With the European ski season fast approaching, snow sports addicts will be wondering where the best ski and snowboarding opportunities reside. For those looking to go off piste in search of something new and unspoiled this season, Albania offers a wealth of excellent ski opportunities.

As a country of contrasts, Albania has something to offer everyone whether it’s pristine beaches along the Adriatic coast or historical sites such as ancient Berat. However, one of the lesser known facts about the Balkan nation is its ski and snow sports opportunities with one of the best and most scenic of all regions being the striking Valbona Valley, in the Tropoja District of Northern Albania.

Perfect for those with a keen sense of adventure, skiing in Albania does not reflect typical Western style ski resorts. At Valbona Valley for example, there are no ski lifts or mountain rescue vehicles on the slopes. The village is quiet, with no shops, petrol stations or doctors surgeries and when it comes to food, the village relies on farming offering a traditional “back to basics” experience.

Ravin Maharajah, partner at leading Albanian resort Lalzit Bay Resort and Spa comments,

“Only 3 hours away from our development, the Valbona Valley is a must for those who wish to experience “authentic Albania”. The nation affords stunning geography with a number of excellent ski and snowboarding opportunities available on the northern and southern mountain chains. Mount Korab, the highest peak in Albania is certainly one to consider but it is important to remember that skiing in Albania is probably more suited to experienced snow sports fans. If it’s adventure you’re after, Albania has it all.”

With a superb location lying along both the Adriatic and Ionian Seas, Albania has a dry, temperate climate. At this time of year skiing in Albania could well be on the agenda, but winter conditions on the coast are generally mild with potential for visiting Albania’s beautiful beach locations.

Maharajah explains,

“The city of Durres in Albania reaches similar October temperatures as Malaga in Spain – just below 20 degrees. In November, Durres is on a par with St Tropez with temperatures reaching a pleasant 13 to 14 degrees. Albania is the perfect place to grab some winter sunshine, go for a coastal stroll and ski a few hours later – our development makes for a great winter hub.”

For those thinking about tapping into Albania´s property sector, Lalzit Bay Resort and Spa offers a premium, exclusive beachfront product to investors who want the benefits of apartment and villa ownership including private gardens and terraces, exclusive services and more privacy as well as a range of facilities including private swimming pools, a BBQ area, tennis courts and superb restaurants for as little as €30,000.

For more information on owning a stunning apartment or villa in a country of contrasts, please contact Lalzit Bay on +44 845 125 8600 or visit www.lalzitbay.com.

Last month, Albanian Prime Minister Sali Berisha stated that tourism had helped protect Albania from the economic crisis and as a result, Albanian tourism officials have been working hard this year to build and implement a national strategy that will drive tourism further.

With this in mind, forward thinking Albania has taken one reminder of its past life behind the Iron Curtain and turned it into something positive – converting an igloo-shaped concrete bunker into a backpacker hostel.

The joint German-Albanian tourism project, located in the coastal town of Tale, roughly 30 miles away from the Albanian capital of Tirana has a number of German and Albanian students working to convert the former bunker into a hostel that will house up to eight people.

Ravin Maharajah, one of the British partners of leading resort Lalzit Bay Resort,  comments,

“The real aim of this project is to turn the past into something positive and put ‘beds in bunkers’. It’s about doing something useful with a feature from Albania’s communist past that will help benefit the country in the future. The innovative idea will provide cheap accommodation for tourists priced at juts €8 per night and will include all the fixtures and amenities you would expect from a hostel including wood floors, mattresses, a shower and a kitchenette. If all goes well, the plan to renovate a single bunker could rapidly expand especially considering there are around 750,000 of them!”

Indeed, last month’s speech by the Albanian Prime Minister pointed out that for the most recent months of 2012, compared with the same period of 2011, the number of foreign tourists arriving in Albania increased by 277,000, and thanks to tourism 190,000 new jobs were created.

Ravin Maharajah continues,

“Albania is focussed on doing what it can to grow tourism. Whether it’s turning bunkers into hostels or developing 5* beach front resorts such as Lalzit Bay, we must ensure that we cater to the needs of Albania’s growing tourism industry. Many backpackers will enjoy making the bunker hostels their home but there is also a growing number who are looking for excellent rental investments or second homes in the nation. Buyers are looking for somewhere unique and different but distinctly Mediterranean. Lalzit Bay is a remarkable European buying opportunity because it is located on a stunning beach, just 30 minutes to the international airport and capital and when you see the unspoiled beach, you realise that you’re seeing something really special.”

