| Hello, hi! I’m travel reporter Natalie Compton, and it’s my turn to deliver the newsletter this week. At a recent happy hour, a colleague asked, “Where’s your favorite place to travel?” You’d think after more than six years in this job, I’d have an answer ready. It’s a softball, and still I always panic. Where is my favorite place? Lately I’ve been bringing up my summer trip to Albania. It’s not my No. 1 favorite travel destination on earth, but it did surprise me. I went on assignment there to find out if it was worth the hype I’d seen on social media; what I found was more rugged, rich and interesting. During a week of exploration, I floated in more beautiful water, ate delicious food and encountered more lovely people than I had anticipated. I never saw a Starbucks. It wasn’t all perfect. As I mention in the story, the roads are terrifying (and inevitable — you need to rent a car if you really want to see Albania) with hairpin turns and aggressive drivers. Locals will tell you about alleged corruption, particularly when it comes to the rampant development of tourist areas. I never found a glass of wine I liked. But I’m bullish on Albania. Not for its similarities to its European neighbors, but because it felt far away and special. I will think about my swims in this lake for the rest of my life. TIP Albania runs on cash, even in some hotels, restaurants and gas stations, but ATMs aren’t always easy to find, particularly in the north. Hit the machine early and have more than enough Albanian Lek handy. In a pinch, some places may take U.S. dollars or euros. Taste test | 
