Our first days in Georgia: arriving at night and exploring Tbilisi

Our first big trip together. Seventeen days in Georgia, our suitcases and Anya beside me. The plan included Tbilisi, Kazbegi, Kakheti and Batumi. But first came a night on a plane and several hours to wait before checking in.

We saved a night’s accommodation. It cost us energy.

We arrived at night but couldn’t check in until later. We ended up in a park with our bags, tired and hungry. We wanted to try khinkali and khachapuri already, but first we had to make it to the start of the day.

If I did this trip again, I’d arrange somewhere to sleep after the night flight, even if it meant paying for the previous night. The savings took a noticeable toll on our first day.

Sometimes the first adventure in a new country is simply finding somewhere to sleep.

What mattered to us when choosing accommodation

We stayed in Tbilisi’s old town. When choosing a place, we considered reviews, the condition of the apartment, whether we could make a simple breakfast and how far it was from transport and excursion meeting points.

• Read full reviews. Especially comments about hot water, cleanliness and noise at night.
• Match the location to your plans. A beautiful neighbourhood doesn’t automatically make it convenient for excursions.
• Think about everyday details. A kitchen and washing machine were more useful to us than a perfect interior photo.

The courtyard wasn’t luxurious, but it had atmosphere. Sometimes a place stays with you for something other than a polished picture.

The botanical garden: slowing down after the journey

Once we had rested, we made it to the botanical garden. There were trees, water, bamboo, a bridge and plenty of reasons to stop with the camera. After the hot city streets, it felt noticeably more pleasant to walk here.

What I’d keep in the plan for another trip

A free first day. No packed list of sights and no expectation that we could do everything straight off the plane. First sleep, food and a walk near our accommodation. The adventures could come after that.

This is just the beginning of our trip. The episode covers our arrival, first walks, accommodation and an attempt to get to a karting track. Any prices and conditions in the video relate to our visit, so check them again before travelling.