Georgia is a unique country. Any trip here leaves an indelible mark on the heart. This is an ideal place for a family holiday or a holiday with friends. The gentle sea, ancient fortresses, ancient legends and excellent Georgian cuisine - on this land it is easy to combine all the joys of a summer holiday.
How to get there and visa requirements
Russian citizens do not need a visa to visit this country, provided they stay on its territory for less than 90 days. Everyone entering Georgia must have a passport valid for at least 90 days.
There are three international airports in Georgia - in Tbilisi, Kutaisi and Batumi. Air tickets to Georgia and back will cost approximately 11-15 thousand rubles. Batumi is located directly on the coast, in the coastal part of the country called Adjara. And from Tbilisi and Kutaisi to sea resorts you can get by taxi, bus or minibus.
There are regular daily bus services from Moscow to Tbilisi. Passengers spend 30-37 hours on the route. A round-trip ticket costs 6 thousand rubles. Transit bus routes from Moscow to Yerevan also run through Tbilisi. And their tickets are cheaper.
You can get to Georgia by taking a train or plane to Sochi. From here to Batumi it is a 5-6 hour journey on the Comet by sea. And the land road through Abkhazia to Georgia is currently inaccessible.
Traveling by long-distance train is only possible with a transfer through Baku (Azerbaijan). But this road turns out to be long and expensive - a round trip trip will cost from 14 thousand rubles.
Georgian souvenirs
Traditionally, people prefer to bring wine from this hospitable region as a souvenir of a trip to Georgia, as well as as gifts for family and friends. In addition, travelers love delicious gifts - excellent quality homemade cheeses, churchkhela, Svan salt or aromatic suneli hops.
Jewelry lovers do not ignore the elegant cloisonne Georgian enamel - minankari, which has a centuries-old history. And in souvenir shops throughout the country you can buy beautiful homemade ceramics, patterned daggers, wallets, bags and clothes with hand embroidery in folk traditions.
Georgian cuisine
For lovers of gastronomic tourism, visiting Georgia is a blessing! Seaside Adjarian cuisine is vibrant and varied. And each resort village offers its own bouquet of tastes, shades and traditions.
The main dish of all restaurants, of course, is khinkali - Georgian dumplings with spicy meat. Everywhere, in elite restaurants and roadside taverns, Georgians bake aromatic pies with cheese - khachapuri.
And, of course, you can’t visit Georgia without trying the country’s traditional shish kebab, lobio, satsivi and ajapsandali (fragrant, spicy eggplant stew). This is a particularly joyful experience for housewives who love to cook for themselves. After all, the secrets of someone else’s cuisine cannot be learned only from cookbooks!
Batumi
The sunny seaside city is the largest resort on the Black Sea coast of Georgia. Batumi can boast of a beautiful, large and well-groomed embankment, stretching for as much as 10 km. There is a dedicated bicycle path along almost its entire length, and small cafes and shops are open for walkers.
The city is famous for its pebble beach "Batumi Beach", which is about 40-50 m wide and stretches for 5 km. This well-kept beach has all the infrastructure necessary for relaxation: changing cabins, sun loungers, umbrellas, toilets and showers, and in the evenings, noisy discos are held in many places. The beach is also popular for families with children, since the depth of the sea near the shore here is very shallow.
The resort's housing base is large. In Batumi you can stay in a variety of hotels. The city has expensive international hotels, chain hotels, comfortable private hotels, as well as small family guest houses.
Recently, Batumi has been actively developing its tourist infrastructure. And every year more than 10 new hotels for vacationers open here. More budget accommodation is offered by Batumi hostels, mini-hotels and the private sector.
In the summer, at the end of July, the resort attracts thousands of people who want to attend a colorful music festival - the Batumi Jazz Festival. During the festival, incendiary swings and syncopations from the world's most famous performers are heard everywhere.
Among the local attractions that vacationers most like are the singing fountains, the Summer Theater, the dolphinarium, which is especially loved by children, the astronomical clock, the Georgian alphabet tower and a seaside park with a picturesque palm grove. In Batumi, you have the opportunity to visit the National Museum of Adjara and the Museum of Archeology, the Shemokmedi monastery complex and the Argo cable car, as well as take excursions to the picturesque surrounding mountain gorges and waterfalls.
