Everything a tourist needs to know about Georgia: how to travel independently (lodging, airfare, transportation, etc.), always stay connected, and more.
Georgia is a popular country for excursions, but you will not get the full benefit of the usual tourist packages. Lack of charter flights and insufficient number of tourists does not allow tour operators to get tangible discounts from hotels. And a trip organized by yourself provides a good holiday at a reasonable price.
Traveling to Georgia Independently
Georgia is a popular destination for excursions, but you won't get all the benefits from typical tourist packages. The absence of charter flights and a limited number of tourists prevent tour operators from obtaining significant discounts from hotels. However, organizing a trip independently can provide a good vacation at an affordable price.
Going to Georgia on Your Own
Organizing a trip on your own is just as easy as going through a tour operator. The main thing is to have access to the internet and a list of necessary websites that provide the services you need for your trip.
Why Pay More
Let's compare a trip to Georgia through a tour operator with an independently organized trip.
Through a travel agency, 2 nights for 2 people in a three-star hotel will cost around 460 USD. This includes airport transfers and a city tour.
By booking the same hotel for the same period through the internet, you will pay only 100 USD. The hotel owner will provide transfer services from and to the airport for a nominal fee (around 30 USD) or even for free. The total cost of the trip will be 130 USD. And if you find accommodation in a private house, the cost will be even lower.
Flight Tickets
In Georgia, there are international airports in Tbilisi, Kutaisi, and Batumi. Therefore, it's best to monitor prices in all three cities, taking into account any ongoing promotions and discounts.
The easiest way to do this is through a flight search engine - a specialized service programmed to quickly search for information across all airports, including prices, destinations, and more. And if you subscribe to newsletters, you can receive the necessary information by email.
Accommodation
If you plan to stay in a hotel, a metasearch engine will help you find a suitable option based on your preferences and budget. Modern widgets have information about apartments, private accommodations, and rooms offered by hosts.
Renting an apartment (or room) is always cheaper than a hotel room.
It's not necessary to pay for the entire accommodation booking in advance. You may decide to stay longer in one resort or not go to another due to bad weather.
It's ideal to book accommodation one month in advance.
Insurance
Travel insurance is not a mandatory document for a trip to Georgia. However, it's important to remember that even a minor injury in this mountainous country can result in significant expenses. Whether to purchase insurance or not is up to you.
If you decide to get insurance, you can do it through a specialized online service. With its help, you can read the contract with the insurance company from the comfort of your home or office and then obtain a policy at a reasonable price.
Car (Transfer, Rental)
If you need a car rental, the most convenient way is to search on an aggregator website that collects information about rental companies, rates, deposits, and customer reviews. On such a website, you can also choose a specific car rather than just a "car class."
Prices for these services in Georgia are significantly lower compared to other countries. In case of car damage, the deposit will not be fully charged, but only compensation for repairs.
For those who prefer not to drive and navigate unfamiliar mountainous regions, taxi services are available. However, it is advisable not to accept tour offers from taxi drivers. The prices are inflated, and the level of service is basic.
For airport transfers or sightseeing trips, it's also better to book through a website. The fare will be cheaper than regular taxis. Without any upfront payment, you can select a specific car and driver. Customers are generally satisfied with this service when booking an affordable car.
Tours
If you are traveling to Georgia alone, you can join group tours within the city. For two or more people, it is better to opt for a private tour, which is both fascinating and cost-effective.
You can find a good tour guide online or upon arrival. In the latter case, the rates will be slightly lower compared to those offered on websites.
When organizing trips in Georgia, it is important to consider three factors: your preferences, the weather, and your budget.
Staying Connected During Your Vacation
In Georgia, both internet access and mobile communication are available. To use communication services, you can either purchase a local tourist SIM card or enable roaming on your phone and use your mobile operator's internet. Each option has its advantages and disadvantages.
Mobile Internet (Roaming)
Among tourists, mobile internet is not very popular because almost every establishment visited by tourists has free Wi-Fi, which is generally faster than mobile internet.
There are a few cases where roaming is necessary:
Contacting a taxi driver: Booking a car with a driver in Georgia is common among tourists due to its affordability. Sometimes, the driver needs to contact the client, for example, to park slightly farther from the designated location. If you have arranged an airport transfer, the taxi driver will not call an international number, and vice versa.
Calling a tour guide: If you are going on a guided tour, you need to meet the guide first. Without communication, you may miss each other or have difficulty locating the guide. In this situation, communication with the tour guide is essential.
Checking the route: Even if you have downloaded maps of the places you plan to visit on your phone in advance, it may not be enough. Without internet access, you won't be able to plan your route, read reviews, or even use map search functions properly.
Reading reviews: In an unfamiliar city, the best way to determine the quality of a restaurant or cafe is by reading reviews. If you're hungry, a single click can help you find a good place to eat or avoid a bad one.
