Kaduku Hotel

They even lend bikes for free, which was a nice extra. I liked the value for this central location, and it was quiet at night. The service was very good, my room was clean, and the shower water was hot. Even the restaurant tablecloth was neatly pressed. I mentioned that I needed to leave for the Theth bus before breakfast began at 7 am, and reception arranged another bus for 7:30, which got around the earlier complaints I’d seen about missing breakfast.

The staff, breakfast, and location were all good, but I wouldn’t stay here again. We chose it because it was inexpensive, and next time I’d pay more for somewhere more comfortable and up to date. The hotel is close to the pedestrian area, the staff were kind and helpful, and the included breakfast was decent. The rooms, at least the ones I had, were awful. On the first night I shared a room with my friend, with two single beds. The ground-floor room in the main building was so cramped we had almost nowhere to put our things, so we asked to move to the other building where our friends were staying. That room had more space, but my bed’s mattress was so old and worn it had a crater. I spent the night pressed against the wall with a spare pillow to stop myself rolling into the dip. I couldn’t curl up or turn onto my other side. For the second night I asked for my own single room, hoping the bed would be better. It was much more comfortable, but the heater didn’t work, only the air conditioner did. Since it was cold at night in February, I turned it off to avoid cold air blowing on me. Luckily there was a heated mattress pad, and it helped. The worst part was the bathroom floor, flooded from the toilet. They knew about it but didn’t tell me before renting the room. I couldn’t shower, and even using the toilet meant putting on shoes and splashing around. They gave me a couple of rugs as a fix, but the water soaked them through and they were squishy within minutes. My friend had a terrible sewer smell in the bathroom of our earlier shared room on the second night. It was so strong she opened the door and windows, despite the February cold, then waited in the common area until it cleared enough to go to bed.

I stayed two nights at this budget hotel, close to the center of Shkodër. The room was okay, and the old family-owned building is beautiful, though the rooms could use renovation. Breakfast is included in the room price, and I really enjoyed it. It was tasty and served in a good-sized portion.

The hotel is made up of two small houses next to each other, and the rooms are compact but have what you need. In the lobby there are maps, guides, and photo albums, and the staff are ready to help with things like arranging a tour, renting a car, or finding your way around. Breakfast was tasty and filling. The location is in the heart of town, about a five-minute walk from the main pedestrian street and the lovely old lanes. A good base for a few days of exploring.