G’juhadoli Hotel

The rooms had new furnishings, but cleanliness was disappointing. After five minutes of walking barefoot, my kids’ feet were black. The location is excellent for being in Shkoder, although that also makes it a poor place for sleeping. The windows let practically every sound through. The live music in the bar downstairs was good, but although it supposedly ends at 00:00, the bar stays open nearly all night. From the rooms, you can hear everything as if you were sitting downstairs, not just little noises.

The hotel is new, with updated rooms, enough amenities for a family, and convenient parking. It’s also close to bars and nightclubs, and we’d come back. The staff were friendly, hardworking, and genuinely trying, but communication was difficult because of the language barrier. Better English or another widely used language would have made it easier to talk with them. We were traveling in a group, so we understood that breakfast and dinner might not be ready on time. Still, watching employees rush around, sweat, ignore calls, and work like soldiers was uncomfortable. Even a smile, eye contact, or a quick acknowledgment would have helped. We didn’t only need food, we wanted some communication and a chance to meet local people.

We didn’t stay at the hotel, so this is only about the restaurant. The dishes were creative and very tasty, and the service was excellent. Prices were quite reasonable compared with other places, while the quality was better than at most restaurants we’ve visited.

The staff are kind, the rooms are clean, and the hotel is in a good spot for walking around the city and enjoying yourself. It’s on a very busy street, though, with noise and music through the night, so we couldn’t sleep well. Dinner was good, but the service took far too long.