VANLIFE ALBANIA - BEST COUNTRY FOR VANLIFE?

Follow our journey as we continue full time van life in our self build / self converted Mercedes sprinter conversion camper van.
We are a family of 4 plus a German shepherd Dog and a rabbit that have left the UK to tour / travel Europe and beyond.
In December 2021 we got a 1 way ferry ticket across to Calais and darted through France straight to sunny Barcelona. We then worked our way around the Spanish coast including Gibraltar then into Portugal. We had hoped to get the ferry to Morocco to escape the Schengen zone but due to the ferry boarders staying closed to Spanish ferries, we decided to take the huge road trip to the first non Schengen country which was Croatia!
Along the way we visited Andorra, Monaco, Italy and Slovenia.
We stayed in Croatia for nearly 6 weeks before moving on to Montenegro for a week, then our current destination, Albania.
In this weeks episode we visit the UNESCO world heritage listed city of Berat also known as the the town of 1000 windows as well as the thermal baths of Benje
We will be uploading videos weekly so please like and subscribe to help our channel grow.
We are new to blogging, filming and editing, already we have learned a lot from the first few edits and have realised what mistakes have been made so we can improve each week.
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[@john_and_mayo]

Loved this one guys, Albania looks great and is now on my list to visit. Your Vlogs are getting better each week.

[@KevintheCamper]

Thank you, that’s brilliant to hear! I don’t think it will be long before more people realise how good Albania is. The further south we go, it gets better and better 😃

[@gotshot8355]

Albania looks like Greece Switzerland and Spain! Very nice video!

[@KevintheCamper]

Thank you very much! Your 100% right there… There are some very beautiful parts of Albania and it’s so under rated 😃

[@Jumatarto]

Ho my goodness that hot spring bath looks so inviting hopefully one day I will will be able to experience the delight of a pure natural soak at one with nature 👍👍👍

[@KevintheCamper]

Thank you again for the comment ❤️ You should definitely put the thermal baths on your bucket list! This place really has to be experienced in person. Take care x

[@flaka9950]

Beautiful nature. 👍👏👏👏🏛🏢🏞🌷🌹🏝🌲🇦🇱.

[@KevintheCamper]

Thank you 😊 it’s amazing 🤩

[@zjarr6279]

Guys, there are more baths further ahead toward the canyon, the canyon too is scenic.

[@KevintheCamper]

Ah thank you! We didn’t know… I think we may go back again soon as we loved it so much so we will definitely check them out 😃

[@stu2290]

Another incredible vlog guys !! The thermal bath looked amazing !! Nearly at the 800 subs !! Keep it going guys and remember keep smiling and stay safe. Look forward to the next vlog. lamtumirë për tani

[@KevintheCamper]

Thank you Stu! We loved the thermal baths so much we stayed for a few days. It’s been brilliant seeing the subscribers going up lately, nearly at the magical 1000 I never would have thought it 😃

[@eagledon]

Really nice vlogs, keep it up guys

[@KevintheCamper]

Thank you 🙏🙏🙏

[@liebenrood1]

What an amazing beautiful country, that’s one for my list and it’s not that far from us. Thanks guys ❤️❤️

[@KevintheCamper]

It’s definitely a top country! We love it here and can’t believe it isn’t more touristy. The further south you go, the less rubbish there is it seems x

[@sallycameron131]

Great video as always, drone shots are amazing😊 We have been in Albania for the last two weeks and slowly following you in your footsteps, working our way down through the country. We were in Berat two days ago! Didn't make the castle though, well done for walking up there!! We love Albania also, really friendly people😍

[@KevintheCamper]

Really glad you’re enjoying it Sally 😃 The castle wasn’t easy, I think you made a wise decision 😅 Berat itself is amazing enough. Wait until you get to the thermal baths, you won’t want to leave 🤩

[@sallycameron131]

@@KevintheCamper I know they look great, and with the back drop of the mountain just fabulous 😍

[@lesleydurham7129]

