Palma City Hotel

This isn't the best hotel in Sarande - not that I'd know because we only stayed here. If you walk around there are newer, bigger, probably 5 hotels all around. But covering the basics, Palma City is clean, nice room, beds are comfortable, the breakfast is ample and varied and very tasty and the staff are very polite (especially Alexa who is a star and a mine of information). However, if you are going to Albania for the first time - and so are probably adventurous but maybe a little nervous then Palma City is the perfect place to stay. As our late night ferry was coming into Sarande we were really concerned we would be in bother finding the place. No need, you come out of the port and it's there - you can see it on your right as you go up the escalator from the passport hall. The proximity to the port is nothing to worry about - the port itself is very small and there's never more than two ferries in. The other big advantage is that Palma City is actually very central while still being just on the edge - it's a 10 minute walk to all the restaurants in either direction. But it's far enough away that the party atmosphere won't keep you awake. The balcony gave a great view of the whole of Sarande and its surroundings and the pool was refreshing (and quiet) in the heat. Highly recommended - and when we go back to Sarande again, I can see us staying here.

I would definitely recommend this medium sized hotel on the main beach in Saranda. I was a bit disappointed that the pool did not, in fact, have any water in it - despite it being sweltering hot in mid-May, but apparently May is still "off season" there. We had a third floor room facing the Sea, and it was just wonderful having the big wrap-around balcony with a couple chairs. Great views of the beach and port area. I should mention that there was considerable noise until about 10pm on a weeknight in the port due to machines, etc. It was a very short walk to the main promenade, the produce market (everyday from 9am-2pm) and bus stops. The bed was not comfortable by western standards but the sheets and towels were clean, and staff were cheerful and helpful. It included a modest breakfast buffet too.

Waste of money. We stayed in this hotel for 2 nights with a family of 5. We had a reservation for 3 rooms. This hotel does not reach basic standards, is not clean nor maintained and is not even safe. The management wants to compete with the big boys who have 4 or 5 stars but is completely failing, even by Balkan standards. Most important findings; 1/ positive; according to the high price none! 2/ negative; There is no hotel parking as they advertise: you have to pay 5 euros/day at the nearby pay parking of the port. In and around the hotel you can constantly smell the diesel emissions from the ships that dock in the terminal just next to the hotel. The rooms were not cleaned upon check-in. The rooms were not clean after cleaning. There is a sticker on the toilet with the message “disinfected”. Room with water damage; swollen baseboards, peeling wall paint and mold on the wall. Too little lighting and cheap LED strips hanging loose. Short circuit in the room's lighting circuit: the lights go off and on again spontaneously. Walls with dirty cracks. 1 socket for 3 plugs including the refrigerator; either you watch TV or you have a working refrigerator. Fire detector has been removed; absolutely unsafe and illegal! Rinse water from the toilet runs next to it when flushing. Ants in the rooms on the second floor. Poor finishing of the rooms; safe is loose in a cupboard, toilet paper holder loose on the wall, etc Wifi doesn't work in several parts of the hotel! There is not enough room in the breakfast room for all the guests. The breakfast does not meet a 4 star concept at all. The swimming pool is far too small for all guests.