Anyone been to Tirana, Pristina, Podgorica?

tightauldgit

Trying to tick off the few remaining European countries I haven't been to this Summer if I can find cheap trips. 

Spotted Wizz Air doing cheap returns from LTN to Tirana and Pristina which would let me do 3 night trips to each in subsequent weeks in June. Anyone been? Any concerns about travelling in Kosovo at the moment or is it just one of those places where there's always a lingering doubt that things could potentially kick off?

That would then leave me with just Montenegro and Serbia to tick off in that part of the world I think. I guess a day trip to Podgorica from either of the above is pushing it? Can't see any cheap routes to either of these countries otherwise.

Just looking at Wizz Air's flights there's quite a few other spots that are really cheap that I know nothing about - Varna in Bulgaria, Iasi in Romania, Sibiu in Romania - anyone been to any of these spots?   

Ballard

I'm going to Podgorica next month. c£160 return with Wizz Air from Gatwick. Primarily going for the same reason as you. I've never been to Montenegro and it's relatively inexpensive to get there. We've done virtually no planning as yet but we've still got plenty of time. 

CKhalvashi

I'll speak to OH later (she worked in Tirana for several weeks in a few blocks last year), but as far as Albania goes I'd recommend the South over Tirana, but probably not for a 3 day trip unless flying to Corfu and taking the boat. I have been to Tirana but only passing through to the South.

It's a clean city though with friendly people, just make sure you have cash unless things have changed very recently (Euro was preferred, many shops offer a fixed rate of 110-120 to €1). IIRC Tirana Bank was the cheapest way to withdraw cash.

I haven't been to Montenegro recently, nor have I ever been to the southern part of Serbia, but from what I've heard the situation in the last weeks is quite calm save for a domestic arguments between the leadership of the autonomous region and the leadership of Serbia. Foreigners are largely unlikely to be caught up in the issue at hand.

tightauldgit

Well... I'm about to find out ... booked myself to go to trips to Vilnius, Tirana and Pristina in subsequent weeks in June. 

zagfles

We flew Ryanair Stansted to Podgorica last year, about £70 return with priority/2 cabin bags, would probably have been a lot cheaper with just a small bag. We didn't go to the city itself as don't think it's very interesting, instead headed to the coast Kotor/Budva/Bar/Ulcinj. Kotor is stunning. You can get the train to Bar from the airport then bus onto Ulcinj and into Albania, or get the train in the other direction over the mountains and into Serbia. The train is ridiculously cheap. I saw buses heading to Pristina at bus stations in Montenegro.

See https://busticket4.me/EN

https://www.zcg-prevoz.me

Sibiu is an interesting city, did it on the end of my Translyvania trip which I basically copied from Pompey Pete, see  https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5735156/transylvania/p2

Varna I'd guess is used for the Bulgarian Black Sea resorts but not been.

CKhalvashi

tightauldgit said:

Well... I'm about to find out ... booked myself to go to trips to Vilnius, Tirana and Pristina in subsequent weeks in June. 

At VNO, walk straight out of the terminal and you'll find the train station alongside a car park on I think the 2nd turnoff. 

The journey is I think €1.20.

Do not under any circumstances use the taxis outside, some are ok but others have special airport rates that definitely won't be in your favour.

I used Bolt last time (very late arrival) and paid about €6.

tightauldgit

Yeah i think i'm arriving about lunchtime so public transport for the win.  

CKhalvashi

It's not east to find but I'm sure you will. You need to go down in a lift to a single platform, it's small but works and the trains are frequent.

You pay the attendant on the train, either cash or card is fine.

If you cross a bridge with a train track, you've gone too far, so walk back and turn (at this point) to the right.

Edit: Here. I don't think the price has been this since 2018 (definitely in 2021 was €1,20) but it may have been reduced.
https://www.vilnius-airport.lt/en/before-the-flight/transport/train

The station on Google Maps is called Oro Uostas (literally translates to 'airport').
https://www.google.com/maps/@54.6430038,25.2771135,3a,75y,195.04h,85.41t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1svuR3TcdvSkn42p_aAkpurg!2e0!7i16384!8i8192

If you get a window seat on the right, hopefully you'll land on runway 19 as you'll get a fantastic view of the old town. Don't buy a seat just for this as it's not guaranteed.

tightauldgit

CKhalvashi said:

It's not east to find but I'm sure you will. You need to go down in a lift to a single platform, it's small but works and the trains are frequent.

You pay the attendant on the train, either cash or card is fine.

If you cross a bridge with a train track, you've gone too far, so walk back and turn (at this point) to the right.

If its daylight I'll walk two hours before I pay a taxi if i'm travelling by myself so I'm sure I'll find the train. Vilnius looks pretty compact so I reckon it's an hours walk at worst.

I walked from Riga airport into the centre (and back again when I was flying out) took ages but you see a lot of things you wouldn't see otherwise. 

CKhalvashi

tightauldgit said:

CKhalvashi said:

It's not east to find but I'm sure you will. You need to go down in a lift to a single platform, it's small but works and the trains are frequent.

You pay the attendant on the train, either cash or card is fine.

If you cross a bridge with a train track, you've gone too far, so walk back and turn (at this point) to the right.

If its daylight I'll walk two hours before I pay a taxi if i'm travelling by myself so I'm sure I'll find the train. Vilnius looks pretty compact so I reckon it's an hours walk at worst.

I walked from Riga airport into the centre (and back again when I was flying out) took ages but you see a lot of things you wouldn't see otherwise. 

Just edited the original post for you, you're too fast tonight TAG

tightauldgit

CKhalvashi said:

It's not east to find but I'm sure you will. You need to go down in a lift to a single platform, it's small but works and the trains are frequent.

You pay the attendant on the train, either cash or card is fine.

If you cross a bridge with a train track, you've gone too far, so walk back and turn (at this point) to the right.

Edit: Here. I don't think the price has been this since 2018 (definitely in 2021 was €1,20) but it may have been reduced.
https://www.vilnius-airport.lt/en/before-the-flight/transport/train

The station on Google Maps is called Oro Uostas (literally translates to 'airport').
https://www.google.com/maps/@54.6430038,25.2771135,3a,75y,195.04h,85.41t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1svuR3TcdvSkn42p_aAkpurg!2e0!7i16384!8i8192

If you get a window seat on the right, hopefully you'll land on runway 19 as you'll get a fantastic view of the old town. Don't buy a seat just for this as it's not guaranteed.

Buy a seat? I'd sit on the wing if it was cheaper.