Alko Hotel

The hotel was spotless, fairly comfortable, and in a good location, quiet at night but still within walking distance of the city centre. Breakfast was served outside at the cafe beside the hotel. It was limited to things like eggs, sausage, tomato, and bread, though acceptable. Juice appeared one morning and water on the other two, and we weren’t asked whether we wanted a sweet or salty breakfast until the third morning. The service was the main weakness. We waited a long time for the receptionist at check-in, and she was rarely visible afterward. The electricity went out several times, taking the air conditioning, WiFi, and shower water with it. Parking is spacious, but cars can get blocked in. The building also contains a funeral bureau, and funerals caused guests to park in ways that trapped earlier cars. A helpful man moved them, but it was still a hassle. The hotel could have been nice, but these details ruined the stay.

The facilities were new and very nice, and the mattress was probably the most comfortable I’ve ever slept on. Service needs improvement, though. We were a group of 50, and assigning rooms to each party took far too long. Even so, the staff were very kind and helpful.

Alko Hotel has secure gated parking, which is especially useful since parking in town is limited. From there, it’s an easy walk to the pedestrian area with its restaurants, coffee shops, and stores. The hotel is family-run, and the owners are lovely. They recommended an excellent restaurant. Our room was good, with comfortable beds and bedding, and the WiFi worked well. Breakfast was plentiful enough to get us through the day, with coffee and juice. The hotel was renovated a few years ago. We’d definitely book it again if we return to Shkodër.

I’m an American traveler and have visited Albania three times. The hospitality here was so good that I can’t imagine choosing another hotel. The staff were warm, treated tourists very well, and clearly enjoy having them. It’s also close to the city centre, with good food within walking distance. Definitely worth considering if you’re visiting Shkoder.