Apartments

Why an apartment

An apartment is better when you stay more than four nights in one place, travel as a family or with friends, or want your own rhythm - eating and sleeping when you like.

There is more space, you have a kitchen, and often a washing machine. On a long trip that saves half your luggage.

The host matters as much as the flat

In a flat you cannot call reception when there is a problem. So we work with hosts who answer the phone and come round when needed.

We check a new host ourselves first, and if guest feedback is poor, we stop offering the flat, however beautiful it is.

A flat in Old Tbilisi

In the old districts a flat is often in a historic house: high ceilings, a wooden balcony, a stone staircase. It is beautiful, but there is almost never a lift.

Some houses are built around a shared courtyard where neighbours know each other and laundry dries in the yard. This is the real Tbilisi, and many people love exactly that.

If you have heavy luggage or a pushchair, we check the floor and the stairs in advance. A fourth floor without a lift is a daily workout.

Vake, Vera and the residential districts

A flat in Vake or Vera means living among locals: a bakery downstairs, a park nearby and a quiet street at night.

Buildings here are often Soviet or new, with a lift. The flats are larger and more practical, and the centre is a few minutes away by taxi.

For a family or a long stay these districts are often the best. The tourist streets are close, but their noise is not.

Batumi's towers

In Batumi many apartments are in high-rise towers on the seafront. The view from the upper floors is striking, and the building often has a pool and gym.

In summer, queues for the lift and noise by the pool are normal in a big tower. Some buildings are still under construction, with building noise next door.

So we check the name of the building, the state of construction and which way the flat faces - towards the sea or towards the city.

Aparthotels

An aparthotel combines the space of a flat with hotel service: you have a kitchen, but there is also a reception and cleaning.

It is a good choice when you are in the city for the first time and do not want to deal with a private host, but need a kitchen and space.

An aparthotel is usually in a new building and more neutral in character. In return, it is predictable.

Photos and reality

Apartment photos are often taken with a wide-angle lens, and the room looks bigger than it is. So we check the floor area in square metres.

For a new flat we ask the host for recent photos or video, including the bathroom, the entrance hall and the view from the window.

Photos do not show noise, smells or water pressure. We ask the host these questions directly and write down the answers.

Key handover

Some hosts hand over the key in person; others use a key box with a code or an electronic lock. Both work if the instructions are clear.

Before you arrive we send the exact address, a photo of the entrance, the code and the host's phone number. For a night arrival this matters especially.

If our driver is bringing you, they take you to the entrance and do not leave until you have opened the door.

Cleaning and linen

For a short stay, cleaning usually happens only before check-in and after check-out. Daily cleaning in a flat is the exception.

For stays longer than a week we arrange extra cleaning and a change of linen - once a week or as you prefer.

Towels, bed linen and basic soap are usually provided. Anything that is not, we note in advance.

The kitchen

"Kitchen" does not mean the same thing everywhere. In one flat there is a full oven, crockery and a coffee machine; in another, two hobs and a few plates.

If you think you will cook often, we check the kitchen equipment separately: oven, fridge size, dishwasher.

Shopping at a Georgian market and cooking at home is one of the best ways to get to know the country. An apartment is ideal for that.

Heating and air conditioning

There is almost no central heating in Georgia. A flat is heated by its own gas boiler, air conditioning or electric heaters.

In winter the difference matters: a flat heated by a gas boiler is warm and stable; one with only air conditioning often is not.

In summer, especially in Tbilisi, air conditioning in every room is better. We check this bedroom by bedroom.

Hot water

In many flats hot water comes from an electric boiler. A small boiler is enough for two showers, not for four.

For a family or group we ask for a flat with a gas boiler or a large water heater. It is a small thing, but it spoils everyone's morning if the water goes cold on the third shower.

Water pressure on upper floors is sometimes weak. We ask the host about that in advance too.

Internet and a place to work

In Tbilisi and Batumi flat internet is usually fast. But if you have video calls, we ask the host for a screenshot of a speed test.

A desk and a proper chair are not in every flat - sometimes there is only the kitchen table. Working eight hours a day at that is hard.

As a backup, a local SIM card with mobile data is cheap and works well. We help you buy one as soon as you arrive.

Noise in an apartment block

In a block of flats you hear the neighbours: children, guests, a dog. Visiting is common in Georgian homes and sometimes goes on late.

In new buildings there is another source - renovation, a drill at nine in the morning. In a newly built tower that can go on for years.

If you are a light sleeper, we look for a flat on an upper floor, on the courtyard side and in a building where renovation is finished.

Safety

Residential buildings are generally safe, but we check the door lock, the lighting in the stairwell and who else has a key.

On the ground floor, window bars or locks matter, especially in summer when windows are open.

