Rabigha NAZIMGYZY

Today it has become fashionable among Azerbaijanis to go on vacation to Georgia. The prices are low, the distance is small... In the worst case, if it becomes absolutely unbearable, the neighboring country is also inhabited by many of our countrymen and you can always turn to them.

For this purpose, to stay for 4-5 days, I chose Georgia, more precisely, its capital, Tbilisi. Before starting the trip, I searched the Internet for a list of relatively cheap hotels and chose something relevant to my needs. Thanks to my Georgian friends, they helped me in reserving accommodation. I'll turn back to the conditions of the hotel later.

I had to find a vehicle that could take me to Tbilisi. As the prices for air tickets do not correspond to the capacity of a journalist, I had to choose between the bus and the train. The price of a bus ticket from Baku to Tbilisi is only 13 manat, which is profitable, but because of the snowy and rainy weather the roads could be dangerous. Besides, the train is easier to travel overnight. So, I bought a ticket at the railway station for the train Baku - Tbilisi. The cashier made ​​me pay three manat more for a 29-manat ticket. When I asked about the reason, I was told that 3 manat was the cost of bedding, although the cost of bedding was just included in the ticket price. But I did not argue. By the way, I'll tell you that tickets at the Tbilisi station are sold only in two vaults. Besides, due to the excessive slowness of the cashiers there is a long queue. But there I was able to buy a ticket for its price.

Travel by train is interesting. Moreover, if the compartment is warm and clean and the attendant is a smiling woman. When I left, I was lucky. But when I returned, the situation changed significantly - the toilet in our car did not work and the passengers had to go to the WC in the nearby car, where there was a queue. And to all the complaints of the passengers the attendants responded that the car had run out of water.

The hotel, where I stayed in Tbilisi, is located on one of the central streets - 80 Lari per night, which in terms of our money is 40 manat. The rooms were not renovated, but were quite well heated. The price also included breakfast, plus tea and coffee during the day. But it turned out that you should not completely trust all advertising information posted on the Internet. For example, though I was in a room with a TV set, the receiver antenna did not work.

I could use Wi-Fi only in the main hall of the hotel. Besides, I found that you should not trust everything that is written about the mini-bar and refrigerator - in the room there was neither one nor the other. I calmed myself that I arrived in Tbilisi not in order to sit all day on the Internet. Enough that there is a heating that will allow me to just sleep.

As for prices in Tbilisi, in this regard, it is really beneficial to rest there. Products and services are at least two times cheaper. For example, the only thing more expensive there compared to Baku is travel in the subway and by bus. Their prices are 5 kopecks more expensive than ours. For just 3-5 Lari ( 1.5-2.5 AZN) a taxi will take you to anywhere in the city.

Despite the high cost of gasoline, drivers explained the happening as follows: there is very high unemployment and people try to earn as cab drivers.

Dining in the restaurants is quite profitable. For example, for 20 Lari you can have a serving of Kharcho soup and a salad and drink half a liter of Georgian wine. There are different restaurants: national Georgian, European, Russian, Turkish, Azerbaijani... What can I say? Filled with patriotic feelings, I entered an Azerbaijani restaurant. I ordered one serving of kebab and a cucumber and tomato salad and drank tea with jam that cost me about 45 Lari - it is 22.5 Manat in our money. This is two times more than in the same Georgian restaurant!

Yes, I will add that from Tbilisi drivers you can hear "interesting" proposals. If they find out that you are from Baku, they will half seriously advise you to visit a strip club or a casino. After all, our neighbors are well aware that we do not have this type of establishments - nightclubs to rest.

In short, a stay for 5 days will cost you 300-400 Manat and this will suffice. Of course, if you do not want to visit those same places, which I mentioned...

ANN.Az