Villas Jezerca

Very nice hotel with an instant chill vibe! The room was comfortable and pretty, the lunch menu was amazing (the best lunch we had so far), and the location is great. The restaurant is also SO CUTE. Definitely worth to stay here! However, if you’re planning to do the Valbona - Theth hike, here are a few tips to make the most of your stay. These are things I ended up discovering by myself as I wasn’t able to get much guidance from the guesthouse: * Get some snacks from Dori’s Bakery before the hike. I wouldn’t recommend relying only on the hotel breakfast/packed breakfast for the whole day. * Be aware that the shuttle doesn’t take you to the actual start of the trail. Even after asking, we were dropped at Valbona Valley, around 2.3 km before the real trailhead. Those extra 2.3 km are along a rocky, unpleasant road and don’t add anything to the hike. You also regularly get covered in dust as 4x4s from other guesthouses drive past, taking their guests further up the road. It’s definitely worth checking whether another guesthouse can take you all the way to the trailhead, although the last section requires a 4x4/minibus due to the road conditions. * Consider asking Villa Jezerca or another guesthouse to prepare a packed lunch. We were told there was a restaurant on the way down from the pass, which is technically true, but when we reached it before 12 pm they had already run out of their very limited food options. I wouldn’t rely on it for lunch. * If you’re travelling on a budget, ask about prices before ordering at Villa Jezerca. There is no menu, as they prepare delicious homemade food each day, but this also means there are no prices displayed. It’s worth checking the price beforehand so you know what to expect.

Overall, it’s a lovely place to stay and we really enjoyed the hotel itself. The only downside was the lack of practical information around the hike. I asked quite a few questions about transport, food and other logistics, but struggled to get clear answers and sometimes felt I was being a bit annoying by asking. A little more guidance on these practical aspects would have made the experience even better.

Lovely little hut, views were breathtaking and we loved sitting out on the mini porch in the evening. Food was great and staff very helpful.

Nothing.

Absolutely loved staying here. The scenery, the magical property, the kind staff, and of course the resident chickens. The restaurant served some of the best food… simple, delicious, and clearly made with so much love and care. I could have happily stayed here for weeks. Everyone seems to rush off to Theth, but I think Valbona was superior … it’s so quaint and peaceful, and the scenery is absolutely insane. A truly special place.

Spacious houses with a comfortable mattress. Lovely view. Good location.

(1) Staff were extremely rude, patronising, and dismissive. Mocking us when we asked for packed lunch (in their offer) or a transfer to Fierze (in their offer). (2) No WiFi in the rooms, despite being advertised. (3) They asked to pay for the room in cash - don’t do it, booking.com won’t be able to support you. (4) BED BUGS.