Molla Guesthouse

Experience a slice of traditional Albanian family life at the Molla Guesthouse, where the family balances the running of their charming guesthouse with the management of crops and sheep.

At the end of a well-beaten animal track, a good 400 yards away from the village road (as far as a vehicle can drive) is Fran and Lula Molla's beautiful guesthouse. The house is located on an isolated, deep-green meadow. Their sons and daughters, born and raised in a place with such an abundance of harsh beauty, have all moved to the city, in search of an easier life.

However, during summer they all come back home with their families, and take turns in making Grandpa Fran and Granny Lula happy. They assist them by taking care of the guests, the crops and the harvest, the sheep and the house, as well as take part in the busy, Thethi summer social calendar. The house is perfect for small groups of climbers and families who are looking for spectacular settings where they can experience local life, family values and cultural heritage.

Going to Thethi means going back to the old days.

The per-night rate includes breakfast, lunch (often a picnic lunch) and dinner. Only cash payment will be accepted. Guests are advised to withdraw cash from a cash machine in Shkoder before getting to the guesthouse as there are no cash machines in the village.

Molla Guesthouse offers all the basic services and facilities offered by all Thethi families. Its special location offers the added advantage of lunches consumed outdoors in the pretty meadow under the shade of apple trees, to the accompaniment of the tinkling sound of flowing water.

As tourism is in its infancy in Albania, the village houses do not have a check-in or check-out time. However, if there is a new group coming, guests will be requested to check-out before the arrival of the new guest (which is usually after noon).

Luggage can be left at the reception for a few extra hours. Guests should refer to the online dictionary while asking about storage of their luggage.

-  for cancellations made 48 h before the arrival date, there will not be any cancellation charge
-  for cancellations made less than 48 h before the arrival date, there will be a charge equivalent to the first night's stay.

Guests are advised to bring a warm sweater or windcheater as protection against the cold mountain air, and also a pair of warm socks, as it is the custom in Albania to take off one's shoes while entering the house.

Most of the ladies in Thethi make their own woollen socks, and they would be happy to sell them (between 800 and 1000 lek per pair) to visitors.

Granny Lula also makes rugs and curtains and very soft comfortable seat-covers out of sheepskin.