That city with all the windows looked great and the thermal baths were amazing. Definitely put Albania on our travel plans for next year. You’re all quickly becoming our fave vloggers on you tube with all the wonderful places you’re showing us that others haven’t been to. Well done guys xx

[@KevintheCamper]

Thank you very much Lesley, really appreciate it 😃 Yes I’d definitely put Albania on your travel list, we can’t believe how much we’re enjoying it. We wasn’t sure what to expect at first but it’s been a really nice surprise. Thank you xx

[@liljanasufaj4130]

Actually, Berat is not called " the city of the thousand windows". It is a mistake that Albanians do it all the time and it gets wrong on translation. Berat is called " the city of windows on top of each other", but in Albanian the words " nje mbi nje" ( on top of each other), it sounds very similar to " njemije e nje" ( one thousand and one). It is a mistake that a few Albanians mention it from time to time to clear things up, but I get very angry with our Ministry of Tourism that doesn't bother at all to correct this mistake in papers. It's not your fault guys for calling it like that, it is our fault. The same way happens to our " Accursed Mountains" in the Alps. That is not their real name. The mountains are called " Bjeshket e Nemuna" and not " Bjeshket e Namuna". Only the letter " a" instead of " e" it makes e big difference, it makes a whole other word and meaning. " Bjeshket e Nemuna" are translated as " Named Mountains"( it makes sense in Albanian),, but " Accursed Mountains" it sounds more interesting and makes it more mythic to tourists, so nobody is bothered to change these mistakes. If you really want to know the names of places, you should ask the locals. They are the only ones who really know the original names and places. I mentioned this only for educational purposes..... Anyway, enjoy your trips to Albania!

[@KevintheCamper]

@@liljanasufaj4130 Thank you very much for the explanation, we have spoke to some locals since we posted the video that also explained the same thing. You are right, speaking to the locals is definitely the best way for information

[@ssmg42sss8]

🤫 keep it quiet. We don't everyone to come here

[@pt712]

Enjoying the the videos guys great job . Photographer getting much better from the earlier days.good luck.

[@KevintheCamper]

Thank you 😃 We’re slowly getting in the swing of things, it’s taken a while but we notice small improvements each week. Thanks again 🙏

[@Lou_Sylw_Bulgarian_Rescue_Dogs]

Nice one you lot. You had some beautiful weather on your side. Love the drone footage. We never visited the thermal baths there because it was snowy when we were there but we did enjoy Berat. Those mountain views over the back of the town were incredible too. Safe travels and all the best to you all! I can't help but think of the memories you are building for the little ones! 😍👍

[@KevintheCamper]

Thank you guys 😃 yes we loved this one and are really falling in love with Albania. Hope you’re both doing well ❤️

[@anthonke]

Thanks for an amazing video. You've all caught the sun. The food looks lovely.

[@KevintheCamper]

Thank you 🙏 It’s been very warm here lately so Laura is a happy girl 😃

[@juliebutler7661]

Amazing ! Stunning drone footage ! Really enjoying your journey x

[@KevintheCamper]

Thank you Julie 😃 Really happy with this one x

[@tonielezi8458]

For Berat we say City of (NJË MBI NJË DRITAREVE) wich means windows on top of each others.

[@KevintheCamper]

Thank you for the explanation Tony. Before we visited Berat we got our information from Google so it might not be 100% correct. After speaking to the local Albanian people, we now realise it’s actually “windows on top of each other” I think it comes down to different translations. Either way, it is a beautiful place. Thank you for the info 😃

[@gatersontour]

Great video Some beautiful footage 👌 Thanks for sharing 👍

[@KevintheCamper]

Thank you guys 😃

[@kevoldguysrule3758]

Brilliant video guys, what an awesome education your boys are getting, thank you so much for taking us with you on your adventures. Atb Kev

[@KevintheCamper]

Thank you Kev, we feel very lucky to be able to show them this way of life. Thank you for the comment 🙏

[@theunfamiliarroute]

Amazing

[@KevintheCamper]

Thank you guys 🙏

[@blackeagle7947]

July and August are the most hottest months in Albania when temperatures reaching up 49°C.

