Accommodation in Georgia

How we choose accommodation

We are not a booking site where you filter hundreds of options yourself. First we learn how you travel, then we suggest a few places and explain why these.

Every suggestion says what makes the place good and what you might not like - noise, stairs without a lift, a remote location. Surprises on a trip should be pleasant ones, not found in your room at night.

A rating is not enough

Online ratings are useful, but they often measure something else: the host's kindness, the breakfast or the price. In the mountains a quiet room and hot water may matter more than a decimal point in the score.

So we rely on fresh feedback from our guests and on places we know. If a place changes for the worse, we drop it from the list.

Tbilisi: which district

Old Tbilisi and Sololaki are best for walking: everything is close, but the streets are steep and noisy in the evenings. Vake and Vera are calmer residential districts with cafés and parks.

Away from the centre, in newer districts, hotels are often cheaper and larger, but you will need a taxi every day. For a short visit that is rarely worth it.

If you are travelling by car, parking in the old town is difficult. In that case we choose a place with a courtyard or a car park nearby.

Batumi: by the sea or in the centre

In Batumi the main choice is between a tall seafront building and a small hotel in the old town. The first gives you a sea view, the second streets, cafés and getting around on foot.

In summer, in July and August, the city is full and prices are high. Good places fill up early, so for those months we recommend booking well ahead.

A sea view does not always mean being close to the sea - some towers are on the far side of the main road. We always say so in the suggestion.

The coast beyond Batumi

If you would rather avoid Batumi's noise, the coast has other options. Kobuleti is calmer and more family-oriented, while Ureki is known for its black sand, often recommended for families with children.

Gonio and Kvariati, south of Batumi, are small, clean beaches close to the Turkish border. Here it is mostly family hotels and houses.

The season in these places is short - June to September. Out of season many places are closed, and we check that before booking.

The mountains: Kazbegi, Svaneti, Gudauri

In Kazbegi the main value of a place to stay is the view - of Mount Kazbek and the Gergeti Trinity. Some hotels give it to the whole room, others only show it to you from the corridor.

In Svaneti it is mostly family guesthouses near the towers, and that is the best way to live there. Mestia also has a few more comfortable hotels.

Gudauri and Bakuriani are winter resorts. In winter places fill early; in summer many hotels are half empty and quiet.

Kakheti and wine country

In Kakheti the most interesting option is a night at a wine cellar or chateau: a view of the vineyard, the house wine and dinner at the host's table. It is a different experience from a city hotel.

Sighnaghi and Telavi make a convenient base for the whole region. Village chateaux are quieter, but there you need a car or a driver.

If you are planning a wine day, it is better to stay the night in Kakheti - driving back to Tbilisi after a tasting is a bad idea.

Borjomi and the resorts

Borjomi and the surrounding area are a mineral-water and forest resort. Old sanatoriums, modern spa hotels and small family houses stand side by side here.

A spa hotel is worth it when rest itself is the goal, not one night on a route. In that case we recommend several nights.

If you are only stopping in Borjomi on the way, a small hotel in town is enough. That way you see the park and do not lose time.

Imereti and Kutaisi

Kutaisi is a convenient base for western Georgia: caves, canyons, Gelati and the road to Racha are within an hour or two.

The city has mostly small hotels and family houses, while Imereti's villages have wine cellars where you get to know Imeretian wine and cooking.

If you arrive through Kutaisi airport, the first night in the city makes sense - we do not recommend heading into the mountains after a late flight.

Hotel or apartment

A hotel is convenient for a short visit: a reception, breakfast, cleaning and someone to call at night. If you are staying two or three nights, it is the simplest option.

An apartment is better for a family, a longer visit or anyone who wants their own kitchen. There is more space and you live like a local.

An apartment's weakness is that when something goes wrong, nobody always comes quickly. So we choose hosts who answer the phone.

Guesthouses and Georgian hospitality

A guesthouse in a village or the mountains is often a family home with a few rooms for guests. Breakfast and dinner are cooked in the house, and that is often the best part of the day.

The comfort is simple, but the warmth is real. The host will tell you where to go, and sometimes take you there.

If you need complete privacy or hotel service, a guesthouse may not suit you. We find that out in advance.

Eco-cottages and nature

Eco-cottages in a forest, a gorge or on a mountainside are for those who want a break from the city. Often it is a wooden house with a fireplace and a terrace.

In such places the road is sometimes unpaved and the shop far away. So we check how you will get there and whether food is available on site or you should bring it.

In winter heating and the state of the road matter especially. We confirm them with the host before booking.

A villa for a family or a group

A villa works best when several families or a group of friends travel together: one house, a shared garden, a pool and a table you lay yourselves.

Villas are mostly in Kakheti, around Tbilisi and on the coast. Some come with a cook or a cleaner; others give you only the house.

