After all my more “organized” trips, I try my best to share all the details of them with my readers. It is one thing to say that a country is beautiful, or that it is budget friendly, and it is another to literally tell people every single thing that you did during your trip there, and how much you paid for them, in exact amount. After Albania and Serbia, it is finally time to do one of these articles for Georgia. Read on to find out what my trip to Georgia was all about, and how much did it cost!
General Itinerary Notes
- Well, most importantly, this itinerary does not include Tbilisi, nor the eastern part of the country as a whole for that matter. We visited Tbilisi five years ago and spent a considerable amount of time around that part of the country. Tbilisi, Gori, Borjomi, Telavi… These are all remarkable destinations within Georgia, must go places if I may say so myself. However, this time we decided to focus on the western part to “finish up” with what this Caucasian country offers to its visitors. We spent around a week in Batumi and later on another week in Kutaisi, so those two cities will be the focus of this itinerary.
- Both Batumi and Kutaisi are excellent hub towns, meaning that you can use them for your accommodation needs as you explore the nearby sites. This is why we spent so much time in those cities, not because they were both full of stuff to do themselves.
- In hindsight, July was not the best month to visit Georgia. It was too hot, and humid, and crowded… It was “unfitting” to say the least for what we had in mind, a relaxing holiday where we got to see a lot in peace. Even the simpler tasks like taking a bus to your destination can become a chore when there are fifty others in it with you, and it is almost forty degrees outside. I would suggest May, perhaps June, and of course September to come and visit this part of Georgia.
General Budgetary Notes
- Let us speak about the elephant in the room first, or should I say, my mother. I was not alone in this trip. Much like the one I did in Albania, this was a trip with my mother. This does not mean that you need to halve every cost you see below, I did my best to point out whether a meal was for one or for two, and so on. Furthermore, there are benefits to moving around as a duo, some things can be cheaper per person, such as accommodation. However, since I do not talk about accommodation prices in my posts, I suppose one can argue that the final cost of the trip could be somewhat halved if I did travel alone. So, keep that in mind.
- I would like to think that this website not only uncovers some of the lesser traveled parts of our globe but also promotes tourism in a more budget-friendly way. With that being said, we were not really budget conscious during this trip, and you will see some hefty price tags for a meal or two here and there. There are two main reasons for that. This was a trip intended to celebrate me starting my PhD, and also to spend some quality time with my mother around her birthday. We did not splurge out often, but we did take more taxis than usual to simply enjoy the trip without getting too tired, we did eat and drink at more expensive places than usual, and we did not really shy away from paying entry fees to any place, even to those we knew would not be really worth it at the end. So yeah, I suppose this trip could have been cheaper had we been more “careful,” but that was never the intention.
- Speaking of budgeting, please do realize that Georgia is a very cheap country, but as with all countries, “properly dining out” will cost you extra. You can probably see all Georgia has to offer and more with just a few hundred dollars spent on food if you stick to kiosks selling you some tasty flaky pastries, and there is nothing wrong with that. So, for the extremely budget conscious traveller, this list may not mean much, because there are much cheaper options to get your belly filled up anywhere you go in Georgia.
- I only heard good things about hitchhiking in Georgia, and if you can clarify that you do not need a private taxi but that you want a free ride, you too should be able to eventually find a car or two that will bring you to your next destination. This means that technically, as a solo traveller, you may also get rid of the transportation costs in this itinerary, if you are okay waiting around a bit.
- We both love walking, and I actually ended up walking 240 kms in around 16 days during this trip. This is an important thing to note because it meant that there were sometimes when we opted to walk a route that would not really be “walkable” for many others. This means that we may have skipped on paying “extra” on some transportation, not necessarily because we wanted to save money, but because we wanted to see the sights more properly. This would not change the budget all that much, but it is good to keep in mind.
- Last but not least, most restaurants we sat down at seemed to charge around 10% for a service fee. Therefore, tipping is mandatory. Prices below all include said tips and extra fees, sometimes they also include tips we left voluntarily, in restaurants where there was not a set service fee in our final bill.
