Transfers between cities

What a transfer is and how it differs from a taxi

A transfer is a journey with a driver, booked in advance at a fixed price. The price is known when you book and does not change on the way - not for traffic, not for a delayed flight.

Unlike a taxi, the driver knows the route, the car is prepared for a long journey, and a child seat and room for the luggage are arranged in advance.

The fixed price and what it covers

The price covers the car, the driver, fuel and parking. Short stops for a rest or the toilet are normally included too - nothing is added for them.

Long stops at sights are counted separately if they add several hours to the journey. We agree those when you book, and they appear in the price in advance.

Stops on the way

On the road to Kazbegi there are the Zhinvali reservoir and Ananuri fortress; on the way to Kutaisi, Uplistsikhe and Gori; towards Batumi, Kutaisi and the green hills of Guria. A transfer that passes through these places saves you a separate excursion.

The driver is not a guide: they take you there, wait for you and tell you briefly where you are. Telling the history and giving context is a guide's job - if you need that, we add a guide.

Two or three stops is usually sensible. More than that becomes a full excursion, and then a day tour, where the time is planned around the sights, is the better choice.

The most common routes

Tbilisi-Kazbegi is about three hours, along the Military Road and over the Jvari Pass. It is one of the most beautiful roads in the country and the most common transfer too.

Tbilisi-Kutaisi is three hours, Kutaisi-Batumi two. Many people land in Kutaisi and go straight to Batumi or Tbilisi; in that case the transfer is tied to the flight time.

Tbilisi-Sighnaghi is two hours, Tbilisi-Borjomi two and a half. In winter Tbilisi-Gudauri and Tbilisi-Bakuriani are the most requested, with skis and winter tyres.

A transfer to the border

The main crossing into Armenia is Sadakhlo, into Azerbaijan Red Bridge, and into Turkey Sarpi, south of Batumi. A transfer to any of these is an ordinary journey.

You often cross the border on foot with your luggage, and another car waits for you on the other side. That is the simplest and often the quickest way, because checking a car at the border takes time.

Sometimes we arrange the car on the other side through partners. If not, we tell you how to get to your next point, and we allow time for crossing on foot.

Straight to Yerevan or Baku

A transfer in one car through the border is possible if the car and driver have the documents and insurance for crossing. Not every driver does, so we book a transfer like this 48 hours ahead.

The time at the border is never the same: sometimes half an hour, sometimes several. So on that day we do not plan anything tight, such as an early flight or a meeting.

Entry rules apply when you cross - a visa or other conditions of entry depending on your nationality. We check that before you book.

Early morning and night

Transfers run 24/7, and leaving at three in the morning for an early flight is perfectly normal. The price does not change for a night transfer.

But we do not recommend mountain roads at night - towards Kazbegi, Svaneti or the Adjara mountains. Visibility is poor, there is livestock on the road, and fatigue is at its worst.

If you arrive at night and are heading into the mountains, spend the night in Tbilisi and go up in the morning. That does not cost you a day - on the contrary, you arrive in the mountains rested.

Luggage and the size of the car

A saloon takes three passengers and two or three large suitcases. For four passengers or more luggage a minivan is better, and it takes up to seven.

Special items - skis, a bicycle, a pushchair - need to be known in advance. Sometimes they need a rack or a large boot, and that changes the choice of car.

If there is a great deal of luggage, the passengers and the bags can travel in separate cars. That is often more convenient than cramming everything into one.

A pet on a transfer

A transfer with an animal is possible, but we need to know in advance - not every driver takes animals in the car. The animal's size and its carrier affect the choice of car.

On a long drive we plan stops for the animal too - for water and a walk. They usually coincide with the rest stops.

We put a cover down to protect the interior, and please bring a towel or a mat as well. It is a small thing, but it matters on a long drive.

Roadside food

In Georgia roadside bakeries selling fresh tone bread, and stalls with churchkhela and fruit, are part of the road. There is always room for these stops on a transfer.

On the road to Kazbegi, Pasanauri is famous for its khinkali, and lunch there is part of the trip for many people. On the way to Kutaisi, roadside restaurants serve Imeretian dishes.

The driver knows where it is clean and good, and where it is only for tourists. If you want food to be part of the journey, tell us when you book.

The driver and language

Drivers speak Georgian and Russian, and many speak basic English too. For a transfer that is enough: the route and the stops are agreed in advance.

If you need another language - Arabic, Turkish, Hebrew - tell us in advance. Such a driver is not always available, and sometimes we suggest an interpreter.

The driver's messenger number comes with the booking confirmation. If there is a misunderstanding, our coordinator is always available.

Delays and waiting

The driver normally arrives at the agreed place ten to fifteen minutes early. When leaving a hotel, a certain amount of waiting is included, and we tell you how much when you book.

