If you, like me, prefer to go local when traveling- to hear the stories from the people living them rather than from a glossy brochure, then the typical family guest house is for you. Choose carefully, however, because there’s “roughing it” and really roughing it!

If you’ve come to a nice village and you want to stop for the night, pop into the nearest shop and ask for an “ojahuri sastumro” (family hotel). In most cases you’ll be directed to the nearest friend or relative of the shop-keeper (or they’ll even get in the car with you to take you there) who has a spare room going- sometimes part of their house, sometimes especially built to accommodate guests with a separate entrance or staircase.

Feel free to check out the house before you agree, and do fix prices beforehand. A typical price in a touristy area starts at 30 GEL per person per night (discounts for longer stays), while in a lesser-travelled settlement you can stay for around 10 GEL pp/pn. Check if they have hot water/heating/air-conditioning/firm mattresses and anything else you see as essential.

Also ask if breakfast is included and if not (most likely not), get that sorted, too. There’s nothing like waking up to fresh cows’ milk or any products made from it (cheese, butter and yoghurt [matsoni]), eggs, baked bread, just-picked tomatoes and grapes and Georgian-grown tea…and then wandering around the garden and seeing with your own eyes where it all came from. Breakfast shouldn’t cost much more than 10 GEL per person.

Most guest house owners will happily sit and chat with you (Georgian, Russian, rarely English or German) and reveal the lesser-known secrets of the community or culture. They will even take your children on a tour of the “farm” and offer them sweets while you enjoy your morning coffee under the grapevine.

Enjoy every family-like moment that Georgia has to offer- choose a guest house!