My Georgian Trip
10.07.2023 Monday
We arrived at Batumi early in the morning after a long bus ride from Istanbul and spent today mostly resting to get back on our feet properly.
SIM Card with Unlimited Data from Magti – 43 GEL
Lunch at Laguna for two – 32 GEL
Groceries (Breakfast items, vegetables, fruits, beers) – 59 GEL
Dinner for two from Momento Pizza – 23 GEL
Total – 157 GEL
You can read all about the best spots to try the tastiest local cuisine in Batumi HERE!
11.07.2023 Tuesday
Due to the bad weather, we opted to continue resting today, and I wanted to get the local museums out of the way in the morning. Sadly, none provided anything special to me.
Entry to the Museum of the State of Adjara for one – 6 GEL
Entry to the Batumi Archaeological Museum for one – 6 GEL
Entry to the Adjara Art Museum for one – 6 GEL
Lunch at No1 Khinkali for two – 25 GEL
Dinner at Kushi Indian for two – 52 GEL
Groceries (Beers, snacks, soft drinks) – 25 GEL
Total – 120 GEL
If you are already bored of Georgian food for some reason, please feel free to read THIS article to find out what other food options are available in Batumi.
12.07.2023 Wednesday
Today we took a day trip to Gonio.
Bus ride to Gonio for two – 1.6 GEL
Entry to Gonio Fort for two – 16 GEL
Lunch at Dedani for two – 36 GEL
We were offered a free ride back home by the restaurant’s owner… Otherwise add 1.6 more GEL here.
Dinner at Popeye Craft Bar for two – 20 GEL
Total – 74 GEL
Seeing the Gonio Fort is a must if you are staying in Batumi, read THIS work of mine to find out all the details about this short excursion.
13.07.2023 Thursday
We enjoyed a hike around Sameba Church today, and also did some sightseeing around town.
Lunch at Retro for two – 40 GEL
A Bolt (taxi) to Sameba Church – 11.4 GEL
We walked down to a nearby small town/village.
Bus back from the said small town – 1.6 GEL
Dinner for two at Maestro Pizza – 64 GEL
Two cheese pastries for tomorrow’s breakfast/lunch – 7 GEL
Total – 123 GEL
Sameba Church is the gem of Batumi, at least for me. To find out what else is there to do in Batumi and read about my feelings towards this city as a whole, click HERE!
14.07.2023 Friday
As my mother rested a bit and enjoyed the Black Sea, I embarked on a solo journey to Kobuleti on this day.
A return minibus ride to Kobuleti for one – 7 GEL
Small snack from ONE Lari – 3 GEL
Dinner at Ardagani for two – 40 GEL
Groceries (Fruits, ice cream, water) – 20 GEL
Total – 70 GEL
Kobuleti is an almost sleepy resort town, just an hour north of Batumi. Read THIS to find out all the details about this daytrip.
15.07.2023 Saturday
This was another “downtime” for us when we rested a bit for the most part.
Lunch at Red Panda for two – 36 GEL
A Bolt (taxi) to plane spot – 8 GEL
We walked back to our place, though this was a long walk.
Dinner at Enoteca for two – 96 GEL
Total – 140 GEL
Well, I did warn you about not really caring much for our budget this time… In Enoteca, we paid 55 GEL for a bottle of amber wine alone, though it was worth it at the end. Though admittedly, those take away noodles from Red Panda were tastier than the meals we had in Enoteca but that is just life…
16.07.2023 Sunday
This was my mother’s birthday, so it was spent in the lovely Batumi Botanical Garden first, and then in some decent eateries later on.
A return bus ride to Botanical Garden for two – 3.6 GEL
Entry to the Botanical Garden for two – 40 GEL
Lunch at N’occo for two – 22 GEL
Dinner at Lufri Sujra for two – 58 GEL
Two cakes from Dona – 12 GEL
Two cheese pastries for tomorrow’s breakfast/lunch – 10 GEL
Total – 146 GEL
In an attempt to celebrate my mother’s birthday with a wonderful morning walk, we embarked on a short but extremely memorable journey to the Batumi Botanical Garden. Read THIS article of mine to see how that turned out!
