Americas

Getting there

There's no direct flight from Tirana to the United States, so the journey always involves at least one connection — most commonly through Istanbul or a European hub such as Frankfurt, Amsterdam or Rome. Because of the distance, this remains the destination that calls for the earliest planning of anywhere OnTravel covers, both for the flight and for the visa. Counting the connection, total travel time often runs past ten hours, so it's worth treating as part of the planning from day one rather than a last detail.

What kind of trip suits it

The US typically draws two kinds of Albanian traveller: those visiting family within the sizeable Albanian-American community, particularly around New York and Michigan, and those treating it as the big once-in-a-while trip — a combination of cities and regions, since a distance this long makes it worth seeing more than one place in the same trip. New York remains the best-known entry point, with its Manhattan and Brooklyn neighbourhoods, while Florida draws travellers for its beaches and warm climate.

When to go

Spring and autumn are the most pleasant stretches for New York, with mild temperatures well clear of the heavy humidity of summer. Florida, by contrast, reads best from November to April, steering clear of the intense humidity and the hurricane season that runs from June to November. One small practical note: driving is on the right, same as in Albania, so getting behind the wheel locally holds no surprises, though distances between cities are usually bigger than they first appear.