D1 Hostel

For €17 I got two weekend nights in a six-bed women’s dorm, though they put me in a four-bed room. There were just two of us there on Saturday, but no privacy curtain. The towel was included and there’s a bidet, but no shower gel. You can only pay cash at the desk, though euros are accepted. The building’s a little confusing: pass Sophie Caffe and you’ll find it, with the room on the third floor and reception on the fourth. There’s no lift, but the staff kindly carried my luggage upstairs. My room had no working kettle, and the tap water wasn’t drinkable. They also didn’t give me a room key or card, so I couldn’t lock the door.

At least the location is handy, just a minute from the main square, so getting out was easy. For 1000 lek, though, I got a chaotic stay. The front desk guy was really nice, probably the best part, but an hour after check-in I came back to find someone already asleep in “my” bed. They moved me to another room that smelled like a college locker room after a lost game. There were no privacy curtains or charging plugs, and a painfully bright light sat right above the pillow. I also had to share the bed with a window. The walls let through every cough, conversation, and corridor door slam, while my roommates held a loud TED Talk at midnight.

Exploring Tirana was easy from this hostel in the city center, and the price felt very fair for what we got. The room was comfortable and a quiet place to return to after being out. It was also clean and well looked after. The staff were consistently friendly and helpful. I’d happily recommend it.

The location made it easy to walk to most attractions, and the staff were professional and ready to help. I spent a week here and really liked it. The room was super clean, with a neat, tidy bed, and everything was arranged to make the stay comfortable. It felt like the standard of a five-star hostel. Just awesome, I’d recommend it.