Hostel Xostel

God.

The rooms are cozy and fairly priced, with a bathroom and shower. The shower setup is unusual, though, with no cubicle, so humidity keeps the toilet from drying out. There's parking, and you can order breakfast in the morning. There are three places to eat: the shared table where the hosts have dinner in the evenings, the kitchen and dining room, and a second-floor veranda overlooking central Batumi. From there we could clearly see the Ferris wheel and nearby buildings. The sea is close, but getting there means crossing the railway tracks and highway. I don't think many locals swim at that spot.

The hostess was welcoming, and the apartment was lovely. It can sleep three large guests, and it has what you need: a washing machine with detergent, air conditioning, an iron, a fridge, and a bathroom stocked with shampoo, towels, and more. The funicular, Old Tbilisi, the Bridge of Peace, and the flea market on Sukhoi Bridge are all within walking distance. There's a pharmacy and a Spar store in the building, plus a large children's playground in the yard.

The view is nice, the rooms are decent, and there's air conditioning. There's also a cozy gazebo. But swimming is out of the question: about 50 meters from the hostel, a sewer pipe runs straight into the sea, and the water smells terribly of feces. The owner also gets nasty if you don't eat there.