For those thinking about tapping into Albania´s property market, Lalzit Bay Resort and Spa offers a premium, exclusive beachfront product to investors who want the benefits of villa ownership including private gardens and terraces, exclusive services and more privacy as well as a range of facilities including private swimming pools, a BBQ area, tennis courts and superb restaurants for as little as €30,000.

For more information on owning a stunning apartment or villa in one of the best performing growth markets in South Eastern Europe, please contact Lalzit Bay on +44 845 125 8600 or visit www.lalzitbay.com.

Emerging European economies saw around 150 million tourists visit in 2011, spending almost $100bn according to Marcus Svedberg of leading independent asset manager specialising in emerging markets, East Capital. And, with currencies in developing European economies maintaining their value as the euro dips, it seems both holiday makers and property investors are looking at emerging European markets as an alternative to the Eurozone.

Svedberg highlights that the increase in tourism in Emerging Europe is not a new thing, but rather a steady trend. To back this up, unique data from leading overseas property portal TheMoveChannel.com reveals that enquiries for Albania and other emerging European nations of Poland, Czech Republic, Russia, Turkey, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, Croatia and Latvia increased by 10% in the first quarter of 2012 compared to the last quarter of 2011.

Meanwhile, with a cloud of uncertainty hanging over the fate of the common currency, investors have begun to transfer their money into emerging Europe, seen now as positive territory when compared to the collapsing markets in Western Europe.

Ravin Maharajah, Partner of Lalzit Bay Resort & Spa, a 5* luxury residential development located on Albania’s hotly tipped Adriatic coastline comments,

“Investors are looking towards emerging European nations as a safe haven with investors seeking to take advantage of cheap borrowing costs thanks to the European Central Bank´s new lows in deposit interest rates.

“With rising tourism, where travel has been especially strong through Eastern Europe with occupancy rates increasing by 7.5% in early 2012 according to the European Travel Commission, property investors should look no further than the attractive emerging markets in Europe right now.”

When it comes to just Eastern Europe, further data from TheMoveChannel.com has shown that the number of enquiries for Eastern European property increased by an impressive 203% last year. As well as this, Eastern Europe’s share of the total number of enquiries on TheMoveChannel.com database has grown by 11% this year compared to the whole of 2011.

Maharajah explains,

“Tourism and investment in emerging European markets particularly within Eastern nations has grown considerably. Albania for instance has experienced a surge in tourism levels founded on not only new regional transport infrastructure and economic improvements but a greater awareness about what Albania has to offer in terms of beaches and history. At Lalzit Bay we have seen an abundance of businesses popping up around the development thanks to a new road that connects Lalzit to the main highway – great news for investors. As well as this, the weak euro has meant that we have seen an increase in potential UK buyers wanting to take advantage of the amazing value they can get on a €30,000 property at Lalzit Bay.”

Lalzit Bay Resort and Spa offers a premium, exclusive product to investors who want the benefits of villa ownership including private gardens and terraces, exclusive services and more privacy as well as a range of facilities including private swimming pools, a BBQ area, tennis courts and superb restaurants for as little as €30,000.

For more information on the Adriatic’s secret jewel please contact Lalzit Bay on 0845 125 8600 or visit www.lalzitbay.com.

Does the thought of traveling to the usual hotspots of Spain, Greece and France no longer appeal? If the desire to expand one’s horizons in search of ancient history, imposing mountains and calm blue waters seems more tempting than fighting for a square inch of beach to lay your towel on the Costa del Sol, the Adriatic nation of Albania might just make for the perfect summer destination this year.

Experiencing tropical temperatures of up to 40 degrees, Albania’s climate is second to none, boasting 200 days of sunshine a year which gently dazzles upon the nation’s 370km Adriatic coastline and striking mountainous landscape. It’s hardly surprising that Walks Worldwide, a leading UK trekking holiday organisation is expecting great success with their trip to The Mysterious South of Albania this September following last year’s success with the “Accursed Mountains” of northern Albania trek subsequently becoming their best-selling trip.

