FAQ Georgia

Print Friendly, PDF & Email
Passport & visa information

Your passport should be valid until minimum 6 months after departure date.

Visa Georgia: not required for citizens of European Union, Canada, USA, Australia.

Insurance

When booking a vacation, you assume that your time away will be carefree and generally that is the case. However, to cover damage to your luggage or health care expenses, you need to have a travel insurance. Please make sure that your insurance is valid for this part of the world and check coverage. There may be circumstances that cause cancellation of your vacation or a later departure or earlier return. You can take out additional insurance to cover the cost of cancellation in case of a personal emergency (e.g., cancellation costs of air ticket/ accommodations, etc.). We leave this choice to you. Several companies offer these kinds of insurance. Traveler agreed by registration that the organizer cannot be held responsible for any damages or personal injuries during the tour.

Money matters

The Georgian currency is Lari (GEL). Several currencies can be exchanged, but euros and dollars are accepted everywhere. There are ATM machines in big cities, but foreign bank cards are not widely accepted and the machine has to show a Cirrus or Maestro logo. In Georgia it can be more complicated to find a suitable ATM. Therefore it is advised to bring cash. Swiss francs and British pounds can be changed at banks and at some money changers. There is no commission fee. The lowest exchange rates are found at airports and hotels. Euro or dollar banknotes must be relatively new and have no marks or tears. Dollar bills issued before 1996 will not be accepted. It is not necessary to change a large bill into smaller ones, for example, if you want to change 20 euros and you hand over a 50-Euro bill, you can receive 30 euros change. Only major hotels and car rental agencies will accept VISA and MASTERCARD credit cards. Sometimes credit cards are accepted at popular tourist destinations, such as Mtskheta. To withdraw cash with a creditcard is expensive and therefore it is not recommended to cash small amounts.

Customs

Commercial goods exceeding a value of $ 500 must be declared. Personal items do not have to be declared. There is a 20-pack import and export limit on cigarettes, a 2-litre limit on alcohol and a 1-kg limit on coffee. There are no restrictions on the import of food. Alcohol is very cheap in Armenia and Georgia. Check with your local customs on what you are allowed to take back into your country.

Prohibited items

It is forbidden to import or export pornography, antiques, drugs and narcotics, live plants.

Safety

Do not bring valuable items (such as jewelry) and bring a money belt if you plan to carry cash. Most hotels do not have a safety deposit box. To store things in a suitcase which can be locked has proved to function well in the past years. Violent street crime is almost unheard of in the regions where we travel.  Nevertheless we recommend that you watch out for pickpockets in crowded areas or markets. Being on the street at night is not a problem, and that goes for both women and men. Locals are out late and many families love to stroll in the streets or go for dinner in a restaurant. In this part of the world people are very helpful, hospitable and very child friendly. Young people speak English.
For elderly or handicapped people it can be hard to move around because the pavement can be in poor condition or hilly.

Time zone

There is a difference in time of 2-3 hours with The Netherlands, depending on our summer or winter schedule.

Telephone & internet

Country code Georgia + 995.  Your own mobile phone will not always work, and there is no overall network. Purchasing a local simcard can be an option. It is cheap (also to call abroad) and it can be charged with a prepaid card. Many restaurants and cafeteria have free Wi-Fi.

Language

Georgians speak Georgian, a language with their own alphabet. Many people in the former Soviet republics also speak Russian, although the younger generation is now taught English as a second language. Everywhere street and traffic signs are depicted in our alphabet.

Health care

Vaccination of DTP, polio, hepatitis A and typhoid is not required, but some can be recommended. Check with your local health organizations on the internet. Medical care is of good quality.

Food & drink

Although water is of good quality, some people have a sensitive stomach. In that case we advise you to drink only bottled water. Food is of excellent quality and salads are safe to eat.

