Luggage: storage, forwarding and problems

Who this is for

Travellers who need to store luggage, forward it or trace a lost suitcase.

Also people going home from Georgia with lots of souvenirs, wine or fragile items.

Our role

We find a storage point, courier and transport, help with correspondence with the airline and follow up on the outcome.

You pay partners directly, and we never hold your money. We take no commission from partners, and our fee is agreed in advance.

What we do with luggage

We find a place to store it on the last day or during a multi-day route.

We arrange forwarding to another city or home through a courier company.

We help with claims for delayed, lost or damaged suitcases.

Planning the last day

We plan the last day as soon as you arrive: when you check out and when you leave for the airport.

Hotels often offer a late checkout on request if the room is free.

If not, we store the luggage and give the day to a last walk or the baths.

Storage at the hotel

Most hotels routinely keep guests' luggage after checkout.

They give you a receipt or tag for it, and you keep a photo of it too.

In a small hotel the storage room is not always locked, so we ask in advance.

Luggage storage points

In Tbilisi and Batumi there are luggage storage points in the centre, near stations and even in some cafes.

Some take online bookings; at others you simply turn up.

We choose a point by reliability, opening hours and distance from your hotel.

Stations and the airport

The railway station and some bus stations usually offer luggage storage.

We check storage options and opening hours at the airport in advance.

So you never have to collect luggage from a closed point before a night flight, we always check the hours.

How long

You can store luggage for a few hours, a day or many days.

The storage point sets the terms and price for long-term storage, and we confirm them in advance.

We agree the day and time of collection in writing.

Valuables

Do not leave your passport, money, laptop or valuable jewellery in stored luggage.

Keep these items with you or in the hotel safe.

A storage point's liability for valuables is often limited.

Receipts and photos

When you hand over luggage, get a receipt and take a photo of the suitcase.

The photo and receipt are the main evidence if something is lost or damaged.

Keep a short list of the suitcase's contents on your phone too.

Forwarding between cities

If you are moving from Tbilisi to Batumi, large luggage can be sent ahead by courier.

That way you travel by train or car with just a small bag.

We agree the sending and delivery times with the receiving hotel in advance.

Travelling light

On a mountain trip or multi-day hike, the big suitcase stays in Tbilisi.

We leave the luggage at the hotel or a storage point, and it waits for you there on your return.

Travelling with a light backpack is far more convenient on mountain roads.

Before a hike

Before a hike, split your things in two: what you need in the mountains and what stays in town.

Lock the suitcase that stays behind and write your number and ours on the tag.

The return date may change, and we warn the storage point about that.

Sending luggage home

Souvenirs or winter clothes are often sent home by courier to avoid paying excess weight on the flight.

Before sending, we check what can be sent and which customs rules apply in the destination country.

The courier company sets the rate and delivery time, and you pay them directly.

Packing souvenirs

Enamel, ceramics, wooden items and churchkhela all need different packing.

Many craftspeople pack an item well when selling it, if you ask.

Keep churchkhela and sweets in a sealed bag so they do not stick to other things.

Fragile items

It is better to take a fragile item in your hand luggage if its size and the rules allow.

In checked luggage, put a fragile item in a sturdy box surrounded by clothes.

Send a very valuable or large fragile item by courier with special packaging.

Wine in luggage

Put a bottle of wine in checked luggage in a protective sleeve or wrapped in clothes.

Check the destination country's customs allowance for alcohol in advance.

We write about shipping many bottles separately in the shopping section.

Antiques and export

Taking out an old object, an icon or a cultural item sometimes requires a special permit.

Without a permit such an item may be confiscated at the border.

We write about buying and exporting antiques in the shopping section.

Excess weight

Excess baggage charges at the airport are often expensive.

Buying extra baggage in advance through the airline's app or website is usually cheaper.

If you have a lot, send part of it by courier.

Weighing luggage

The day before your flight, weigh the suitcase at the hotel or with a hand scale.

That way you will not have to repack at the airport check-in desk.

Many hotels are happy to lend guests a hand scale.

An extra bag

Buying an extra bag for souvenirs is often simpler than sending them.

Suitcases are sold in shopping centres and markets, and we suggest a good option.

Buy the space for an extra bag from the airline in advance.

Non-standard luggage

Skis, a bicycle, a musical instrument or a large box are agreed with the airline separately.

For such luggage we book a large car or minibus for the transfer.

We confirm a place to store such an item at the hotel in advance.

Wrapping at the airport

At Tbilisi airport, film-wrapping a suitcase is as a rule possible.

The film protects the suitcase from scratches and accidental opening.

If the suitcase is already damaged, wrapping gives it extra strength.

Delayed luggage

If your suitcase does not arrive after the flight, file a report before leaving the arrivals hall.

In most cases the suitcase arrives on a later flight within a day or two.

The airline usually delivers the suitcase to the hotel itself, and we follow up on the delivery.

Filing a report at the airport

File the report at the airline's or airport's baggage desk, with your baggage tag and ticket.

Keep the report number, because every later conversation relies on it.

Write the hotel address and your local number in the report, and our number too.

Claim deadlines

On international flights, claim deadlines are as a rule short.

A written claim is usually due within seven days for damage and within twenty-one days for delay, counted from receiving the luggage.

We check the exact deadlines in the airline's rules and prepare the claim in time.