As one of the hottest emerging destinations with 4 million visitors last year, Albania’s appeal has increased steadily. Albania Holidays a leading Destination Management Company explains: “This year our company has increased co-operation with the UK growing our partner numbers twofold which has resulted in an increase in the number of organized UK travelers from 100 last year to around 300 this year. Consequently, we have seen a 10% increase of the total number of visitors who have booked with us compared to 2011.”

Meanwhile, for those who fall in love and want to return to this stunning Balkan land, potential property buyers will be pleased to know that the pound has strengthened to its strongest level since November 2008 against the Euro. With this in mind, buying an apartment or villa on one of the most exclusive beach communities in Albania, one that lists prices in Euros, could present a worthwhile opportunity for an excellent value for money purchase.

Robin Haynes, director of FX specialist Currency Index comments: “The ongoing Euro crisis has weakened the single currency, giving us the best rates for buying Euros since late 2008. Combined with falling property prices in much of Europe, this is giving Brits an opportunity to buy holiday homes at bargain prices. Nobody knows whether rates will continue up or come back down, but with the UK economy far from healthy, a lot of buyers are taking advantage and buying now in case exchange rates fall.”

Indeed, Albania offers some of the lowest prices and taxes across Europe and along with resilient economic growth over its other European counterparts in the south east region offers plenty of opportunity for property investors.
 

Ravin Maharajah, Partner of Lalzit Bay Resort & Spa, the 5* luxury residential development located on Albania’s hotly tipped Adriatic coastline comments,

“Rising tourism levels founded on not only new regional transport infrastructure (road and air) and economic improvements but a greater awareness about what Albania has to offer in terms of beaches and scenery continues to increase demand not just for holidays but for accommodation. The weak euro has meant that we have seen an increase in potential UK buyers wanting to take advantage of the amazing value they can get on a €30,000 property at Lalzit Bay. We have seen a lot of interest from US buyers too which is encouraging.

“It is also important to point out the rental opportunities available at Lalzit Bay. We expect there to be strong rental demand based on the exclusivity of the resort, the facilities on offer and the quality of the finished properties. We have estimated that a 2 bed apartment costing €70,000 will generate rents of €500 per week over the peak summer months at 75% occupancy giving an annual gross rental income of €6,000 – that’s an overall rental yield of 8.57%.”

Lalzit Bay Resort and Spa offers a premium, exclusive product to investors who want the benefits of villa ownership including private gardens and terraces, exclusive services and more privacy as well as a range of facilities including private swimming pools, a BBQ area, tennis courts and superb restaurants for as little as €30,000.

For more information on the Adriatic’s secret jewel please contact Lalzit Bay on 0845 125 8600 or visit www.lalzitbay.com.

 A national strategy coordinating tourism activities for the next 10 years is currently being drawn up by Albanian tourism officials looking to capitalise on the nation’s steady economic growth and growing popularity as a must visit destination. 

While the Albanian economy grew by an impressive 3.8% in Q4-2011 compared to the same period in 2010 according to recent data from INSTAT there is no denying that the Eurozone debt crisis has hindered economic activity in most other euro nations.

Thankfully, while the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) has predicted that real GDP growth in the euro area will perk up to 0.9% by 2013, Albania’s economy is predicted to go beyond that, picking up by 1.7% next year according to recent forecasts from the IMF.

Indeed, Albania, possibly one of the most misjudged nations in Europe will be hoping to utilise this positive news to attract more visitors and investors to its stunning Mediterranean coastline. In fact, Albania’s Ministry of Tourism has already begun creating a national tourism strategy for 2013-2020 with the local government, tour operators and civil society representatives.

Ravin Maharajah, Partner of Lalzit Bay Resort & Spa, the 5* luxury residential development located on Albania’s hotly tipped Adriatic coastline comments,

“Things are looking up for Albania on what has been a slow economic ride for practically every nation in Europe thus far, and we are certain that this news will further boost confidence.

Tourism in Albania continues to grow – over 4 million visitors came in 2011 and given the positive news from the IMF, property investors will be looking for credible investment opportunities to take advantage of this growth.

We are seeing British buyers with an eye on the Euro exchange rate snapping up some real bargains given the weakened Euro and strengthening Pound.

