Two questions decide whether Alex Boutique Hotel — listed on Google Maps as Alex Bed and Breakfast and informally shortened to Alex B&B — is the right call for your Himara stay: how much do you value a wide-angle bay view over a beach-step location, and do you have transport up the hill? The 3-star hilltop property on Rruga Spiro Milo carries a 9.1/10 Booking score across 607 guest reviews, but raw scores don't tell you whether you should book. The decision table below does.
A note on the name. The property's Booking, Trivago, Airbnb, and hotels-al.com listings all use "Alex Boutique Hotel". Google Maps and TripAdvisor still show the property's earlier name, "Alex Bed and Breakfast" — same hotel, same hosts, same address. If you're trying to find it on a map, search for either.
Should You Stay Up Here? A Decision Table
Alex Boutique sits in the hills above Himara — not within the town, not on the beach. That single fact decides whether it's a great deal or a frustration.
| If you... | Alex Boutique is | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Have a rental car | Strong value | Town and beach are a 5-minute drive down; the view-per-euro ratio is hard to match at this price tier |
| Are travelling solo or backpacker without a car | Probably wrong fit | No buses up; taxis 500-700 ALL each way add up across a week. Stay in town instead — see Himara Downtown Hostel |
| Want morning beach access | Wrong fit | You'll be in the car by 09:00 every day. Dimitri Hotel on Livadhi Beach is the budget-with-beach-access answer |
| Want photographs / honeymoon / slow stay | Top three in budget tier | The terrace is the entire point — sunrise, sunset, and storm-watching all happen from one chair |
| Are visiting in shoulder season (May/Sep/Oct) | Best time to be here | Cool evenings, no haze, terrace season — the climate justifies the climb |
Check Alex Boutique Hotel rates on Booking.com → · or compare all platforms on the hotel's himara.net page
Quick Take
| Info | |
|---|---|
| Also known as | Alex Bed and Breakfast (Google Maps, TripAdvisor) |
| Star rating | 3-star |
| Type | Hilltop B&B / boutique hotel |
| Address | Rruga Spiro Milo, Himare 9425 |
| Coordinates | 40.1164, 19.7350 |
| Distance to Spile Beach | 1.2 km (~5 min by car, ~20-25 min on foot, steep return) |
| Distance to Himara town centre | ~20-minute walk downhill |
| Booking score | 9.1/10 across 607 reviews ("Superb") |
| Price range | From ~€24/night (Airbnb private room, shoulder season) up to ~€80+ in peak summer; Booking double rooms typically €55-70 |
| Rooms | 12, with balconies and dining areas |
| Best for | Couples with a car, photographers, shoulder-season visitors |
| Skip if | You don't have transport or need beach-step access |
What the Listing Actually Includes
The 12-room property runs as a small family-hosted B&B. The booking listings consistently surface a small set of amenities that matter for travellers on the Albanian Riviera, where infrastructure varies sharply by property:
- Free on-site parking (a meaningful cost saver in July/August when town parking gets tight)
- Free Wi-Fi, air conditioning, and a flat-screen TV in every room
- In-room breakfast rather than a dining hall (small property, no restaurant)
- Sun terrace and garden — the property's defining feature
- 24-hour reception and express check-in/out (14:00-22:00 check-in, 08:00-10:00 check-out)
- Paid airport shuttle available on request (not free — confirm pricing before booking)
- Shared kitchen for self-catering
- BBQ facilities in the garden
Room types listed are Double, Family King, and Deluxe Queen — all with private bathroom, balcony, and either sea or mountain view.
What Reviewers Consistently Praise
Pulling the recurring themes from the 607 Booking reviews and the TripAdvisor entry (where the property is still indexed as Alex Bed and Breakfast):
The view is not a marketing exaggeration
The terrace faces the bay head-on with the Ceraunian Mountains framing the left side and the curve of the Himara coastline running south. Guests describe it as "amazing" and "panoramic" — the kind of wording that survives across hundreds of reviews tends to be true. Unlike many "panoramic" hotels on the Albanian Riviera that sell you a partial sea peek between two buildings, Alex Boutique's hilltop position is unobstructed.
Spiros and family
The hosts are the most-mentioned positive across reviews — "Spiros greeted us and showed us our room", "the hosts, Alex and his family, are known for their generosity and helpfulness". For a property without a restaurant or 24-hour bar staff, the host experience is the on-site experience, and on this front the listings consistently overdeliver.
Breakfast quality
Reviews repeatedly call out homemade, varied breakfasts — "every morning breakfast was different each day, always fresh, homemade, and absolutely delicious". For a 3-star price point, that's well above average for the Riviera.
Calm at night
Hilltop location means zero promenade noise. If Spile Beach bars keep you awake at the town hotels, this is the fix.
What Reviewers Flag as Drawbacks
The road up
The access road is narrow and climbs sharply. Reviewers occasionally mention the first-night arrival being a small adventure for drivers unfamiliar with Albanian mountain roads. Standard rental cars manage fine; a low-clearance sports car or oversized camper would struggle.
