Family and special needs

Who this is for

Families travelling with a baby, school-age children or teenagers.

Also older guests, people with limited mobility and those who keep religious dietary rules.

Our role

We are not a medical or childcare institution: we choose and vet partners, plan the route and oversee every detail.

We take no commission from partners; you pay them directly, and we never hold your money. Our fee is agreed separately and in advance.

Everyone's own rhythm

A child needs sleep and play, an older person needs rest, and a teenager wants adventure.

A good route brings these rhythms together and forces no one to live at someone else's pace.

So we split the day into short blocks, each with its own aim and a break.

With a baby

When travelling with a baby we book a cot and a quiet room at the hotel in advance.

Baby food, nappies and hygiene products are sold in Georgian pharmacies and supermarkets.

If you use a particular brand, bring enough for the first few days.

A child's car seat

We include a child seat in all our transfers, by age and weight.

An ordinary taxi often has no child seat, so we confirm it in advance.

For a small child a seat is a safety matter, and we keep to this rule without exception.

Streets and strollers

The historic districts of old Tbilisi and other towns are often cobbled and hilly.

Underpasses often have only stairs, which makes getting around with a stroller hard.

So we plan the route for a stroller, or suggest a light folding stroller and a baby carrier.

Stroller hire

A stroller or wheelchair can be hired in Georgia and delivered to your hotel.

This spares you extra baggage on the flight and the risk of damage in transit.

We write about hire on a separate page.

Choosing a hotel

For a family we choose a hotel by room size, lift, kitchen and location.

An apartment is often more convenient for a family than two separate rooms.

We check accessibility with photos and direct questions, not just the advert's word.

Lifts and stairs

Old buildings and some hotels have no lift, or a very small one.

We ask for a room on a low floor or near the lift.

We check the steps up to churches and fortresses in advance.

Food for children

Children often love Georgian food: khachapuri, mchadi, cheese, fruit and churchkhela.

A spicy or very salty dish can be requested in advance with less seasoning.

Many restaurants have a high chair, but not always a children's menu.

Allergies

For an allergy we write the allergen in Georgian on a card you show at restaurants.

Hazelnuts and walnuts are very common in Georgian food, including in sauces.

With a severe allergy, always carry an adrenaline auto-injector.

Water and hygiene

Tap water is considered drinkable in many towns, though we suggest bottled water for babies.

Spring water in the mountains is often clean, but caution is better for a child.

Wet wipes and hand sanitiser are travel essentials.

Heat and sun

Midday summer heat in Tbilisi is strong, and children and older people feel it most.

So we plan outdoor activities for mornings and evenings, and a museum or rest at midday.

Always carry a hat, sunscreen and water.

Mountains and altitude

Mountain resorts are wonderful for families, but mountain roads are long and winding.

A child may feel carsick on the way, so we plan frequent stops.

We suggest discussing altitude and health with a doctor beforehand, especially with a baby or an older relative.

Long drives

Driving from one end of the country to the other often takes half a day.

With children we split a long distance over two days, with a night in between.

Sometimes a domestic flight or a train is more convenient than the car.

Places children love

In Tbilisi children love Mtatsminda Park, the puppet theatre, the zoo and the cable car.

On the coast, Batumi is the centre of family holidays.

In the regions, horse rides, farm visits and workshops stay in children's memories for a long time.

Museums with children

Some museums have special programmes and interactive corners for children.

An hour in a museum with a child is enough, and we avoid long guided tours.

The cable car and Narikala fortress are an adventure for children too.

Teenagers

Teenagers are often most interested in active experiences: hiking, rafting, zip lines or cycling.

We plan such activities with a reliable operator and safety equipment.

Some activities have a minimum age, and we check this in advance.

A nanny

If the adults have a dinner or event in the evening, a nanny looks after the child at the hotel.

We choose a nanny through a partner agency, by experience and references.

We write about nannies on a separate page.

Camps

In summer Georgia has language, sports and nature camps for children and teenagers.

We do not run camps, but we help with choosing one, checking the conditions and arrival.

We write about camps on a separate page.

A child's documents

A child needs their own passport, valid until the end of the trip.

If a child travels with one parent or another adult, a notarised consent from the other parent is useful.

We check these rules by citizenship and airline.

Older travellers

For older guests we plan a gentle pace, short walks and breaks with seating.

We choose hotels with lifts and transport that is easy to get into.

We write about travel for older guests on a separate page.

Medicines

Bring regular medicines in sufficient supply, in original packaging, with a prescription.

Some medicines are sold locally under a different name, and we confirm this at the pharmacy.

We write about doctor visits in the health section.

Insurance

Every family member, children included, needs travel insurance.

Some insurers set an age limit or restrictions on chronic conditions, and we check this before the policy is bought.

We write about insurance in a separate section.

Limited mobility

Accessibility in Georgia is improving, but it is still uneven.

New hotels, shopping centres and some museums have ramps and lifts, while old districts often have stairs.

So we check every place in advance and fit the route to the actual conditions.

Accessible transport

Vehicles with a ramp or lift are limited in number and must be booked in advance.

Often a minibus with a wide door and a driver who helps you in is enough.

We confirm the exact vehicle specifications against the size of the wheelchair.

Accessible tours

We plan an accessible tour so that you see the sight itself, not just its car park.

Some churches and fortresses can be reached closely by car, others only on foot.

