Dhermi, dear (expensive) but delightful promenade below cliffs, with beach bars, on Albania's south-west coast

 Dhermi, on the coast of Albania, is known as the Albanian Riviera. We drove there from Tirana.

We turned off at a lakeside. Two restaurants were at the start of the waterfront road. We drove around, ignored the pedestrian area and went back to the first two restaurants because we could park our car outside. The restaurant we chose had a small waterfall. A cat meoued until it received a morsel of chicken. 

Vlore Beach

We stopped for a drink in the delightful beachfront of  Vlore. A long flat beach with lots of thatched beach umbrellas, and wooden loungers. A mile of modern and traditional hotels in bright colours.

Our drinks stop at Vlore included a Prosecco costing a modest 2.5 Euros. No food available.  

The Alliraj, Pr Murat Terraci, L Uji L Fitchie Vlore.

Dhermi Cliffbase Beach

Dear but delightful Dhermi is over a switchback mountain. We descend to sea level and a road at the foot of the cliff, behind several skyscraper hotels, ends up at ours. The valet parking man, waiting, siting in the car park, immediately comes across to help us unload.

La Brisa Hotel

La Brisa Hotel Upmarket Beach With a Promenade of Noisy Bars

The hotel has valet parking. The man on the desk is all smiles. Our room on the 3rd floor overlooks the sea. 

What delightful luxury. We have a sofa in the room. 

Looking out to sea, on the balcony, are two wooden chairs and a small table on the balcony. 

The wide desk area is plenty big enough for two of us to sit at our laptops. The main chair has a proper back.

The bathroom is big. the bathrobes have the belts threaded through the loops. Plus point.

But only one bath towel. I phone down. The man on front desk asks, 'only one toothbrush?' Perspicacious? Or a frequent problem?

The housekeeping girl arrives grinning, with the extra towels and toothbrush.

 I sit at my laptop using a balcony chair. It is hard to sit on - but I have two pillows on my side of the bed so one of the pillows becomes the chair cushion.

Artur Resturant

The restaurant Artur next door, off the lobby, with another entrance from the beachfront, turns out to be under separate management. So we discovered when we asked to have the dinner cost added to our hotel bill. Very odd. So breakfast is not in the hotel but in the restaurant under different management.

I have half a bottle of Gewurtztraminer. I ask if the lemon chicken comes with any vegetables. No. Not one. I frown. 

To compensate for no vegetables, my husband and I share a salad starter. Cheese and rocket and tomatoes. 

My main course, chicken, arrives. The waiter has given me french fries.

Delightful Desserts

You can see the desserts in the glass cabinet. I plan my meals backwards from dessert.

The dessert was a pie with cream and crunch. Trever had a tiramisu which was a great success with pistachio.