Self-Guided Culture

From ancient ruins to alpine peaks, Albania swept me off my feet with its wild beauty, warm hearts, and unforgettable surprises at every turn.

Zaphna Manser Highlights of Albania

From ancient ruins to alpine peaks, Albania swept me off my feet with its wild beauty, warm hearts, and unforgettable surprises at every turn.

Zaphna Manser Highlights of Albania

My thoughts on this trip are a bit mixed.

Pros:
Our tour guide, Veriano, was fantastic—funny, thoughtful, and incredibly knowledgeable. He was truly one of the best parts of the trip. He took great care of us and paced the itinerary well, allowing us to see and experience a lot without feeling rushed. Having him handle all the logistics in advance was a huge benefit—it allowed us to maximize our time and fully enjoy each location. One highlight was the convertible bus ride from Amalfi, which he arranged as a surprise—absolutely unforgettable! I also really enjoyed the group of fellow travelers—such kind, interesting people who added so much to the experience.

Cons:
Working with Exodus was more challenging than expected. Their process seems geared primarily toward travelers from the UK, especially when it comes to flights and logistics, so coming from elsewhere was more complicated and less cost-effective. The trip also got off to a rocky start—the initial tour leader who was supposed to meet us at the airport was 40 minutes late, and no one from Exodus or the local team contacted us. It left several of us wandering the airport, unsure of what to do. Thankfully, things improved significantly once we connected with Veriano.

I had mixed feelings about the hotel (Hotel Due Torri). There was rarely anyone at reception, which made it difficult to get assistance when needed. Meals were served in a large, hot, noisy dining room where the hotel owner’s dog frequently barked, and the breakfast staff came across as unhappy and even dismissive—at one point, a breakfast staff member made fun of one of us in Italian saying, “I guess she can’t read”. That said, there were bright spots—Salvatore and a few other team members were warm and welcoming, and the cooking demonstrations were enjoyable. Unfortunately, the food itself didn’t measure up to other meals I’ve had in Italy.

Like many travel experiences, this trip had both highlights and lowlights. Overall, I’m grateful for the opportunity and the wonderful people I met, but I’d likely consider a different travel company in the future.

Julia Lamb Highlights of the Amalfi Coast