Even though Albania is not in the Euro, we list prices in Euros and as a result, a €115,000 villa apartment in Lalzit Bay Resort now costs £92,000 compared to £105,000 just 6 months ago.”

But it’s not just Britons showing an interest in Albania. Closer to home, Turkish business representatives showed great interest in the nation last month at the first Turkish-Albanian Forum of Business and Economy. In a bid to promote greater economic cooperation among the two historically linked nations, Turkish Economy Minister Rifat Hisarciklioglu commented on the successful reforms of the Albanian government which have permitted Albania to maintain a positive performance over the weaker international trend during the global crisis consequently improving Albania’s image among Turkish and global investors.

Maharajah comments,

“In keeping with investment forums, Lalzit Bay sponsored the UK – Albania investment forum held in London last month. The high level, targeted event included senior government ministers and international business leaders all focused on ways to produce greater emphasis on business and investment opportunities in the tourism sector and other attractive areas of investment in Albania including energy, construction and mining. We were delighted with the turnout and the feedback showed that UK investors are really looking toward the nation for new untapped investment opportunities with a particular focus on energy and property.”

For those thinking about tapping into Albania’s property market, Lalzit Bay Resort and Spa offers a premium, exclusive product to investors who want the benefits of villa ownership including private gardens and terraces, exclusive services and more privacy as well as a range of facilities including private swimming pools, a BBQ area, tennis courts and superb restaurants for as little as €30,000.

For those thinking about investing in a rental property in one of the best performing growth markets in South Eastern Europe, look no further than the stunning apartments and villas at Lalzit Bay Resort.

For more information on owning a stunning apartment or villa in one of the best performing growth markets in South Eastern Europe, please contact Lalzit Bay on +44 845 125 8600 or visit www.lalzitbay.com.

Official data from the Bank of Albania has identified that tourism revenue for the Balkan nation increased by an impressive 17% reaching €1.3bn in 2011. While Albania offers unspoilt coastline and archaeological parks, property experts believe that the ‘value for money’ nation is also providing excellent opportunities for investors in the holiday lettings marketplace.

Kate Stinchcombe-Gillies, Head of Communications at Holidaylettings.co.uk, the busiest holiday home rental website in the UK commented on the potential of the emerging Balkan land, saying,

“Albania is a new territory in 2012 for the holiday lettings marketplace. The destinations showing promise are the seaside spots of Vlore and Durres. Vlore benefits from the combination of offering a city break holiday with stunning coastline – not dissimilar to a holiday experience offered by Barcelona. There are some beautiful beaches and great nightlife alongside UNESCO sites.

“Typical holiday apartment prices range from £285-£490 per week during peak season, which is fantastic value for money for travellers. BA’s commitment to the country with up to 5 flights a week into Tirana suggests this is a promising area for both savvy travellers and investors to explore something as yet untapped by the masses.”

Indeed, Albania offers some of the lowest prices and taxes across Europe and along with robust economic growth, offers plenty of opportunity for buy to let investors.

Ravin Maharajah, Partner of Lalzit Bay Resort & Spa, the 5* luxury residential development located on Albania’s hotly tipped Adriatic coastline comments,

“Rising tourism levels founded on new regional transport infrastructure (road and air) continue to increase the demand for accommodation. This is generating considerable potential for buy to let investors in Albania and with the nation receiving 4 million visitors last year there is huge potential to grab a slice of the action.

“Indeed, we expect that there will be strong rental demand in Lalzit Bay based on the exclusivity of the resort, the facilities on offer and the quality of the finished properties. We have estimated that a 2 bed apartment costing €70,000 will generate rents of €500 per week over the peak summer months at 75% occupancy giving an annual gross rental income of €6,000 – that’s an overall rental yield of 8.57%. Pretty good considering we know there’s a decent rental market for off-peak months too but we’ve been quite conservative here. ”

Lalzit Bay Resort and Spa offers a premium, exclusive product to investors who want the benefits of villa ownership including private gardens and terraces, exclusive services and more privacy as well as a range of facilities including private swimming pools, a BBQ area, tennis courts and superb restaurants for as little as €30,000.

For those thinking about investing in a rental property in one of the best performing growth markets in South Eastern Europe, look no further than the stunning apartments and villas at Lalzit Bay Resort.

