by La Brisa Boutique Hotel, Dhermi
Located in one of the most picturesque villages on the Albanian Riviera, overlooking the turquoise waters of the Ionian Sea, La Brisa is a chic modern hotel surrounded by lush green mountains and facing the beach. The big draw here is the infinity pool on the roof – best at sunset – and the second pool down at ground level; both have a terrace for drinks and dinner, with dishes focusing on fresh fish and local produce. There is a beach bar and two restaurants. Rooms are cool and contemporary, and there are good facilities for families, including a kids’ club and outdoor play area, health spa and gym.
Doubles from £87, B&B; labrisa.al
Hotel Villa Pascucci, Durres
One of the grandiose hotels in Albania, the Villa Pascucci is as grand inside as it is outside, with fluted columns and marble floors in the lobby, gilded corridors lined with fin de siècle a work of art. Rooms keep to the ornate feel with ceiling frescoes in the style of Tiepolo and Michelangelo. The bathrooms are sleek and the beds luxurious. Dinners are an elegant affair, with Italian-infused dishes, and there’s also an infinity pool with sea views.
Doubles from £139, B&B; villapascucci.com
Maritim Marina Bay Resort, Vlore
Ideal for those looking for a holiday with a lively nightlife, this large resort has two restaurants and three bars, offering everything from house-smoked sausages at the Bato Beach Club to freshly caught fish on the Mandarin restaurant terrace. The three pools – one for children – mean there’s always room for a peaceful dip, with beachside terraces as well as poolside bedrooms. There’s a little something at night, with DJs, pool parties and live music on certain nights.
Doubles from £210, B&B; marinabay.al
Poda Boutique Hotel, Ksamil
A favorite with Instagrammers thanks to a Caribbean-esque beach, as well as palm trees, Ksamil is a glimpse of how Corfu could look 50 years ago – but development is on its way. Currently, the Poda is a small charming hotel overlooking Poda Bay, with a good-sized swimming pool restaurant and terrace, and the possibility of a romantic dinner set on a jetty above the water.
Doubles from £171, B&B; pod-hotel.al
Rea Boutique Hotel, Himare
Located on the seafront in Himare, the Rea is a great base for exploring one of Albania’s prettiest seaside towns, with just seven rooms offering either mountain or sea views. Breakfast (at a small extra cost) is made with ingredients from the hotel’s garden, and the restaurant is as popular with locals as it is with visitors. There is no pool, but the beach is outside the door, and the hotel is a lovely place to come back to and watch the sunset with a cold drink in hand.
Doubles from £116, B&B; reaboutiquehotel.com
Miamar Hotel, Himare
It is the location of the Miamar that is special: located on a secluded bay, below a ruined castle, offering a real sense of escape. Rooms come in different sizes – some sleeping up to six people – making it a good choice for families, with a separate children’s zone and a private stretch of wide sandy beach. The hotel spa offers a good range of treatments, sauna and thermal showers, and the restaurant focuses on farm-to-fork dishes using local Scottish producers, with a sushi lounge for diners looking for something a little more international.
Doubles from £173, B&B; miamar.al
Illyrian Boutique Hotel, Sarande
If you want to spend a night or two in Sarande, one of the biggest and liveliest beach towns in Albania, the Illyrian is a great choice, with a rooftop bar that is a favorite with locals and guests alike. The rooms are simple but very comfortable, there is an excellent breakfast and the reception staff are a good source of local information and can help book taxis or arrange tours. The Epidamn restaurant offers food and theme buffet nights, while the hotel’s private stretch of beach guarantees a bit more peace than the busy main strip.
Doubles from £95, B&B; illyrianboutiquehotel.com
Yacht Hotel, Vlore
An architectural eye-catcher, with white balconies wrapped around darkened glass, the Yacht is located directly on Vlore’s palm-fringed promenade, with a private stretch of beach across the road. Rooms make the most of glorious sea views with floor-to-ceiling windows, and the decked bar and restaurant, set right on the sand, is the perfect spot for fresh seafood suppers and lazy afternoons on the over-the-top beanbags. large, between dips in the sand. crystalline sea.
Doubles from £162, B&B; location.result
Hotel Priam, Vlore
The Priam, which opened its doors a few years ago, is rising before the luxury accommodation in Vlore. The room rates are so reasonable that it’s worth splashing out on a junior suite (from £128) for more space and a better view.
Doubles from £89, B&B; priamhotel.al
Prado Luxury Hotel, Himare
One of Albania’s new breed of chic modern houses, the Prado has some serious style: polished wood floors and cookies-and-cream decor keep the rooms sleek and stylish without being stark, while the spa offers Balinese treatments, baths whirlpools and hot stone massages; there is also a well-equipped gym. Dining at the Sushi Bar terrace combines the freshest fish with stunning sea views, while the main restaurant serves Scottish dishes with a contemporary twist and a wide selection of local wines, growing in popularity in recent years.
Doubles from £191, B&B; pradoresort.com