[@KevintheCamper]

I’m not looking forward to those temperatures 😅 We are already feeling the heat and it’s not even 30 yet. We would have to be in the water constantly 😂

[@liljanasufaj4130]

@@KevintheCamper 49!!????? I think you did a mistake there. The highest Albania has ever experienced is 43 for as far as I know. Yes, the temperatures now are soaring over 35 which now its called almost normal for July and August, while 20 years ago they used to be around 32-33 degree the highest.

[@KevintheCamper]

@@liljanasufaj4130 I never said the temperatures reached 49c so I suggest you re watch the video 👍

[@liljanasufaj4130]

@@KevintheCamper Sorry! It was the other guy who left the comment here and I was replying to him. Got your name by mistake! Cheers!

[@paulranford6538]

Brilliant 👍👍

[@KevintheCamper]

Thank you Paul 🙏

[@assafnaor5752]

Try Tave Kosi a national dish of lamb or chicken with rice baked with yoghurt and eggs.

[@KevintheCamper]

Thank you! I will give that a try when we’re next in a restaurant. Everything we have tried so far has been very good 😃

[@holyrs1575]

@@KevintheCamper speca me gjize , or fergese....its everyones favourite food in Albania haha

[@theox9015]

nice video and wellcome to albania

[@KevintheCamper]

Thank you very much Theo 🙏 We have fallen in love with Albania

[@holyrs1575]

Btw a lot of Albanians get this wrong too, Berat is the city of one window on top of another window(so windows on top of eachother) , not one thousand windows since it's very similar to prounce those two words in Albanian . Enjoy your stay!

[@KevintheCamper]

Ah ok! Thank you for explaining this, we just get our info from Google so sometimes it may not be 100% Thank you for your comment and explanation 🙏

[@arrore]

@@KevintheCamper Google is correct on this one. That is the international wording for it.

[@KevintheCamper]

@@arrore Thank you 🙏

[@stevewilson2945]

Luvin Albania, cheap living and Cumbrian weather 👍😝

[@KevintheCamper]

It’s amazing mate, it’s a lot different to what we expected. Hope you’re well

[@stevewilson2945]

@@KevintheCamper yep all good pal home for a few days, then off to where I was brought up for a few meeting our son n girlfriend there they’ve hired a pod 👍

[@KevintheCamper]

@@stevewilson2945 Lovely! You can’t beat quality family time. Have fun mate and enjoy the pod 😃

[@blackeagle7947]

Hey mate you should travel further south and visit some beautiful gorgeous places like Llogara, Jale, Qeparo, Himare, Borsh, Sarande,Ksamil and dont forget to pay a visit to blue eye. Enjoy your journey guys.

[@KevintheCamper]

Hi, thank you for the recommendations. We have been looking for some more places to visit so they have really helped us out. Thank hou

[@Spiritualwarfare587]

Thermal bath is good for skinn get rid of blackheads

[@KevintheCamper]

We certainly felt refreshed after the thermal baths 😃

[@loulou8241]

Beautiful 🙌🏼👍🏼

[@KevintheCamper]

Thank you 🙏

[@ffweg4916]

I am from holland. Nice video.bye bye

[@patronaccommodations546]

Hey you are in Zvernec ❤❤

[@JC-ce8uw]

Is the walk safe as in is it just a straight path or is it slippery and rocky?

[@KevintheCamper]

The walk to the thermal baths? It is only a short walk as you can park almost next to the bridge but walking over the bridge is a little slippery. We had to hold on to each other a few times 😅

[@JC-ce8uw]

@@KevintheCamper thank you. What about walking up to Berat castle.

[@KevintheCamper]

@@JC-ce8uw Berat castle wasn’t slippery but was very very steep. Out of the 2 places, the thermal baths would be easier to access as you don’t have to walk over the bridge. You can walk through the river which is rocky but only knee deep

[@JC-ce8uw]

@@KevintheCamper Is the hike upto Berat castle on a even road. Has steps? Can a car drive up their instead?