I’m changing destinations again, this time it’s a super fast jaunt, only 3.5 hours long with a short layover in Vienna. I am glad to be leaving Budva, it has been somewhat disappointing and I have had a terrible time with my Airbnb which I will explain in a future post. For now, it’s a travel day Tivat to Tirana on Austrian Airlines that I’m really looking forward to.
TIV Tivat Airport
I began this day with a shuttle from Budva with Terrae-Car for €39. I had used them when I arrived and the service was efficient, safe and clean. Not wanting to deal with busses and the like, I chose to forgo this large amount of money for the ease it brought me this day.
I arrive at Tivat early, because I need to check with the luggage office to see if they will file a report for my damaged baggage. They would not, because more than a week had passed since I arrived. Now I can only hope that SAS will provide some type of compensation without the RIP report.
TIV is very small and not the cleanest or brightest airport. There were several flights leaving and it was jam packed inside. Austrian do not open their counter until 2 hours before flight departure so I have time to kill.
I went to the one and only café (Cafe Negro) at the airport and paid a whopping €17 ($25 CAD) for an average cappuccino, small croissant and small bottle of water. Ouch. I’m foolish for not checking the prices before I ordered.
Royal Blue Beach
After check-in, I decided to stay outside of security for as long as possible. This airport is just too small and claustrophobic. Deciding to walk, I followed the perimeter fence and within a few minutes found myself at the end of the single runway. How cool is that.
Just beyond here, another three minutes and I arrived at Royal Blue Beach. Here I put my bags down and walked around, stretching my legs and enjoying the scenery.
When a plane was due to take off, I couldn’t resist standing at the end of the runway and recording a video of it flying directly over my head. What a rush.
TIV after Security
Back inside the terminal, I was met with a super long line for security and immigration. It ran the entire length of the airport. Once through, there is a small duty-free shop that does sell limited drinks. A small bottle of Coke for €2.40 and the worse looking white bread sandwich for €5.40. No thank you.
It is incredibly crowded in here, I was happy I didn’t have too much time to wait. Most planes will be parked close enough to the terminal that passengers will simply walk across the tarmac when it is time to board.
TIV to VIE
Flying to Vienna is only a one hour flight. The Austrian Airlines plane was clean and comfortable. Passengers were offered a glass of water for free and one Lindt chocolate ball.
The views arriving into Vienna are magnificent. Flying right over the city and seeing palaces and the urban sprawl is very beautiful and interesting.
VIE Vienna
My booking with Austrian only afforded me a 40-minute layover. The plan was to rush to a toilet once inside the terminal and then bolt for the next gate. Unfortunately plans where thwarted as the flight from Tivat departed 15 minutes late.
That resulted in only a 25-minute layover. Over the speaker, it was announced that travellers to Tirana and one other destination alert ground crew as soon as you disembark. I did just that and was directed to a van parked on the tarmac at the nose of the plane.
Soon enough I was whisked away in that van, across the way, to another Austrian Airlines jet. Here I simply walked up the steps and onto my next flight. No terminal for me this trip.
VIE to TIA
Once I was seated on that empty aircraft, for the rest of the passengers were still inside the terminal, I watched out the window for my baggage. I was not hopeful that my suitcase would make the transition with so little time on the ground in Vienna.
The last cart to pull up did indeed have my new suitcase, just purchased in Budva, on board. It was the second to last piece of luggage to be thrown onto the belt and loaded into the aircraft. Phew.
Once again, this is a short flight, just over one hour in duration. The plane was clean and comfortable and the staff friendly. Water was offered, but no chocolate this time, boo. Before I knew it, we were on our descent and getting ready to land in Tirana. Views were of the city and orchards, very pretty.
TIA Tirana
In Tirana we disembarked right onto the tarmac and walked into the terminal. Here we lined up for immigration which was fairly swift. Next was the luggage carousel and with suitcase in hand I headed for the exit doors. ATM’s are plentiful inside this area with the luggage, before exiting.
Stanchions block off the entire arrivals area of the airport here. So, you have to walk outside and then U-turn to come back inside to purchase your SIM card and use the facilities.
SIM Card
Needing a SIM card to order a taxi, I decided to go with Vodafone. The cost is €25 or 2,500 LEK for 40 gb, and 1000 minutes of calls. This is the cheapest package a tourist can get, apparently, and is good for three weeks.
With SIM card activated, I walked outside the terminal to order a taxi. In Budva I had downloaded two apps on my phone, Taxi LUX and VrapOn Taxi. I tried booking with Lux first but they wanted 2,512 LEK ($38 CAD). Instead, I ordered with VrapOn for 1,650 ($24 CAD). Both of these apps work just like Uber and are handy so you do not get scammed by the expensive airport taxis.
Taxi
The traffic around the airport was horrendous, my taxi took 20 minutes to arrive. I had walked off the airport property, to try and get a cheaper price on the ride (didn’t work). Here I waited on the side of the road in 32 degrees heat, under the shade of a palm tree trunk.
Robert, my VrapOn driver arrived and I was taken to my new Airbnb. What a beautiful place! I’m so excited to be here in Tirana and out of Budva. What a relief to have a clean and sophisticated abode with an actual bed, to rest my head for the next little while. Counting my blessings.