17.07.2023 Monday
Once again, as my mother enjoyed the sea, I preferred to have a look at what Poti has to offer on this day.
A return minibus ride to Poti for one – 20 GEL
Lunch at La Casa Della Pizza – 33 GEL
My mother ate at home all day, and I was too stuffed for dinner, so we skipped it.
Total – 53 GEL
Poti was not on my original list of places to visit when I first planned out this trip, but through a “happy accident,” I found myself there. Read all about this day trip HERE.
18.07.2023 Tuesday
Exhausted with after so many day trips back-to-back, I decided to take it easy on our last day in Batumi, so we both just enjoyed the sea and had some good food today.
Lunch at Porto Franco for two – 41 GEL
Two cakes from Dona – 10 GEL
Dinner for two at Red Panda – 22 GEL
Total – 73 GEL
19.07.2023 Wednesday
On this day, we basically moved from Batumi to Kutaisi. We also explored the latter a bit later on in the day.
Minibus ride to Kutaisi for two – 40 GEL
Lunch at El Paso for two – 20 GEL
Dinner at Argo for two – 42 GEL
Groceries (Water, snacks, drinks, chocolate as gift etc.) – 65 GEL
Entry to Botanical Garden of Kutaisi for two – 2 GEL
One way cable car ride for two in Kutaisi – 2 GEL
A ride on the Ferris wheel in Besik Gabashvili Amusement Park for two – 4 GEL
Total – 175 GEL
Moving to Kutaisi was a gamechanger in many ways, mostly because we immediately fell in love with the city. Read THIS work of mine to understand why I love Kutaisi so much, and why you too should visit it.
20.07.2023 Thursday
Today, we took a day trip to Sataplia Cave, and then hiked down that hill back to Kutaisi.
A Bolt (taxi) to Sataplia Cave – 7.5 GEL
Entry to Sataplia Cave for two – 34.50 GEL
Lunch at McDonalds for me – 16 GEL
Dinner at Hoegaarden for two – 55 GEL
Total – 113 GEL
Imereti region is full of natural wonders, and Sataplia Cave is just one of them. You can read THIS article to find out all about this short (but surprisingly adventurous) trip of ours.
21.07.2023 Friday
Yesterday’s trek was brutal, so as my mother earned her rest, I decided to push myself a bit more and went on an even longer journey on the outskirts of Kutaisi.
A Bolt (taxi) to Gelati Monastery – 13 GEL
Lunch at Fleur for two – 40 GEL
Dinner at Mary’s Irish Pub for two – 50 GEL
Two beers in a pub under the White Bridge – 11 GEL
Total – 114 GEL
Well, for those who are more interested in manmade wonders, look no further than the Gelati and Motsameta Monasteries near Kutaisi. You can read all about my “quest” to visit them by clicking HERE.
22.07.2023 Saturday
On this wonderful day, we finally decided to visit Tskaltubo, which is merely twenty minutes away from Kutaisi by bus.
Return minibus ride to Tskaltubo for two – 8 GEL
Two small local ice creams for breakfast – 2 GEL
Lunch at Magnolia for two – 50 GEL
Dinner at Siam Thai for two – 55 GEL
Pastries for tomorrow’s breakfast/lunch – 5 GEL
Total – 120 GEL
I wrote all I can wrote about Tskaltubo in the article I dedicated to it. It is a unique place, and it has a special place in my heart too. Just read THIS article to find out why you should visit it, and why it is the single best destination in all of Georgia.
23.07.2023 Sunday
Since my mother had her fill of Soviet heritage to see, I did a solo trip to Chiatura on this day as she rested back home.
