High Season (Jul'Aug) ?? Locals" holiday time; tourist accommodation is crowded. ?? Visit mountain areas; the only assured snow-free months for hiking in the high Caucasus. ?? Capital and other lowlands unpleasantly hot and humid.
Local currency / Credit Cards:
Sockets are designed for European-style plugs with two round pins. In Georgia, the power sockets are of type C and F. The standard voltage is 220 V and the standard frequency is 50 Hz.
Hotel star rating systems are widely recognized as the definitive way to ascertain a hotel's overall quality, but the rankings can differ wildly from one country to another. Georgia has its way to rank hotels from one to five stars, established usually by a range of owners of the hotels / sometimes by government agencies / independent companies. So quite often the service you are looking for doesn't fit international standards.
EU / US citizens are entitled to free public medical and some dental care in Georgia under reciprocal arrangements. However, standards of public health care in the region are very patchy and if you want to use far better but expensive Western-standard clinics in the major cities, good insurance coverage is essential. Ideally get a policy that will make payments directly to providers, rather than reimburse you later.
Public/roadside toilets are rare ?? Some basic homestays and guesthouses have squat toilets in an outhouse across the yard. ?? Train stations have toilets but they're often the squat variety and typically incur a small fee to the attendant.
Tap water is generally safe to drink in most of the region. If you aren't sure of your tap water's quality, boil tap water for 10 minutes, use water purification tablets or use a filter.
Georgia has very low crime rates. Take normal precautions " don't flash large amounts of cash, keep a close eye on your belongings in crowded places and transport. ?? Climbing and hiking in the mountains have their potential risks. Seek local advice and go with a company or take a guide, especially if you're heading into isolated areas.
Author: Natia Pashurishvili
