Why We Chose The Balkans

We’d been flirting with the idea of the Balkans for a while—little glimpses on Instagram reels, travel TikToks with dramatic drone shots of turquoise water and castle ruins, and those smug travel bloggers who always seem to get the best sunsets. It was always on the list. You know that list. But between work, school, and the minor chaos of day-to-day life, we just never made it happen.

Originally, we were supposed to go to Jordan. Avios points in hand, companion voucher ready, the plan was camel rides, desert magic, and Petra. But with tensions rising too close for comfort, we pivoted. I half-joked, “What about the Balkans?” I opened the BA app, punched in some dates, and voilà—flights into Albania and out of Croatia, all for £3 and 65,750 Avios points for the three of us. It felt like we were cheating the system. And crucially, it fell during the Easter half term, which meant we wouldn’t be slapped with one of those delightful fines for taking Jax out of school.

Over the years, we considered taking the van. That’s how serious we were about the region. But having now been, I can say—hand on heart—I’m glad we didn’t. The Balkans are magic, but van-life just didn’t feel right for this one. It’s a land of mountain switchbacks, narrow cliffside roads, and towns where the parking gods laugh in your face. This was a hire-car with an automatic transmission job, no question.

So, with flights booked and a rough two-week window, I got planning. The challenge: could we visit Albania, Montenegro, and Croatia without rushing around like lunatics? Could we travel slow-ish, see the sights, and still feel like we were on holiday? Turns out—yes. Yes, we could.

Here’s the route we came up with:

• Fly into Tirana, Albania

• Tirana > Pogradec

• Pogradec > Vlorë (via Berat)

• Vlorë > Krujë

• Krujë > Theth

• Theth > Kotor, Montenegro

• Kotor > Dubrovnik, Croatia

• Then home from Dubrovnik

  
  

  

  Our Route Around The Balkans via Stippl

  
  

We decided to move around more in Albania since the drives between places were longer and the regions felt distinct—each one like stepping into a different country altogether. In Montenegro, we went for a five-night stay in one base, which gave us that sweet balance between adventure and not living out of a suitcase. Croatia, we gave just a couple of days because… well, it’s Dubrovnik. You don’t need long to fall in love with that place.

Why the Balkans blew us away

Albania was the biggest surprise. Mountains that look like they’ve been carved by gods with chisels, lakes so still they mirror the sky, and the kind of coastlines that make the Med look overpriced. And it’s diverse. One minute you’re sipping coffee in a funky café in Tirana, the next you’re winding your way through Ottoman villages in Berat or getting your boots muddy in Theth’s raw, untouched mountains. It’s still rough around the edges in places, which made us love it more. Like it hasn’t been polished up for tourists yet—and hallelujah for that.

Montenegro was pure cinematic magic. We based ourselves in Kotor, which might be one of the most beautiful places we’ve ever been. Think fjord-like bays, terracotta rooftops, and mountains that rise dramatically from the sea like something out of a fantasy film. From there, we did day trips—driving through jaw-dropping scenery, eating fresh seafood, and having moments where we just sat there and went, “Is this real?” Spoiler: it was.

Dubrovnik, ah Dubrovnik. The crown jewel. Even with the Game of Thrones crowds and the cruise ship mayhem, it still manages to charm the pants off you. The old town is a stunner, all marble streets and towering walls, with restaurants tucked into alleyways and views for days. We only had three nights, but we packed them full—walked the walls, ate all the things, and toasted the end of the trip with a wine and a grin.

So that’s the intro to our Balkan adventure. Three countries. Two weeks. One grinning family.

I’ll dive into each stop in separate posts soon because they deserve more than a passing mention. But if you’ve ever wondered whether the Balkans are worth it—the answer is yes, yes, hell yes.

The Mountains Of Albania

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