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Albania (Bradt Travel Guide) Paperback – May 7, 2018

by Gillian Gloyer (Author)
4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 178 ratings
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This new, thoroughly updated sixth edition of Bradt's Albania remains the only standalone guide to this dynamic and rapidly modernising eastern European country, from the capital, Tirana, a lively European city, with shopping malls, cycle paths, museums, galleries and historic buildings, to remote outposts where traditional ways of life prevail. Updated by expert author Gillian Gloyer, it includes all developments since the last edition, reflecting changes such as continued investment in the road network and construction of fast highways connecting main cities, improved hotel provision and new museums dedicated to Albania's communist history.

Despite such modernisation, Albania is one of very few European countries where it is still possible to immerse yourself in traditional lifestyles and culture, and Bradt's Albania provides details of where to experience this for yourself. In highland villages, people tend their livestock and gather their crops with little or no mechanisation; they milk their cows and goats by hand, they make their own cheese and bread, they distil home-made spirits from local fruits and berries. In addition, many villagers have opened up their traditional homes as guest-houses, offering a wonderful opportunity to experience their culture first-hand.

Bradt's Albania also includes details of watching the country's rare wildlife, such as wildcats, lynx, wolves and bears, and of visiting its three World Heritage Sites: the archaeological site and national park of Butrint and the Ottoman cities of Berati and Gjirokastra. Iso-polyphony, the traditional music of the south-west, is also listed as part of World Heritage by UNESCO.

With rigorously researched historical and archaeological background information, detailed notes on popular and less well-known hiking routes and other outdoor activities, specialist contributors on wildlife, military history and other topics, and an unparalleled wealth of practical advice for the independent traveller, Bradt's Albania is the ideal companion for discovering this intriguing country.
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  1. Print length
    304 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Bradt Travel Guides
  4. Publication date
    May 7, 2018
  5. Dimensions
    5.51 x 0.62 x 8.7 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    1784770787
  7. ISBN-13
    978-1784770785
  8. See all details
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Albania (Bradt Travel Guide)
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About the Author

Gillian Gloyer studied ancient languages at Wadham College, Oxford. After university, she spent most of her professional career overseas, working in Spain, Chile, Belgium and Bosnia before finding herself, slightly by accident, in Albania. She lived in Tirana for four years, directing a long-term, multi-party training programme. Her training schedule took her all over the country and gave her the chance to discover Albania's astonishingly rich history and culture, then almost unknown outside the country. She learned the language and now speaks it well. Gillian is now based in Edinburgh, but she visits Albania at least once a year, for both work and pleasure. She leads tour-groups to the country for several UK-based tour operators. She is a keen hillwalker and enjoys hiking in Albania's wildernesses.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Bradt Travel Guides; Sixth edition (May 7, 2018)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 304 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1784770787
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1784770785
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 11.2 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.51 x 0.62 x 8.7 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 178 ratings

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Customer reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars
178 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book provides excellent information on a country not often visited. They appreciate the clear writing style and helpful descriptions of sights and places to visit. The book covers both budget and upmarket hotels, providing value for money.

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Information qualityWriting styleValue for money
22 customers mention "Information quality"18 positive4 negative

Customers find the book an excellent source of information for planning their trip. They find it comprehensive and helpful, providing background on culture and history. The descriptions of sights and places to visit are useful, as are the maps. However, some readers feel the practical information is lacking.

"...and it's quite a gift to Albania to have such an honest and worthwhile travel guide available in English." Read more

"...favorably with other source information and sometimes was more comprehensive. It is a must for anyone planning a trip to Albania...." Read more

"...Description of sights and places to visit are very helpful as are the maps of the individual regions. Great pictures to tweek your interest." Read more

"...I thought it had a good overview of everything about Albania including history. It was a little more than just a guide book...." Read more

5 customers mention "Writing style"5 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the writing style of the book. They find the descriptions of sights and places to visit helpful, as well as the maps and pictures that pique their interest. However, some reviewers feel the guidebook is poorly written and lacks personal touch.

"...Her writing style is well beyond the norm for travel guides, without a hint of the Weltschmerz that afflicts so many travel writers...." Read more

"...to Albania alone, and it offers a good coverage of the places and things to see, fairly up to date details of transport and accomodation options,..." Read more

"...Description of sights and places to visit are very helpful as are the maps of the individual regions. Great pictures to tweek your interest." Read more

"Terribly written guidebook..." Read more

3 customers mention "Value for money"3 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the book's coverage of budget and upmarket places to stay. They find it helpful for finding hotels worth booking, what to see in the area, and great food and beer.

