Kingdom Family Apartment's Durres Center

The location is absolutely perfect if you are looking for those relaxing seaside, seafood vibes; it's incredibly close to the beach. Having a supermarket and a money exchange right in the same building was a massive bonus and made our stay so convenient. The room itself feels brand new, and all the amenities worked flawlessly. The air conditioning was an absolute lifesaver in the warm weather! To top it off, the host was incredibly accommodating and communication was excellent from start to finish. We were given a bonus of staying past our booked time and was given a heads up about the payment options. Would definitely stay here again!

Nothing about the property. Only feedback was the transportation to and from Tirana Airport just needs some improvement with its air-conditioning. It was very hot outside and the air-conditioning in the taxi was not the best. We were sweating by the time we reached our location. Our driver was pleasant but the car will just need some improving. Also, it was highlighted that there is a 24hr reception/concierge but it was an apartment with no reception area. However, the communication with the host was excellent and CCTV are present so not really an issue.

We booked a 5-night stay and overall had a pleasant experience. The apartment was spacious, very clean, and well-maintained. The air conditioning worked perfectly, and the location was excellent- directly opposite the beach and right in the heart of Durrës city centre. We requested an electric kettle and an extra duvet, both of which were provided promptly. As we were celebrating our wedding anniversary, the hotel kindly arranged a complimentary airport transfer and surprised us with a beautiful room decoration featuring flower petals and a bottle of wine, which was a lovely gesture.

The main downside was the communication. The staff seemed to prefer messaging rather than making phone calls, even for matters that required immediate attention. We were also informed upon arrival that their POS machine was not working and that payment had to be made in cash. Unfortunately, this was not communicated to us at the time of booking. The situation became quite stressful, as making a bank transfer to an Albanian account proved difficult, and withdrawing large amounts of cash involved additional fees and daily withdrawal limits. As a result, I incurred extra costs to ensure payment was made. A functioning card payment system would have avoided this inconvenience. At times, the staff were also quite inflexible, and some interactions came across as disrespectful, which was disappointing. Despite these issues, the apartment itself is lovely and situated in a fantastic location. With better communication and a reliable card payment system, the overall experience would have been much better.

What impressed us most was the airport pickup service. Our flight was delayed by about an hour, but the driver patiently waited for us and greeted us warmly upon arrival. We were picked up in a Mercedes, and he even bought us water on the way to the accommodation. The accommodation itself was outstanding and had everything we could possibly need. The room was spacious, modern, and beautifully designed, with high ceilings and thoughtful lighting throughout. Everything was spotlessly clean, including the beds and mattresses. The kitchenette was very well equipped, providing cutlery, dishes, a frying pan, a pot, a wine opener, salt, and everything needed for basic cooking. There was also a kettle and a TV with access to Netflix and Amazon. As an additional touch, three glass bottles of ice-cold water were waiting for us in the refrigerator. Overall, our stay exceeded expectations. Every detail had been carefully considered, making the room both comfortable and welcoming. We would gladly stay here again.

Everything was good.

Firstly very good host that was always there to help, gave you directions and helped with transfer or anything. The communication with him was great. Location of the apartment is also very nice as you just need to cross the road and you are at the beach with many bars, restaurants, playgrounds and others. Grocery store is just in the same building as apartment. Room was spacious, very well equipped and clean, smart TV and AC was there so nothing to complain about. OK soap or shower gel was missing but I hope it happens and other guests won’t need to buy their own 😉

Cash payment. I just don’t like it when there is no card payment possibility. And as I figured out, many bars and restaurants there accept cash only so just be prepared for this. Not very comfortable, but as it was just about carrying some more money with you in cash, it didn’t affect our stay very much. In 21st century you just expect card payment to be automatic choice, in Durres it feels different.