As full-time senior managers juggling back-to-back meetings and bedtime routines, my husband and I often dreamt about the good ol’ days spontaneous weekend trips, silent mornings, and uninterrupted dinners. You know, the pre-kids era when a “late night” didn’t mean cleaning vomit off the carpet at 2 AM.
Since having our first child (and now blessed with three), we’ve shared the same bedtime chat:
“Once the kids are older, we’ll travel again.”
“When they move out, we’ll go to Greece.”
“Maybe when we retire, we’ll finally see Paris.”
Translation: Never going anywhere ever again.
The Night I Snapped (In a Good Way)
One night, after negotiating with a toddler over broccoli like I was on an episode of Survivor: Dinner Edition, something in me snapped in a good way. I grabbed my laptop and searched “affordable destinations with direct flights and zero guilt.”
Tirana, Albania popped up.
- Not too far.
- Budget-friendly.
- Beautiful, quirky, and full of surprises.
- And best of all… it felt possible.
Now, this is where it got tricky: childcare. Finding someone brave enough to look after three high-energy kids for 4 days felt like planning a royal wedding with half the budget and none of the glam. We asked grandparents, bribed siblings, considered cloning ourselves…
Eventually, it happened. We had a childcare plan. We booked. We packed. We panicked.
Tirana: The City That Brought Us Back to Life
Arriving in Tirana felt surreal. No strollers. No “I forgot my blankie” meltdowns. Just us, two overworked parents blinking in the sunlight like we’d just escaped a bunker.
Here’s what we loved:
🏙️ Skanderbeg Square
We stood there for a moment just being. No one needed a snack. No one asked where the bathroom was. It was like being newlyweds again except now we high-fived over booking travel insurance.
🏛️ Bunk’Art 2
This underground bunker museum gave us both chills in a good, reflective way. It’s a fascinating slice of Albanian history. The audio guide even worked properly. If only parenting came with an audio guide, right?
🛶 Lake Bovilla & Dinner Cruise
Hands down, the highlight. We sailed on still waters while sipping on drinks, whispering, “Can you believe we actually did this?” I may have ugly-cried into my dessert. Zero shame.
🍽️ The Food
Flaky byrek, rich stews, and waiters who didn’t hand us a kids’ menu (bless them). We didn’t cut anyone’s food for 72 hours. Miraculous.
More Than Just a Getaway: What Else We Did in Tirana
Tirana turned out to be so much more than a quick break it became a playground for rediscovery, adventure, and a lot of laughter. If you’re on the fence about booking that child-free escape, let me walk you through a few more things we did that will make you say, “Okay, I need to go.”
🚡 Dajti Express Cable Car + Mount Dajti
We took the scenic Dajti Express cable car to the top of Mount Dajti breath taking views, a rotating restaurant, and a moment of peace that felt like therapy.
👉 Book the Dajti Cable car tour on Tiqets.
http://travelmoreworkless.com/tiqets
🛍️ Pazari i Ri (New Bazaar)
This buzzing local market is perfect for strolling, sampling, and shopping. No kids = no rushing. Just vibrant flavours, handmade goods, and maybe a cheeky wine bottle or two.
👉 Take a walking food tour on Trip.com. Book using the below link:
http://travelmoreworkless.com/trip.com
🎨 Street Art & Hip Cafés
Tirana is modern, artsy, and effortlessly cool. We sipped flat whites in creative cafés.
👉 Discover Tirana’s art scene with Tiqets book using the below link:
http://travelmoreworkless.com/tiqets.
🍷 Vineyard Wine Tasting
Outside the city, we explored a local vineyard where we sampled bold Albanian reds and crisp whites no juice boxes in sight.
👉 Book your wine tour on Trip.com. Book using the below link:
http://travelmoreworkless.com/trip.com
✈️ Travel Tips (With Commission-Boosting Perks for You!)
I’ve learned how to make travel easier and earn a little income from it win-win! If you’re planning a trip, here are my go-to resources (affiliate links included):
🚖 Airport Transfers & Taxis
- Welcome Pickups – Private airport transfers with a personal driver: http://travelmoreworkless.com/welcomepickups
- Kiwitaxi – Book door-to-door transfers ahead of time: http://travelmoreworkless.com/kiwitaxi
- Intui.travel – Perfect for multi-leg journeys across Europe: http://travelmoreworkless.com/intui.travel
- GetTransfer.com – Find the best price for airport shuttles or intercity rides: http://travelmoreworkless.com/gettransfer
🚘 Car Rentals
- Localrent.com – Affordable rentals with no hidden fees: http://travelmoreworkless.com/localrent
🎟️ Attractions & Activities
- Tiqets – Skip-the-line tickets to museums, attractions & more: http://travelmoreworkless.com/tiqets
- Trip.com – Book tours, hotels, and full travel packages: http://travelmoreworkless.com/trip.com
💼 Flight Delays? Get Compensated
- Compensair- Check if you’re eligible for cash compensation for delayed or cancelled flights: http://travelmoreworkless.com/compensair
🛡️ Insurance & Extra Cover
- Ekta Travel Insurance – Budget-friendly travel insurance with real support: http://travelmoreworkless.com/Ekta
📌 Every time you book through one of these links, I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. It helps keep this blog alive and fuels the next adventure (and maybe the next babysitter!).
Final Thoughts
This trip wasn’t just a vacation it was a reminder: We’re still us.
Yes, we’re parents. Yes, we have demanding jobs. But beneath the laundry piles and work Zooms are two people who fell in love and once spontaneously booked a trip to Morocco just because flights were cheap.
If that sounds familiar, and you’ve been waiting for “someday” let me be your sign: Don’t wait.
Plan it. Book it. Go.
Even if it’s just for a weekend, and even if your ugly cry into dessert it will be the most amazing thing you’ve done for yourself in years.
NOW GO!
AND let me know how it goes……