Essentials

While waiting for your suitcase, buy toiletries and clothes.

Keep the receipts, as the airline often reimburses reasonable expenses.

Reimbursement terms depend on the airline, and we ask about them in advance.

Damaged luggage

Show the damaged suitcase at the airport and file a report there.

Photograph the damage from several angles.

The airline often offers repair, replacement or compensation.

Suitcase repairs

In Tbilisi, repairing a suitcase's wheel, handle or zip is often possible.

We find a workshop and confirm the repair time in advance.

Keep the repair receipt for the airline claim.

Lost luggage

If the suitcase cannot be found within several days, the airline declares it lost.

You then list the contents and their value, and attach receipts if you have them.

We handle the correspondence with the airline together and keep track of deadlines.

Insurance

Travel insurance often covers lost or delayed luggage.

Notify the insurer's helpline right after filing the airline report.

We write about insurance in a separate section.

Hand luggage

In your hand luggage put medicines, documents, a charger, a change of clothes and valuables.

That way a delayed checked suitcase will not ruin the trip.

Check the size and weight of hand luggage against the airline's rules.

Batteries and power banks

Power banks and lithium batteries are usually allowed only in hand luggage.

Putting a power bank in a checked suitcase leads to it being removed and delayed.

For a high-capacity power bank, check the airline's rules in advance.

Liquids

Carry liquids in hand luggage in small amounts and a clear bag.

Wine, chacha, honey and sauces go in checked luggage.

Liquids bought after security are usually allowed in hand luggage.

Food in luggage

Cheese, sausage and other animal products are restricted in many countries and confiscated at the border.

Churchkhela, hazelnuts, tea and spices usually pass without trouble, but still check the destination country's rules.

Pack food tightly sealed so smells and liquids do not reach other items.

Luggage trackers

A small tracker inside the suitcase shows you where your luggage is.

That is useful information when talking to the airline.

Follow the airline's rules on the tracker's battery.

Locks and tags

Lock the suitcase with a lock that security can open if needed.

Write your name and phone number on the tag, and your address inside on a sheet of paper.

A distinctive tag or ribbon makes the suitcase easy to spot on the belt.

Luggage in a taxi

An ordinary taxi takes two large suitcases; for more you need a bigger car.

When ordering through an app, choose a large car or an estate.

For families and groups we plan the transfer by the amount of luggage.

Group luggage

A large group sometimes needs a separate vehicle for luggage.

We count suitcases against the group list at loading and unloading.

At the hotel the porter distributes suitcases to rooms, and we give them the list too.

Luggage on the train

On the Tbilisi-Batumi and other trains, luggage goes on the rack and under the seat.

Space for very large luggage is limited, so allow for that in advance.

On a night train keep valuables close to your seat.

Luggage in a minibus

There is little room for large luggage in a marshrutka, and a separate fee is sometimes asked.

Travelling with a large suitcase in a crowded marshrutka is hard.

So when travelling with luggage we recommend a car with a driver or a transfer.

On mountain roads

On mountain roads luggage sometimes rides on the roof and needs protection from rain.

Bring a waterproof cover or a large bag in advance.

On muddy roads suitcase wheels are often damaged, so a backpack is better in the mountains.

Porters and help

At the airport and large hotels, porters help carry heavy luggage.

At an old-town hotel without a lift, the driver or hotel helps take luggage up.

We confirm this when booking.

Older guests and limited mobility

For older guests or wheelchair users, carrying luggage is a matter in itself.

The driver, a porter or a companion carries the luggage, and we plan this in advance.

We write about transporting wheelchairs in the family section.

Children's things

A pushchair is often taken to the aircraft door and returned to you there.

A child car seat is either brought along or hired on the spot.

We write about hiring pushchairs and car seats in the family section.

Items left behind

If something is left in a taxi booked through an app, contact the driver through the app.

Hotels usually keep items left behind and can send them to you by courier.

For items left at the airport or on the plane, we contact the airline and the airport.

Other people's luggage

Never accept a stranger's bag or parcel, however harmless the request seems.

Never leave your own suitcase unattended at the airport or station.

Pack and lock your luggage yourself.

Safety at stations

At railway and bus stations, keep an eye on your luggage in the crowds.

Wear your backpack on your front in a crowd and keep your phone deep in a pocket.

In case of theft we help with the police report and insurance.

Living here longer

When moving to Georgia, many belongings often arrive as freight or in a container.

A specialist company handles customs clearance and delivery of the freight.

We write about relocation in a separate section.

Business samples

On a business visit, samples, presentation materials or equipment sometimes need a customs declaration.

Before sending, we check the customs rules and connect you with a broker if needed.

We write about business services in the business section.

What we do not do

We do not store your luggage at our office or leave it at an unknown place.

We do not send anyone else's luggage or parcels with yours.

We cannot promise the outcome of an airline claim, but we follow it through to the end.

Common mistakes

Leaving the airport without filing a report for delayed luggage.

Putting a power bank in a checked suitcase.

Discovering excess weight only at the airport check-in desk.

What we need from you

What luggage you have, how many suitcases, and where and when it needs to be.

Your flight number, baggage tag and report number if the suitcase did not arrive.

What you want to send and where, so we can check the customs rules in advance.

Cost

Partners set the price of storage, couriers and transport, and you pay them directly.

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

Our fee for helping is separate and agreed in advance.