Tirana in £30s-£60s rtn

You might have heard about its turquoise bays and flowery hills, but lemme tell you why Albania is seriously underrated in the off-season...

With villages straight out of a Christmas postcard, and old men sipping rakia replacing the summer crowds, you'll feel like you've stepped into a very different place to what you're used to, if you've visited in the country.

Here's a couple of places where the winter Albanian magic happens:

• Berat — you may recognise it from those famous Ottoman houses, stacked on the village's hill like a giant staircase. Now remove the crowds, add a little mist and soft sunlight, and the winter magic is on.
• Theth — if you manage to reach it (the road is often closed in the winter because of snow), you'll never want to leave. Picture cosy guesthouses, hot cups of teas and staring at snowflakes slowly falling on the Albanian Alps.
• Gjirokastër — it's a whole city made of medieval stones, with a massive castle and dramatic scenes. Plus, warm taverns serving the country's best qifqi.

And yes, all this for less than £40 rtn... brohoritje!