Kobuleti
Kobuleti is located 20 km north of Batumi, on the Black Sea coast and is famous for its warm and humid subtropical climate. A highway and a railway line with a station of the same name pass through this city. Kobuleti is surrounded by tea plantations and orange orchards. Bay leaves, bamboo and eucalyptus trees grow well in the local mild climate.
The resort town has a beautiful embankment where there are many cafes, restaurants and souvenir shops. And in the town itself there are several banks, a market, pastry shops and home restaurants, as well as a large recreation park with playgrounds and fountains.
The resort business began to develop here at the beginning of the 20th century, with the opening of a small private sanatorium. Nowadays, many visitors come to the seaside town during the summer tourist season. Kobuleti's small-pebble beaches, which stretch for almost 12 km, are especially crowded.
Mineral springs are located 2 km from Kobuleti. They have an average degree of mineralization and belong to sodium chloride thermal waters. This water is drunk to treat diseases of the digestive system, metabolic disorders (diabetes and obesity), diseases of blood vessels and joints. Kobuleti water also helps with gynecological diseases, nervous system disorders and skin and kidney diseases.
There is enough housing in Kobuleti. It can be easily booked in advance via the Internet. In this resort town, several hotels, boarding houses, mini-hotels, guest houses have been built, and you can also rent rooms and apartments in the private sector. Prices for holidays in Kobuleti are not much different from Batumi.
Cape Verde
Many vacationers come to this resort, which has the Georgian name Mtsvane Kontskhi, to admire the wonderful Batumi Botanical Garden, where kiwis and bananas, palm trees and cypresses, bamboo and eucalyptus trees are grown. In the village there is a railway platform “Cape Verde” (9 km from Batumi).
The local beach is usually uncrowded, and the sea water here is very clean. The coastal strip of Cape Verde is extremely popular with divers. The resort is considered one of the most beautiful on the Black Sea coast of Adjara. And vacationers have been coming here for more than 100 years.
There are hotels and guest houses in Cape Verde. And you can rent inexpensive housing from private owners right in the Botanical Garden, among exotic flowers and green tropical vines. Living in such a secluded place is very convenient. In addition, there is always the opportunity to go for entertainment and shopping to nearby Batumi.
Kvariati
This resort town, 14 km south of the Batumi bus station, consists of two parts. One is located above the highway closer to the mountains, and the other is located right by the sea. The village is connected to Batumi by city bus No. 16.
Kvariati will delight sunbathers with long and wide beaches, crystal clear seas and an excellent combination of mountain and sea air. A large highway is laid here away from the seashore, and its noise does not bother anyone. That is why this resort is so popular among tourists.
You can stay in Kvariati without any problems, since several hotels and many guest houses have been built here, designed to suit a wide range of tastes and financial capabilities. In addition, in a resort village you can always rent a cheap room in the private sector.
Kvariati is also known for the fact that the only diving center in Georgia is located here, and there are excellent conditions for diving off the deep-sea shore. The diving center is located in the southern part of the local beaches, near the cliffs. Those interested can learn snorkeling and diving in Quadriati, as well as dive on sunken ships.
Sarpi
The Sarpi resort was built near the Georgian-Turkish border, 30 km south of Batumi, on the E70 highway. The sea here is cleaner than in Batumi. But the beach is very small, about 600 m long. And it is located between the rocks and the border strip.
For vacationers, 4 large hotels and several guest houses have been built in the village. There are several cafes and currency exchange offices in Sarpi. This resort village is surrounded by picturesque mountains and is very popular due to its clear sea, so it can be very lively during the high season.
By the river
Ureki became famous for its beaches with dark gray and black healing magnetic sands. It is located 60 km north of Batumi and today has become one of the most popular Georgian resorts for families with children.
The sea here is shallow, no deeper than 1.5 m 30 m from the beach, and is perfectly warmed by the generous sun. In the resort village there is a boarding house, several hotels and guest houses. Vacationers rush to get here to soak up the local fine-grained sand, which contains magnetite and has a positive effect on the heart, joints and respiratory organs.
The demand for tours to Georgia is increasing every year. There are many reasons: amazing photos, low prices, rave reviews, delicious cuisine and Georgian wine.
Popular questions
When is the best time to go on vacation?
If you are not a fan of skiing and want to enjoy the warmth, fruits and sea, then the optimal time to travel is from May to mid-October.
In May and June there are excellent conditions for excursions (as long as it is not hot). In September-November the harvest takes place and fruits can be bought literally for next to nothing.
