Hotel Vala in Durres

Rooms are very comfortable, some of them have sea view. Towels are changed everyday. There is a free access to beach towels and deckchairs. One minus for monotonous breakfasts. Sometimes there was no water, scrambled eggs etc.

Food, service, room and surroundings were 10 out of 10. 100% recommended. The view from the rooftop is fantastic and should not be missed. The staff was super helpful and always there fo anything you may need. This is definitely the best place to stay in Durrës!

Everything you need to know about Hotel Vala and the area:

Rooms:
A seaview is a must, if you have the option. The balcony gets sun from 5am to 8pm and you have a great view of the beach and Bay of Durres. The street side is dark all day with an unimpressive view of the alley. Comfortable beds. Small simple rooms. Small space for unpacking. Always hot water. Good air conditioning. Refrigerator.

Service was friendly and adequate.

Beach at hotel:
The hotel is right on the beach squeezed between the main tourist traps and restaurants. This is not a bad thing in Albania :) There will be peddlers selling fresh donuts and grilled corn. You can eat your breakfast outside at shaded tables or drink coffee and beer while lieing in the sunbeds. Sunbeds free. Pack your own towels. Coffee or beer 150. Ice cream everywhere. Warm water, dirty and crowded, no nature. Amusement park 15 min walk towards Golem, 200 per ride (it's fun you will see!)

Vala Restaurant:
The food is excellent here, and the prices are the same as other restaurants nearby. Everything we tried was delicious. It is on the 6th floor with an open, shaded terrace and sea view. The service is "weird" sometimes making it difficult to understand the menu. But as long as you like seafood and dont have any special needs, even a "suprize meal" will be delicious. (Service in Albania is very relaxed meaning you are expected to call the waiter to your table. They will not come and ask if you want a second glass of wine for example.) We ate here 7-8 times over 6 days, trying various restaurants in the area for lunch and returning each evening for dinner. Great coffee and squeezed orange juice. Several kinds of local beer but also the best German beers like Fransikaner or Paulander. The only negative was there were no desserts or cocktails, even though they were on the menu.

Breakfast at hotel:
Very simple and same every day. White bread, real eggs but basic, sanwhich basics, salad, watermelon sometimes. Fake orange juice. Bad coffee. But can order good cofee or fresh orange juice at the bar. It's an unappetizing budget breakfast.

Other restaurants:
Nearby you can find lots of decent Italian restaurants with beachfront seating (for example Hemmingway). A plate of nice pasta or big salads at one of these places costs approx. 350-600 (3-5€) and drinks are 150-250 for juice or Albanian beer/wine. Double for bigger plates or German beer. Salads were big fresh and tasty everywhere we went. A typical meal with drinks for 4 would cost 1800-3000. For something different:
1) Vinnie is the best fast-food nearby (Greek style kebabs (suflaqe in albanian), huge salads, ICE COLD beer etc.
2) on the main street 5min walk toward Durrës, I recommend Quebaptore Peja Te Fisi and order 5 x quebap plate (suflaqe is kebab and quebap is kofta and kofta is hamburger patty in albanian), which comes with some salad and sauce. Many other options, serves very tasty food.
3) On the beach, just past Hemmingway I recommend Przinizen Plus for some semi-traditional Albanian food. You can order "speche" (peppers cooked in different ways, usually a little but spicy) or fasola (beans cooked into a soup) or any salad. They also serve grilled meat and veggies.
4) For dessert, try a giant piece of tierra missu for 150 at the circular restaurant on the pier about 10min walk on the beach towards Golem.

Durrës old town:
A few things to see here (check any website). Promanade and plaza with lots of shopping and restaurants. Everyone was friendly. Roman ruins are disappointing but the city is better than expected. Looks like a small Beruit. Bus costs 40, no schedule, but seemed to run per 10-15 mins. Closest stop is 150m past Hotel Empire.

Safety:
Police patrol the beach regularly. Most shop workers were not agressive. Trip to Durrës old town was pleasent. My family felt safe at all times.