Cost of Living in Batumi

I went to Georgia from the Sarpi border crossing as a day trip just to see what all the fuss about Georgia was about. My friends highly recommended the country, so I expected it to be good or at least okay. Unfortunately, before even entering the country, I received the worst treatment from the Georgian officers at the border.

I am a hijabi girl and have been wearing my hijab for a year and a half. My passport has not been updated to show a photo with the hijab, but I’ve had no issues with this. I’ve gone to five separate countries and have never had an issue with my passport photo not matching my current appearance.

Anyway, the place was a complete mess. People were pushing and fighting to reach the desk. There was only one AC machine. After an hour and a half of being pushed and not being able to breathe from the lack of ventilation, I reached the desk where the male officer told me to take off my hijab. I was shocked by his statement and asked why. He said my photo was without the hijab and I should match it. My face is the same face, why must you see my hair and neck?

I asked if there was a private room with a female officer and I said I would comply. He said no. I demanded someone with more authority. A higher officer came and stated that there was another desk with a female officer, but they could not give me a private room. I was disappointed, but what can I do, I just wanted to leave this cramped space.

So I listened and waited another two hours, finally reaching the desk of the female officer, then a male officer switched with the female officer seconds before it was my turn. At this point, I was basically hyperventilating. I had been stuck in this crowded place with no ventilation, with children crying and adults fighting in languages I didn’t understand. My items weren’t with me because my family went before me, so I didn’t even have water to drink during this whole ordeal.

The officer of higher position noticed that the officers had switched places and escorted me to the female officer. Which honestly infuriated me because he had the power to do this from the beginning?! Why didn’t he do this two hours ago? I took off my hijab in public, which honestly was so dehumanizing, and I entered the country. My mother told the officer that this was the worst treatment we had received, and he said, quite rudely, “Welcome to Georgia. If you don’t like it, go back to Turkey.” He pointed to the border control and basically kicked us out.

We had come with a tour group and they missed one of the planned activities before leaving us. We finished after around 3 hours of being at that border crossing which should’ve taken one hour maximum. We ended up riding in a taxi that didn’t even have a taxi sign on it just to catch up with our tour group because they were our only way back home, and I’m very grateful we didn’t just get kidnapped by a random person.

The country itself didn’t live up to any of the praise I’d heard. It felt chaotic, underdeveloped, and lacking the hospitality and organization I’ve experienced elsewhere. I’m not trying to compare it to Turkey, but if you’re planning a vacation, why subject yourself to the humiliation of the Georgian officers just to enter a place that doesn’t offer much in return?

Not a safe place for North Americans and Europeans, better locations to visit.

Putin is a target globally and he knows it.Thats why he chose to attend brics summit in South Africa virtually instead of personally such a coward putin is. No worries though there's no hiding place even in Russia for putin.All Russians are moving targets visiting the very few countries they can visit now and they know it.Dubai and Turkey seems to be Russians playground but those two countries hate child molesters too. Mercenaries abound globally no worries the end is near

Ali, sorry you are incorrect. We live in Batumi and some of these prices are high. You are comparing vacation and not living there. If you go in the summer things are higher for accommodation and food