In Tirana I’m staying at the Mercure Hotel. It’s a fairly new property that only opened in the spring of 2024. In fact, everything still smells new.
Location
I chose the Mercure mainly for its location, only twenty minutes from the airport and fairly close to the city centre – but without having to endure the congestion in the old town. On the down side, there aren’t really any restaurants close by, and getting around without a car is difficult in Tirana.
The Hotel
The public areas are still glitzy and sparkling new and obviously well taken care of.
The hotel also has a rather looking rooftop pool on the eighth floor, which offers a great 360 degrees view of the city.
The Room
My room is located on the seventh floor. I like that it doesn’t have wall to wall carpeting.
The bed is firm and very comfortable, it’s just a bit short, though. My legs stick out the end, and I’m only 183 cm tall. There is also a good sized desk with a coffee machine on it and a fridge below.
Bottled water is replenished daily.
It’s also rather nice that I have a balcony that runs the length of the room.
The bathroom is large and spacious. The shower passes the test for the objective assessment of hotel room quality, which is based on my highly scientific method of attempting to have a shower without flooding the whole room in the process. The water pressure is excellent!
Being an All Accor member means that I get a complimentary drink at the bar and a selection of snacks in my room as a welcome gift.
The Restaurant
There is a restaurant located on the mezzanine level and a bar in the lobby. Breakfast is served in the restaurant. For breakfast there is an extensive buffet with a good selection of local dishes that change daily.
The Staff
The staff at the hotel are friendly and obliging. They’re highly motivated. No matter what inquiry I have, they immediately volunteer to help.
The last time I was in Tirana, I stayed at the Hilton Garden Inn, which was not so nice. Next time I visit Albania, I’ll definitely be staying at the Mercure again.