Choosing a Home Base in Europe: Why We Chose Vlorë, Albania
Over the past year and a half, my husband Ismael (Ish for short) and I have spent a significant amount of time traveling through Europe, not just visiting places, but evaluating them. We weren’t looking for a vacation destination. We were looking for a base, a place that could support a slower, more intentional way of living and traveling.
Vlorë had been on my list for a while. But I kept getting pulled toward other places. Crete. Cartagena. Valencia. Even parts of France. Not because Vlorë wasn’t appealing, but because I wasn’t sure how we would be received in Albania as a married couple.
That uncertainty mattered.
And Ish hadn’t been there yet. So until we experienced it together, nothing was truly decided.
That changed quickly.
Once we arrived, explored, and simply existed there together, something became clear. No one treated us differently, at least not in any way we could perceive. And just as importantly, Ish liked Vlorë as much as I did.
At that point, the decision made itself.
What We Needed From a Home Base
We weren’t choosing a place to settle permanently. We were choosing a base to support a lifestyle.
We plan to spend much of the year traveling, so the home base needed to function as a place to return to, not a place to stay all the time.
Our criteria were simple, but non-negotiable:
• Affordable enough to maintain without stress
• Close enough to a major airport to support frequent travel
• Walkable for daily life
• Near the sea
• Safe and comfortable for us as a couple. That last point carried more weight than anything else.
What Other Places Did Better
To be clear, there are places we looked at that offer things Vlorë does not.
Spain offers infrastructure and ease.
France offers a level of cultural depth that is hard to match.
Greece, especially Crete, came very close. It offered beauty, familiarity, and access to the EU without Schengen limitations.
In fact, Greece was probably our strongest alternative.
But the visa process was more complex than we were ready to take on right now. We are in a phase where we want to move forward, not wait on timelines, approvals, and added stress while also managing major life transitions back in the United States.
We needed something that worked now.
What It Was Actually Like for Us as a Married Couple
One of the biggest questions we had going into Albania was how we would be received.
Albania is often described as socially conservative, and that gave us pause.
What we experienced was more nuanced.
From the very first night, we felt at ease. We stayed at a small, family-run hotel near the capital, Tirana. The entire check-in process was handled by a young teenage son translating for his family. He asked if we wanted one bed or two, showed us to our room, and treated us with complete normalcy.
There was no hesitation. No discomfort.
Later, when we walked into a real estate office in Vlorë, it was immediately clear to them that we were a couple. No one blinked. When I mentioned that we are married, it was received just as matter-of-factly.
The owner of the agency even mentioned that having a marriage certificate might be helpful if we pursued residency.
Our property owner, who lives in Italy, has been nothing but kind and accommodating.
At no point did we feel unwelcome.
That doesn’t mean Albania is the same as more visibly LGBTQ+ affirming destinations in Western Europe. It isn’t.
But there is a difference between a place being socially conservative and a place being unkind.
For us, in Vlorë, we found kindness.
The Moment It Became Real
For me, the turning point came unexpectedly.
We were walking down the main retail street when Ish suggested we stop into a real estate office. That told me everything. Up until that moment, I wasn’t entirely sure he was fully on board.
Within an hour, we had identified two strong apartment options.
And then, almost immediately, the apartment we had originally been considering fell through. The owners decided not to rent it long term after all.
At the time, it felt frustrating.
Looking back, it felt like direction.
The next day, we toured the two new options. The first one was the one. Third floor, modern, two bedrooms, two bathrooms, secure, and just a block from the sea.
Everything aligned.
Daily Life Matters More Than Views
We could see ourselves living there. That was the real test.
Not visiting. Living.
Walking along the Lungomare.
Stopping for coffee.
Picking up groceries for the day.
For me, being near the sea was essential. For Ish, it was walkability to cafés, shops, and daily conveniences.
Vlorë gave us both.
The only real inconvenience is the distance to Tirana for the airport. But compared to everything else, it felt like a small trade-off.
Why This Made Financial Sense
We set a mental limit of €1,000 per month for a home base.
This apartment comes in well under that, even factoring in utilities.
That alone makes this lifestyle possible in a way that would be far more difficult in other parts of Europe.
What This Is, and What It Isn’t
This is not a forever home.
It’s not settling down. And it’s not settling for less.
This is a strategic decision.
A soft landing in Europe that allows us to transition into a new phase of life without unnecessary pressure or complexity.
It gives us a place for our things, and a place to return to between journeys.
And for now, that matters.
Looking Ahead
We’re curious to see how Vlorë evolves.
There’s ongoing discussion about a future airport. If that happens, prices will likely rise, and we may eventually need to decide whether to buy or move on.
But that’s a future decision.
For now, this is exactly where we need to be.
What This Experience Taught Us
If there’s one thing this process reinforced, it’s this:
You can’t rely entirely on other people’s experiences when making decisions like this.
You have to see it for yourself.
Or at the very least, work with someone who will.
Because what looks uncertain from a distance can feel completely different once you’re standing in it.
© 2026 Mythic Horizons Travel LLC – All Rights Reserved.
This is amazing Jamie, ypu have put alot of thought into the new phase of you life, I wish you and Ish the best and enjoy every breath taking moment. Im jealous!! I look forward to following your adventures
sincerely Ceri
Thank you, Ceri! I really appreciate that. Don’t worry, we plan to enjoy every second it!!
Much love!