Solo / no-car travellers struggle
There's no walkable village around the property — for groceries, dinner, or beach access you're going into town. Taxis cost roughly 500-700 ALL each way. Across a 6-night stay, transport adds €40-60 to the trip.
Occasional infrastructure issues
A subset of reviews mentions "water shortage and electricity issues occurred occasionally" — typical of hilltop properties on the Albanian Riviera where municipal water pressure and grid stability are variable in peak summer. The consensus is that the hosts handle it promptly, but it's worth knowing if you have rigid expectations.
Limited dining on-site
Breakfast is in-room and there is no restaurant. Plan dinners in town — see best restaurants in Himara.
What It Costs (2026)
Pricing varies significantly by platform and season — partly because the property has historically been listed under both names, and partly because Airbnb private-room rates differ from Booking's double-room rates:
- Airbnb private room, shoulder season (May / late September / October) — from
$26 (€24) per night - Booking standard double, shoulder season — typically €55-65 per night
- Booking peak summer (July / August) — €70-85+ per night, occasional minimum-stay requirements
- Family King / Deluxe Queen rooms — priced 15-25% above standard double
Breakfast is included in some rate tiers and a paid add-on in others — check the rate inclusions before booking. Free parking and Wi-Fi are universally included.
Walkable From Where?
Not much, honestly. The closest worthwhile walk is the ~20-minute downhill descent into town (steep) — manageable in cool morning weather, brutal in 35°C August afternoons. The return uphill is 25-35 minutes and you'll arrive sweaty. Most guests treat this as a drive-everywhere base.
The location does put you within a short walk of Athali Monastery, a Byzantine pilgrimage site that most Himara visitors miss because they never come up to this elevation. If you're staying at Alex Boutique, the monastery walk is the natural sunrise activity.
How Alex Boutique Compares
| Property | Type | Price band | Best feature | Worst feature |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alex Boutique / Alex B&B | Hilltop B&B | €24-80 | Panoramic view per euro | No walkability |
| Amphora Guesthouse | Old Town stone | €28-50 | Walkable Old Town | No sea view from room |
| Himara Downtown Hostel | Hostel | €11-20 | 1-min beach access | Dorm vs private trade-off |
| Elpis Guest House | Near-town guesthouse | €95-110 | "Best in Albania" reviews | Triple the price |
If you want hilltop view + budget price, Alex Boutique is the answer. If you want Old Town charm + walkability + similar price, choose Amphora. If you want hostel rates and don't care about a private terrace, the Downtown Hostel beats both on price.
Best Time to Visit
May to early June and mid-September to mid-October are when this hotel makes the strongest case. The terrace is comfortable from breakfast through midnight, evenings are cool, and the visibility is sharpest (less heat haze than peak summer). July-August work but the terrace becomes a midday oven — you'll spend more time at the beach than at the hotel, which slightly defeats the point of the location.
For seasonal weather context, see best time to visit Himara.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Alex Boutique Hotel the same as Alex Bed and Breakfast?
Yes — same property, same hosts, same address on Rruga Spiro Milo. The property is listed as "Alex Boutique Hotel" on Booking.com, Trivago, Airbnb, and hotels-al.com, but Google Maps and TripAdvisor still index it under the earlier name "Alex Bed and Breakfast". Use either spelling when navigating to it.
Is Alex Boutique Hotel worth it without a car?
Probably not. The hotel sits 1.2 km up a steep hill above Himara with no walkable shops or restaurants and no bus service. Taxi costs across a week (500-700 ALL each way) add €40-60 to the trip. Car-less budget travellers get better value at Himara Downtown Hostel or Amphora Guesthouse in the Old Town.
How much does Alex Boutique Hotel cost in 2026?
Rates start from ~€24/night on Airbnb (shoulder-season private room) and run €55-85/night for a standard double on Booking, depending on season. Peak July-August hits the top of that range with occasional minimum-stay rules. Breakfast is included on some rate tiers and a paid add-on on others. Free parking and Wi-Fi are always included.
What's the view like at Alex Boutique?
Wide-angle panoramic view of Himara Bay framed by the Ceraunian Mountains — head-on to the sea, not the partial side-glimpse common at cheaper hotels. The terrace is large enough for breakfast, sundowner, and sunset shifts without re-arranging furniture. Confirmed across 607 Booking reviews averaging 9.1/10.
Can you walk to the beach from Alex Boutique?
Technically yes — about 1.2 km, roughly 20-25 minutes downhill to Spile Beach. Return uphill is 25-35 minutes and unpleasant in summer heat. Most guests drive (5 minutes) or taxi (500-700 ALL each way). If you need beach-step access, Dimitri Hotel on Livadhi Beach is the better budget pick at a similar price.
Is Alex Boutique good for honeymoons or couples?
For shoulder-season couples with a car, yes — the terrace and view make it punch above its 3-star price tier. For peak-summer honeymoons or visitors prioritising hotel amenities (pool, spa, restaurant), look at Miamar Luxury Hotel & Spa or Prado Luxury Hotel — five times the price, but five-star service.
For broader Himara accommodation planning, see where to stay in Himara and the full Himara hotels list.
