When I first arrived in Durres, I stayed at the Sun Hotel (on the plazh side of Durres). There, the hotel and surrounding areas were not pleasant, so I assumed Durres was an un-pleasant city.
Then, I relocated to Hotel Veliera. My opinion of Durres completely changed. The Hotel Veliera staff were so kind, the daily breakfast was exquisite (and such a cute breakfast area), and the location was PERFECT!
I highly recommend!!