The best period for holidays in the Black Sea resorts is from mid-June to September.
Ski resorts await winter holiday enthusiasts from December to March. In warm winters, the snow cover in Gudauri and Bakuriani is finally formed by mid-January.
Where to holiday
In Georgia we counted 12 resort towns. Each has its own characteristics, which we discussed in detail in. Therefore, you first need to decide on the purpose of your trip, and then decide where it is better to relax.
For excursions, mountain landscapes, civilized service, wine and Georgian cuisine - it is better to go to Tbilisi.
Sea, sun, beach with a couple of obligatory excursions await you in Batumi. The cuisine is also up to par, but in Adjara it has its own differences. By the way, Batumi is the only Georgian resort that we can safely recommend for a family holiday.
Kutaisi is another tourist center of the country. It is famous for eco-tourism. No sea, no service, just mountains, canyons and old neighborhoods. In general, Georgia is what it is. Without the emphasis on the tourist, which is felt more and more every year in Tbilisi and Batumi.
Where is the best place to live?
If you are not on a business trip, then there is no point in booking expensive hotels. You will only sleep in them.
In Tbilisi and Batumi you can always find accommodation through Airbnb. As a last resort, look for accommodation options in inexpensive 2-3* hotels.
When choosing housing in Tbilisi, pay attention to the area of the city. There is no point in staying in the tourist center itself (Freedom Square), because a taxi to any point in the city costs about 5-6 lari. It’s cheaper to get here every day by taxi than to pay 2-3 times more for a hotel room or apartment. However, if mobility around the center is important, then it is worth considering that traffic jams in Tbilisi can delay your plans by 10-15 minutes at any time of the day.
Decide for yourself what you need from a hotel, but we would recommend not paying more than 50-60 euros/day in high season (off-season prices are 1.5 times lower). Like other cities in Georgia, Batumi has a large number of offers on Airbnb.
In small towns and remote mountainous areas, you can always find accommodation locally through locals or Booking.com. But it is better to do this in advance through travel agencies in Tbilisi or Batumi.
What to see in the country?
Everyone knows about local hospitality and legendary cuisine. But there is not much information about its significant attractions. Here's what we liked:
- Caucasus Mountains (second highest after the Himalayan Mountains)
- Sights of Tbilisi
- Wine region - Kakheti
- Batumi is the most progressive Black Sea resort
- Mtskheta and Jvari are places that M.Yu. Lermontov wrote about in the poem “Mtsyri”
- Borjomi springs
What language is spoken in Georgia?
Residents speak Georgian among themselves.
If you have to communicate with the local population in shops or on the street, then it is worth keeping in mind that the adult generation (35 years and older) speaks Russian with a pleasant Georgian accent without any problems. But it’s easier to negotiate with young people in English. They will understand you, but it may be difficult for them to express their thoughts in Russian.
All restaurants and travel agencies employ people with knowledge of Russian. During our entire vacation, we only once had to ask the locals how to get to the lower station of the Tbilisi funicular on foot. The student girl explained it to us in good English without any problems. By the way, she understood Russian, but it was easier to explain to her in English.
It is also worth keeping in mind that a lot of visitors from Russia, Armenia and Ukraine work in the tourism sector.
How do they treat Russians?
After the military conflict in 2008, tension arose between the countries and if you dig deep, the resentment still remains. But not a single local will tell you this to your face. And if he does, he will honestly express his attitude towards the policies of the Russian state and note that he has no complaints against the Russian people. They greatly value friendship and the assistance that the Russian Empire provided to their ancestors in military conflicts.
During our two-week stay, we never noticed a single sideways glance due to the fact that we communicated in Russian. It is better not to start disputes with the local population about South Ossetia and Abkhazia. Remember that neither you nor they have the truth about these conflicts.
What should you remember to take with you?
If you are going on vacation in the summer, be sure to include clothes for cloudy and rainy weather in your wardrobe. An umbrella and waterproof shoes will definitely not be superfluous in your suitcase.
A light sports jacket in summer and a warm jacket in autumn will come in handy during an excursion along the Georgian military road and in the caves.
If you are going to winter resorts, then you should take a light jacket with you for walking around Tbilisi. In the mountains, the temperature can drop to -15, and in Tbilisi the temperature can be above zero.
How safe is the country now?