Expenses for food/drinks

Meals are included in the tour package as indicated in the tour program. According to our criteria, lunch is relatively cheap and will vary between € 5 at a supermarket to € 15 for an elaborate meal at a restaurant. Especially in Tbilisi there are several small restaurants and supermarkets close to the hotel. Drinks are not included in the package except for water, coffee or tea at dinner. Prices vary between € 1.50-€ 2,00 for a glass of beer to € 2.00 for a coffee. A bottle of wine is around € 10.00. Mark that the menu in restaurants doesn’t show the price including the service fee. This will be added later and most of the times the percentage is listed in the menu. It is commonly around 10%. Tipping is no obligation, but is always appreciated if you are content with the service.

Electricity

Standard voltage is 220 volts. USA appliances designed for 110 volts require a voltage converter. Electric outlets use European/Dutch style plugs with two round pins. North American participants should bring a converter.

Weather

Georgia has a continental climate: summers are hot and dry, winters are very cold with heavy snowfalls. Although summer is warm, always be prepared for cooler temperatures in mountainous regions.
Spring arrives by the end of April, and a bit later in mountainous areas. Do bring an umbrella for occasional rain showers, which can be short and heavy. After a hot summer, in autumn, often nicknamed the “velvet season”, the temperature typically reverts to that of springtime. After the mid-September break in the hot weather, Indian summer arrives and lasts throughout October. In this season too it is sensible to bring an umbrella for sporadic rain showers. A good website to check the weather is www.freemeteo.com it includes a seven-day forecast.

Clothing

In Tbilisi people are dressed ‘modern’. In restaurants a well-groomed appearance is appreciated. In the countryside people dress more simple and conservative. Shorts are only worn by young people. The somewhat longer Capri pants or 7/8 models are common; tank tops are worn in the cities. It is very important to bring comfortable hiking shoes that are comfortable on all types of floors (possibly even outdoors). Make sure to be prepared for cooler weather in the mountains. It is best to bring layers of clothes to tackle this situation.

Clothing to visit religious sites

Required to bring to Georgia: a scarf and a long skirt for women. They need to cover their head and wear an ankle long skirt visiting monasteries and churches. Long pants also need to be covered. A wrap skirt is a very practical item to use. Men need to wear long pants and take off hats in monasteries and churches. Frequently wrap skirts are offered near the entrance of a religious complex

Practical items

It is highly recommended to bring a sun block because of high altitudes – you can easily get sunburned. Make sure to carry water with you, especially if you will do the more strenuous hike at Vardzia and Uplistsikhe.
Bring all the prescription drugs you believe you will need. Bring enough for the entire stay and leave them in their original marked containers. Bring some basic medication such as ibuprofen, Tylenol or aspirin and anti-diarrhea medication such as Imodium. Bring enough lens cleaning solution for your entire visit and maybe a spare set of eyeglasses. If you are prone to car sickness, please bring medication for it. It will not always be possible to claim seats in the front of the bus. In big cities pharmacies and bigger supermarkets carry these items, but that might not be the case in other parts of the country and there might be a language barrier.

Transportation

During our tour, we will travel in an air-conditioned bus. We have tried to avoid long hours on the bus, but distances can take longer to travel than expected. Main roads are in good condition, but some parts can be unpaved. Driving standards can best be described as unpredictable, fast and reckless.
The easiest choice for tourists is to use taxis. They are very inexpensive. Do make enquiries about the price before starting your ride.

Religion

Georgians are mostly Christian and in majority member of the Georgian Orthodox Church. The country knows a large diversity of ethnic minorities such as Adjarians, Mingrelians, Svanet, Azerbaijanis, Armenians, Abkheses, Russians and Ossetians. Around 84% of the population is Georgian.

Excursions

Our hikes are aimed at people with a normal physical condition and can walk without restrictions. You will require comfortable hiking shoes, because some sightseeing spots can be reached after a short walk on foot. For the hike to the caves of Vardzia and Uplistsikhe a good physical condition is required as well as sturdy hiking shoes with grip sole . Considering busy traffic and small distances in Tbilisi, we will often walk to the restaurants. Of course one is free to choose an alternative and to take a taxi.