El Primero Hotel

Stayed here for nine nights end of August/beginning of September. We chose a room with sea view balcony and it was stunning. The hotel and facilities are immaculately clean. The staff are very accommodating and friendly. The cleaning staff who turned our room around daily were fantastic. The breakfast and lunches we had were good. The beach is just on the doorstep and there is no charge for sun loungers for guests. The main town of Sarande is a 10 minute drive away but there are a number of restaurants in walking distance of the hotel. Would definitely recommend!!

Me and my husband stayed in El Primero hotel for 6 nights and we really enjoyed it! The staff are all very helpful and friendly, especially the lovely gentleman manning the reception. Everything is brand new and EXTREMELY clean (and we have very high standards for cleanliness). Lovely view of sea from the room. Infinity pool, the sea and the pebble beach are gorgeous. Sun beds on the beach free for hotel guests. Free beach towels daily at the hotel. There are many cool restaurants and bars within a few minute walk from the hotel. Overall, our stay was fabulous, there were only a few minor things that we would probably recommend to improve - there is no iron and ironing board to borrow in the hotel, the restaurant doesn’t offer any wine by glass only by bottle (strange) and the food could be a little better. Lastly, the beach bar starts playing party music so loud every afternoon that there is no place to escape it if you don’t want to listen to it, not sure why they do that there is no beach party going on just people enjoying their afternoon drinks/coffees and families with kids …

As part of our total country trip across Albania, I found a recommendation for this hotel for my stay in Sarandë which appealed to me. I’m glad I chose El Primero. First, it’s located just south of the bustling (read noisy) Sarandë concourse of hotels, restaurants, and shops. And unlike the aforementioned hotels, this one has a beautiful and expansive beach. Not at all crowded, pristine emerald waters, perfectly clean sands, and a pleasant “openness” to it. The hotel is owned by a family, so it’s quickly apparent that they take great pride in providing guests with unmatched service. The hotel is immaculate. Not only the rooms, but the lobby as well. I’m not sure when it was opened, but it looks clean. There are a team of workers that are constantly cleaning. Breakfast was included in our reservation. Breakfast runs from 8am to 10am. And, it’s a bountiful spread with an expansive variety to please any guest. The grounds have several lounging and seating areas to experience, including a very nice infinity pool which overlooks the beautiful Ionian Sea, and framed by a view of Corfu Island just a short few miles out. The private beach has sufficient lounge beds and umbrellas, but not in overwhelming quantity; as do many of the other hotels in the Sarabdë and Ksamil area. El Primero clearly is focused on accommodating a discerning guests who is looking for an enjoyable and relaxing experience in a clean and comfortable environment. We initially reserved our stay for 2 nights, and then intended to head to Ksamil for 2 nights (at Poda Hotel) before continuing on with the rest of our trip. We literally drove to Poda, we’re about to check in, and decided that it did not come close to the experience we had the previous two days. We drive back to El Primero and decided to extend or stay there for another two nights. We HIGHLY recommend this hotel in Sarandë if you are looking for a boutique feel, friendly and attentive staff, relaxing stay, and a terrific beach experience. And truly, this has to be one of the cleanest hotels I have visited, and I travel extensively. I plan to lodge at this hotel whenever my travels bring me to Sarandë. Some things to know before you stay: 1. The hotel does NOT serve lunch or dinner. This was not a problem for us, as there are numerous restaurants very close by, even within walking distance. 2. There is a camp ground adjacent to the hotel. During our stay, the people that were camping there were wonderful. Not at all noisy. All of the camper/combi were modern and sleek. It actually made me envious of their lifestyle ;-) 3. There was ample parking during our stay. There is underground as well as outdoor parking. We parked outdoors, and had no worry about it. 4. We had a rental car. Downtown Sarandë is a short 10-12 minute drive. And downtown Ksamil is about 15-20. And after visiting both, I can’t tell you how happy we both were that we staying at El Primero. Safe and enjoyable travels to you all.