Summertime in Georgia

Mabuhay, friends! Let me share our amazing and budget-friendly trip to Georgia, a country that has been on our bucket list for a while! Summertime in Georgia is truly special with its vibrant culture and scenic landscapes.

Our Spontaneous Eid Holiday Trip to Georgia!

My friends and I constantly heard amazing stories about Georgia. Since it’s so close to Dubai, my two best friends and I decided to finally book a trip for June 14-17, 2024, right during the Eid Al Adha holiday. We’re always dreaming of seeing those famous snow-covered Caucasian mountains, so a winter trip is definitely on the cards for the future! Check out my adventures in Armenia: The Beginning of My International Travel Adventures.

Scoring Cheap Flights and Last-Minute Essentials

We found the best deal on WizAir, flying from Abu Dhabi to Kutaisi. Pro-tip: flying into Kutaisi instead of the capital, Tbilisi, can save you a good amount of money!

The day before our flight, a colleague who travels to Georgia often gave us a crucial tip: get travel insurance, or they might not let you in! I immediately went online and bought our insurance from American International Group (AIG). It was super fast, easy, and affordable. I even got a 20% discount for booking directly on their website!

From Dubai to Kutaisi: Our Travel Experience

Our flight to Kutaisi departed on June 14, 2024. To get to Abu Dhabi Airport from Dubai, we took the A2 bus from the IBN Battuta Mall station. It was so convenient and only cost AED 25.00 for a one-way trip. The journey took about an hour, and these buses run 24/7, which is perfect for early morning or late-night flights. Just make sure to plan your time wisely!

We landed in Kutaisi around 10:30 PM. The immigration process was surprisingly fast! They just asked for our passports and Emirates IDs. We were out of the airport in minutes, a huge difference from our trip to Armenia where we waited for hours. We joked that we could have saved our insurance money since they didn’t ask for it, but of course, it’s always better to be prepared to avoid any travel stress!

A Rocky Start but a Cozy Stay in Kutaisi

After a four-hour flight, we were exhausted and ready for a good night’s sleep. We hadn’t pre-booked our transport, so we had to find a taxi at the airport. An older gentleman approached us and offered a ride for 90 dhs (80 Lari). We managed to haggle it down to 70 dhs (60 Lari). The ride to our hostel took about 25 minutes.

Unfortunately, our experience with the taxi driver wasn’t the best as he tried to get more money from us. I’m sure not all drivers are like that, but if you’re arriving late in Kutaisi, I highly recommend booking your transport in advance to avoid any arguments.

We found an affordable hostel in the city center on Booking.com. The room was spacious, but there was no air conditioning, and we shared a common toilet and shower. The weather was fine that night, but the next morning, we could already feel the heat by 7 AM. We couldn’t complain though; we chose it for practical reasons since we were only staying for one night.

Starving, we walked for about ten minutes and found a restaurant. Ordering was a challenge because the staff didn’t speak any English, and the menu was in the Georgian alphabet! I’ll share more about our foodie adventures in another post.

We had already arranged our tour for the next day, so we just contacted our driver. With a bus to catch to Tbilisi at 4:00 PM, we had a tight schedule and picked a few key places to visit.

Day 1: Exploring Kutaisi’s Natural Wonders

That night in Tbilisi, we took a taxi to our hostel, quickly freshened up, and went out for a late dinner and a bit of sightseeing. The city center was bustling with tourists, and all the restaurants were packed. Unfortunately, we weren’t very lucky with our restaurant choice again and ended up eating cup noodles and eggs from a supermarket.

Day 2: Breathtaking Views of the Georgian Caucasian Mountains

The next day, we had a tour booked to explore the northern part of Georgia. The drive itself was breathtaking, with picturesque landscapes of mountains, rivers, and valleys. As we drove higher, the air became refreshingly colder even though is summertime in Georgia. We were so lucky to see that some mountains were still dusted with snow, even in June!

Our driver and tour guide were a lifesaver! He helped us order food and communicate with locals who didn’t speak English. He even took us to some extra spots not included in our tour package.

Kazbegi – Northern Part Georgia Itinerary

Day 3: A Tipsy Tour of Georgia’s Wine Country

We dedicated our third day to a winery expedition since Georgia is famous for its wines! The wineries are located in the eastern part of Georgia, and because we had a flight to catch from Kutaisi in the afternoon, we only had time for a half-day tour.

The night before, our travel agency asked if we wanted a free or an exclusive winery tour. Being on a budget, we opted for the free one. We arrived at KTW Winery to find it incredibly crowded, likely because of the free tours and wine tasting. We couldn’t find anyone to assist us and were quite disappointed.

Our amazing guide came to the rescue and told us about a nearby winery that offers exclusive tours for a fee. We decided it was worth it not to waste our time and went to Giuaani Winery. We needed an appointment, but our guide worked his magic and got us a slot!

While waiting, we explored the beautiful grounds, which also had a hotel. The tour gave us a fascinating look into the history of the winery, a tour of the vineyard and factory, and a tasting of four different wines, plus their famous hard drink, Cha Cha!

The tour was fantastic, and it was amazing to see how they make wine from farm to bottle using modern methods. We left a little tipsy from the wine tasting! My friends were brave enough to try the Cha Cha, but I couldn’t. It reminded me of Lambanog from the Philippines, and just the smell is enough to make me feel drunk!

Kakethi Winery – Eastern Part of Georgia Itinerary

More Than Just a Postcard: What Georgia Taught Us

Looking back on our whirlwind 3-day adventure, I can honestly say Georgia was so much more than the stunning photos we’d seen online. It was a journey of incredible highs and a few “ay, nako!” moments that, in the end, made our trip truly unforgettable.

Sure, we had our share of challenges – from haggling with a tricky taxi driver to playing charades just to order dinner. But isn’t that the real magic of travel? It pushes you out of your comfort zone and reminds you to be resourceful. It reminded me that we Filipinos have a special knack for diskarte – for finding our way and making the best out of any situation, usually with a laugh.

Through it all, what truly made this trip special was sharing it with my best friends. We turned a disappointing meal into a late-night supermarket feast and found wonder not just in the majestic Prometheus Cave or the snow-dusted peaks of Kazbegi, but in the shared glances of awe and the laughter that filled our long bus rides.

Georgia challenged us, charmed us, and left us humbled by its raw, ancient beauty and the quiet strength of its people (especially our hero tour guide!). It’s a country of dramatic contrasts – from the vibrant, bustling city life of Tbilisi to the serene, timeless landscapes of the countryside.

So, if you’re thinking of visiting, my advice from the heart is: just go! Embrace the unexpected, be open to plans changing, and definitely try the wine. We left a piece of our hearts in those mountains, and we fully intend to come back for it – hopefully, next time, when they’re covered in that famous blanket of snow we’ve been dreaming of.

Until our next adventure, ingat kayo! (Take care!)