Georgia is an amazing country that attracts tourists with its oriental flavor, mild pleasant climate, sea, medical resorts, outdoor activities and attractions. So vacation in Georgia is a great alternative to Turkey, Egypt and many European resorts.
Advantages and disadvantages
Advantages
- No visa required
- Almost no language barrier
- Great beach holiday
- Georgians are very hospitable and friendly, it is easy to meet and communicate with them.
- Local cuisine is very tasty, plentiful
- Vacation prices are low.
- The climate is warm and pleasant, you can relax all year round, depending on the purpose of the trip
- High-quality local mineral water is sold everywhere
Disadvantages
- Might be a little dirty
- Often attractions can only be reached by car.
- Locals, especially taxi drivers, often deceive tourists
- In the markets, tourists are often overpriced.
- The sea is dirty
- Not everyone likes the hot customs of the locals, especially women
- Traffic on the roads is terrible, public transport is bad, many do not follow the rules
- For some it is too hot in summer, it often rains, especially in the West of the country
Climate
According to toppharmacyschools.org, the climate in Georgia is mild, but quite rainy in spring and autumn, especially on the coast. In the center and in the east it is drier, the climate is continental and cool. In the mountains it is generally quite cold.
FAQs
Question:
How to choose a hotel?
Answer:
In recent years, many hotels have been built where you can stay with great comfort. But there are still more small old hotels and private hotels. The set of services in them is minimal, and comfort is often not enough – for example, there is often no heating or air conditioning, sometimes there is no hot water supply, and the electricity is often turned off. It’s not worth talking about the All Inclusive system – not all hotels even offer breakfast. It is very popular to rent apartments and private houses for the holidays, especially in ski resorts and along the Black Sea coast. Also on the shore and near the hot springs are boarding houses and rest houses – generally comfortable, but often old, not renovated since Soviet times. So many tourists still prefer to stay in the private sector – it’s inexpensive and very comfortable. The main thing is to book accommodation in advance. Just remember that usually guest houses are not heated.
Question:
What to do in case of emergency?
Answer:
In the event of a robbery or accident, call:
- 022 – police;
- 01 – fire department;
- 033 – ambulance;
- 112 – unified rescue service.
There is no Russian Embassy in Georgia, in case of problems with the law, loss of a passport and other travel troubles, please contact the Russian Interests Section at the Swiss Embassy by phone + (8 10 995 32) 291 24 06.
Question:
What language is spoken here?
Answer:
The official language is Georgian, but almost everywhere they speak Russian calmly, with a slight accent. Young people know Russian a little worse, as the emphasis in schools is on English. Sometimes locals forget words, but this is not critical for communication. Do not be afraid to go to Georgia, rest here is possible even without knowledge of Georgian and English.
Question:
When is the best time to go to Georgia?
Answer:
You can relax all year round. For a beach holiday, of course, you should go in the summer, from May to the end of September. Frequent rains in spring and autumn. If you want to go skiing, then choose winter, from December to April. Well, spring and early autumn are best for visiting monuments and nature.
Question:
How are things with cellular communications?
Answer:
Communication in Georgia is very good, even in mountainous areas. You can buy a local SIM card for 400-500 rubles, with free incoming calls. Although many get by with Russian SIM cards, roaming conditions are quite favorable if you are not going to constantly make and receive calls.
What Georgia is preparing for tourists in the future
Recently, the Georgian authorities have openly announced a strategy for the development of tourism in Georgia for 2015-2025. This was facilitated by the fact that in the period from 2009 to 2013, 300% more tourists began to arrive here than before, and the authorities want to increase this figure even more. According to experts, including Ahmed Eyweid, the World Bank’s lead urban development specialist, the chosen strategy will improve tourist satisfaction, create new jobs and significantly improve the standard of living of the population.
It is planned to achieve several goals:
- To develop, restore and preserve the cultural and natural heritage of the country;
- To acquaint tourists with the culture of Georgia through acquaintance with cultural heritage sites;
- Start providing world-class services to guests of the country;
- Attract higher income tourists through active marketing;
- Collect more data on tourism activities;
- Improve the business environment to attract domestic and foreign investment;
- Increase public investment in tourism;
- Form a partnership between the tourism industry, government and non-governmental organizations.
For tourists, this means one thing – the quality of services in Georgia will undoubtedly improve every year. We can expect the opening of new high-end hotels, the development of infrastructure on the beaches, the emergence of more convenient access to attractions, and perhaps even the opening of new promising resorts.
There is not much information yet about how this strategy is developing. In April 2017, the Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia, Giorgi Gakharia, said that mountain resorts are actively developing, since tourists mainly go to them. It is also noted that in 2016 the country was visited by about 6.4 million visitors, and the National Tourism Agency of the Ministry of Economy of Georgia expects an even greater increase in their number this year.
The government also encourages the construction of new facilities that would develop the tourism infrastructure, including the increased share of foreign companies in the country’s tourism. And the holding of various festivals and conferences, for example, the first World Wine Tourism Conference, only improves the state of tourism in Georgia.