Return minibus ride to Chiatura for one – 20 GEL
Three return cable car rides in Chiatura – 3 GEL
Ice cream – 2 GEL
Dinner at Fleur for two – 40 GEL
Total – 65 GEL
Though it failed to match up to my expectations in a few ways, and though my adventures over there were marred by some technical difficulties, Chiatura is a must see if you are in the region. Read all about my misadventures there by clicking HERE.
24.07.2023 Monday
Coming quite close to the end of our trip in Georgia, we decided to go for one last adventure, and enjoyed what Prometheus Cave has to offer today.
Return minibus ride to Tskaltubo for two – 8 GEL
A Bolt (taxi) to the Prometheus Cave (from Tskaltubo) – 6 GEL
Entry to the Prometheus Cave for two – 46 GEL
Lunch at El Depo for two – 25 GEL
Pastries for snacking and tomorrow’s breakfast – 8 GEL
Dinner and desserts at Mini Art for two – 56 GEL
Georgian cup as a gift back home – 18 GEL
Total – 167 GEL
Though Sataplia Cave offered some fascinating sights to behold, it was Prometheus Cave that truly left us breathless. You can read THIS article of mine to understand why that was the case.
25.07.2023 Tuesday
This was our last day in Kutaisi, and in fact in Georgia. Already a bit low on funds, and also done with everything on our initial list and a bit beyond, we settled for a slow day walking around town and eating at a few eateries that we could not try until that point.
Lunch at Café Tiflisi for two – 22 GEL
Dinner at Mary’s Irish Pub for two – 43 GEL
Two scoops of ice cream from Mio – 6 GEL
Kutaisi was not just a good hub town for us from where it was convenient to visit all those aforementioned places, it was also a dream come true for any foodie, like me. You can find out all the best spots in town by reading THIS work of mine.
Total – 71 GEL
26.07.2023 Wednesday
Eight pastries and two brownies for the long bus ride ahead – 24 GEL
We came to Georgia by a 20-hour bus ride from Istanbul, and we left it the same way. This was the most budget conscious decision we made throughout this trip, and though it was very tiring, it was well worth it at the end. To speak frankly with you all, the difference between the airfare and these bus rides (for two) actually ended up paying for our stay in the heart of Batumi, and then some more… It was not comfortable, but then again, neither would be the extremely expensive early morning flight that would have us have a sleepless night in the airport.
Total – 24 GEL
Grand Total: 700 USD
It simply makes the most sense to give a total in USD as that was what I used to get my GEL. I exchanged 700 USD to get all the things mentioned in this itinerary done. Obviously, there was some change left, nothing much though. We did pay some extra tips here and there, also shared some of our GEL with the odd beggar or two. Looking back at this whole itinerary, I can see how I could make some things a bit differently to minimize costs “next time.” There will likely not be a next time for me, since I had seen more of Georgia than most of its citizens will ever do in their lifetimes, but still.
You can certainly avoid a few “expensive” places we dined at, and trust me, the cheap take away pizzas and noodles were just as tasty if not tastier than the food we had sitting down. Furthermore, we did drink more often both in restaurants and outside during this trip, and the more expensive ones of those could have been avoided. If we remove those, and a few gifts we bought for back home, I think this trip could have costed 600 USD instead easily. It could go as low as 500 USD for two people, if you are okay with sticking to only the cheapest of places to eat at, and not buying any drinks with your meals. Anything less than that would come at the cost of actually letting go off experiences which is simply not worth it in my opinion. Not seeing the Prometheus Cave because of its entry fee is not the same as deciding not to have some Thai food during your travels in Kutaisi. You can have Thai food everywhere; you cannot see the Prometheus Cave anywhere else.
I think, given the global inflation and all, 500 USD for two people to have a fulfilling 16-day long trip in a country full of both natural and manmade wonders is a bargain, and therefore Georgia should be on the list of any true traveller out there. I have no regrets about my time there, none in both of my trips, and if it was not for the limited lifespan we have, I would have visited Georgia again. However, it is now time for other adventures in new countries, as I embark on a journey to do my PhD in Astana and explore what Central Asia offers to its visitors. Stay tuned, as I will be exploring Kazakhstan in the coming months!