Orbeliani Hostel

The room was freezing, smelled terrible, and had a lumpy bed, a thin duvet, and no sheets. The heater they thought was enough was the small, old hot air blower shown in the third photo. There were other people's bags under my bed, and the floors were dirty. I have photos of the dirt, but they can't show how cold and smelly it was. I had paid in advance for four nights for two people, with a cancellation option, but left first thing in the morning after night one. They wouldn't offer even a partial refund, and I couldn't find anyone to speak to. Booking.com gave me an error each time I tried to cancel, and I couldn't get support from them either. I don't recommend this hostel, and I won't use Booking.com again.

For a short stay, this is a good deal: it's central, the prices are the best, and the big windows make the room bright and well ventilated. There's AC for summer, and you can cook in the kitchen. The main hassle was sharing just one or two toilets and bathrooms across the whole hostel, so there was often a wait. There weren't enough lockers for the number of beds, and the host improvised a spot for me, but it wasn't a drawer that could be locked.

I spent three nights here, and it ended up being the highlight of my time in Tblisi. I'm at the airport writing this because I already miss the hostel and its people. It's not somewhere to come for comfort or luxury. But if, like me, you enjoy meeting locals and experiencing that warmth and affection, give it a try. Vaano and his mother, Marina, run the place. Everyone calls her Mama, or maybe that was just me 😅. She cooks for everyone and makes sure we're warm and fed. Once, I came back late and she had stayed up, worried about me. Little things like that can change how you see the people and the country you're visiting. Hospitality, 10/10. It felt like home, 11/10.

Vano and his wife go far beyond what you'd expect. They're so welcoming that you feel like their personal guest. It touched me deeply. Absolute love!