For more information please contact Lalzit Bay on 0845 125 8600 or visit www.lalzitbay.com.
 

Once a stranger to tourists, perceived only as a place that the daring and brave would visit, Albania is now coming into her own, exposing all her geographical wonders and historical wounds to the intrigued masses who are in search of something rare and unspoiled. Indeed, until last year it had mostly been back packers and intrepid travellers who made their way through the Balkan land, but this year has seen some great changes.

Since being voted number 1 in the Lonely Planet’s Top 10 Destinations for 2011, Albania has been growing in popularity with over 4 million foreign tourists visiting in 2011, an increase of 18.7% on the previous year according to Albania’s Tourism Ministry. Indeed, further acclaim for the Balkan land comes from recently being named one of the Hottest Destinations of 2012 by MSN Travel as well as Top Value Destination’ for 2012 by well-respected travel guide Frommers.

But what is it that has led so many to place ‘Europe’s last secret’ at the top of their lists? To begin, the nation encapsulates an ancient history, one where the Ottoman, Greek and Roman empires have left behind a unique tapestry of ancient times which can  be seen at the magnificent Roman ruins in Durres or the UNESCO World Heritage site of Butrint, two of the country’s most famous landmarks.

As well as a typically Mediterranene climate that boasts 200 days of sunshine a year, a beautiful landscape is also set before us. The dazzling 370km coast-line has long been one of the Adriatic’s secret jewels affords sparkling turquoise seas, golden sandy beaches and un-spoilt mountains that make for an undeniable picture perfect location. It’s hardly surprising that Walks Worldwide, a leading UK trekking holiday organisation has revealed that Albania is set to become one of the most popular walking destinations this year after the company saw extraordinary demand for its Accursed Mountains trek to Albania in 2011 and high levels of advanced bookings for 2012.
 

In spite of Albania’s natural charm and unique offerings there have been limited opportunities for overseas property buyers to confidently enter the Albanian property market up until now.

Over the last few years, the Albanian government has spent €2 billion on improving the country´s roads and utilities infrastructure and is fast developing an efficient road network throughout Albania, with the newly opened Kosovo-Albania highway being one of the most significant infrastructural investments to date. Meanwhile, Albania has also become far easier to visit thanks to daily British Airways flights to the Tirana capital from Gatwick as well as the re-modernisation of Tirana airport helping push passenger numbers up by 23% (H1 2011).

Throughout the credit crisis and global recession, the Albanian economy has been one of the few that has seen growth combined with low inflation, keeping confidence in the market stable and foreign investment strong. With a predicted 4.3% GDP growth predicted this year according to the Albanian government, forecasted to be around four times higher than the EU is expected to post as well foreign direct investment into Albania derived from giants Shell and Petromanas joining partnerships to explore for oil, providing large cash infusions into the nation, Albania, already well on its way, is set to become one of the best holiday and second home retreats in Europe.

For those looking to buy property in Albania to take advantage of the low costs of living, glorious weather and resilient economy the process is as straight-forward as they come. There are no restrictions on foreign ownership and taxes are low – there is in fact no stamp duty on property purchases and capital gains tax is just 10%. All contracts must be signed in front of a notary in Albania either in person or through a Power of Attorney arrangement.

The costs associated with buying a property in Albania are low compared to many other European countries with one of the most exciting and innovative developments in Albania offering a slice of paradise for an unbeatable price.

Fully managed by an internationally renowned resort operator, Lalzit Bay Resort and Spa will provide 5 star amenities, service and unqualified luxury, making it one of the most desirable resort destinations in the Eastern Mediterranean from just €38,000 for an apartment.

For more information contact Lalzit Bay on 0845 125 8600 or visit www.lalzitbay.com.

Albania, one of the highest economic growth markets in the south eastern European region made a discovery of massive oil deposits in the Albanian waters of the Adriatic Sea recently. Predicted to produce around 1 billion barrels of oil and provide large cash infusions, Albania’s economy looks set to receive a further boost.

Indeed, the discovery has led to the Balkan nation to consider how it will best spend its new found fortune given that Albania earns 10% of gross production and makes 50% of earnings from oil sales according to the standard contract that the government uses with foreign companies searching for oil.