"...tips on how to get through the airport without hassles, which hotels are worth booking, and what to see in just about every part of Albania a..." Read more

"...It is also fairly balanced in covering both budget and upmarket places to stay, something other books often fail at...." Read more

"...Food and beer great and at a great place! Bakeries also quality!" Read more

Good Guide to an Overlooked Country
5 out of 5 stars
Good Guide to an Overlooked Country
Albania is one of those small countries that most Americans couldn't locate on a map. It's out of the way and therefore not overrun with tourists. And most people there like Americans. This small guide will help you a lot, especially if you're on your own.
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Top reviews from the United States

  • AntonSk
    5.0 out of 5 stars Indispensable guidebook for Albania
    Reviewed in the United States on March 5, 2005
    Verified Purchase
    Gloyer's book inspired my trip to Albania, and it was useful every step of the way.

    She offers tips on how to get through the airport without hassles, which hotels are worth booking, and what to see in just about every part of Albania a tourist might go to. Her writing style is well beyond the norm for travel guides, without a hint of the Weltschmerz that afflicts so many travel writers. She has a sly sense of humor, and will even boldly tell you to avoid a hotel run by the local mafia. Also, there aren't many travel guides that include tips on how to help alleviate poverty and suffering in the country being visited, but Ms Gloyer thoughtfully includes such information. She obviously loves the country and is very fond of its people, and it's quite a gift to Albania to have such an honest and worthwhile travel guide available in English.
    24 people found this helpful
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  • Laszlo Wagner
    4.0 out of 5 stars The Only Practical Guide to Albania!
    Reviewed in the United States on September 3, 2006
    Verified Purchase
    If you want to travel around Albania and do more than just hit the few most visited highlights, this is no doubt the book to take.

    It is the only English-language guide devoted to Albania alone, and it offers a good coverage of the places and things to see, fairly up to date details of transport and accomodation options, decent maps of both regions and individual towns or cities, as well as well-written background information on culture and history. All the stuff you would expect from good practical guidebooks like the better-known Lonely Planet series (whose coverage of Albania is dismal!).

    It is also fairly balanced in covering both budget and upmarket places to stay, something other books often fail at.

    So why only 4 stars?

    Well, some of the maps would need to be more accurate - they sometimes showed places on the wrong street or corner. Also, in a few cases, practical details were missing, with the existence of accomodation being mentioned, but not the usual details on how much it cost. Same goes for transport info.

    Finally, and most mystifyingly, the author has chosen to use non-standard place names ("definite", conjugated forms) even though she herself admits this form is not what you will see in Albania on maps, destination signs of buses or road-signs!

    However these shortcomings are well outweighed by all the useful info in the book. If you are planning to tour this little-visited country independently, don't leave home without a copy!
    19 people found this helpful
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  • Paula Ruth
    5.0 out of 5 stars A must, even if you hire a guide
    Reviewed in the United States on February 10, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    We found this guide to be an excellent source of information, even though we hired a professional native guide to drive us. It sometimes had better directions than what the locals knew though road conditions in Albania may be in various states of repair that do not always agree with the book or even last week's local knowledge because of the seismic activity. The historical information compared favorably with other source information and sometimes was more comprehensive. It is a must for anyone planning a trip to Albania. The guide could be improved by offering best places to take a photo and the availability of rest rooms at a given site or good nearby alternatives as several had nothing for miles.
    Helpful
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  • Thomas H. Fields
    5.0 out of 5 stars Good Guide to an Overlooked Country
    Reviewed in the United States on January 10, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    Albania is one of those small countries that most Americans couldn't locate on a map. It's out of the way and therefore not overrun with tourists. And most people there like Americans. This small guide will help you a lot, especially if you're on your own.
    Customer image
    Thomas H. Fields
    5.0 out of 5 stars
    Good Guide to an Overlooked Country