Contacting loved ones: Sending a quick message via messenger or email can reassure your family. Arrivals, accommodations, and city tours are the most common topics shared in messages by tourists.
Calling for assistance: Travel doesn't always go according to plan. Unexpected situations may arise where you need to call for help. That's when communication becomes crucial.
The data usage for messengers is minimal. On average, during a two-week stay in another country, tourists use between 100 MB and 200 MB of mobile internet.
Internet prices change every year. In 2019, the cost of internet services for tourists in Georgia was no more than 4 USD.
Advantages
You can arrange transportation, accommodation, or car rentals even before your arrival.
Easy to use for making quick calls.
Disadvantages
You pay according to your tariff package, even if you don't fully utilize the services you paid for.
The cost of calls per day can sometimes exceed the cost of communication services for the entire trip.
Georgian SIM Card
Buying a local mobile operator SIM card is advantageous for people who are visiting Georgia for a longer period. This option is also beneficial for users who consume a lot of data by watching videos, uploading photos to social media, and listening to music.
In the country, there are three mobile operators - Beeline, GeoCell, and Magti.
Beeline is interesting for its low tariffs, but the coverage in mountainous regions is weak. The network may appear and disappear in some areas. Therefore, if you are staying in Tbilisi, this option will be suitable.
GeoCell and Magti have higher prices, but the quality of their coverage allows you to stay connected regardless of your location. These mobile operators will be helpful for those whose resorts are located high up in the mountains.
To start using mobile communication services, you need to register the SIM card. This can be done at the customer service center of the operator. Make sure to have your passport with you. Be prepared that the registration process may take some time. If you are staying for only a couple of days, plan ahead for this process.
You can top up your balance and purchase the desired package at a payment terminal.
Sometimes, travel agencies register SIM cards on behalf of their clients to save them from the hassle. Later, they provide these SIM cards to the clients.
Important to remember! If you purchased such a SIM card in Georgia, you can only use it within the territory of Georgia.
Advantages
Accessible tariffs allow subscribers to actively use the internet and make many calls.
It will be easier to call taxi drivers, landlords, and others on your Georgian phone number.
You can purchase the SIM card at the airport.
Disadvantages
Finding the operator's office and registering the SIM card can take up to six hours.
It is challenging to analyze which tariff and which operator are more advantageous.
The SIM card cannot be used in Armenia, Turkey, and other countries. You will need to purchase other SIM cards for those countries.
If you do not top up your balance for 3 months, the card will be automatically blocked. If you need to travel to Georgia again, you will have to purchase a new SIM card.
Before arriving in the country, you will not be able to know your phone number. This is inconvenient because accommodations, transportation, and guide services are usually booked in advance.
The language barrier between tourists and representatives of mobile operators makes it difficult to understand the system of settings and tariffs. They will communicate with you only in English or Georgian.
International SIM Card
For those who travel to different countries and want to stay connected all the time, an international SIM card is suitable. You won't be able to use a lot of internet data with this card, but you can get it right at the airport. Some tourists purchase multiple SIM cards from different companies to have a backup in case one of them doesn't work.
The cost of international SIM cards is three times higher than local SIM cards and will cost you around 16 USD. If you plan to visit only one country, it is better to buy a local SIM card. In the case of short business trips or weekends, you can confidently purchase an international SIM card.
Advantages
The interfaces of international SIM cards are equipped with a Russian-language panel. The menu is simple, and the terms and conditions are concise and understandable even for elderly people.
Technical support in Russian is available to help with many issues. Interestingly, this service is provided by friendly staff members, not automated machines.
If you are not a heavy internet user, using such a SIM card will be cost-effective.
You can use the same SIM card from your previous trip when you arrive for your next vacation.
An international SIM card pays for itself after the third trip.
There is no need to search for operator offices throughout the city. You can make calls right away.
The mobile operator's billing system allows subscribers to pay only for what they have used.
There is an application that allows you to control not only the deductions from your account but also the tariffs of the country you are in.
You can know your phone number before arriving in the country. When making reservations or booking services, you can provide your contact number.
The SIM card is active in many countries. Armenia, Albania, and Montenegro are no exceptions.
Mobile communication with an international SIM card works reliably and rarely experiences disruptions.
There are no mandatory fees. You can use all the money in your account and then replenish it. The only requirement is to connect to the internet once a year.
Disadvantages
You need to pay in advance for the international SIM card, starting from 16 USD up to 42 USD. It is not cheap for mobile communication fees.
If you use a lot of internet data for an extended period, the SIM card becomes disadvantageous.
Your number will be assigned a British code. Locals tend to avoid calling such numbers. Only Viber, Telegram, and WhatsApp remain as options.
You need to think about buying the SIM card in advance because it takes several weeks for delivery.
Each option has its pros and cons. Therefore, before your trip, you need to analyze everything and make the right decision. Then your journey will bring you pleasure, and your vacation will be beneficial.