Before Saakashvili came to power, Georgia was one of the most dangerous countries in the world. But the global reform of the police (when all its employees were fired), the increase in prison sentences not only for bribes, but also for minor violations helped to quickly restore order in the country.
Now Georgia is one of the safest countries in the world.
Police patrols are constantly found on the streets of resorts. Usually it is enough to strain your eyes or turn your head to see a police officer in the line of sight. They are all young people in good physical shape, with very high salaries and they really hold on to their jobs. Therefore, we do not take bribes and we do not recommend giving them.
In Tbilisi, you can leave your phone in an open car and find it in the same place in the morning. No one wants to go to jail for such a small thing.
The only real risk is taxi drivers and pseudo-guides who can scam you out of money and offer their services. You will definitely see the attraction promised by the taxi driver, but you are unlikely to learn historical facts, interesting stories, or anything else about it other than what was announced in the program.
Mobile communications and Internet
Roaming in Georgia is very expensive. Don't even think about turning on the Internet if you don't have a data plan. In our case, unauthorized downloading of a couple of photos from Viber cost 22 euros. We recommend completely turning off the mobile Internet when boarding the plane, so that nothing can be updated on its own even when the phone is turned on (as happened with us).
For the Internet we use tourist or local SIM cards . You can buy them for 5-20 lari at tourist information centers or communication shops. To receive it, you only need your passport.
Medical insurance
If you are traveling on your own, it is better to buy basic insurance, especially since it costs . Unfortunately, cases of poisoning in restaurants are not as rare as we would like. In addition, mountains always pose an increased risk of injury, and the heat can affect blood pressure.
If you are planning active walks in the mountains, trekking, hiking and climbing, insurance is required.
What to bring as a souvenir
Georgia has all the necessary souvenir products. The abundance of horns, daggers, handmade earrings, carpets and other things makes your eyes wide open. But, unfortunately, a lot of things are either too big or there is a high risk of counterfeiting. For example, no one has made daggers by hand for a long time. Horns are made of plastic... Therefore, from the height of our experience, we already have a calm attitude towards souvenirs.
We brought home 7 bottles of wine and a liter of homemade brandy. Believe me, no bottled brandy stood next to the grape moonshine that is distilled in Georgia.
What attracts tourists to Georgia? We have collected and systematized reviews about summer and winter holidays in this country. Why you should go there and what you need to visit, as well as examples of prices in 2019 and travel tips.
Exchange rate: 1 Georgian lari (GEL) ≈ 23 RUB.
Georgia is located on the Black Sea coast among the Caucasus Mountains, this region is famous for its cuisine, winemaking and true hospitality. There are hundreds of architectural monuments and natural attractions here, and excellent climatic conditions encourage holidays all year round.
The country has many interesting places: ancient cave cities, cathedrals, fortresses, wineries, waterfalls and, of course, beaches. Beach lovers usually choose Batumi and its suburbs. Other Georgian resorts - Ureki, Kobuleti, Makhinjauri, Gonio, Kvariati and Sarpi - are somewhat behind in infrastructure development. In winter, ski resorts are popular.
The architecture of Batumi and Tbilisi is impressive: there are many new objects of the most bizarre shapes and designs, but at the same time, some dissonance between the glossy center of Batumi and the unkempt outskirts of the city is surprising.
The undoubted advantage of a holiday in Georgia, according to tourists, is its accessibility, although there are problems with the service - even in 2019, a certain post-Soviet syndrome is felt. But the people here are warm and hospitable, many speak Russian, and Georgian cuisine and wines will give travelers many gastronomic joys.
Rent a car- this is the best way to travel! - reliable and convenient car rental service in Georgia. Choose a car to suit your taste and budget - there is a wide choice. Car rental costs from $23 per day. Do you have any questions? The Russian-speaking support service will help you with everything.
(Photo © Linera_68 / flickr.com / License CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)
Reviews about beach holidays in Georgia
The swimming season starts from mid-June and lasts until mid-September. Earlier, the beaches may not be ready, and the water may not be warm enough yet.
According to reviews, tourists most often choose for a holiday in Georgia by the sea. This is a large port with an ancient history; it is preferred by lovers of modern comfortable hotels and nightlife. There is a water park, a dolphinarium, a Ferris wheel, parks, dancing fountains and a cable car. The place is pretentious and expensive, so experienced tourists recommend staying in the suburbs (the beaches are cleaner there), and visiting Batumi for entertainment and cultural programs.
