But the summer of 2026 is showing that this advantage is gradually fading. Especially in the south of the country, the prices of accommodation, services and entertainment have risen to levels that are forcing Albanian holidaymakers to compare more options before booking their vacations.

Dhermi, Jala, Himara, Ksamil and Saranda remain among the most sought-after destinations, but at the same time they are also the most expensive. According to rates published by accommodation facilities for the 2026 summer season, a double room in a 3- or 4-star hotel in Himara and Saranda usually costs between 80 and 150 euros per night during July and August.

In Dhermi and Jala, where supply is more limited and demand is higher, prices usually range from 120 to 250 euros per night, while premium resorts and villas often reach 300-400 euros per night and in special cases even more. Prices double for rooms with larger capacities in the case of families with two or more children.

The market for tourist apartments is also no longer considered as economical as it once was. In Ksamil, an apartment for four people usually costs between 100 and 180 euros per night during peak season, while properties with sea views or near the main beaches easily exceed 200 euros per night.

This means that accommodation alone for a family can cost from 700 to more than 1,500 euros for a one-week holiday.

Meanwhile, Albania continues to have a relatively limited supply of “all inclusive” hotels compared with Turkey or Egypt. Most facilities of this type are located in the areas of Durres, Golem, Shengjin and Velipoja. “All inclusive” packages for a family of two adults and two children usually cost between 1,000 and 2,000 euros for a week, depending on the hotel, booking period and level of service.

However, even in these cases, many tour operators note that the gap with similar packages in Antalya or Egyptian resorts has become much smaller than in the past, while the range of activities, resort size and number of included services often remain more limited.

Costs do not end with accommodation. On many private beaches, a set of two sun loungers and an umbrella costs between 15 and 30 euros per day, while in the more exclusive areas of Jala and Dhermi prices often reach 40 to 50 euros. For a family spending seven days on holiday, sun loungers alone can add 150-300 euros to the total bill.

Food is also taking up an ever larger share of the holiday budget. Lunch or dinner for a family of four in tourist areas usually costs between 40 and 80 euros, while in the busiest restaurants near the coastline, the bill can easily exceed 100 euros.

Once breakfasts, drinks, ice cream, entertainment activities and local transport are added, daily expenses can reach 70-150 euros even without including the hotel.

The travel agencies contacted say these are the costs that are making Albanian holidaymakers more comparison-driven than ever before. According to them, instead of automatically choosing the domestic coast, they are comparing prices with Corfu, Halkidiki, Parga or “all inclusive” packages in Turkey. For a family of four, the gap between one week of holidays in southern Albania and an organized package abroad has narrowed significantly.

In some cases, especially when the booking is made several months in advance, a package in Turkey with flight, transfer, food and drinks included may turn out to cost the same as, or even less than, a holiday organized individually on the Albanian coast./ Monitor

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