As of May 3rd 2022, all Covid-19 travel restrictions in the Western Balkans (Albania, Kosovo, Montenegro and North Macedonia) have been lifted. 🎉
There is no need for proof of vaccination/recovery or a recent test when crossing borders.
We recognize that you will have questions regarding the impact on existing and future bookings with us. So that you can make the right travel decisions for you, we are providing factual, balanced and pragmatic information with links to primary, trusted sources.
We understand that each person will be feeling a range of emotions with regards to Coronavirus / COVID-19, the steps put in place by the world governments and how it might affect travel plans to Albania and the Balkans this year. We take that responsibility to our clients, team and society to comply and protect as best as we can. When travel restrictions are lifted and for travel in the future, it is for you to decide and feel comfortable and supported in your decision.
Current Situation in Albania and the Balkans
🟢 Albania:All entry restrictions have been lifted.
🟢 Kosovo: All entry restrictions have been lifted.
🟢 Montenegro: All entry restrictions have been lifted.
Frequently updated, reliable information is available on the websites of the German and American embassies of the respective countries.
Austria | Belgium | Germany | Netherlands | United Kingdom | United States | Switzerland
Zbulo! Discover Albania’s Advice
- Like everyone else we are closely monitoring the situation, have taken steps to protect our guests and have assemble sound advice how to minimize risk. We’re happy to answer any questions this article may leave.
- While remotely the entire Zbulo team is working as usual to provide the service and quality you expect.
- With widespread travel advisories in place and a rapidly changing situation, please contact us by writing to welcome@zbulo.org or calling +355 69 6731 932 should you be unable to travel so that we can arrange postponement – read on about options in the next chapter.
- Check your flights itinerary to see if any border closures/restrictions have been put in place. Updates are published on the International Air Transport Association website.
- As we always do, we strongly encourage you to take out travel insurance that will provide adequate cover.
- If you want or need to cancel your plans, see the options below and contact your insurance to see if it covers your reason for cancellation. See more under insurance below.
- Once you have booked a trip with Zbulo! Discover Albania, our terms and conditions apply for any cancellation or postponement of your trip.
- While dashed travel dreams are certainly disappointing, the impact on the individuals and businesses whose livelihoods depend on income generated by tourism promises to be devastating as described by Forbes.
- For more information please read the following chapters.
Your Current Travel Options with Zbulo
We want to be clear and transparent, so that you know exactly where you stand if you have booked a holiday with us or are planning to do so.
Change of date
In order to give you ultimate flexibility and time to decide, we’re offering the option to postpone your trip up to 7 days prior to departure to a future date and as many times as necessary for as long as government travel restrictions remain in place. This includes moving back to your original departure date if conditions allow it to run earlier than expected. To further help your decision making, we will waive the standard administration charges on date and itinerary changes. This “credit on future tours” is valid for travel dates up to the end 2022. Please note that an itinerary change to a higher priced tour may result in additional charges due to complete the change.
Cancellation
Deposits on scheduled groups are fully refundable up till 30 days prior to travel and can be converted to credit for future tours up to 7 days prior to travel. Deposit fees are used to cover the cost of cancellations if less time remains.
Deposits for private tours remain non-refundable, should you wish not to use your deposit as “credit on future tours”, we will amend our terms and conditions to offer a 50% refund.
Please note that different terms may apply to bookings placed through third parties and platforms.
Cancellations from our side
Zbulo does not typically cancel trips, however, local restrictions beyond our control may force us do so. We we will consider cancelling a trip in the 30 days prior to the tour start date based on the current information available. Deposits are automatically converted into “credit on future tours”.
Steps We’re Taking to Protect Travellers on Our Tours
Our client’s health and safety is of the utmost importance to us and with that in mind you will see below the steps that we are taking to protect you and mitigate the risk of contracting & spreading Coronavirus / COVID-19 while you are travelling on our tours.
- Each van will be thoroughly sanitized at start and end of the trip.
- Your van will be provided with hand sanitiser and tissues.
