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Albania's beaches are gorgeous, and you could spend a month travelling the Adriatic and Ionian coasts hopping from one stunning, sun-soaked spot to another. Inland, hiking is a possibility through forests and farmland, although you should stock up on hiking provisions before you leave the larger towns. The many mountains and cliffs offer opportunities for climbing, although climbing supplies are limited in Albania. The coast and central plains are ideal for cycling, as long as you can negotiate a route through the poorly maintained roads.

Currency: Lekë

Meals


• Budget: US$5-10

• Mid-range: US$10-20

• Top-end:US$20 and upwards
  
  Lodging
  

• Budget: US$10-40

• Mid-range: US$40-60

• Top-end: US$60 and upwards

Prices in Tirana are considerably higher than in the rest of the country, so budget travellers should see the sights then head for the boondocks. If you are on a tight budget, you could get by in the country for US$30-40 a day, but you'll need closer to US$60-70 in Tirana. That will give you fairly basic accommodation and three square, if basic, meals a day. Paying for a few more comforts, staying in a better class of hotel and doing some guided trips would easily raise the budget to $80-90 a day. Even though Albania is cheap for the western traveller, you can spend a lot more that US$100 a day if you work at it and look only for the best hotels and eat in the top restaurants.

Every town has a free currency market that usually operates on the street in front of the post office or the state bank. Look for the fellows with pocket calculators, who will give you about the same rate as a bank without the 1% commission, although some banks will change US dollar travellers cheques into US dollars cash without a commission. Transactions on the street are legal, but you'd be wise to count your notes before you walk away. US dollars are the favourite foreign currency, and you should bring your bills in small denominations as they can be used to bargain. Cash is preferred everywhere, and credit cards are not accepted.

Albania is a tip-conscious society, and you should leave a reasonable (say, 10%) tip in restaurants. Duty free alcohol can be an excellent gift for anyone who has been particularly helpful, but you should use your discretion when considering tipping in other situations. Tourists who hand out small gifts to children on the street are encouraging them to become a serious nuisance. Bargaining is fine in markets and bazaars, and for everything from hotel rooms to taxi rides to curios.