily Record
Celtic globetrotters used to brutal journeys even if first world problems get lost in the shuffle
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Times
3 hours ago
- Times
My epic cross-Africa train ride to the Victoria Falls
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Metro
4 hours ago
- Metro
American tourist's £660 ‘extreme day trip' to Ireland raises a lot of questions
Have you ever flown for more than six hours, only to eat a snack and look over a cliff before heading home again? No, we've never done that either. However, a man called Kevin Droniak did just that. The American travel influencer went on a day trip to Ireland from New York, and filmed it all for Instagram. In a video breaking down the cost of his trip, Kevin revealed he paid close to $900 to spend a few hours on the Emerald Isle — with time for just one activity. After taking a direct flight to Shannon Airport in Ireland's west ($457 return), Kevin rented a car for $48 and drove to the Cliffs of Moher, one of the country's most iconic attractions. While he was there, he had a few minutes to scoff down a sandwich and a cappuccino. Having spent an undisclosed amount of time at the cliffs, he ran into trouble with a flat tire. He paid a mechanic to change the wheel, but incurred a $275 fee from the rental company because he hadn't paid for insurance. After that headache, Kevin said he headed straight back to the airport. The average flight time between New York and Shannon is around six and a half hours, which means he spent around 13 hours of the day in the air. We contacted Kevin to clarify his exact flying time and learn more about the trip, but didn't hear back. Including buying an Irish polo shirt (presumably from the airport), Kevin said he ended up spending $898 for his few hours in Ireland, which even he admits might not have been worth it. For most people, the idea of a holiday abroad involves packing a suitcase and being away for at least a weekend, if not a week or more. But for some, like Kevin, a single day is enough to fly to another country, explore, and be home in time for bed. It's part of a growing trend known as 'extreme day tripping'. Yet despite the popularity, 'EDTs' have drawn criticism over their environmental impact and lack of engagement with local economies. What is Extreme Day Tripping? While we don't have an Oxford definition of the phrase, Extreme Day Tripping generally involves travelling an extraordinary distance to a destination, only to spend no more than a day there before flying home. In practice, you wake up stupidly early, get to the airport, catch a red-eye flight (hopefully in time to get there at a reasonable time in the morning), and then pack as much into your trip as you can before catching a very late flight back again the same day. In theory, it allows you to get a very brief flavour of another country, without the cost of accommodation or taking chunks out of your annual leave. Do Extreme Day Trips benefit the host country? We asked Irish economist Jim Power about the benefits of having holidaymakers visit Ireland, even if only for a short time. 'Having visitors come to Ireland on any pretext is generally good for Ireland,' he told Metro. 'A visitor will spend a significant amount of money on food, transport, fuel, souvenirs, and so on, so it represents a significant financial investment into the important tourism sector.' However, Jim acknowledged that the economic benefits of extreme day trippers could be small. 'Over just one day, there is a limit to how much the accommodation and food services sector will benefit, and it is also the case that a visitor will not get any real idea about what Ireland or any other country is like. 'In addition, the environmental implications of flying into a country for just one day are not positive.' Jim concluded: 'Despite these reservations, the more one-day trippers that come to Ireland, the better for the valuable tourism sector. ' What about the environmental impact? A common criticism of extreme day trips is the impact they have on the environment. According to climate research, flying is now responsible for 2.4% of global greenhouse gas emissions and 8% of the UK's emissions, specifically. Campaigners have called for limits on flights taking off to address environmental concerns. Speaking to the BBC, Extreme Day Trip enthusiast and travel blogger Monica Stott acknowledged the impact the practice might be having. 'I think if it means people are taking way more flights, and airlines are putting on more flights, then I do see that as a negative impact,' she said. However, Monica went on to say: 'But a lot of people doing extreme day trips are doing it because they either can't afford to take a longer holiday or don't have time. 'I don't think it's fair to say one person's holiday is more important than another person's holiday, because they're going for longer.' What else could you do on a day trip to Ireland? Metro's Travel Editor, Alice Murphy, who was born in Dublin, had this to say about Kevin's day trip to her homeland. 'It's great to see people with large followings shouting about Ireland, but Kevin spent so little time there that he missed out on things that, in my opinion, take a visit to the Cliffs from great to exceptional. 'If he asked me to plan a trip, I'd tell him to start with coffee and a pastry at Hugo's in Lahinch, then head to the Cliffs to do the hike from Doolin to O'Brown's Tower (around 12km all in). 'Alternatively, he could do the Burren hiking trail (white is easiest). After that, I'd direct him to Clahane shore, where you can swim in the rock pools at high tide, followed by a short drive to refuel with lunch at Homestead Cottage and explore the gorgeous village of Doolin. 'If he still has room after that, cocktails and a seafood dinner at Russells is always a good choice.' Do you have a story to share?
