With the recent tourist boom, Durrës continues to be the Albanian capital of tourism.
The “Epidamn” boulevard, which runs through the historical area of the city (otherwise known as Commercial Street), has been revitalized in recent years. Many of the historical buildings of the 20-30s of the last century (properties of merchant families of Durres) have been completely reconstructed to transform into a Boutique Hotel, welcoming foreign visitors in every season of the year.
The newest accommodation structure opened only a few months ago and is positioned in front of the amphitheater, the city’s grandest monument. A popular proverb says, “A good start is half the work done,” and this seems to be best personalized by the boutique hotel “Art Gallery,” which, according to the customer’s impressions so far, is rated with a grade of 9.7 in the largest online travel agency Booking.com.
“We have had clients from all over the world. We have had it from Germany, Italy, Finland, Denmark, Albanians from Kosovo, Macedonia, etc. We didn’t think so many customers, but we did so well initially. In short, Durrës is a 4-season city, not only for summer”, says Bjor Terziu, a hotel representative.
Completely reconstructed, the 4-story luxury building is furnished with style and a design as elegant as it is in accordance with European standards. And customers can’t help but appreciate this fact.
“We love it here. It is a very nice hotel; the decor is done with taste. Everything is amazing. It’s my first time here, and I really like it.”
“The hotel is very nice, and next year, why not? We will come again.”
“Maybe I was lucky, but I always rested in the most popular and comfortable hotels in Durrës,” – say some of them, who have been staying there for days.
Only 300 meters in length, the boulevard “Epidamn” is the axis with the largest concentration of hotels in Durrës. On both sides of it, there are 3-4 story buildings, which, with their favorable position—very close to the center and a few tens or hundreds of meters away from the archaeological and historical sites of the 3000-year-old Durres—are like magnets for foreign tourists.
“I see you have many more tourists than years ago. I was looking for a hotel near the sea, but not necessarily by the sea, and that’s how I found this place”.
“It is very unique and nice. We feel good that we came here,” say some of the tourists who chose to spend their summer holidays in Durrës.
But not only what is known as Rruga Tregtare has some of the most unique hotels in Durrës. On the road “Taulantia,” near the area of Currila, there is one of the hotels with the most unique decoration. “2 Kitarrat” has welcomed foreign tourists and local visitors for ten years.
Decorated in baroque style and with rooms labeled not by numbers but by the names of flowers and scents, the hotel is one of the city’s most original accommodation structures.
“We created a baroque style, and everyone who comes has the desire that if they have been to the rose room once, the second time they come to the orchid room, then they want to come to the cinnamon room, and so on. All our rooms are decorated according to the flowers and the aroma, and we have selected rooms in this style,” – Nina Beqiraj, the hotel administrator, tells us.
One of the most vital points of the hotel “2 Kitarrat” is its SPA, which is very popular with foreigners.
“Tourists not only visit our city, which we have so beautiful, but come to our restaurant “2 Kitarrat” where they dine with live music and enjoy themselves, but during the afternoon, they spend time in our SPA.”
“In our SPA, we offer body treatments, as well as facial treatments, for hotel clients. This summer, anti-aging treatments, vitamin C, mesoporation, radio frequency, etc., are in high demand. We also have relaxing body treatments with volcanic stones, the miracle suite, and the salt room. We have many, many treatments”.
In our country, hospitality has been one of the most beautiful traditions inherited over the centuries from generation to generation. In the clients’ impressions of the boutique hotels in Durres, the hospitality is underlined in each of them, thus testifying to special care towards each client.
However, in one of them, this added value is underlined in almost every comment. It is about the “Nais” hotel, where attention and care to the details make customers feel at home, like family.
“Here you find love, the feeling of family. Here, you find something that money can’t buy it’s human relationships. It’s a very nice feeling. Here, you feel welcome, like you are in a family environment, and are sorry to leave”.
“We feel like family because it’s not like the usual hotels where you go in and out and don’t talk to anyone.”
“This is the second time I have come here. I came two years ago, and I felt good. This year, I said we would come here again because they welcome you very well, and there is a lot of peace.“ Tell us some of the customers.
During the days of stay, tourists get to know the history of the hotel and the city and enjoy home-cooked sweets or mountain tea with lemon, which they try hot or cold according to the season.
“They feel delighted because our motive is to make them feel at home. From the first moment they are introduced to the hotel, they are welcomed as in a family environment and not as in a work environment. We prepare a very traditional breakfast, which is cooked in detail by the lady,” says the owner, Betim Myshketa, who, together with his wife, devotes himself 24/24 to the administration of the hotel.
Although most of the hotels on “Epidamn” Boulevard have only been on the market for a few years, the investment made by the owners, the careful selection of the staff, the dedication to best meet the demands of the clientele from many different countries of the world is evident that it gave the best result. From the detailed observation that “DurrësLajm” made on Booking.com for each of the boutique hotels on “Epidamn” Boulevard, the rating ranges from “Extraordinary,” “Wonderful” to “Excellent,” thus proving that Durrës does not wear the crown of the Albanian capital of tourism in vain.
M.B.
