Temperature in September: 27°C maximum; 15°C minimum
Season: autumn
Travel time from UK: 3 hours
Time difference: BST+1
It may not be quite the “new” thing. Croatia” for now, but that's part of its charm – this Balkan gem has so far managed to stay largely off the radar. There's always a brave adventurer ready to be first, though; in the unspoiled Albanian Alps, Brooklyn native Catherine and her Albanian partner run a five-room farmhouse Rilindja Hotela cosy oasis amid peaks and meadows, where evenings bring feasts of whole spit-roasted goat and trout fresh from the reservoir. Or escape to the Albanian Riviera for its glorious golden sands and clear, cobalt waters lapping at craggy coves. In summer, the beaches are packed with Tirana fugitives – but by September they’re back at work, while the climate remains Mediterranean and the Adriatic warms. Albania is one of the poorest countries in Europe, and only small areas benefit from tourism: namely the Riviera, and even then it’s mostly in the form of day trips from cruise ships. Heading into the mountains brings you closer to more traditional rural communities and puts your money where it counts most. While independent travel can still be tricky here, Travel responsibly offers hiking, biking, food, wine and culture routes that don't just focus on the coast.
Where to stay: In Tirana, book a room at Agrotourism Gjepalia pre-World War II farmhouse converted into a guesthouse. In Permet, meanwhile, Villa Allows is a restored 19th century mansion.