We write about accessible tours on a separate page.

Sight and hearing

For a guest with a visual impairment the guide uses detailed description and, where allowed, touch.

For a guest with a hearing impairment we prepare written information and visual material.

We look for a sign-language interpreter in advance, though one is not always available in every language.

Sensory sensitivity

For a child on the autism spectrum or with sensory sensitivity, noisy places and crowds are tiring.

We offer such families quiet hours, calm restaurants and a route introduced in advance.

If it helps the child, we prepare the day's plan with pictures.

Pregnancy

During pregnancy, agree the trip with your doctor beforehand, and we check the airline's rules.

We plan the route with short transfers, rest and proximity to a clinic.

Some spa treatments and high-mountain routes are not recommended at this time.

Breastfeeding

Breastfeeding in public is generally accepted in Georgia when done discreetly.

Shopping centres and some restaurants have a parent and baby room.

In churches and monasteries you would choose a quieter spot.

Halal food

Tbilisi and Batumi have halal restaurants and butchers.

In an ordinary restaurant the origin of the meat is not always confirmed, so we choose confirmed places.

We write about halal and kosher food on a separate page.

Kosher food

The choice of kosher food in Georgia is limited, and for strict requirements we look for a specialist supplier.

Sometimes sealed, certified meals are the most reliable solution.

Tbilisi has an active Jewish community and synagogues, and we often get information from the community.

Prayer and religious days

Tbilisi has a mosque and synagogues, and so does Batumi.

If you ask, we fit the day's route around prayer times.

On the Sabbath or a major holiday we plan for travel restrictions and choose a hotel within walking distance.

Ramadan

During Ramadan we book restaurants for the meal after sunset in advance.

We plan daytime activities at a calm pace, without long walks in the heat.

Some hotels prepare a pre-dawn breakfast on request.

Church etiquette

In Georgian churches women often cover their heads and wear long skirts, and men do not enter in shorts.

Many monasteries lend headscarves and wrap skirts.

We explain to children beforehand that quiet is expected in a church.

A feast with children

A Georgian feast is long, and a child may get bored.

So for a family feast we choose a restaurant with a courtyard or play corner.

During the toasts a child is poured juice or lemonade and becomes part of the ceremony.

Street safety

Traffic in Georgia is often fast and unpredictable, and drivers do not always give way to pedestrians.

Always hold a child's hand when crossing, and use crossings with traffic lights.

At night a taxi app is safer than hailing a taxi on the street.

Street dogs

Towns have street dogs, some with an ear tag showing they are vaccinated.

They are usually calm, but we teach children not to touch them.

In case of an animal bite we go to a clinic at once.

Emergencies

The emergency number in Georgia is 112.

We know a paediatrician and a 24-hour clinic in every town in advance.

On arrival we give the family a list of all the important numbers.

Pharmacies

Towns have many pharmacies, and some are open around the clock.

We confirm a child's medicine dose with a pharmacist or doctor, not just from the leaflet.

Pharmacies are rare in the mountains, so we carry a travel first-aid kit.

Every family is different

Every family is its own: a single parent, grandparents with grandchildren, or several families together.

We fit the route to each family separately, without a template.

We ask about a family's private details only as far as planning requires.

Several generations together

When children, parents and grandparents travel together, splitting the group sometimes works best.

For instance, the young ones go hiking while the others rest by a lake or in a village.

In the evening everyone gathers at one table, and the day works for all.

School holidays

Families often travel in summer and at New Year, when crowds are at their peak.

At those times we book hotels and transport early.

Spring and autumn are often calmer and more comfortable for a family.

Winter with the family

In winter Gudauri and Bakuriani are family ski resorts with children's slopes and schools.

We book a children's ski instructor in advance.

Warm clothing and child-size equipment can be hired on the spot.

The sea with the family

On the Black Sea coast, families often choose Batumi, Kobuleti and Ureki.

Some beaches are pebbly and some sandy, which matters for a child.

In summer the humidity by the sea is high, and we take that into account for older travellers.

A guide for families

A family guide tells history in a child's language, with games and questions.

They know when to pause and when to change the plan.

We write about guides in the concierge section.

Confidentiality

We use children's photos in our advertising only with the parents' written consent.

We share information about health and disability only with the partner who needs it.

We do not keep this information longer than necessary after the trip.

Vetting partners

We choose nannies, camps, transport and guides by experience, references and a personal meeting.

Where possible we ask people working with children for a criminal record certificate.

If a partner does not meet our standard, we stop working with them.

Flexibility

When travelling with a family, plans often change: a child is tired, the weather turns or someone feels unwell.

So we prepare a back-up option for every day.

We agree the terms for changing plans with partners in advance.

Budget

Family trips often forget the child seat, the nanny's hours and the extra bed.

We draw up the budget sheet with all these details.

We add nothing to prices, and you pay each partner directly.

Common mistakes

An overloaded day that leaves a child no time to sleep.

Pushing a heavy stroller through an old district, and checking accessibility only by the advert.

Checking the insurance age limit and the child's documents too late.

What we need from you

Who is travelling: ages, health, mobility and dietary rules.

Dates, preferred regions and the daily rhythm you would like.

What your family enjoys and what you would like to avoid.

Cost

Partners set the price of hotels, transport, nannies and other services, and you pay them directly.

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

Our planning and coordination fee is separate and agreed in advance.