On a transfer from an airport or a station the driver tracks the actual arrival time - a delayed flight or train is not your fault and does not change the price.

If your plans change and you move the departure, just message us. The earlier, the easier it is to rearrange the driver.

Several days with one driver

If the route covers several cities, one driver for the whole trip is the most convenient. The luggage stays in the car, the driver gets used to your rhythm, and you do not wait for a new car every day.

The driver's accommodation and meals are then either included or charged separately - we always set that out in advance, in writing. You should never have to discuss it on the spot.

The driver's rest is part of the route too: we do not plan more than eight or nine hours at the wheel in a day. Long days are balanced with short ones.

When a train or bus is better

From Tbilisi to Batumi, if you do not need stops on the way, the train is often better than a transfer: it is comfortable, cheaper and takes five hours. We will tell you so directly.

For someone travelling alone with little luggage, a comfortable coach between cities is perfectly adequate too. A transfer pays off when there is a lot of luggage, you are travelling as a family, or you want stops on the way.

In the mountains, though, a transfer is almost always better: public transport is rare there, and the marshrutka journey is long and tiring.

Winter transfers into the mountains

In winter, transfers to Gudauri and Bakuriani are arranged with winter tyres and room for skis. An ordinary car will not do, and we check this when you book.

The Jvari Pass sometimes closes, and the return from Gudauri can drag on for several hours. So on the day you go back we allow a large margin before the flight.

If the road is closed, we help you move the flight or find somewhere to stay the night. It is rare, but it is better for a winter traveller to know in advance.

What the price is made of

The price depends on distance, time and the size of the car. On a one-way transfer the driver's return trip counts too, so a one-way price is not half of a return one.

Stops, extra waiting and overnight stays appear as separate lines. Every part of the quote is shown separately, so it is clear what you are paying for.

We send you the price before you book, and it does not change. If an extra stop or detour comes up on the way at your request, we agree it there and then, not at the end of the journey.

A day return

Going from Tbilisi to Sighnaghi, Mtskheta or Borjomi for the day and coming back in the evening is a common request. The driver waits for you there and you come back in the same car.

In effect it is a tour without a guide: you explore on your own and the driver takes care of the transport. It is cheaper than a guided tour and keeps your flexibility.

If you need a guide on site, in some places - Mtskheta or Borjomi, for example - we arrange a local guide in advance who is with you only while you look around.

Safety and insurance

Every car is insured, and passenger insurance applies. Seat belts work in the back seats too - with us that is a requirement, not a formality.

The driver keeps to the speed limit, does not talk on the phone while driving and smokes only at a stop, outside the car. If anything bothers you, tell us directly.

On a long road the driver needs rest. So we plan a stop every two or three hours, even when the passengers are in a hurry.

Payment and cancellation

You can pay in advance by card or bank transfer, or on the spot to the driver. We send companies an invoice. The option is agreed when you book.

Cancellation up to 24 hours ahead is free. If your flight is cancelled or delayed, we move the transfer free of charge - that is the case where the decision was not yours.

For multi-day transfers and border crossings the terms are different, and we send them to you in writing when you book.

What we need from you

From where to where, the date and time, the number of passengers, children's ages and the luggage. If it is linked to a flight, the flight number too.

If you would like stops, tell us what interests you: history, views, food. We will suggest stops accordingly and work out the time.

And the messenger we should reach you on. You receive the driver's name and number with the booking confirmation.

From Kutaisi airport

Low-cost flights often land in Kutaisi at odd hours - late at night or early in the morning. There is little transport at the airport then, and a tired traveller should not have to haggle over a taxi fare.

The transfer is tied to the actual flight time: the driver waits in the arrivals hall and takes you straight to Batumi, Tbilisi or a hotel in Kutaisi.

If you arrive at night and are going to Tbilisi, it is often better to spend the night in Kutaisi and leave in the morning - you pass Gelati or the canyons on the way. We suggest this when you book.

Transfers for guests

Guests at a wedding, a conference or a family celebration often arrive on different flights at different times. In that case we arrange the transfers by list: each passenger has a particular car and time.

On the day of the event we take guests from the hotel to the venue and back, in several runs. The last car leaves when the last guest is ready - not by the timetable.

The organiser deals with one coordinator and does not ring each driver. That saves time and nerves on the day.

Hairpin bends and car sickness

On mountain roads, especially towards Kazbegi and into the Adjara mountains, some passengers suffer from car sickness. It happens more often to children and to people in the back seats.

The simplest advice: the front seat, watching the road rather than your phone, and a light snack before you set off. If someone has this problem, tell us in advance - the driver drives more gently and stops more often.

There is always water and bags in the car. You can stop at any time - just tell the driver, and they will pull over at the nearest safe spot.