I was in sarandë during a heat wave this year and while it looked like a nice place being so close to the hills around the city seemed to cut the breezes and trap the heat. (my bad on timing however but I could only fit it in at a specific time). I wish you would have done a report (unless i missed it?) on Vlorë. I found it the best place in Albania. So much potential here!... Big long boardwalk, sunset views, mountains a little farther away allowing for a breeze, great main street walk to old town. Tons of potential lots of ocean view accommodations a d if they redeveloped the soviet style park between the boardwalk and the main strip it could be transformed into one of the hip places in the Mediterranean. If you are back through, check it out. That being said like always I enjoyed your report... Just wish it wasn't so hot in sarandë when I was there with not much breeze.
I think when covering places like Saranda, we need to talk about the impact of sazonality on prices. I was there in the height of summer last July, and the prices you mentioned were far off the mark for that time of the year. I fell in love with the place but struggled to find any space in most beaches. The mediterranean is bad for that, but the Albanians took it to another level. During the summer, 98% of the beaches are covered with loungers at 15-20 Euro a pop. Again,that'ss not a factor during the shoulder season. Sazonality matters.
And 13 days in July this year were 38 to 39 degrees Celsius: not a pleasant day at the beach with the crowds and oppressive heat. I was there in September last year and it was better, 32 degrees and less crowded. The public free beach south east of the marina was ok because it's becoming shoulder season, but lying on the pebbles is pretty uncomfortable, so take a portable deck chair. I didn't swim as the sea is a bit oily there from the marina. Ended up relenting and paying for a deck chair away from the marina with clean water near the hotel. I think this just highlights the benefits of the nomadic lifestyle. You can enjoy Chiang Mai but leave when the burning season starts, enjoy Tirana or Athens in say April or May and escape before the heat of the southern European summer. Michael Mosley is a tragic example of what can happen if you aren't mindful of the critical danger of heatwave conditions. Albania is a great country to visit: extraordinary history from ancient times to modern, just avoid June to September unless you're very heat tolerant.
My mother lives in the coast of Almería, Spain. I've considered moving there the full year, and it's almost impossible to do so at a reasonable rent price because most owners only rent their places from September to June. They expect you to leave by then, so they charge EIGHT times more in July and August. Read the small print...
I really like your 2 budgets comparaison. Like stated the lower end might appeal to frugal people on budget but I like that your honest in saying that the majority will need the higher budget. Oh BTW Qiang needs to return under the Tropics she's loosing her beautiful natural tan 😍. Thank you Dan, you're very professional.
Always informative videos, even if this is a place I am not considering for retirement or even visitation. It is nice to have this to compare to my own other choices.
It would be super helpful to also include in your future videos the typical other costs such as, auto fuel and ofcourse typical health insurance costs. While I understand it’s different for each individual, it could be based on your scenario as an example from place to place. Thank you 🙏
Hello Dan, thanks for the informative video. I have a question. Between Saranda Albania and Varna, Bulgaria I was wondering which one would you and Qiang prefer for relocating or retiring to if one was looking at European coastal cities. I plan on visiting both, but I was curious as to which one you and Qiang would choose. Thanks.
@@VagabondAwake Hi Dan, I understand your preference. For me, cold snowy winters are not a problem. Born and raised in that type of climate. I actually enjoy cold snowy weather, so warm year round temperatures are not a requirement for me. Regarding Seranda, I think there are a number better options along the Albanian coast for a permanent location. Vlore and Durres are two of them. They are closer to Tirana, much larger cities, better infrastructure, more services, etc.
Very good high quality informative video, but if I was comfortably retired in a relatively unknown location I would be very reluctant to promote it on your channel. Call me selfish, but I have seen many places ruined by tourism and over development.
Hey Dan. Looks amazing. Would never have guessed Albania could be such a good option. I'll be returning to southeast asia in early November. My $122.00 usd per month and average of 1,400.00 per month along with my lovely partner there draws me back. Thanks for always sharing such great content:)
We had to use Google Translate for menus and food ingredients on labels in the grocery store, but many people seemed to be able to help us when we spoke only English.
Can you provide a link or a name of the list referred to at 13:15? I checked out the one by World Population Review, and it ranks Haiti as safer than the US, which is laughably absurd. Sure, places like Chicago, Memphis, and Atlanta are dangerous, but there are tens of millions of people in other parts of the country who live in safe areas. I can't imagine any place in Haiti that is safe. Lists vary widely, so I'm curious which one you use.