A contract and a deposit are normal for a villa. We read the terms in advance so that the rules on damage and noise are clear.

Travelling with a pet

Travelling with a dog or a cat is increasingly common in Georgia, but not every place takes animals. Some accept only small ones, some for an extra charge.

Before booking we confirm in writing: what size of animal, where it may be and what the rules are. A spoken "yes, that's fine" often turns out differently on arrival.

In the mountains and villages there are many street dogs and shepherd dogs. We tell you in advance so that walks stay calm.

Season and when to book

Summer by the sea and in the mountains, winter at the ski resorts and New Year everywhere - these are the periods when good places fill up early.

Spring and autumn, especially the grape harvest, are the most pleasant times to travel, and there is usually room. But harvest weekends in Kakheti are full.

The general rule: in peak season, the earlier the better. The rest of the time, booking a few weeks ahead is usually enough.

Stars and reality

In Georgia a star rating does not always mean the same standard. Some hotels give themselves more stars than they would get in Europe, and some do not use stars at all.

So we look less at stars and more at specifics: room size, sound insulation, the bed, water pressure, breakfast.

Photos often show the best room. If there is a big difference between room types, we say so in the suggestion.

Heating, water and internet in the mountains

In mountain villages winter heating is sometimes a stove or electric, and a room is not always evenly warm. We check this when booking for winter.

Hot water in some guesthouses comes from a boiler, and with many guests it can run out. It is a small thing, but in the mountains, after a hike, it matters.

Internet is available in most places, but in the mountains the speed varies. If you work while travelling, we confirm it separately.

Noise and sleep

In the city the main source of noise is the night street and bars; in the village, roosters and dogs. Some hotels host weddings at weekends, and a Georgian wedding is loud and long.

If you are a light sleeper, tell us. We choose a room on the courtyard side, a higher floor or a place where events are not held.

We ask the host about noise directly - it is the kind of question photos cannot answer.

Breakfast

Breakfast varies greatly from place to place: a buffet in a city hotel; homemade khachapuri, cheese, eggs and jam in a guesthouse.

If you need special food - vegetarian, gluten-free or baby food - we let the host know in advance. In a village it can be prepared if they know in time.

For an early departure we ask for breakfast to take with you. Hosts usually do this gladly.

Accessibility

Many old buildings and mountain guesthouses have stairs and no lift. For a wheelchair user or anyone with limited mobility this becomes the main criterion.

In such cases we check the entrance, door width, bathroom and lift - and ask for photos, not just a verbal assurance.

Adapted rooms are more common in newer city hotels. In the mountains the choice is small, but there is often still a solution.

Business travel

For a business visit we choose a place near your meetings, with a desk, stable internet and a quiet room.

An invoice for a company and payment by bank transfer are possible. We clarify this when booking so that your accounts department has no questions.

If a group or a conference is arriving, we book the rooms in one place and manage the lists in a single spreadsheet.

Families and children

When you travel with a child, we check the cot, the size of the room, the stairs and whether there is a playground or park nearby.

A family room or two connecting rooms are not available everywhere, and they fill first. So for families it is better to book early.

In guesthouses children are usually welcomed very warmly. Often that becomes the child's favourite part of the trip.

Long stays

If you are staying in Georgia for months - for work, study or to get to know the country - an apartment or monthly accommodation makes far more sense than a hotel.

In a long rental the contract, utility bills and winter heating matter especially. We clarify them in advance.

Renting a flat to live in, on a yearly lease, is described separately in the relocation section.

Cancellation and changes

Cancellation terms vary from place to place: some hotels allow free cancellation a few days ahead, while some villas do not return the deposit.

Every suggestion states the cancellation terms separately, so you know before booking. In peak season the terms are usually strict.

If your plans change, we talk to the host ourselves. Moving the dates is often simpler than cancelling.

Check-in, documents and the first evening

At check-in you will be asked for your passport - this is a normal procedure. If you arrive late, we let the host know in advance so that you do not find the door locked.

If you arrive early, the room is not always ready, but you can usually leave your luggage. We request early check-in in advance if you are on a night flight.

We arrange things so that on the first evening you know where to have dinner and where the nearest shop is. It is a small detail, but it makes a tired traveller's life much easier.

What we need from you

Dates, route and number of guests, with children's ages. That is already enough for a first suggestion.

What matters most to you: view, quiet, location, breakfast, a pool or price. Two or three priorities are enough for us to find the right place.

And what you do not like - stairs, noise, a shared bathroom. Knowing that often tells us more than a wish list.

What the price depends on

The price depends on the season, the place, the room type and the number of nights. The same room costs very differently in summer and in November.

Our suggestion is transparent: the nightly rate, breakfast, an extra bed, the transfer and every extra appear as separate lines.

If the same place is clearly cheaper elsewhere, tell us - we compare and explain the difference, or we change it.