Blue Guide Albania and Kosovo, First Edition

Paperback - May, 2001 - A. & C. Black, Ltd.
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By: James Pettifer
ISBN: 0393322033

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Reviews by readers

"The Blue Bible for Albania"

I lived and worked for 18 months in Tirana and traveled throughout the country from Kukes to Korca to Saranda to Shengjin and I always, always carried my Blue Guide. It was indispensable for my personal exploration of the country and allowed me to act as "tour guide" for visitors. I used the Albania-only edition until this edition came out and immediately upgraded. Any book can tell you how to get to a country or which hotels are available, but they quickly become obsolete. By focusing more on the history, culture, and environment, Pettifer avoids that trap. Albania changes every day and any attempt to recommend which hotel is good, which is safe, which is cheapest will be oudated before the ink is dry. This book tells you more about why things are the way they are. It also covers more areas off the beaten path. Yes, I own the Bradt guide too, but prefer the more detailed, denser content of the Blue Guide.

buy Blue Guide for history rather than travel

I found this book in the bookstores in Albania in both English and Albnanian versions. As is typical of the Blue Guide publications, it is geared more toward a historical rather than travel context.

It is somewhat 'dated' because Albania has developed quite a bit since 2000. Roads and accomodations are improving. Even Internet cafes can be had in most of the cities, although inconsistent power is still a problem in many areas.

Now that Gillian Gloyer's guide is available, I would recommend buying it instead since it is better as a travel resource.

Ivory Tower travel guide!

This reminds me of one of those coffee table books people used to buy because they felt they ought.

a) because it is the only guide on the market
b) because every other traveller seems to have one
c) it looks nice

Whether it suits its purpose is quite another matter. Put simply if you're into history in a big way and really want to take on the Albanian cause then this will be indispensible.

If you want an up to date guide to the actual practical information the book is almost useless. First, it is clear the author had a lot of help on the way from prearranged contacts eager to be in the book and second the author obviously had a car and I would hazard a guess a driver (at the cost of the Blue Guide). Lonely Planet/Rough Guide this is not.

Which traveller/backpacker is going to hire cars or stay in the Rogner International Hotel in Tirane? This is in essence an `ivory tower` travel guide. For instance, we didn't stay in any hotel mentioned in the guide as,apart from one, were all new and excellent (could teach the Greeks a few lessons!).

You don't need to be told of the state of the roads as in the book as you will be on the bus experiencing this at 40 bumps a minute. What you do need is up to date info on the LATEST accommodation, a lot more maps (particularly of Gjirokaster) and the maps that are there reviewed for correctness. You also need a more practical Albanian Language section to go with your dictionary than the one in this guide.

Also useful would be a guide to Corfu as this will be a booming crossing point in years to come.

If you are going to Albania and feel you MUST have a guide book and/or seriously interested in going into every historical/archealogical nook or cranny then by all means buy it. If nto stay away.

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