Budgeting for bottled water and meals
 

I am visiting Albania in a couple of weeks time as part of an organised tour with Voyages Jules Verne which includes some but not all meals.

I am trying to work out how many leks I will need for meals and bottled water.

What is the average cost of bottled water?

About how much will an evening meal cost without drinks (not in Tirana)?
About how much will a lunch cost without drinks?

Many thanks.

if no one can answer, this page claims it's about 60 LEK for a bottled water, which is about .45 euro.

https://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/in/Tirana

That actually seems about right to me from other countries.

Bradt Travel Guide on Albania from 2015 says about 50 LEK.

Thank you that is helpful for water.

Can anyone give me an estiamte (top and bottom prices) for an average restaurant meal?

http://www.lonelyplanet.com/albania/money-costs

I was there in 2011, so my information is out of date, but I remember it as a cheap country. I can't remember whether I bothered with bottled water or not, LP says "Drinking [tap] water is generally safe, and is delicious in the mountains, but check with locals first. Many locals in bigger cities prefer to drink bottled water."

In any case, why are you asking about money? Albania has ATMs.

I appreciate Albania has ATMS, I still need to know how much to take out! I don't want to be left with large amounts of Leks to convert back before I leave.

Does Albania routinely take credit cards -if so use them instead of cash for sizable purchases.

It seems to me that by using websites such as numbeo, above, you can estimate your probable costs. No one can really pin down costs precisely, and certainly not for someone else, when ones activities remain to be seen. Take out enough for your best guess (or best hope) and see how it goes. It just isn't much of an issue if you need to get a bit more.

I'm not intending to make any major purchases. I'm just surprised that no-one is able to give me an estimate of what an 'average' meal might cost... I've been warned that some of the smaller restaurants may not accept credit cards.

Perhaps not many people on Fodors visit Albania...

Did you even look at the links above, this from Numbeo:

Restaurants

Meal, Inexpensive Restaurant 500.00-1,000.00 Lek
Meal for 2, Mid-range 3-course 1,800.00-2,701. Lek
McMeal at McDonalds 400-600 Lek
Domestic Beer (1 pint draught) 115.00 Lek
Imported Beer (11.2 oz small bottle) 200.00 Lek
Cappuccino (regular) 144.36 Lek
Coke/Pepsi (11.2 oz small bottle) 93.19 Lek
Water (11.2 oz small bottle) 58.39 Lek

Didn't you use the LP link I posted??? It gives you exactly the information you are asking for. I could look up the costs I encountered in 2011, but I doubt that would be very useful in 2017.

If this is such a big deal (surely you can take a small withdrawal initially and then a larger one if necessary), why don't you go to tripadvisor, pick out some restaurants you like in the places you are going and check their websites for menus and prices. If that doesn't work you can PM some of the reviewers to find out what they paid.

No I have never been to Albania, but I could still estimate how much I would spend for a meal. Based in part on the information people have given you here.

I would have $10-15usd worth of local currency for the bottled water, snacks, unforseen daily expenses plus $25usd worth of local currency to pay for dinner. So $40 per day converted.

I had already looked up the link before I posted. It gives costs for Tirana. I was asking about outside Tirana and wonder if prices are going to be about the same or cheaper?

You are being both obtuse and weirdly picky. You're traveling to a third-world, cheap country and won't have to pay much at all for anything. Budget US$40 per day and you'll manage. Full stop. Outside Tirana versus inside Tirana might make a few euros' difference. Is that important to you? If so, cancel the trip.

Very few people, whether on Fodors or not, visit Albania. There's more than one reason for that.

"It gives costs for Tirana."

Where do you see that it says that? Just says costs for Albania. Or are you confusing the numbeo link with the lonelyplanet link I posted?

If you are so concerned, why don't you ask the tour company? And WHY are you so concerned? Albania is no different from any other country, except it's cheaper than most of Europe.

>> I'm just surprised that no-one is able to give me an estimate of what an 'average' meal might cost

Dear Sir/Madam,
what you had asked was given in the lonely planet link above. About the numbeo link, yes it was Tirana indeed, but with a bit of brainstorming you'll see it leads to a link of Albania in general (up on the left, "Albania", next to "Tirana"). Everything was there, albeit with a bit of brainstorming, which I admit is luxury in these days.

If you need any guidance about how to use internet, or to read a link, don't hesitate to ask us.

No wonder you felt surprised with fodorites. I'm disappointed with them too. They were supposed to swarm the Earth in every country (Albania no less!), and supply spoon-fed answers to every kind of question. Disappointed, tsk tsk.

On a more practical note, if you plan for Tirana prices, and in other places costs are a bit lower, you'll be pleasantly surprised and can adjust your budget and ATM withdrawals accordingly. Withdraw an estimated amount based on your best guess for half your visit and adjust in a later withdrawal when you have more information. Neither we, nor you, can estimate precisely given all the variables inherent in travel, including deciding on a whim to make a purchase or eat in a nicer than usual restaurant. Estimate, then adjust on the ground.

I really do seem to have ruffled the feathers and brought out the worst side of many of the contributors... To be honest I find some of your replies down right rude and verging on the offensive. Is this the best you can do to answer a straightforward question? If so it does not show Fodors in a good light.

I don't think any feathers are ruffled.

You were given an answer to your question in the links provided by Christina and Thursday at the beginning of the thread.

Maybe the problem is most people don't feel a need to know exactly how much a bottle of water costs in any given destination before going there.

You've received answers from several of the most widely traveled members on the site who've done their best to help with your not very difficult question. The problem, it would seem, lies not with the answers but with a seeming inability to apply the answers to the question. I don't feel ruffled by the situation but sense that you are, ESW. Answers have been honest rather than rude, and maybe incredulous. I look forward to the trip report from a place not many Fodorites seem to go.

'Perhaps not many people on Fodors visit Albania...'

Spot on.

'No I have never been to Albania, but I could still estimate how much I would spend for a meal'

spot on.

'I had already looked up the link before I posted. It gives costs for Tirana.'

Ahah. You expect a factor three from a third world country city to a small third world town ?

'You are being both obtuse and weirdly picky.'

spot on.

'If you need any guidance about how to use internet, or to read a link, don't hesitate to ask us. '

Spot on.

'To be honest I find some of your replies down right rude and verging on the offensive.'

Unlikely to get any better now ;-)

'The problem, it would seem, lies not with the answers but with a seeming inability to apply the answers to the question'

Spot on. I would ahve said it differently.