Ravin Maharajah, Partner of Lalzit Bay Resort & Spa, the 5* luxury residential development located on Albania’s Adriatic coastline comments,

“There are very high hopes for an oil boom in Albania. Indeed, foreign direct investment into Albania derived from global conglomerates Shell and Petromanas joining in partnership to explore for oil in the country will no doubt increase, making a real impact on the Balkan nation.

“As well as banking on oil, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) will assist the Albanian government in September 2012 with a project that aims to rejuvenate Albania’s outdated railways with a particular focus on rehabilitating the Durres-Tirana railway line seeing as 40% of Albania’s population is based there. This will no doubt help push more tourism into the area further boosting the nation’s economic prospects.”

Maharajah continues,

“As a testament to Albania’s potential, our customer base is constantly growing with interest rapidly increasing in our 5* resort. Indeed, the expectation of increased GDP growth as well as high visitor numbers in coming years thanks to a wider range of infrastructure projects such as the new railways, Lalzit Bay Resort & Spa will provide the perfect property investment opportunity for as little as €38,000.

Lalzit Bay Resort and Spa offers a premium, exclusive product to buyers who want the benefits of villa ownership including private gardens and terraces, exclusive services, and more privacy as well as a range of facilities including private swimming pools, a BBQ area, tennis courts and superb restaurants.

For those thinking about investing in a second home in one of the best performing growth markets in South Eastern Europe, look no further than the stunning apartments and villas at Lalzit Bay Resort.

For more information please contact Lalzit Bay on 0845 125 8600 or visit www.lalzitbay.com.
 

Albania’s Tourism Ministry has revealed that the Balkan nation’s tourist sector received a welcomed boost in 2011 with the arrival of around 4 million visitors, an increase of 18.7% on the previous year.

According to the data, 2.7 million overnight stays were recorded in the country last year with Albanian archaeological parks cited as one of the big tourist attractions, having pulled in around 372,926 visitors in 2011.

Of course, it’s not just parks that are drawing in the masses. A variety of remarkable villages, historical sites, castles and natural wonders make for top tourist attractions with Ravin Maharajah, Partner of Lalzit Bay Resort & Spa, the 5* luxury residential development located on Albania’s Adriatic coastline commenting:

“Albania has been described as ‘Europe’s last secret’ by a range of travel experts – it’s certainly becoming the new Mediterranean love for global holiday makers and property hunters and it’s easy to see why. Albania has a rich archaeological heritage inherited from Roman, Greek and Ottoman times, rugged mountain ranges, plush countryside interesting traditions and unbeatable hospitality. The beaches are first class; offering miles of stunning coastline. Dhermi is a gorgeous pebble beach boasts crystal-clear water which is ideal for swimming while Pasqyrat is undoubtly one of the most beautiful in the whole Albanian Riviera. Other world class attractions include The White Spring, one of the top 10 tourist spots in the country as well as Berat Castle and Butrint National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most significant archaeological sites.”

Indeed, Albania’s natural landscape is one of the nation’s biggest appeals with Walks Worldwide adding two further departure dates for its ‘Accursed Mountains’ trek to Albania following extraordinary demand. For serious trekkers Albania’s Accursed Mountain trip provides a trip of spirit and great adventure where trekkers can explore outstanding, unspoiled and virtually impenetrable sites.

Meanwhile, it looks as though Albania could well see a boost in tourist arrivals this June with research from London Stansted Airport revealing that over 15 million are planning a holiday during the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations with Albania cited as one of the top five destinations to escape to according to the London airport.

Ravin Maharajah explains,

“The tourism industry in Albania has been flourishing in recent years. Indeed, the surge in tourist numbers promises a wealth of opportunities for both foreign and domestic investors. As a testament to Albania’s potential, our customer base is constantly growing with large numbers of property investors looking to Lalzit Bay Resort & Spa as the perfect investment opportunity.”

Lalzit Bay Resort and Spa offers a premium, exclusive product to buyers who want the benefits of villa ownership including private gardens and terraces, exclusive services, and more privacy as well as a range of facilities including private swimming pools, a BBQ area, tennis courts and superb restaurants for as little as €38,000.

For those thinking about investing in Albania look no further than the stunning apartments and villas at Lalzit Bay Resort. For more information please contact Lalzit Bay on 0845 125 8600 or visit www.lalzitbay.com.