Georgia (Caucasus) Travel Tips

Social Conventions
Georgians pride themselves on their reputation for gregariousness and hospitality. Visitors sitting in restaurants are likely to be offered drinks by complete strangers. They will then be invited to raise (and empty) their glasses in response to an endless string of elaborate toasts, preferably interpolating a few suitably enthusiastic toasts of their own into the sequence. Smoking is widespread. Visitors may also be entertained in private homes. On such occasions, gifts such as chocolates, flowers or alcohol are well received. On social occasions foreign women will find themselves the object of immense flattery. Those finding such attentions oppressive should avoid giving any hint of encouragement. Appropriate clothing should be worn when entering a church; visitors should ensure they are not wearing shorts and women should cover their heads. Visitors should also be aware that street crime is far from uncommon. Anyone traveling in the republic should be cautious when venturing out after dark, carry as few valuables as possible, and beware of the risk of being robbed and possibly attacked.

International Travel:

Getting There by Air
Airzena Georgian Airlines (A9) (website: www.airzena.com), the national airline, operates regular flights from Athens, Frankfurt/M, Kiev, Moscow, Paris, Prague, Tel Aviv and Vienna.

Departure Tax
None.

Main Airports
Tbilisi (TBS) is 18km (11 miles) east of Tbilisi city center. To/from the airport: Mini-buses and taxis are available to the city center (journey time – 30 minutes), state buses run throughout the day (website: www.airport-transfer.ge). Facilities: Bureaux de change, bars, restaurants, duty-free shops. In winter, power failures may affect the airport.

Getting There by Water
Main ports: Batumi and Poti. Batumi and Poti provide international connections with sea ports in Bulgaria, Ukraine and Russia.

Getting There by Rail
The Transcaucasian railway operates overnight services between Baku (Azerbaijan) and Yerevan (Armenia). The main line runs towards the Russian Federation through Georgia along the Black Sea coast.

The Silk Road Express also runs a service from Baku to Tbilisi.

War in the breakaway region of Abkhazia has adversely affected Georgia’s rail link with Russia, and it is currently not available.

Getting There by Road
Access is from Turkey, Armenia and Azerbaijan via the Dariali Gorge. The Russia-Georgia checkpoint at Kazbegi (the Georgian Military Highway), Tskhinvali (the Roki Tunnel) and routes across the Georgian-Abkhaz boarder are currently closed.

Overview
The following goods may be imported into Georgia without incurring customs duty:
200 cigarettes; 3l of wine or 10l of beer; personal goods up to the weight of 100kg.

If importing more than 20kg of a good, the good will be taxed at GEL1 per kilo. On entering the country, tourists are advised to complete a customs declaration form, which they should retain until departure. This allows for the import of articles intended for personal use, including currency and valuables (such as jewelry, cameras and computers) which must be registered on the declaration form. Customs inspections are detailed.

Military weapons and ammunition, narcotics and drug paraphernalia, pornography, loose pearls and anything owned by a third party that is to be carried in for that third party.

Works of art and antiques (unless permission has been granted by the Ministry of Culture). In this case, the passenger should also hold a photo of the work of art or antique.

Internal Travel:

Getting Around By Air
Domestic flights operated by Airzena Georgian Airlines (website: www.airzena.com) run between Tbilisi and Butani, Kutaisi and Senaki.

Getting Around by Rail
In total, Georgia has almost 1600km (987 miles) of railway. The Government has now restored order on the railway, which had suffered from fuel shortages, armed attacks on trains, sabotage of track and bridges, and there is now a fundamentally sound infrastructure. However, rail travel through the Russian border in the north and west is not possible owing to the conflict in Abkhazia and visitors are advised not to undertake long-distance rail travel. Rail passengers are advised to store their valuables in the compartment under the seat/bed and not to leave the compartment unattended. It is also a good idea to ensure the compartment door is secure from the inside by tying it closed with wire or strong cord. Reservations are required for all trains. There are two classes of trains, primarily distinguished by the comfort of the seats. Children under five years of age travel free and children from five to nine years of age pay half fare.

Getting Around by Road
Traffic drives on the right. Georgia has approximately 20,000km (12,428 miles) of asphalted roads, and there is an ambitious project to construct a motorway connecting the Black Sea ports to the border with Azerbaijan, passing through Tbilisi. Travelers attempting to drive around Georgia independently should be aware that it is difficult to buy fuel without highly specialized local knowledge and that an adequate supply of fuel should be obtained in Tbilisi beforehand. Also, reliable road maps or signposts do not exist. Buses are in poor condition and timetables change often and can not be relied upon. Documentation: It is possible for holders of an EU license to drive in Georgia but an International Driving Permit is required to hire a vehicle.

Getting Around Towns and Cities
Tbilisi is served by buses, trolleybuses, cable cars and a small underground system. The underground system has three lines and 16 stations. Tickets cost 20 Tetri. Regular big buses and trolleybuses cost 10-25 tetri and minibuses cost 30-50 tetri. It is common practice to flag down official taxis, but fares should always be negotiated in advance, bearing in mind the likelihood that rates set for foreigners will be unreasonably high. In view of the rising crime rate, foreigners should take precautions before getting into a car, and it is generally safer to use officially marked red taxis which should not be shared with strangers. It is inadvisable to take a ride if there is already more than one person in the car.


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