    Reviewed in the United States on January 10, 2023
    Albania is one of those small countries that most Americans couldn't locate on a map. It's out of the way and therefore not overrun with tourists. And most people there like Americans. This small guide will help you a lot, especially if you're on your own.
    Images in this review
    Customer image
    Helpful
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  • tally
    3.0 out of 5 stars Very shallow
    Reviewed in the United States on December 25, 2012
    Verified Purchase
    I have only been to the north hiking. there is not enough information, definitely not for hiking lovers. It lacks hiking descriptions, and whole areas are missing. worst bradet book I've used.
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  • Andrei Lozzi
    4.0 out of 5 stars very informative
    Reviewed in the United States on September 26, 2010
    Verified Purchase
    We lived in Albania for a few years from before the war to some years after it.
    We developed a love hate for the country and its people. In hindsight the hate was largely engendered by the dicatorship that a communist system readily allows to exist. Some of the tribal behaviour of the people was and still is, hard to accept.
    I am impressed that someone went to the trouble to become so familiar with Albania as a whole, and had sufficient heart to accept it warts and roses. Albania has had a bad image for a very long time and spoken badly of even from by its expatriates.
    It was therefore quite a pleasure to read Ms Gloyer's surprisingly comprehensive travel guide.
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  • Nelson Helm
    5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent source of info.
    Reviewed in the United States on December 23, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    This book offers excellent information on a country not often visited. Description of sights and places to visit are very helpful as are the maps of the individual regions. Great pictures to tweek your interest.
    Helpful
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  • RICK
    5.0 out of 5 stars Good Overview of Albania
    Reviewed in the United States on July 29, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    This is the only guide I could find just on Albania. I thought it had a good overview of everything about Albania including history. It was a little more than just a guide book. Overall I was very happy with this book.
    One person found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

Translate all reviews to English
  • ムスリムのラマダン
    4.0 out of 5 stars アルバニアに関する最も詳しいガイドブック
    Reviewed in Japan on November 3, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    収載市街図数も多い。
    弱点は都市間移動（長距離バス）情報。
    バスが2都市直結なのか、各都市で客扱いをするのか、明記していない。
    所要時間も、ネット情報より古い（長い）。
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  • Jun
    5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent compagnon de voyage
    Reviewed in France on May 22, 2016
    Verified Purchase
    Excellent guide pour vous accompagner dans ce pays magnifique. Le Petit Fûté est insuffisant pour vraiment découvrir le pays et aucun autre grand guide ne s'y intéresse. Comme souvent dans des situations de ce type la maison Bradt nous tire d'affaire !
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  • gicesu
    5.0 out of 5 stars Unica nel suo genere
    Reviewed in Italy on May 25, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    E' stato molto difficile trovare una guida sull'Albania e questa è l'unica, oltre il piccolo inserto su quella dei Balcani occidentali della Lonely Planet, che ho trovato.
    Sarebbe bello facessero anche la versione italiana
    Report
  • Ricardo Fahrig
    5.0 out of 5 stars Bester Reiseführer für Albanian / Best guidebook for Albania
    Reviewed in Germany on November 16, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    Working as a tour operator in Albania we use this book as initial training for our guides and I can only highly recommend the Bradt Travel Guide! Even though not complete it is quite extensive and provides good leads for further research without making the mistakes other guides feature (apparently having all copied each other).
    This is the book you want to go for!
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  • cemery
    5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent guidebook!
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 21, 2012
    Verified Purchase
    This is not only the best guide to fascinating Albania, but is one of the best guide books I've used, ever! The March 2012 edition is extremely well researched, up to date, clearly written and well presented. It draws on what is obviously the author's in-depth experience of the country, presented with the traveler in mind.

    I found it to be extremely useful to plan travel in advance. The guide gives very helpful information to work out what you what areas will be of most interest, and plot out what might be possible. You also gain in advance a sense of the history and great strengths of this incredibly interesting country and its people, as well as the challenges it faces; an understanding that deepens while travelling with access to the ideas, tips and location specific information in this guide. The information equips you to explore more from a great starting place.

    I was traveling alone in Albania, and found the guide to be incredibly helpful both in a practical sense, and also in enriching the travel experience. Information about accommodation and cafes is detailed and clear, with options for different budgets, tastes and expectations spelt out to assist with decision making. This is supported with useful maps of the different locations. Details about travel by bus was more than enough to get started, supported of course with the help of anyone else in town that you ask! I found the information about particular sights to be extremely invaluable and inspirational, particularly when presented as a mini self guided tour, eg Butrint, or even a concise paragraph to help unpack the beauty of an Ottoman house to appreciate more about context.

    One great strength is that the book will inspire different travelers with different interests, eh history, nature, beach breaks. Rather than presenting with a judgmental tone (eg, you haven't been to Albania until you've done x , y or z, as other guide books tend to), the author presents different options to help with decision making. Where I came across other travelers, it didn't take long in our conversations before the guide came out to help others with their travel plans.

    Albania is a fascinating place, where you cannot help but be overwhelmed by the warmth of its people, glorious sights and great experiences. Gillian Gloyer has written THE guide to help make the most of travel to Albania.
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