Guides and interpreters

Who this is for

Tourists who want to see a city or region through a local's eyes.

Also business visitors, patients and anyone who needs to talk to a doctor, a bank or an official institution.

Our role

We choose and check the guide or interpreter, arrange the meeting and make sure everything goes as agreed.

You pay the guide or interpreter directly, and we never hold your money. We take no commission from them, and our fee is agreed in advance.

Guide or interpreter

A guide tells the story: history, tradition and the character of a place, and leads the route.

An interpreter conveys your words and others' exactly, without adding their own opinion.

Some guides translate well, but at a doctor's or notary a professional interpreter is better.

Guide or driver-guide

A driver-guide sits at the wheel and talks on the way, which suits a small group.

A separate guide gives you their full attention and can talk to you safely and without interruption on the road.

On a long or intensive route we recommend a separate guide and driver.

How we choose a guide

We choose a guide on experience, subject knowledge, language and guest feedback.

We first try a new guide on a short tour before trusting them with a multi-day trip.

We consider personality too: some guests love humour, others a calm, academic account.

Languages

English- and Russian-speaking guides and interpreters are the most common in Georgia.

Speakers of German, French, Italian, Spanish and Turkish can also be found.

In high season good specialists in every language are booked early.

Rarer languages

Guides for Arabic, Hebrew, Chinese, Japanese, Korean and some European languages are fewer.

In such cases we start searching weeks ahead.

If no suitable guide can be found, we say so honestly and suggest an alternative, such as an English-speaking guide with a separate interpreter.

Specialist guides

Lovers of history, architecture, wine, food or nature need the matching specialist.

A wine guide knows the wineries and winemakers, while an architecture guide explains every facade on the street.

Tell us the subject when you ask, and we choose a candidate accordingly.

Art historians and archaeologists

For an in-depth look at frescoes, icons or archaeological sites we often seek a specialist.

Such a person often works at a museum or university and plans time in advance.

This is especially worthwhile for an academic group or a keen traveller.

City walks

A two- or three-hour walk in the old districts is the best start to getting to know a city.

The guide shows you places you would not find alone: courtyards, workshops and old baths.

At the end of the walk the guide suggests where to eat and what to come back to in the following days.

Evening walks

The lit-up old town looks completely different in the evening, and many guests prefer to walk then.

An evening guide often ends the walk with dinner or live music.

At night we plan the route along lit, busy streets and call a car for the way back.

Multi-day guides

On a multi-day trip the guide becomes the whole group's travel companion.

Then personality and patience matter as much as knowledge.

We agree the guide's accommodation and meals in advance so there is no misunderstanding on the spot.

Mountain guides

For hiking in the mountains an ordinary guide is not enough; you need an experienced mountain guide.

We check a mountain guide on experience, first-aid knowledge and, where possible, certification.

On a difficult route we check the weather and safety plan with the guide in advance.

Photographer-guides

A photography enthusiast needs a guide who knows where and when the light is best.

Such a guide takes you out early in the morning or at sunset and waits patiently for the shot.

When photographing people, the guide asks locals for permission on your behalf.

With children

With children a guide tells stories through games, tales and short stops.

We choose a guide with experience and patience with children.

We write about family travel in the family section.

With older guests and limited mobility

With an older guest or a wheelchair traveller the guide adapts the pace and route.

We talk with such a guide in advance about accessibility and breaks.

We give details on the relevant pages of the family section.

Group guides

A large group needs a guide with a strong voice, organisation and a sense of time.

In crowded places a small microphone and earpieces help the group.

We split a very large group into two with two guides.

The guide's working day

The guide's working hours and breaks are agreed in advance.

On a long day the guide also needs meals and rest, and we build that into the plan.

An extra hour on the spot is added by agreement with the guide.

Transport

City walks are often on foot or by public transport.

In the regions the guide travels with you in the car.

We write about cars with drivers in the transport section.

Museum guides

In some museums and protected sites, the museum's own guide works inside.

Then your guide often waits outside or interprets.

We check this in advance so there are no surprises on the spot.

In churches

In church, especially during a service, the guide speaks quietly or tells the story in the courtyard.

The guide explains dress rules and photography restrictions in advance.

Hosts always appreciate this respect.

Interpreters at the doctor's

At a medical appointment accurate interpreting matters for your health.

We choose an interpreter who knows medical vocabulary and conveys the doctor's words unchanged.

Neither the interpreter nor we can give medical advice: you decide together with the doctor.

Banks and public services

Opening a bank account or applying at a public service office is often done only in Georgian.

The interpreter helps you answer questions and understand what a document says.

Before you sign, the interpreter translates every term aloud.

At the notary

If you do not speak Georgian, the notary often requires an interpreter to be present.

The interpreter's details are sometimes recorded in the notarial deed.

We check the requirements with the notary in advance and choose a suitable interpreter.

Courts and police

An official procedure in court or with the police often needs an interpreter appointed by the institution.

In such cases we connect you with a lawyer and a suitable interpreter.

We give no legal advice, and we write about these matters in the emergency section.

Business meetings

At a business meeting an interpreter conveys not only words but tone and courtesy too.