- We will dispose of any rubbish bag with tissues at the end of every day.
- We use the sanitizing spray to wipe down van surfaces daily.
DO:
- Notify your guide if you are feeling unwell at the earliest opportunity.
- Meet and greet your guide and other participants with the namaste gesture.
- Avoid unnecessary personal contact (hugs, kisses, high-fives etc.) and passing around of objects.
- Please make the effort not to touch your face and follow the personal hygiene recommendations.
- Wash your hands properly and often.
- Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve when you cough and sneeze.
- Put used tissues into a bin and wash your hands.
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.
- Avoid close contact with people who are not well.
- Stay at home if you are sick to help stop the spread of whatever infection you may have.
DON’T:
- Do not touch your eyes, nose or mouth if your hands are not clean.
- Do not share objects that touch your mouth – for example, bottles.
- Do not pass your phone or camera to others.
Above all we want to be as respectful of each of our client’s feelings and concerns surrounding Coronavirus / COVID-19 and we would request that if you are travelling with us, that you make your feelings known in an understanding and respectful way to your guide, so that they, in turn, can make any necessary adjustments and relay information as appropriate to the group.
COVID-19 PT-PCR Test Centers in the Balkans
Please find below a selection of test centers ordered by location. Click to access further details like website, contact information, location and pricing. In June Tirana Airport launched a test center outside the terminal, simply arrive at least three hours prior to your flight, queue up and receive your result within 90 min. For tests completed at the Tirana Central labs of Intermedica, ALNET and Genius until 18:00, results are guaranteed within the same day. The expected turn-around across the country is 3-8 hours.
As a Zbulo client, ask us or your guide for further details. Testing at your hotel can also be arranged with prior notice. This allows to complete the test upon return to the city in the afternoon and travel with the results on the next day. If you’re not staying overnight in one of the below listed locations before flying out (a place where testing is not available) we recommend adding an extension night in Tirana or arriving early to the airport.
Staying Healthy While Traveling on Our Tours
- Frequent and thorough hand-washing with soap for at least 20 seconds is a key method of avoiding contracting and spreading any germs while travelling and is seen as particularly important to avoid Coronavirus / COVID-19. If hand washing and soap are not available then hand sanitizer is recommended.
- Avoid touching your eyes, mouth and nose unless your hands are clean.
- Avoid close contact with people that look or feel unwell, their personal items and any surfaces they may have touched. Maintaining a distance of over 1m is recommended by the World Health Organisation.
- If you are on any medication, then pack additional supplies should your return home be postponed.
- The World Health Organisation understand that the virus is spread via droplets and those droplets landing on surfaces. It is not airborne and therefore cannot be transmitted through being on the same airplane.
- Bring extra medication in case you are delayed returning home due to quarantines or border closures.
The World Health Organisation website answers frequently asked questions, provides general advice to the public and daily updates on the situation, which we’re closely following.
Insurance
As always it is important that you have adequate travel insurance which covers your specific needs, including any known medical conditions or activities you plan to do.
It is also worth checking the detail of the policy around travel disruption including delays or cancellations as policies do vary.
If any restrictions were put in place by government, the impact of this is likely to be covered by your travel insurance policy, however, you should check this with your provider. Insurance does not usually cover “disinclination to travel” where Government does not advise against travel. You may be able to pay a premium for cancellation for any reason but you must speak to your insurance company about this.
What to do if you Feel Unwell on the Trip
The symptoms of Coronavirus / COVID-19 are:
- A dry cough
- A raised temperature (over 37.3 C)
- Shortness of breath
While this does not necessarily mean that you have the virus, the local government and national health services advice is that you call 0800 40 40, a free 24/7 hotline, if you suspect you have symptoms. They can also advise about travel restrictions and other measures in place.
It is requested that you do not visit a doctor’s surgery, hospital or pharmacy. For medical emergencies first call 127 in order to receive instructions before visiting any hospital. For any other forms of urgent support the police will be at hand at 129.
