We're actually the type of people who prefer to lounge by the pool, book all-inclusive resorts, and explore distant lands. But this time? Everything is different! Instead of fixed bookings and set destinations, we're heading to the Balkans by car. Our final destination is Albania, that's for sure. But the way there? Completely open! We've taken two weeks off and just want to stay where we enjoy it, and savor life. It could very well be that this travel blog turns out to be the shortest of all if we get too caught up somewhere!
Last-Minute Planning, Maximum Spontaneity
The decision for this type of trip came quite spontaneously. Just two weeks before our vacation, we started thinking about sights, possible routes, toll fees, phone cards, and internet access. We basically jumped into the deep end and kept things to a minimum.
Our Little 'Survival Kit'
So what have we prepared?
Sleeping Bags: Just in case we really can't find anything suitable to sleep in. Though I can hardly imagine that!
Balkan eSIM: A digital SIM card for around €20 with 10 GB of data. It doesn't come with a mobile number, but that's not our focus. The main thing is we can be online!
Offline Language Pack: We've downloaded the Albanian translation language for our phones so we can communicate without internet.
Offline Navigation: A navigation app for the phone with offline maps is also on board so we don’t get lost.
Diving into the Adventure
We want to experience the land and its people up close – whether positively or negatively. And we want to take you along on this journey, reporting honestly and openly, both about the beautiful moments and the challenges. Because as we've learned on our travels time and again: Even in bright sunshine, there are shadows, and where there's shadow, there's also sunshine.
We're packing everything up now so we're ready to go next week. Stay tuned for our impressions!