Kutaisi Inn

For 30 gel per person, we used the gym, sauna and pool. The gym’s a bit limited but does the job. The sauna was spotless, roomy and really hot, such a great experience. A perfect way to spend some time in Kutaisi when the weather’s bad. I’d absolutely recommend it.

We stayed at Kutaisi Inn for a week, and the beds were huge and comfortable. Rooms were cleaned every day, with bottled water provided daily, and towels changed so often it was almost overzealous. The walls are thin, though, and you can hear people in the hallway. Being beside a train station sounds odd, but the line is practically inactive and nights were quiet, apart from the odd person drifting a car in the square across the street. The hotel SPA costs extra. The staff don’t speak perfect English, but whenever I needed a taxi, document printing or extra towels, they helped straight away and were genuinely friendly. I’d read complaints about unsmiling staff, bad food and the decor before arriving, but I found those expectations of constant smiles and staff anticipating every whim pretty entitled. We had half-board, breakfast and dinner, and the food was delicious. There was a big selection of meat, fresh vegetables, hot dishes, European staples like scrambled eggs and sausages, local khachapuri, desserts and drinks. If you arrive at the start of the meal, it’s hot and well stocked. Near the end, it can be cooler and picked over, though nothing I ate was stale or unfresh. By Georgian standards, it’s a high-quality hotel, even with a few minor aesthetic flaws. If you need absolute silence, a cabin in the woods might suit you better. For the price, I found it a bargain, and I’d happily recommend it.

We didn’t get a single uninterrupted night during our five-night stay. Guests shouted in the hallways between 1 and 3 AM, and with the thin walls, every sound from the corridors and nearby rooms came through clearly. The spa wasn’t relaxing either. The massage therapist talked loudly on her phone in the hallway, while cleaning staff called to each other across the area. There’s just one small sauna, and people went in wearing swimsuits, which made it less comfortable. At breakfast, cups were missing, coffee ran out about half an hour before the end and wasn’t replaced, and staff clattered cutlery and plates around noisily. The meal area felt chaotic. Service was poor throughout. Reception staff ignored us when we came and went, with no greeting or eye contact, and at checkout they took our cards without asking how things had been or saying goodbye. At the bar, staff watched videos on their phones and ignored us, so we had to order at the counter. They left the coffee there and shouted that it was ready instead of bringing it over. Our room was moderately clean, and housekeeping did the basics adequately, but nothing more. I’d recommend staying in a smaller, family-run place instead. Local hosts are usually more welcoming and attentive to guests’ comfort. Supporting them can give you a warmer, more authentic stay than a hotel that seems to put appearances ahead of hospitality. I’d avoid this so-called five-star hotel.

The only good thing is the central location in Kutaisi. The staff were ill-mannered, and there was no service. Breakfast was a mess: none of the food trays had labels, and there was nobody in the hall to ask. A very bad experience.