Albania has become an increasingly popular destination for people looking for affordable medical and cosmetic treatments, including hair transplants.
But your trip doesn't have to be only about the procedure.
If you are travelling to Albania for a hair transplant, you will usually have some time before and after your treatment when you can take things slowly. And instead of spending those days in your hotel room, you can use the opportunity to see some of the country.
One of the easiest ways to do that is to rent a car.
Your hair transplant is only part of the trip
A hair transplant requires some recovery time, and your clinic will give you specific instructions about what you should and shouldn't do after the procedure.
That doesn't mean you have to stay indoors for your entire trip.
Depending on your doctor's instructions and how you are feeling, gentle sightseeing can be a great way to spend your time. You can take a relaxed drive, stop for lunch, visit a historic town or enjoy some of Albania's scenery without having to plan your entire day around activities.
The important thing is to keep your recovery first and follow the advice given by your clinic.
Why rent a car?
Having a rental car gives you something that is particularly useful during a medical tourism trip: flexibility.
You don't have to join a tour group or organise a taxi every time you want to go somewhere.
You can leave Tirana when you feel ready, drive somewhere interesting, stop whenever you want and return when you have had enough.
There is no need to pack your day with activities.
Sometimes the best plan is simply a comfortable drive, a good meal and a quiet place to enjoy the view.
Start with Tirana
If your clinic is in Tirana, there is plenty to see without going far.
Explore the city at your own pace, have a coffee, visit Bunk'Art or take a relaxed drive around the wider Tirana area.
You can also use your car to reach places outside the centre without depending on taxis.
And when you are ready to go further, Albania's relatively small size makes it possible to turn a free day into a short road trip.
Visit Durrës for a change of scenery
Durrës is an easy trip from Tirana and offers a completely different atmosphere.
You can walk along the waterfront, have lunch by the sea and visit some of the city's historic sights.
It is close enough to Tirana that you don't need to make a full-day expedition out of it.
For someone recovering from a procedure, that can be exactly the point: see something different without making the journey unnecessarily complicated.
Take a relaxed trip to Krujë
Krujë is another interesting option for a short trip from Tirana.
The historic town is known for its castle, old bazaar and mountain setting.
You can take your time, explore what interests you and return to Tirana when you are ready.
As with any sightseeing after a medical procedure, keep your plans comfortable and follow your clinic's advice about walking, sun exposure and other activities.
Or go further if you feel up to it
If you have more time in Albania, a rental car gives you the possibility of exploring further.
You could consider places such as Shkodër, Berat or the Albanian Riviera, depending on the length of your stay and your recovery schedule.
You don't need to turn the trip into a road-trip marathon.
Choose one destination, take your time and enjoy the journey.
Albania is a country where the drive itself can be part of the experience.
Your car can also make the airport part easier
Most international visitors arrive through Tirana International Airport.
If you have already arranged your rental car, you can collect it at the airport and use the same car throughout your stay.
That means you don't have to arrange separate transport between the airport, your hotel, your clinic and the places you want to visit.
For a trip that already involves medical appointments, having one less thing to organise can make a difference.
Take it easy while you recover
There is an important difference between sightseeing and trying to have an action-packed holiday.
After a hair transplant, your recovery should come first.
Your clinic may advise you to avoid certain activities, direct sunlight, swimming, strenuous exercise or other things for a period of time. Follow those instructions even if it means changing your travel plans.
A rental car is useful precisely because it lets you take things at your own pace.
You can drive somewhere, spend an hour or two there and head back.
No schedule. No tour bus. No pressure to keep going.
Turn a medical trip into a trip to Albania
If you're already travelling to Albania for a hair transplant, you have a chance to see more than the inside of a clinic and your hotel room.
Take the recovery period seriously, listen to your doctor and give yourself time to rest.
But when you feel ready, get in the car and see a little of Albania.
Visit a historic town. Have lunch by the sea. Drive through the countryside. Stop for a coffee. Enjoy the scenery.
You came to Albania for a procedure.
You might as well leave having experienced some of the country too.
Looking for a rental car in Albania?
Book N' Ride lets you compare cars from verified local rental companies in Albania.
You can pick up your car at Tirana Airport or choose another convenient location, depending on your trip.
Choose a car that suits your plans, take your time and enjoy Albania at your own pace.