The closest village to Batumi is a small seaside village Gonio. The infrastructure of the village is poorly developed by modern standards, but it is a very beautiful place not far from the ancient fortress. However, as vacationers note, a carefree beach holiday can be overshadowed by the presence of a dubious contingent - truck drivers parked in the parking lot, or gypsies.
There is a small seaside village in Georgia By the river, which, according to reviews, is well suited for a summer holiday. It is famous for its sandy beaches and relatively developed infrastructure: there are cafes, restaurants, attractions for children, and a lot of inexpensive housing. Here you can combine a beach holiday with treatment: black magnetic sand relieves vascular problems, treats joints and nervous diseases. A good place for a relaxing holiday near the sea, if you're lucky you can see dolphins. Convenient to get to, there is a train connection. The main drawback is the complete lack of cultural leisure and annoying mosquitoes.
IN Kobuleti the range of entertainment is approximately the same as in Ureki, the village is a little closer to Batumi, pebble beach. Usually families with children like to relax here - low prices. You can get here by train, but there are no attractions.
Makhinjauri is located near Batumi. And although tourists do not like it because of the close location of the railway tracks to the sea, it has its own botanical garden and very beautiful nature and mountains.
Another place where, according to tourists, a good holiday in Georgia by the sea is the village Kvariati. And although the infrastructure is extremely poorly developed, there are no children's entertainment and only a couple of shops on the highway near the village, but here there is the cleanest sea and beautiful views. The place is ideal for secluded relaxation and diving - no one will disturb you here to relax.
Sarpi- a border village near Batumi with beautiful nature and clear sea. There is a Turkish market where you can make profitable purchases. But due to its proximity to the border and daily crowds of people at the border crossing, the resort did not become too popular.
Did you know that sometimes a trip costs less than a flight, and can be purchased instead of a ticket for a regular flight? Moreover, the price of the tour includes flights, accommodation, transfer, insurance and meals of your choice. Last minute tours to Georgia for 2019, search on the services and - they compare offers from 120 tour operators and find the best option. You can buy a ticket online, which is very convenient.
(Photo © dayfiel / flickr.com / License CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)
Winter holidays in Georgia: reviews of ski resorts
In reviews of winter holidays in Georgia in 2018-2019, tourists recommend ski resorts such as Bakuriani and Gudauri. Bakuriani has a developed infrastructure since Soviet times, there is a lot of affordable housing, cafes and restaurants, a casino, a spa, and you can ride horses. If you get tired, you can always take the train to neighboring Borjomi to drink water or swim in a thermal spring. The resort is suitable for everyone.
Gudauri It is considered a new and more expensive resort, especially popular among young people. There are professional trails and trails for beginners. One drawback is that sometimes the Georgian Military Road can be closed due to bad weather, which is why tourists have to leave earlier so as not to miss their plane or train.
Cultural holidays in Georgia
Look for original interesting excursions on the Sputnik and websites. Individual and group, without crowds of tourists and in Russian.
There are simply a huge number of cultural monuments on the territory of the country; it is simply impossible to see them all in one trip. The Sioni Cathedral, the churches of Metekhi and Anchiskhati, the Narikala fortress, the famous sulfur baths and objects of modern architecture are very popular, which do not always look appropriate, but invariably arouse the interest of tourists.
The second most visited large port city is Batumi. In Gori there is the famous house-museum of I.V. Stalin, in Borjomi - Stalin's dacha on the former Romanov estate.
Georgia is especially interesting for connoisseurs of ancient architecture - it is an ancient city Mtskheta with an Orthodox church from the 6th century - the Jvari Monastery, the Svetitskhoveli Cathedral and the ancient Ananuri fortress are located right there. The cave complexes of Uplistsikhe, David Gareji and Vardzia are unique, and in the vicinity of Kutaisi there are karst caves, in one of which dinosaur traces were discovered.
(Photo © neiljs / flickr.com / Licensed under CC BY 2.0)
Prices in Georgia in 2019
According to reviews from tourists, prices for holidays in Georgia in 2019 are pleasant. Housing is inexpensive, and so is food. You can eat in a cafe in the center of Tbilisi for 15 lari. On the embankments and in tourist places, food is more expensive, but the portions are large everywhere, so people with a moderate appetite can easily order one dish for two. A bottle of wine costs about 10 GEL, a liter of wine on tap is half that price.
