Why Georgia (The Country) Is the Best Budget Destination I’ve Ever Visited

July 12, 2025

I honestly didn’t expect to fall in love with Georgia. Not the U.S. state — the country tucked between Europe and Asia. I booked it on a whim, chased by low flight prices and a friend’s random recommendation. I left with a full heart, an overstuffed SD card, and a wallet barely touched.

The Capital That Feels Like a Postcard

Tbilisi is a city that doesn't try too hard — and that's its charm. Cobbled streets. Balconies with peeling paint. Rooftop wine bars that charge $2 for a glass and feel like a secret. I stayed in a cozy guesthouse for $10 a night and had the kind of breakfast that makes you sigh: cheese, honey, bread, eggs — all fresh, all homemade.

Mountains That Humbled Me

A marshrutka (minibus) took me to Kazbegi for less than $4. The drive itself was worth the money — winding through canyons, waterfalls, and villages where time seems drunk on tradition. I hiked in sneakers, sat on a hill, and stared at the Gergeti Trinity Church as clouds curled around its towers. I cried a little. No shame.

The Food? Unreal.

Khachapuri: Cheese-stuffed bread. Yes, it’s as good as it sounds.
Khinkali: Giant dumplings. Slurped. Burned my mouth. Worth it.
Churchkhela: Nuts dipped in thick grape juice — like edible candles.

And everything costs less than a coffee back home. Honestly, I gained weight and didn’t care.

The Budget Breakdown

Accommodation: $10–15 per night (private room!)
Food: $5–8/day for full meals
Transport: Marshrutkas everywhere — cheap and kinda wild

But It's More Than Money

The real value is in how you feel. Safe. Welcomed. Like you matter. Locals offered me directions, homemade bread, and once — an umbrella in a thunderstorm. No one tried to scam me. No one rushed me. Georgia let me just be.