Future Turkey and Albania Trip

Perhaps a day on the Princes' Islands while you're in Istanbul? I have only the vaguest memories of my trip to Istanbul, but I recall enjoying wandering around the islands.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Princes%27_Islands

The In Your Pocket folks don't cover your Turkish destinations, but they do have a guide to Tirana. They sometimes come up with sightseeing options not mentioned in printed guidebooks.

https://www.inyourpocket.com/tirana

The more obscure the destination (and Tirana definitely qualifies), the more likely I am to take the time to go through the TripAdvisor listings. Unfortunately, they seem harder to use these days. I can't guarantee they'll be worth your time, but I have found some things I didn't know existed there, frequently because they were relatively new.

The more obscure the destination (and Tirana definitely qualifies), the more likely I am to take the time to go through the TripAdvisor listings.

They've become completely useless. I no longer look at them for anything. There's a huge amount of pimping going on.

There is on on-going issue with Mexican resorts and bad alcohol. The use of what seems to be date rape drugs in drinks in bars there has been reported over and over and over again. The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel has covered this extensively. A person who had been drugged and raped put up a report on the site of the Mexican resort, and TripAdvisor pulled it down. This has happened repeatedly. They are nothing more than another form of advertising for places now.

Thank you Acraven, every little bit helps.

EIDT: I had time this morning to look up the Princess Islands. Excellent idea. I found a possibility of getting a private boat for a Bosporus cruise to and from the Princess Islands. A bit pricey, but an excellent way to spend a day. And there are some fairly amazing hotels at very, very reasonable rates. Maybe a night or two?

Tirana is more or less the on the map location in Albania; obscure begins there. But I'm doing Albania for the trout so that's not a bad thing. I discovered an amazing obscure fishing haven in Bosnia last year. Hoping for more of the same.

Thank you Paul. I live very near Mexico and understand what you are speaking of.

We went to Istanbul and while in Hagia Sophia picked up an "unofficial" guide. He was very helpful. He got us around the lines at the Cistern, and took us to his brother's little tavern for a Turkish casserole lunch. He took us to Panorama 1453, which is the Ottoman commemoration of the conquest of Constantinople in 1453.

Speaking of which, if you have Netflix, watch "Rise of Empires: Ottoman" which goes over how Mehmet II conquered Constantinople. His siege was the 42nd or 43rd to do it. How did he succeed? The show has a lot of good stuff.

This is a great museum! I’d visit It again.

https://www.google.com/search?q=antalya+archaeological+museum&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&hl=en-us&client=safari

Thank you Paul. I like those sorts of programs.

Diane, I am one of those people who gets bored in about 75% of the museums I have visited. The other 25% I can spend all day in. From what I found on line the one you recommend falls into the later catagory. Thank you, I have about 4 hours taken care of.

Antalya is a beautiful seafront city, wonderful seafood . The Turkish coast on the Asian side is one the favorite places I have visited as there are so many antiquities to explore. Enjoy your visit.

James,

A question. When is the nicest time of year to visit the area? Are there months that are too warm or too cold?

"nicest" i guess is subjective.

There are people who will say Turkey is too hot in August (average high about 90F). I come from a town in the US where 105F is not uncommon so its all relative. Turkey is a big country with a lot of climates. Here is Istanbul:

May 71° / 56°
June 80° / 64

September 77° / 62°
October 68° / 55°

In August, September, October, May, June (the months I am considering travel) the temperature in Antalya runs about 6F warmer.

Albania is a lot more complex as its small enough to visit from the Albanian Alps to the Southern Coast. Just looking at September and October Valbona (in the mountains where the fishing is good) the average high is 55F more or less. On the other hand, Sarandë at the extreme south and with some pretty nice beaches runs from an average high of 85F in September to an average high of 75F in October. Valbona tends to be wet, Sarandë no more than 4 days in which it rains during the month of September. Berat and Tirana tend to fall between the two. So, not really any different than any place else in the region.

@James E

On marrying, I gained an uncle who was born in Korçë, Albania. In 1938, age 12 was smuggled out of Albania and sent alone to live with an older brother in Perth, Australia. Never saw his parents again. A favourite uncle. Perhaps the following may be of use.

