When going to Albania, as well as to any other new country, you need to find out in advance how things are with the currency and with payment for various services.
The national currency of Albania is the Albanian lek, which is a good idea to have on hand. But many services are paid in Euros. For example, in European currency you can pay:
- A hotel room, an apart-hotel, a hostel room, a guesthouse – that is, any format of accommodation. Having cash in hand will definitely not leave you on the street.
- Taxi service. Even if you come late at night and all exchange offices are closed, this won’t be a problem. You don’t have to exchange Euros for Albanian leks in order to get to your place of residence.
- Going to a cafe or restaurant. But check in advance about the possibility of paying in euros, sometimes it may not be available.
- SIM card with calls and internet access.
- Car rental. For example, at DOMINANT CAR you can pay your rental in Euros – we do not require you to pay in local currency.
At the same time, there are many situations where you will have to use Albanian lek. Therefore, as soon as such an opportunity arises, take a look at the exchanger. Experienced tourists know that the exchange rate in Albania is better if you contact private rather than government exchangers.
You won’t have much of a choice if the sum is between 200 and 300 Euros because, in general, you will be offered similar conditions everywhere. For smaller amounts the difference may already be noticeable.
When there are several exchangers nearby, you can take your time and compare conditions.
Money advice for tourists visiting Albania
If we cover this topic very concisely, the advice would be as follows:
Take with you cash euros and a reserve amount on the card. You will have to pay in cash almost everywhere.
As necessary, gradually change the local currency. Also, try to always have some change in your pocket -This will be especially useful if you need to buy a bus ticket.
- Give preference to private exchangers, but don’t spend too much time comparing rates – you still won’t be able to save a lot of money.
The use of a car is recommended in order to avoid issues with bus payments (Albania’s public transportation system is underdeveloped), as well as with finding a suitable exchanger.
This will free you from many difficulties associated with movement.
Additionally, renting a car in Albania is affordable, especially if you choose DOMINANT CAR.
You can fill out an application in 5 minutes, and we also work in Russian.
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