At ski resorts, the cost of a lift is from 1 to 3 GEL, an hour of skiing with an instructor is 25-50 GEL, ski rental is 5 GEL per hour.
The highest prices are traditionally in July and August, in winter - on the New Year and Christmas holidays.
See how much hotels cost in Georgia in the summer of 2019:
| Type | Price per day (RUB) | Example |
| Budget guesthouse in the center of Tbilisi | from 1200 ₽ |
Regarding the service, tourists' opinions were slightly divided. The most fastidious found the cleaning of hotel rooms unsatisfactory, although the employees correct the deficiencies at the first request. As for cars, it is very convenient, but the Georgian driving style is not for the faint of heart; the traveler will first have to adapt to the local specifics. In addition, in the provinces there are often animals on the roads (they drive livestock), so you also need to be prepared for this. The begging people repeatedly mentioned in reviews can, of course, spoil the rosy picture, but there is such a social problem in the country, and there is no escape from it. Otherwise, a holiday in Georgia will bring travelers a lot of pleasure and give a lot of vivid impressions.
(Photo © Solim A / flickr.com / License CC BY-SA 2.0) Introductory image source: © Marco Fieber/Ostblog.org / flickr.com / Licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0. |
Contents of the article:
Mysterious and amazing Georgia awaits its guests all year round. Thousands of tourists every year gather to spend their holidays in Georgia. And as soon as they arrive here, they will immediately fall in love with her once and for all. All people return home with wonderful impressions of the country. The country is ready to reveal many secrets and legends for you, as well as tell its long history. The nature of Georgia itself is diverse and amazing. Here you will see mountain rivers, vast vineyards, ancient cities and so on.
Prices in Georgia 2017
Every year the country's tourism is developing more and more. So let's see what they offer us and at what prices. You can start with hotels. Everyone already knows that hotels provide separate rooms for accommodation and a certain set of services. And the simplest tasks are making the beds and cleaning the rooms. But the status and quality of the establishment will depend on the availability of the rest.
The price of accommodation will depend on many factors. The season, the level of the hotel, its location, the view from the window, and so on also play a role. It is worth understanding that hotel prices may change every day due to various factors. So it's quite hard to keep track of this. Rates start at $10 per room per night. Deluxe rooms can reach several hundred dollars.
There are also cheaper options - hostels. Only here you are provided with a bed in a shared room, and not just one room. In some ways, the hostel resembles a hostel. It can accommodate from 2 to 16 people. Hostels are perfect for young people and large groups. And in Georgia, the cheapest hostel costs three dollars, but the most expensive is about 15 dollars.
Apart-hotels are also similar to hotels. The only difference is the presence of a kitchen and the number of rooms in the room. These rooms are rented out on an apartment basis. So they are perfect for a comfortable life in almost home conditions. Such housing is chosen by those who need to stay for a long time, as well as married couples with children. In these rooms, tourists will find everything that is used every day: household appliances, dishes, furniture and so on.
How not to overpay for a vacation in Georgia
Any journey brings a sweet feeling and excitement. Some people prefer to travel on their own, while others use the services of travel agencies. And regardless of your holiday style, everything has its pros and cons. Like any other country, Georgia has its own peak season. This could be the May holidays, summer and winter months of the ski season. And don’t forget about the New Year. So if you want to save money and not run into a crowd of tourists, then choose other dates. May, June, October and November are good months for excursions.
The pleasure of flying by plane to Georgia is not cheap. The ticket price can be from 400 to 600 dollars. So it's better to buy tickets in advance. Then you will save a decent amount of money. Many airlines have early booking promotions and special offers.
If we talk about transfers, it is better to choose buses. After all, a taxi will be very expensive. However, there are hotels that offer transfers using their own cars. Moreover, the cost is included in the hotel room reservation. If you still want to take a taxi, then take care of it in advance. After all, drivers at the airport want to earn as much money as possible from tourists. So they always charge more than local taxi services.
Souvenirs, restaurants and excursions
There are, of course, a lot of restaurants in Georgia. There are the simplest ones, and there are also the most expensive ones. And it’s best to ask for advice at the reception or use a guide. Then you definitely can't go wrong. Otherwise, you will overpay a lot of money. If we talk about excursions, then you can argue here for hours and days. As they say, taste and color. It’s easier to immediately take a guide who will be ready to show you all corners of the city. You can go on an excursion yourself. Just take a map, go to Google and look at local attractions. Some will have to be reached by taxi or wait for local transport. If you take the services of an agency, you will overpay one hundred percent.