Korçë is about 120kms to the e/se of Berat and looking at a map, would most probably have a similar climate.
His children last went with him to Korçë late October in 2010, and report that the weather was mild, daytime around 20c. Short sleeve shirts. Earlier trips where in late spring, with slightly warmer temperatures. No one recalls rain being a hinderance.

They report that as Albania was once part of Ottoman empire, there are many mosques and buildings decorated with elaborate ceramic tiles. Tirana has many communist style, bland block architecture. Rakia is produced everywhere. Much like Italian grappa. Brought a few litres back to Perth. Powerful stuff. A good story is told about getting it through customs. I deeply regret I passed up the opportunity to go there. Maybe in 2022.

Recommend any unique and/or prescription medicines should be taken with you. They have talked about the virus, but after three layers of people it becomes hearsay.

They suggest an Instagram page “beauty _of _ Albania” should be useful. Apparently backed by the government.

An English chef, Rick Steins in 2015 did a series Venice to Istanbul. BBC 7 episodes of 1 hour each. The 3rd was mostly in Albania. Might be useful.

Some interesting writings on Lord Byron and John Hobhouse in Albania and Greece are readily available. Sorry, they had no trout fishing adventures.

Regards Ron

Thank you Ron. I know that took time and its appreciated.

If you end up going in the spring, in early April Istanbul has a tulip festival that looks spectacular. I want to get there in April one year to see it in person, but the family members I have that live in Istanbul share photos of it each year. Not sure if that is your thing.

I went out of my way to see the Rose Festival in Bulgaria one time. Yes, my thing. Thank you.

Hi James,

First, I would consider meeting up in Istanbul in April for the tulips . . . subject to Covid developments.
Second, I suggest instead of relying on average monthly temps, you check timeanddate.com for historical day by day conditions for any month of the year, usually available for the last 10 years.

Thank you Chani

We stayed in a B and B in the old historic area of Antalya run by a German and his Turkish wife. The area was interesting and walkable. Had a Turkish bath, went through several little museums and enjoyed the terrace overlooking a tourist boat marina. Took a simple boat ride down the coast. Had 2 full days there, but could have spent more time. I believe we used a Lonely Planet guide for our Turkey trip. Most of our transportation was by bus. The buses were very good. People were friendly and helpful.

First off James I want to thank you for all of your posts and the effort you spend helping others.

We spent a month in Turkey several yeas ago and Antalya was one of our stops. Our trip was in September so all of Turkey was very hot.
We loved Antalya and stayed in the historic Kaleici district where most of the sights are located. We stayed at the Hadrianus Hotel which is a quaint place, nice rooms and lovely courtyard where breakfast is served.
Antalya is nice to explore on foot. We loved the museum mentioned above and our highlite was the co-ed Turkish bath at the Sefa Hamam, over several hundred years old and we still talk about it today.
We enjoyed the food and dined outdoors.
Two nights was sufficient for us but if you do 4-5 by all means do some day trips to Aspendos, Termessos, Olimpos.
We planned our trip using Lonely Planet and Tom's Turkey Travel Planner
https://turkeytravelplanner.com/go/med/Antalya/index.html

You mentioned Side but except for the Roman theatre and the Temple of Apollo and Athena I would give it a miss as it is very touristy and a little tacky.

Enjoy your trip.

racquet588 and Steve; thank you. I will look up the places.

Steve, we are looking at arriving in Antalya about Noon on Tuesday
Wednesday all day
Thursday all day
Friday departing early morning.

Sound about right??

Steve, I looked up the hotel you mentioned. Its beautiful and three nights is $145 total

Hi James
Re your time on the ground it should be time to see everything and maybe do a day trip as well. You can book a van trip to some of the archeological sites if interested. Are you leaving Turkey after your stay in Antalya?

That sounds like a good deal at the hotel> I hope you enjoy it.

Steve, the trip begins in Budapest and moves to Albania and then Istanbul, then Antalya, and then back to Istanbul before heading home to the states. Got a bit tricky due to limited flights and Country A will allow you in if you come from County C, but not if you come from Country B sort of issues.....

I appreciate all of your help.