Guesthouse Marashi — Hotel in Shkodër Municipality

The mattress was good and we slept very well until the morning when the family got up and naturally produced noises (the walls are very thin and offer little insulation for noise and temperature). Overall this nevertheless was unfortunately the most disappointing accommodation we had in Albania. "Deluxe junior suite" was quite a mouthful for a small room with bath tub, especially as the hotel ran out of hot water when the bath tub was filled by just a third. There wasn't any table, desk, closet, sofa, or chair - but there was a strange (somewhat mouldy) smell in the room, and the hardware was quite patched together. The mother was very friendly and welcoming, and someone clearly made an effort to decorate the room but in September, the Christmas decoration did feel rather out of place; only one side of the double bed had a lamp (that needed to be unplugged if you wanted to charge your phone), and the liquid soap dispenser in the bathroom was empty - all just smaller issues that only matter as the room was 50% more expensive than a similar room we had considered nearby that wasn't advertised as "deluxe." Dinner (ALL 1,500 ~ €15 fixed price) was another disappointment - several dishes were the blandest we've had in Albania, especially the potatoes. We are quite puzzled about all the positive reviews. We noticed that the mother put all her passion in the operation but the other family members made us feel that they really didn't enjoy working in the family business (e.g., when we arrived in the breakfast room, the family still was eating there, too, so they kept the entrance door closed and ran a heater to keep it warm; once the family had finished and left, the guy serving breakfast opened the room and switched off the heater as guests from the deluxe suite obviously were not entitled to a warm breakfast room). We do not want to be disrespectful - yet we believe that this honest and constructive feedback is the most sincere help we can give the family to improve, our apologies if this hurts! We wish you...

We stayed here 1 night before our Theth to Valbonë hike and it was wonderful. ||GETTING THERE ||We arrived in the minibus from Shkoder (booked with Northern Albanian Alps tour company), which parks in the "Centre" of Theth, and is about a 15 min walk to the guest house. It's an easy walk on a main rocky road along the river with our backpacks.|| We arrived too early for check in, but the hosts were very welcoming and provided coffee and offered to store our backpacks until check in. They arranged a taxi for us to the Theth Blue Eye trailhead (saved us 2 hours 😅). ||ROOM||The beds were comfortable, room was clean and had a radiator for warmth at night. The view from our room in the main building we had was partially obscured by their second floor addition over the dining room, but could still see the beautiful mountains! ||FOOD||The food was excellent (violeta made the best petula we've had in Albania in 2 weeks!). It's traditional guesthouse style - you sit and they serve you an abundance of traditional foods - cheese, meat, bread, and vegetables and fruit. We could eat dinner between 7-9, and breakfast started at 7am which was great to get started on our all day hike. We asked the night before and they packed us a lunch for our hike as well. ||Breakfast was included ( including coffee), and lunch and dinner + day time coffees are paid to the hosts. We paid about 2000 lek for 2 dinners + 2 lunches. ||IN THETH ||The guesthouse is well located - easy 15min walk from the centre/bus parking for arrival, easy walk to the Reconciliation Tower and Theth church, accessible to the road to either walk to the Theth Blue Eye (far!) or grab a taxi to the trailhead for 500 lek, who we arrange to come back to get us 3 hours later which was good timing.||To hike to Valbonë in the morning, it's at 15 min walk back to the centre where the trail starts, so it does add an extra couple KM to your day hike but not much and honestly it's a nice warm up on flat road before the incline immediately starts...

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Our stay at Marashi Guesthouse, under the care of the lovely hosts Leta and Beni, was an absolute delight. Nestled in the heart of Theth in the Albanian Alps, this charming retreat provided us with an unforgettable experience.

From the moment we arrived, we were greeted with warmth and hospitality by Leta and Beni, who made us feel like part of their family. The accommodations at Marashi Guesthouse were cozy and comfortable, but the real showstopper was the breathtaking view from the balcony. Overlooking the majestic mountains, winding river, and lush valley below, every moment spent on the balcony felt like a scene from a postcard.

Leta's homemade meals were another highlight of our stay. Each dish was a culinary masterpiece, showcasing the flavors of the region with fresh, locally sourced ingredients. Whether it was breakfast with a view or dinner under the stars, every meal was a memorable experience.

In addition to the stunning views and delicious food, Leta and Beni provided invaluable recommendations for exploring Theth and the surrounding area. From scenic hiking trails to hidden gems waiting to be discovered, they helped us make the most of our time in this picturesque corner of the world.

Overall, our experience at Marashi Guesthouse was truly magical. We left feeling refreshed, rejuvenated, and filled with gratitude for the memories we made. We cannot recommend Marashi Guesthouse highly enough and cannot wait to return for another unforgettable stay. Thank you, Leta and Beni, for your hospitality and for sharing your piece of...