You can’t come to another country and not buy souvenirs. It's a whole tradition. It's worth noting that souvenirs will cost more if you're near a famous tourist spot. Unlike Turkey and Arab countries, trade in Georgia is not in great demand. Of course, it is allowed to reduce the price, especially at rural or spontaneous bazaars. But don’t even try it in the supermarket. What exactly to buy from souvenirs is up to you to decide. Some take wine, others take a bunch of small trinkets, magnets and other things. You can also buy national clothes, musical instruments, paintings and so on.
Video: summer vacation in Georgia - prices near the sea
When going on vacation to Georgia, the country of aromatic wine, barbecue, cheerful toasts and the amazing nature of the Black Sea, be prepared for pleasant discoveries and vivid impressions. Over the past couple of years, Georgian resorts have not only been modernized, but also gained great popularity among European tourists. After all, the cleanliness and beauty of local resorts deserves high praise. You will not be bored for a single day in this country. But where to go? Of course, you cannot explore this country in one trip, and therefore very often tour operators offer several types of tours to Georgia:
The most popular resorts in Georgia
Ideally, it is better to visit Georgia several times and choose a specific region for each trip, so as not to be scattered and have time to enjoy the beauty to the maximum. For example:
1. Top 5 best sea resorts
Batumi: a large beautiful city with modern infrastructure. Here all the beaches are large-pebble, there are many parks, and in the vicinity of the city you can visit: the old Gonio fortress, the Botanical Garden, numerous temples;
Chakvi: an ideal place for a quiet and relaxing holiday, where you can enjoy the sea, mild climate and soft sand. There are few people here, there are no attractions, but the beautiful nature pleases the eye;
Kobuleti: one of the most visited cities, which is located 24 km from Batumi. Kobuleti has a developed infrastructure, healing mineral springs, and sandy and small-pebble beaches. The city is simply surrounded by greenery: it is surrounded by tall palm trees and citrus trees. Just imagine the aroma that reigns in the air!;
Mtsvane-Kontskhi or Cape Verde. Many tourists come here for the crystal clear sea, nature and the botanical garden where kiwis and bananas grow, and more. Your holiday will take place among tropical vines and exotic flowers;
Kvariati: clear sea, long and wide beaches, excellent diving spots. The resort itself consists of two parts: one is located on the mountain, and the other by the sea.
Near the border of Georgia with Turkey there is a small resort called Sarpi with a small beach, as there is a border on one side and rocks on the other.
2. Winter resorts
Let's consider which winter resorts in Georgia are recommended to us by the site mygeotrip.com/ru/tours-to-Georgia/. And so, these are: Gudauri, Bakuriani, the resorts of Upper Svaneti and Goderdzi. The local climate allows skiing and snowboarding here from November to May.
This is a world-famous resort, which is famous for its sources of healing mineral and thermal waters.
4. Historical and cultural centers
Tbilisi: ancient cathedrals, theaters, cozy streets;
Kutaisi: former capital of the Colchis kingdom;
Cities: Gori, Rustavi, Poti, Zugdidi and the ancient cave city of Uplistsikhe;
Mtskheta: famous for its holy places of pilgrimage;
Sighnaghi, “city of love”: ancient fortresses and endless vineyards. It’s better to come here for the Rtveli holiday;
Mountain Svaneti: an area of thousands of ancient towers surrounded by mountains;
Guria: interesting for its black sands of Ureki and temples.
When is the best time to go to Georgia?
But when is the best time to go to Georgia, it’s up to you to decide, based on the purpose of your trip. Let us only add that the high season in Georgia traditionally falls in the summer. If your goal is to combine a sea holiday and excursions, then it is better to come to Georgia either in June or in September: during this period there is no intense heat, and therefore you can sunbathe on the beach, as well as stroll through historical sights.
Pilgrimage tours are popular in spring and autumn. And from November to May the ski season comes. Winter in Georgia is relatively mild. Sub-zero temperatures are only in ski resorts, while in all other regions the temperature remains at + 10C. There is no specific time for thermal resorts in Georgia: the mineral waters of Borjomi await vacationers all year round.
