Our economy is doing good on paper, but by European living standards the majority of the population is living under the poverty line.
Pure cash, although card is slowly getting there. The price is the price man, especially if you go to restaurants, cafes, shopping malls, taxis etc. However, make sure to not fall for tourist traps. Unfortunately they are on the rise after Tourism exploded here in the recent years. Not as bad as in Western Europe, but you might stumble upon one. Hopefully not. Having a local be with you during the trip mitigates that from happening
Amazing characteristics: We are quite social and welcoming in general. We ask a lot of questions as we are quite curious by nature. Guest is God in an Albanian household.
Worst: Might be a bit loud, also our customer service is a bit lacking. The employees are overworked and tired.
Supper! Will count some paper than! Is revoltou good in any ATM? Should I bring Euros and exchange at airport? Also, near durres what is the best to see?:)
Best place to exchange has to be Iliria 98. They have many branches in Tirana and one in the airport as well. Here is a link to their website: [https://iliria98.com/](https://iliria98.com/)
As for revolut card you should be fine after a quick search "When using your **Revolut card** in **Albania**, here are some fees to keep in mind:
1. **ATM Withdrawal Fees**:
* Revolut allows you to withdraw up to €200 per month without any fees. Beyond that, a 2% fee applies to the amount withdrawn.
* If you have a **Premium** or **Metal** account, you get unlimited fee-free ATM withdrawals up to €400 or €600 per month, respectively.
2. **Currency Exchange Fees**:
* Revolut uses the interbank exchange rate for currency conversion during weekdays. However, a 0.5% fee applies on weekends (Friday 00:00 to Sunday 23:59).
3. **Weekend Markup**:
* For certain currencies (including the Albanian lek), there’s a small markup on weekends due to increased volatility."
As for Durres there are some cool historical site to see such as Ancient Amphitheaters, King's Zog Villa etc. Honestly, its history is my favourite thing after the vibes. The sea is nice, but not the best in Albania. Here's a video on it: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FKwaTz1dCf0](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FKwaTz1dCf0) Also the seafood is great. Im hungry as im typing this but there are tons of great seafood restaurants in Durres also great pizzerias if you are not a seafood fan.
Cash is always king IMO. Card payments are bigger than ever but many people prefer to carry cash, especially for things like parking or buying a water bottle. If your card charges you foreign transaction fees, withdraw Euros and convert them here. The rates are almost identical to Visa/Mastercard with no comission.
Many corner stores do not use POS terminals, mid-size markets may have a POS minimum (500, 1000 Lek or 5-10€) while large supermarkets will take card no problem. Same with restaurants and such.
American Express is only taken by OTP Bank terminals and Discover (Diners Club/JCB/UnionPay) is not accepted in Albania.
NFC/Contactless is accepted basically everywhere that takes card, same with digital wallets like Google/Apple Wallet. If you use chip, expect to both insert PIN and sign your receipt.
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As for pricing, usually we do not negotiate. As a tourist, some vendors may want to upcharge you, but you can check prices online. For example, buses and taxis between most cities operate at a fixed price, which are freely available online. Or ask in the general mega-thread.
I mean ppl usually negotiate if you go to buy clothes to a local market, other then that its set prices especially in bigger malls, maybe in small shops you can.
But thats a rule that only applies to clothes and stuff that u wear etc.
I very rarely negotiate anything tbh.
Our economy is doing good on paper, but by European living standards the majority of the population is living under the poverty line. Pure cash, although card is slowly getting there. The price is the price man, especially if you go to restaurants, cafes, shopping malls, taxis etc. However, make sure to not fall for tourist traps. Unfortunately they are on the rise after Tourism exploded here in the recent years. Not as bad as in Western Europe, but you might stumble upon one. Hopefully not. Having a local be with you during the trip mitigates that from happening Amazing characteristics: We are quite social and welcoming in general. We ask a lot of questions as we are quite curious by nature. Guest is God in an Albanian household. Worst: Might be a bit loud, also our customer service is a bit lacking. The employees are overworked and tired.
Supper! Will count some paper than! Is revoltou good in any ATM? Should I bring Euros and exchange at airport? Also, near durres what is the best to see?:)
Best place to exchange has to be Iliria 98. They have many branches in Tirana and one in the airport as well. Here is a link to their website: [https://iliria98.com/](https://iliria98.com/) As for revolut card you should be fine after a quick search "When using your **Revolut card** in **Albania**, here are some fees to keep in mind: 1. **ATM Withdrawal Fees**: * Revolut allows you to withdraw up to €200 per month without any fees. Beyond that, a 2% fee applies to the amount withdrawn. * If you have a **Premium** or **Metal** account, you get unlimited fee-free ATM withdrawals up to €400 or €600 per month, respectively. 2. **Currency Exchange Fees**: * Revolut uses the interbank exchange rate for currency conversion during weekdays. However, a 0.5% fee applies on weekends (Friday 00:00 to Sunday 23:59). 3. **Weekend Markup**: * For certain currencies (including the Albanian lek), there’s a small markup on weekends due to increased volatility." As for Durres there are some cool historical site to see such as Ancient Amphitheaters, King's Zog Villa etc. Honestly, its history is my favourite thing after the vibes. The sea is nice, but not the best in Albania. Here's a video on it: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FKwaTz1dCf0](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FKwaTz1dCf0) Also the seafood is great. Im hungry as im typing this but there are tons of great seafood restaurants in Durres also great pizzerias if you are not a seafood fan.
Supper helpful! Thanks so much for the comment!
Cash is always king IMO. Card payments are bigger than ever but many people prefer to carry cash, especially for things like parking or buying a water bottle. If your card charges you foreign transaction fees, withdraw Euros and convert them here. The rates are almost identical to Visa/Mastercard with no comission. Many corner stores do not use POS terminals, mid-size markets may have a POS minimum (500, 1000 Lek or 5-10€) while large supermarkets will take card no problem. Same with restaurants and such. American Express is only taken by OTP Bank terminals and Discover (Diners Club/JCB/UnionPay) is not accepted in Albania. NFC/Contactless is accepted basically everywhere that takes card, same with digital wallets like Google/Apple Wallet. If you use chip, expect to both insert PIN and sign your receipt. ---- As for pricing, usually we do not negotiate. As a tourist, some vendors may want to upcharge you, but you can check prices online. For example, buses and taxis between most cities operate at a fixed price, which are freely available online. Or ask in the general mega-thread.
Thanks, nice to know you do not negotiate. Just wondering how it should go! How about places near durres? Where to go?
I mean ppl usually negotiate if you go to buy clothes to a local market, other then that its set prices especially in bigger malls, maybe in small shops you can. But thats a rule that only applies to clothes and stuff that u wear etc. I very rarely negotiate anything tbh.