The beer was 50p – although the raki was often free, raised in toast to the trickle of visitors who made it to Albania. Fast forward 10 years, and I find myself on a flight to Tirana, keen to see how the country had changed. The Riviera beaches aren’t as lovely or anywhere near as abundant as those found in Croatia. Skënduli House, Gjirokastër, AlbaniaAncient settlementsOld Himare was largely an ethnically Greek settlement, although elsewhere in Albania other cultural winds have blown. Recommended Provider (WRP) Jet2 Holidays offers Tirana city breaks, while several other operators, including BA, offer Albania beach packages.