Hello @cargopilot747, All of our videos have a webpage that has the information discussed in that video so you don't have to take notes. The link to that web page for this video is the first link in the description below this video. In case you don't know how to find the link, here is a UA-cam video teaching how: ua-cam.com/video/p4bP4xd7J4s/v-deo.html Most of our videos have multiple links to important information that will help you save time and money. It is our way of thanking you for watching our videos. So, ... thank you, Dan
Perhaps others care about all this cost information. I want to know why it's worth visiting. As far as costs go, I'm happy with a general description of its affordability. The details not only bore me but are irrelevant unless I know why I should bother to travel there. My two cents. Thank you.
@freeradical1567, Here is how we find cheap apartments all over the world now. Watch the video and read the text to get all of our tips: vagabondbuddha.com/how-i-find-perfect-apartments-traveling-the-world/ Thanks, Dan
Maldives is in the Indian Ocean. This is on the coast of Albania across from Italy in Europe. Vloggers often refer to this town in Albania as the Maldives of Europe. Sorry about any confusion.
Normally I very much enjoy your videos, but I am sorry but Albania and the Maldives are 2 different planets, disappointing to find you using click bait.
@@VagabondAwake Maybe many people, people who have never been to the Maldives, but sorry absolutely NO WAY! Albania may have its Adriatic Coastline, but it is not even on the same planet as the Maldives, and I have been travelling for 42 years now, been to most parts of the world and lived on most continents. I am sorry but you have disappointed me with this analogy.
Saranda Albania information is here:
vagabondbuddha.com/cost-to-retire-in-saranda-albania/
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Thanks, Dan and Qiang. I would have never thought about Albania! Looks lovely and nice change of seasons.
Thanks for all your feet on the ground information. Safe, fun, adorable travel to all.
I subscribed and a wealth of information, Thank you
Awesome, thank you!
nice => I am visiting Albania in the spring and will check it out
I was in sarandë during a heat wave this year and while it looked like a nice place being so close to the hills around the city seemed to cut the breezes and trap the heat. (my bad on timing however but I could only fit it in at a specific time).
I wish you would have done a report (unless i missed it?) on Vlorë. I found it the best place in Albania. So much potential here!... Big long boardwalk, sunset views, mountains a little farther away allowing for a breeze, great main street walk to old town. Tons of potential lots of ocean view accommodations a d if they redeveloped the soviet style park between the boardwalk and the main strip it could be transformed into one of the hip places in the Mediterranean.
If you are back through, check it out.
That being said like always I enjoyed your report... Just wish it wasn't so hot in sarandë when I was there with not much breeze.
These days it seems like heat can get out of control any many places that once were not so bad. Thanks for sharing.
I think when covering places like Saranda, we need to talk about the impact of sazonality on prices. I was there in the height of summer last July, and the prices you mentioned were far off the mark for that time of the year. I fell in love with the place but struggled to find any space in most beaches. The mediterranean is bad for that, but the Albanians took it to another level. During the summer, 98% of the beaches are covered with loungers at 15-20 Euro a pop. Again,that'ss not a factor during the shoulder season. Sazonality matters.
We only went to free beaches.
@VagabondAwake yup, during shoulder season. Try July next year, hahaha.
And 13 days in July this year were 38 to 39 degrees Celsius: not a pleasant day at the beach with the crowds and oppressive heat. I was there in September last year and it was better, 32 degrees and less crowded. The public free beach south east of the marina was ok because it's becoming shoulder season, but lying on the pebbles is pretty uncomfortable, so take a portable deck chair. I didn't swim as the sea is a bit oily there from the marina. Ended up relenting and paying for a deck chair away from the marina with clean water near the hotel. I think this just highlights the benefits of the nomadic lifestyle. You can enjoy Chiang Mai but leave when the burning season starts, enjoy Tirana or Athens in say April or May and escape before the heat of the southern European summer. Michael Mosley is a tragic example of what can happen if you aren't mindful of the critical danger of heatwave conditions. Albania is a great country to visit: extraordinary history from ancient times to modern, just avoid June to September unless you're very heat tolerant.
My mother lives in the coast of Almería, Spain. I've considered moving there the full year, and it's almost impossible to do so at a reasonable rent price because most owners only rent their places from September to June. They expect you to leave by then, so they charge EIGHT times more in July and August.
Read the small print...
Great video. I was surprised to learn how close Sarandë is to the island of Corfu, Greece. 👍👍
I really like your 2 budgets comparaison. Like stated the lower end might appeal to frugal people on budget but I like that your honest in saying that the majority will need the higher budget. Oh BTW Qiang needs to return under the Tropics she's loosing her beautiful natural tan 😍. Thank you Dan, you're very professional.
Always informative videos, even if this is a place I am not considering for retirement or even visitation. It is nice to have this to compare to my own other choices.
Thanks for the usual inspirational video. Most grateful.