We choose the interpreter by field: construction, finance, technical or medical.

We send the interpreter the agenda and names in advance.

Site visits

When visiting a factory, building site or farm, the interpreter must know technical vocabulary and safety rules.

In a noisy space the interpreter stands close and sometimes uses a headset system.

We confirm protective equipment and permission to take photos with the site in advance.

Negotiations

In negotiations your interpreter should work only for your side, not the other.

If needed, you sign a confidentiality agreement with the interpreter in advance.

A short meeting with the interpreter beforehand clarifies terms and goals.

Consecutive interpreting

In consecutive interpreting the speaker pauses and the interpreter translates afterwards.

This is the most common format at the doctor's, the bank and small meetings.

A meeting then takes roughly twice as long, which you allow for in advance.

Simultaneous interpreting

At a conference a simultaneous interpreter translates from a booth at the same time as the speaker.

This needs a booth, equipment and two interpreters who take turns.

We write about organising conferences in the events section.

Whispered interpreting

For one or two listeners the interpreter sits alongside and interprets in a whisper.

This format suits a meeting where everyone else speaks one language.

In a long session whispering is very tiring for the interpreter, so we plan breaks.

By phone and video call

For a quick matter an interpreter can also help by phone or video call.

This is useful for a short conversation at a pharmacy, a reception desk or with a tradesperson.

For an important matter it is better to have the interpreter there in person.

Written translation

Translating a letter, contract or menu is not always a job for a spoken interpreter.

We connect you with a proper bureau or translator for written work.

We are always happy to help you understand the gist of a short text.

Certified translation

A certified translation of an official document often needs notarisation.

A proper bureau and a notary do this, and you pay them directly.

We check the document requirements with the receiving institution in advance.

Preparing terminology

A good interpreter asks for materials before a meeting: the presentation, terms and names.

Supplying material in advance sharply improves the quality of interpreting.

Before a medical visit, copies of test results and the diagnosis help the interpreter a great deal.

Confidentiality

Interpreters and guides do not share the personal or business information they hear with anyone.

We agree this with every partner from the outset.

For a particularly sensitive matter we recommend a written agreement.

Impartiality

An interpreter interprets and does not advise you what to do.

If an interpreter adds their own opinion, that goes beyond their role, and you should let us know.

A guide, on the other hand, can suggest where to eat or what to see, and that is part of the job.

Etiquette with an interpreter

When speaking, look at and address the person you are talking to, not the interpreter.

Speak in short sentences and leave pauses.

Jokes and idioms do not always translate, so keep that in mind.

Cultural context

A good interpreter warns you when a word-for-word translation would sound rude or unclear.

In Georgian business culture hospitality, personal relationships and the table carry great weight.

The interpreter briefly explains these nuances before the meeting or during a break.

Duration and rest

Spoken interpreting is tiring, and attention drops after a few hours.

For a full-day meeting we plan breaks or two interpreters.

A guide also needs a break on a long day, and that shows in the quality of the tour.

Tipping

Tipping a guide is not compulsory, but it is customary for good work.

How much you tip is up to you, and no one will ask.

In a business setting, tipping an interpreter is not usually expected.

Booking times

We usually book a city guide a few days ahead, and earlier in high season.

We look for a specialist interpreter or a rare-language guide weeks ahead.

Conference interpreters and equipment are booked months ahead.

Last-minute requests

Finding a guide or interpreter at the last minute is often possible, especially in English or Russian.

The choice is smaller then, and we tell you so honestly.

In an urgent medical situation, finding an interpreter is our priority.

Cancellations and changes

The guide or interpreter sets the terms for cancellations and date changes.

We tell you these terms before booking.

If a guide falls ill, we look for a replacement and let you know at once.

If you are not happy

If the guide or interpreter does not meet your expectations, write to us straight away.

On a multi-day trip we look for a replacement where possible.

Your feedback directly shapes future selection.

Shops and commissions

In some countries guides take visitors to shops that pay them a commission.

We ask our guides not to take you to shops for the sake of a commission.

If you want to shop, that is your decision, and we write about it separately in the shopping section.

Safety

The guide keeps an eye on safety along the route: on the road, in the heat and in the mountains.

The guide has a short description of your needs, with your consent.

In an emergency the guide calls 112 and lets us know at once.

Audio guides

Some museums and city routes have an audio guide or an app.

This is a good alternative for an independent traveller or a short visit.

With a live guide, though, you can ask questions and change the route.

Independent travel with advice

Some guests do not need a guide all day, just good advice.

Then we send you a route, a map and a short description.

For a tricky place, such as a market or museum, you can hire a guide for a short time.

Common mistakes

Expecting a guide to do a professional interpreter's work at the doctor's or notary.

Not giving the interpreter materials before a business meeting.

Leaving the search for a rare-language guide until the last minute.

What we need from you

Language, subject, date, place and approximate duration.

For an interpreter: the type of meeting, the participants and materials.

For a guide: your interests, pace and who is in the group.

Cost

Guides and interpreters set their own prices, and you pay them directly.

We take no commission from them and add nothing to their prices.

Our fee for selection and coordination is separate and agreed in advance.