Budget vacation in Georgia: tricks for tourists and how to reduce travel expenses.
The main life hacks and tricks how to save money on a trip to Georgia. About the best choice of transport, accommodation, places of food and excursions on madloba. The local currency and souvenirs are very different from the Russians, but everywhere you can adapt, bargain, and most importantly, your smile is for this!
Find out how you can save money on a trip to Georgia⬇️
When planning a vacation or a trip, many people calculate how much they will have to spend, and how to relax with pleasure at the same time. After all, not always an expensive trip is good, but a budget vacation is bad. But an experienced traveler will always find a way to save money.
Georgia is loved by tourists from different countries. And the rest here is not very expensive. Let's talk about how you can reduce spending while traveling in Georgia.
How to get to Georgia
It does not matter whether you are going to fly by plane or go by train, it is better to buy tickets in advance, since the earlier the tickets are bought, the less you will have to pay for them.
By the way, air travel, for example, not to Tbilisi, but to Kutaisi is cheaper. Start exploring Georgia from this city. And then go from Kutaisi to Tbilisi by local train or bus.
When choosing air tickets, you should pay attention to low-costers. If you do not have luggage (only hand luggage), and additional services are not essential, then this option is for you. Pay attention to WizzAir, UIA, Pobeda airlines.
Track promotions and discounts. They will allow you to additionally save on the cost of tickets.
Russians sometimes travel by train or fly to Vladikavkaz. And then they get to Tbilisi by bus. In this way, you can also reduce costs.
Ways to travel within Georgia
You can travel between the cities of Georgia by planes, trains, buses, minibuses, taxis or rented transport.
Usually long-distance travel is inexpensive. But they differ in the time spent on the way and in comfort.
For example, from Kutaisi to Tbilisi, the travel time by train or train is about six hours. It will cost 9-10 lari (about $ 3). The schedule and the actual cost must be specified. Reference data is published on the railway website.ge.
It takes about 6-7 hours by bus or minibus, and it costs 20-25 lari (500-630 rubles).
A taxi from Kutaisi airport to Tbilisi costs 150-250 GEL. It is necessary to bargain. If you are alone or together, find fellow travelers. Then the fare will be cheaper.
Some hotels offer transfers. Pay attention to this service when booking a hotel.
A rented car with a driver costs about the same as a taxi. Only the passage will be a little more comfortable: drivers are more careful on the roads and polite to passengers.
You can hitchhike in Georgia — for free, and even the driver will tell stories from his life or about a neighbor, relative all the way, and the trip will become more exciting.
Public transport
It is convenient to travel by minibuses or buses inside the cities of Georgia. And there is also a metro in Tbilisi. Travel by public transport is inexpensive, about 20-35 cents.
Buses run more often than trains or commuter trains. The schedule is compiled taking into account the arrival of flights, and you can buy a ticket immediately upon arrival at the airport. Payment is possible in cash (lari) or by plastic card.
In small towns or in the historical center of Tbilisi, it is better to walk on foot.
Personal car
Russians often travel to Georgia by private car. Here it is necessary to take into account the brand and technical condition of the car, the amount of fuel consumed, since roads in Georgia are not always of the best quality, especially in the mountains, far from the center of the country. Therefore, if you are planning a trip out of town, it is better to drive SUVs, jeeps, etc.
The cost of such a trip must be calculated in advance. For example, the cost of gasoline in Georgia is about 2.33—2.57 lari per liter, diesel fuel — 2.31–2.4 lari. The ruble exchange rate is 1 lari about 25 rubles.
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Housing
If a high level of service is not essential for you, it is worth considering the option of staying in a hostel or a guesthouse. This is convenient, especially if you are traveling with a company.
And if you are alone, then in the hostel you will find fellow travelers and like-minded people. It will cost less than the hotel, about $ 10.
If you need more comfortable conditions, but do not want to go to a hotel, use couchsurfing. That is, live for free, at a party. Thus, the culture and way of life of the country, its customs and traditions are better known.
