Europe
 

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Some things you might want to know in the way of a rough guide to backpacking in Europe.

Europe may not seem that huge when compared directly to the USA or Australia, but population and attraction wise Europe is gigantic even if distances can be covered quickly. Numerous countries ranging from rich to poor, big and small have more attractions, history and points of interest than you could take-in, in a lifetime of exploration.

When discussing Europe it helps to splits it into three regions, each of which are very different.

The first of these regions are the original Euro Zone countries inc. Switzerland (aka. the EU 15), which are easy to navigate, contain the majority of the stunning and culturally interesting sights and in general are very expensive to travel in at lengths without transport (a bought car shared or a rail pass pre-paid) and a tent. Most travellers due to this cost and sheer number of attractions, will fleet from one city to the next. Say London to Paris to Amsterdam to Munch to Prague to Vienna, or more than often spend their time in one country say Italy and/or Greece.

The cost of travel, accommodation and infrastructure in these countries does vary. For example train travel in Germany and France is fast and widespread. Compared to other countries where trains are not so widespread and Euro rail passes may not be used. Spain is popular and a worthwhile destination since costs are lower particularly for accommodation, which in many parts of the EU is very expensive, and at the cheap end rather basic and over subscribed (particularly during summer months - book ahead). Costs are lower in Spain/Portugal compared to say Scandinavian countries, but with the advent of the Euro, prices across the whole region are slowly converging to one point, which in all cases seems to be up. The cost of travel in previously good value EU countries like Italy and Greece are increasing all the time. Both Spain and Greece are always a favourite for the possibility to cross over in to Asia or Africa in the form of Turkey and Morocco where you can live for a week on what it costs for a day in London or Paris.

In the three above regions the practicality of travel are quite different and therefore are covered in different sections below:
 

 

Western European Union Europe

Eastern Europe

Eastern Eastern Europe

Any help is more than appreciated!

 

 

Here will find a country summaries for: Albania. It is worth looking, if you have not already, at the example layout to see the guidelines each section of information is based on - or for other travel advice and site home head for http://travelindependent.info

Comment: Just found your link to the Tirana In Your Pocket guidebook (which I am the editor of) - thanks for that. Perhaps you can add the link: www.inyourpocket.com as the whole thing is online free there.

I must disagree with your comments about Albania - just seeing Tirana is enough? Shkodra dangerous? Just a country to travel to on the way to Greece? Please! This is rubbish, really.

For the adventurous traveller it's a fantastic place to get around and there's enough for 1-2 weeks of travelling. Archeology, nature, good and cheap food, great cities, beautiful unspoilt beaches - not many countries can offer this. Just don't rely on the LP guide to get around. Shkodra is a perfectly safe city - I wrote the Shkodra In Your Pocket guide about it (content online free too) and it's a great base for visiting the fabulous Lake Koman, the Buna river delta, Lake Shkodra, or the wild mountains nearby.

It's true that for the extreme northeast of the country it's still recommended to travel with a local - but these are the mountainous areas well away from any main road. I hope to cover the mountain areas in the next update of Shkodra In Your Pocket. - Jeroen van Marle

Albania

• Intro: Tourist aren't exactly common in Albania. Perhaps the fact that finding a guidebook worth having on the country (the chapter in the Lonely Planet - Europe on a shoestring is a joke) has something to do with it along with the countries unstable image. Albania's not really a country you travel in, it's just somewhere you experience on your way to or from Greece. Parts of the country are still dangerous and getting to the limited historical sights really needs a car and the most probable way you would have one of those is if it has UN on the side. For myself I headed from Montenegro to the capital with a day trip to Durres and then to the coast to get a boat to Corfu. It's certainly was worth doing. Tirana, the capital, really is in a state and this is Europe! It's turbulent history and grief is extraordinary and still very fresh and since tourist are so limited you really get a chance to step off the beaten track in the so called wild west of Europe and have places to yourself (and let me tell you that is something very unique). I stumbled on a delightful Roman amphitheatre in Durres and had the whole place to myself including beautiful murals and a zealous guide, obviously very motivated by my presents. If you are in the area, give the country a look, there are not many like it left, but although I experienced no problems, do double check the situation on the ground. For example the north-east is dangerous. This whole area of the Balkans is perhaps one of the most underrated and least visited regions of the world.

  • Highlights: Just experiencing Tirana is normally enough. Here's what else there is to see, but none of it is anything near world class. Museum cities: Gjirokaster and Berat. Roman ruins at Butrint and Apollonia. Most visitors come from Corfu (on day trips) and head to towns. Visitors that make it to the capital are normally happy just to see there and Durres. Check out 750,000 silly bunkers that the former regime built in paranoia and in some very strange positions. Then lament that the concrete was not used to build decent homes along with the madness of Hoxha.

  • Lowlights: Most of the above could be classed in this field, pending on what to are expecting from an extremely poor and backward nation.

• Visa strategy: You are expected to pay a fee on the border equal to the amount an Albanian would have to pay to enter your country. This can vary from free to very expensive (US citizen are the most expensive at about US$50). I was prepared for US$40 as a UK national, but only paid US$20, so this obviously varies. Don't expect the border official to speak English so explanations run a bit thin.

• Typical tourist trail: Organized day trips from Corfu. Or for a transit from Montenegro to Shkoder to Tirana to Durres to Saranda or Greece via Korce. Other towns are considered dangerous and Shkoder actually is.

• Dangers: Shkoder, Vlore and the north-east are considered dangerous, but the chance you will find your self there is limited.

• Hot/cold, wet and dry: As with main land Greece: everything from snow to hot sun.

• Costs: Most things cheap, but with your visa fee and a long distance taxi from the border it adds up.

• Money: Every city in Albania has ATMs, some even dish out euros as well as Lek. Otherwise, change there, take Euros or USD cash.

• What to take: Normal

• Getting around: You will need a shared taxi from the border in most cases. Use mini-buses that leave when full and drive very fast or big buses that operate to a system of there own. There is no public transport to borders (except Greece) this goes for the other side to)). You will need to haggle for taxis. Remember up to 1990 no one in Albania was allowed a car (apart from high ranking party officials) and when the regime collapsed the country was flooded with cars for the masses. No driving tests, not even a system in place. Road transport can be a bit hair raising at the best.

• Guide book: None. Near useless section in the Lonely Planet - Europe on a shoestring. Buy the excellent Tirana in your pocket in a big international hotel lobby when you arrive in the capital.

• People vibe:

  • Locals: Generally friendly locals, however some resentment towards the wealth of travellers. It helps if you can speak German over English.

• Tourist factor: 0/10

• Accommodation: Basic hotels in Tirana, ask a taxi driver to help you.

• Average cost: $15

• Communications: Internet is about if you look hard enough

• Food: Quite a few good and cheap places for ex-pat aid, UN or world bank workers

  • Vegetarians: No problem

   

• Rating: Just for a look 6/10, thinking about what you saw and the problems you dealt with 8/10.

 

For information on Scotland, please see the Scotland mini-guide here.

 

 

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