First I decided to finally take that Caucasus trip
Honestly I’d been putting off Georgia and Armenia for years cause I thought logistics would be a nightmare. But last February I saw crazy cheap flights to Tbilisi on sale, so I just clicked book immediately without overthinking. Classic me!
Research phase was messy at first
Started googling “Georgia Armenia itinerary” and got totally overwhelmed. Every travel site and forum said different things about visas, border crossings, you name it. Eventually I slapped my laptop shut and did this instead:
- Called the Georgian embassy to confirm my country’s visa rules
- Asked my Armenian coworker where her family actually vacations
- Searched Instagram geotags to see real-time weather conditions
The actual booking scramble
Booked Tbilisi airport pickup through some shady-looking local site after reading reviews till 2am. Crossed my fingers and paid 25 bucks. For accommodations I went super random:
- Tbilisi: Soviet-style hostel in Marjanishvili district
- Yerevan: Apartment with balcony facing Ararat through *
- Countryside stays: Just showed up and bargained cash deals
Pro tip: Screenshot all reservations cause mountain wifi is basically mythological.
Border crossing chaos
Took a Soviet-era marshrutka minibus from Tbilisi to Yerevan. Driver chain-smoked while blasting Armenian pop music nonstop. At the border guard post:
- Got grilled why my passport had Israeli stamps
- Paid 7$ “special processing fee” that definitely wasn’t official
- Waited 90 minutes cause the coffee machine broke apparently
Bring small USD bills – lifesaver when dealing with “unofficial fees”.
Massive culture shock moments
In Tbilisi some grandma force-fed me khinkali dumplings till I nearly puked. Learned fast that saying no to food is rude. Then in Armenia this taxi driver stopped at his cousin’s vineyard midday and we got wasted on homemade pomegranate wine instead of going to Garni Temple. Missed my tour but made lifelong friends.
Epic fails you should avoid
Tried being fancy with a dinner reservation in Yerevan. Showed up and the place was permanently closed – Google Maps hadn’t updated in 11 months. Another day I trusted a bus schedule written in crayon on cardboard – ended up stranded in Dilijan national park after sunset. Always triple-check transport times with locals holding actual watches.
Final thoughts after surviving
Don’t overplan like I did at first. These countries thrive on chaotic energy. Just pack sturdy shoes, wet wipes (trust me), and willingness to accept random dinner invites. The mountains will steal your heart while the bureaucracy tries to crush your soul. 10/10 would suffer again though!