A safe for valuables is rare in a flat. If you need one, we request it specifically or suggest keeping valuables with you.

The lift and the floor

In older apartment blocks the lift is sometimes paid - by coin or card - and does not always work. It sounds odd, but in Tbilisi it still happens.

In new buildings the lift is normal, but it stops during a power cut. On a high floor that is a rare but noticeable inconvenience.

If you have difficulty moving or a pushchair, we confirm the floor and the state of the lift in advance and ask for a photo.

Staying with a child

For a child we check the balcony railing, the window locks, the stairs and hot surfaces. In an old house the balcony is lovely, but the railing is sometimes low.

A cot, a high chair and a pushchair are sometimes provided by the host; sometimes we rent them separately. We arrange this before you arrive.

A playground and a park near the flat make a big difference for a family. In residential districts they are usually there.

A pet in the flat

Apartment hosts often accept an animal more easily than a hotel, but sometimes with an extra cleaning fee.

We check whether there is somewhere nearby for walks and what the neighbours think. In a block of flats a barking dog is a common cause of complaints.

We confirm the rules about the animal in writing, so there is no dispute over the deposit when you leave.

Deposit and damage

Some hosts ask for a deposit, especially for longer stays or large groups. It is returned after check-out if there is no damage.

When you move in, record the flat in photos, especially any existing damage. It takes two minutes and settles every later dispute.

If a host withholds the deposit without grounds, we step in. It is rare, but that is also what we are here for.

Utility bills

For a short stay utilities are included. For a monthly rental, electricity, gas and water are often paid separately, by meter.

In winter the cost of gas or electricity is noticeable, especially in a large flat. So we ask the host in advance for last winter's bills.

We write into the agreement what is included and what is not, so that no unexpected bill arrives at the end of the month.

Everyday life

Living in a flat means a nearby shop, bakery, pharmacy and market. When you arrive we send a short list of where everything is.

Tbilisi's big markets - the Dezerter market, for example - are an experience of Georgia in themselves: fruit, cheese, spices and haggling.

Food delivery by app works quickly in both cities. On a tired evening that is a perfectly normal choice.

The first day in the flat

On the first evening a flat usually has nothing in it - no water, no coffee, no bread. If you arrive late, we ask the host to leave some basics in the fridge.

We send a short guide: how to turn on the boiler and heating, where the fuse box is and the Wi-Fi password. It saves you five minutes when you are tired.

The next day, if you like, we arrange a short walk around the neighbourhood - where the market, cash machine, pharmacy and a good bakery are.

Rubbish and house rules

The rubbish bin is often on the street, outside the building. Some buildings have their own rule about when and where to take it.

House rules - quiet at night, smoking, visitors - are in the agreement or posted in the flat. Some hosts are strict about breaking them.

A party in the flat, if not agreed in advance, is the most common cause of conflict. If you are planning an event, a villa is better.

When something breaks

A boiler, air conditioner or lock may break. Call the host first; if they do not answer or cannot come, call us.

We find a repairman or a temporary fix, and if the flat becomes unliveable, we find another place the same day.

We record every such case, and a host who does not respond to problems does not stay on our list.

Short stay or monthly rental

A short stay - a few nights - is flexible, but the nightly rate is high. A monthly rental is much cheaper per night, but the term and conditions are fixed.

For a monthly rental we draw up an agreement with the host: term, payment, utilities, deposit and the rule for leaving early.

If you do not know how long you will stay, we suggest one month first, with the option to extend. It is the most flexible choice.

Official rental and receipts

We work with hosts who rent their flats officially and provide a document confirming payment.

That matters if you need to submit the expense to a company or need a rental document for another purpose.

If you need a flat to live in on a yearly lease, that is a different process - it is in the relocation section.

Transfer and parking

The old districts have narrow streets and one-way traffic, and a car cannot always reach the entrance. We take that into account when planning the transfer.

If you have a hire car, we check for a courtyard, a car park or street parking nearby. Batumi's towers often have underground parking.

If you arrive with heavy luggage, the driver will carry it up to the flat if this is agreed in advance.

What we need from you

Dates, number of guests and the sleeping arrangement - who sleeps where. For a family that matters more than the number of rooms.

What the flat is for: a holiday, work, medical treatment, visiting family. The purpose decides which district and which flat will suit you.

And what is essential: a lift, a washing machine, a desk, parking, a pet. With this list we rule out unsuitable options straight away.

Price

The price depends on the city, the district, the season and the length of stay. A monthly rental brings the nightly rate down considerably; summer in Batumi pushes it up.

The suggestion shows rent, cleaning, deposit and utilities separately, if they are paid separately. Our service is a separate line too.

If you see the same flat cheaper on a platform, tell us. We compare the terms and tell you where the difference lies.