Saranda looks wonderful. I'm headed to Tirana next week, not sure if I'll make it down to Saranda. But excited to experience Albania!
I love your channel
always a great intro and exposè!!!
Hi, Dan I always love watching your videos, you give a lot of solid information! Have a wonderful day (:
It would be super helpful to also include in your future videos the typical other costs such as, auto fuel and ofcourse typical health insurance costs. While I understand it’s different for each individual, it could be based on your scenario as an example from place to place. Thank you 🙏
Thanks for sharing your feedback.
Hello Dan, thanks for the informative video. I have a question. Between Saranda Albania and Varna, Bulgaria I was wondering which one would you and Qiang prefer for relocating or retiring to if one was looking at European coastal cities. I plan on visiting both, but I was curious as to which one you and Qiang would choose. Thanks.
Saranda. Because it snows in Varna.
@@VagabondAwake Hi Dan, I understand your preference. For me, cold snowy winters are not a problem. Born and raised in that type of climate. I actually enjoy cold snowy weather, so warm year round temperatures are not a requirement for me. Regarding Seranda, I think there are a number better options along the Albanian coast for a permanent location. Vlore and Durres are two of them. They are closer to Tirana, much larger cities, better infrastructure, more services, etc.
Thank you! Dan
Very good high quality informative video, but if I was comfortably retired in a relatively unknown location I would be very reluctant to promote it on your channel. Call me selfish, but I have seen many places ruined by tourism and over development.
@@ccrider8483 you just said what many people are afraid to. Sad but true, these are things that can destroy a beautiful place.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
Hey Dan. Looks amazing. Would never have guessed Albania could be such a good option. I'll be returning to southeast asia in early November. My $122.00 usd per month and average of 1,400.00 per month along with my lovely partner there draws me back.
Thanks for always sharing such great content:)
Hey Robert. Great to hear from you. :-)
Thanks Dan for a short trip to this seaside town. How does it compare to Bulgaria?
The water is nicer in Saranda but it is less touristy in Varna.
Good video!!
Glad you enjoyed it
Can Qiang swim? Another fantastic video.
Yes. But she doesn't have same level of confidence as people that have swam their entire lives.
@@VagabondAwake I find that odd about Asia. A lot of Asians can't swim. I had a Thai gf that I got a few swimming lessons.
I’ve been considering checking out Croatia and Albania. Did you have problems communicating with locals?
We had to use Google Translate for menus and food ingredients on labels in the grocery store, but many people seemed to be able to help us when we spoke only English.
Can you provide a link or a name of the list referred to at 13:15? I checked out the one by World Population Review, and it ranks Haiti as safer than the US, which is laughably absurd. Sure, places like Chicago, Memphis, and Atlanta are dangerous, but there are tens of millions of people in other parts of the country who live in safe areas. I can't imagine any place in Haiti that is safe. Lists vary widely, so I'm curious which one you use.
Hello @cargopilot747, All of our videos have a webpage that has the information discussed in that video so you don't have to take notes. The link to that web page for this video is the first link in the description below this video.
In case you don't know how to find the link, here is a UA-cam video teaching how:
ua-cam.com/video/p4bP4xd7J4s/v-deo.html
Most of our videos have multiple links to important information that will help you save time and money. It is our way of thanking you for watching our videos.
So, ... thank you, Dan
Maldives Go soon before it is unddrwater Albania on my travel list.
Perhaps others care about all this cost information. I want to know why it's worth visiting. As far as costs go, I'm happy with a general description of its affordability. The details not only bore me but are irrelevant unless I know why I should bother to travel there. My two cents. Thank you.
Thanks for sharing your feedback.
What sources do you use to find these apts?
@freeradical1567, Here is how we find cheap apartments all over the world now. Watch the video and read the text to get all of our tips:
vagabondbuddha.com/how-i-find-perfect-apartments-traveling-the-world/
Thanks,
Dan
Is English widely spoken?
*Answer is found about the **13:00** minute point.*
Is this considered Maldives? I'm confused
Maldives is in the Indian Ocean. This is on the coast of Albania across from Italy in Europe. Vloggers often refer to this town in Albania as the Maldives of Europe. Sorry about any confusion.
Normally I very much enjoy your videos, but I am sorry but Albania and the Maldives are 2 different planets, disappointing to find you using click bait.
The water in Albania reminds of us of the Maldives. Many people call Albania the Maldives of Europe.
@@VagabondAwake Maybe many people, people who have never been to the Maldives, but sorry absolutely NO WAY! Albania may have its Adriatic Coastline, but it is not even on the same planet as the Maldives, and I have been travelling for 42 years now, been to most parts of the world and lived on most continents. I am sorry but you have disappointed me with this analogy.