For a family vacation or a small company, rent an apartment. You can rent a house for daily rent or immediately for a certain period. Make a rental on the housing booking sites. When looking for an apartment, it is better to pay attention to local sites where residents of Georgia rent and look for housing.
If you are focused only on the hotel, try to look at various services. On the official websites of hotels, sometimes they give additional discounts when booking directly.
Housing closer to the center is often more expensive than on the outskirts.
If you are traveling by car and plan to travel to cities and districts of the country, bring a tent with you. There are many beautiful places in Georgia where you can stay overnight. You will get a lot of pleasant impressions and significant budget savings.
Food, wine, water
If you live in a hostel, guesthouse or rent an apartment, you can cook by yourself. Products in stores and markets are not very expensive. Especially seasonal vegetables and fruits.
Pay attention not to expensive restaurants, but to small cafes. The food there is no worse, but it costs less than in a pretentious institution. Take a look at the cafe: if it's crowded, then it's delicious. Especially if there are a lot of locals there. They know exactly where you can have a delicious lunch or dinner.
There are many places in Georgian cities where delicious national pastries are sold, for example, khachapuri. And it's inexpensive, about 25 cents.
Buy homemade wine. It is delicious and is available in almost all cafes and restaurants. You can taste it in wine shops. It usually costs less than the factory one.
There is also no need to spend money on bottled water. In Georgia, tap water is drinkable.
And if you are still going to buy water, look for mineral water: Likani, Borjomi, Nabeglavi, etc. There are many sources of mineral water in Georgia, it is sold in all supermarkets and in many small shops.
Mobile communication and Internet
Roaming abroad can be quite expensive. But you can't stay out of touch. At least in order to order a taxi, you need a mobile phone.
To reduce communication costs, you can:
- buy a local SIM card. In Georgia, it costs about $ 2, and the package of services is about $ 10 per month;
- Use WI-FI and internet calls.
Organization of excursions
There are many travel mobile apps, audio guides, guidebooks and navigators. If desired, you can explore all the sights without resorting to the services of paid guides and guides.
This is especially true of Tbilisi and other major cities. If you live near the historical center of the city, you will not even need to spend money on public transport.
If necessary, contact the Information Center, they will give you a free map of the city and advise you where to go and what to see. Many hotels also offer guests maps of the area.
Currency, or what kind of money to take with you to Georgia
On 21.10.2020, the exchange rate of lari in Georgia:
Ruble— 0.0404
Euro — 3,8230
Dollar — 3.2250
You can exchange rubles, dollars and euros for lari. You can pay in many shops, cafes, restaurants in Tbilisi and other cities with a card, so you will not lose interest when cashing out and exchanging for lari.
Tourists often say that it is most profitable to take dollars with you to Georgia as cash.
Exchangers there are everywhere: at the border, at the airport, in banks, many private exchange offices. The course is about the same everywhere. But it is still better to contact the Bank of Georgia, the rate is usually more favorable here.
Souvenirs and gifts
In souvenir shops on popular tourist routes, prices are calculated for visitors, and much higher than for the same souvenirs, but in a regular store.
For example, traditional sauces satsebeli and tkemali are sold in supermarkets and grocery stores.
Buy Georgian spices not in bags, but by weight on the market. So is tea.
If you are planning large purchases, find a store where there is Tax Free.
Do not be lazy to "take a walk" around the shops, choose a gift not in a hurry, but with a feeling and mood. Then the pleasure of the gift will be brighter and it will be much more pleasant to give such a gift.
Remember that almost everywhere it is possible and necessary to bargain and be sure to smile. A good person is often given additional discounts. In a restaurant or cafe, you can get a present from the chef. They say sometimes even taxi drivers drive for free. Suddenly, it's about you?
Prices out of season are always more favorable than in the midst of a summer vacation or during winter skiing in the mountains, so if you want to visit Georgia to admire this country, learn a lot about it, visit architectural monuments or just enjoy the nature of this mountainous country, come in the off-season. Then you will be able to spend much less on rest, and you will get a lot of pleasure.
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