One of the best things about traveling in Georgia is the variety of services offered, in terms of price, quality, and style. You can pay a small fee to camp in someone’s yard, or a small fortune to stay in one of the world’s most interesting and trendy hotels. A Lari or two will get you a delicious khachapuri from a street seller, or you can shell out for world class meals at the country’s top eateries. If you’re looking for something in the middle, though, it can be a bit harder to find. This article will help you plan your trip to Kobuleti on a mid-range budget by pointing out some of the best hotels and things to do on your vacation without breaking the bank!
Kobuleti is one of the favorite beach towns on Georgia’s Black Sea coast. It is located about 45 minutes north of Batumi by car, close enough to pop down to get a taste of the nightlife in Ajara’s biggest and liveliest city, although Kobuleti has a culture and nightlife of its own! It’s a great choice for families, with calm seas, wide pebble beaches, and a small boardwalk.
Where to Stay
PEARL OF SEA HOTEL & SPA
A good choice for mid-range accommodation in Kobuleti. Pearl of Sea has its own restaurant, small gym, swimming pool, and spa. The rooms are simple but comfortable and clean, with everything you need. As the hotel is located right on the beach, the deluxe rooms have luxurious sea views, but even from a standard room it feels like a luxury to dive into the water just steps away from the front doors of the hotel. Breakfast is also included in the price, saving you a little extra!
In summer 2019, a standard double room will run you about $65 a night.
42 Tamar Mepe St., Kobuleti
(+995) 555 04 55 00
COMFORT INN
Comfort Inn offers large, simple rooms a short walk from the beach. Furnished with the bare minimum, Comfort Inn is just enough to make you feel clean, safe, and, yes, comfortable after a long day on the beach. If you want something a little more tranquil, try the pool – although there is no shallow end, so parents may want to bring some floatation toys for kids! Enjoy calming sea views from your large room, big enough to fit the whole family.
In summer 2019, a large twin room costs $31 a night, and a large family room with sea view is $69.
8a Lermontov St., Kobuleti
(+995) 599 10 83 20
Find them on Booking.com
HOTEL KENT
Kent is a slightly more upscale property, with many lush touches, but still a casual seaside vibe. The hotel does exhibit some of the design pitfalls often encountered in Georgia – bold, graphic, clashing wallpapers, eyesore color combinations, gaudy chandeliers – but don’t let that color your opinion completely. As almost every room has a unique décor and color scheme, Kent has many tastefully decorated rooms. The beds are comfortable, and most rooms are well appointed with sitting areas, flat screen TVs, safes, and air conditioning units. The real gem here, though, is the hotel restaurant, which sits right on the beach and offers beautiful views from floor to ceiling windows. They also have a wine bar and two small outdoor pools.
In summer 2019, rooms range from between $70 - $100 a night.
365 Aghmashenebeli St., Kobuleti
(+995) 599 15 07 25
Find them on Booking.com
HOTEL CHERO
Chero is a charming mid-sized hotel with simple, clean rooms decorated in a neutral country-style color scheme. They offer standard hotel rooms and apartment style suites with a small kitchen, perfect for a longer stay with a family. Their large outdoor pool is fun for both kids and adults! While there are no sea views here, you are within a short walk to the waves, and the hotel has beautiful views of the Ajaran mountains from the rooms’ balconies. The Chero restaurant is also a local favorite, serving up traditional local specialties on a breezy outdoor patio.
In summer 2019, prices were as low as $20, but there is a two-night minimum stay.
454 Aghmashenebeli St., Kobuleti
579 05 88 00
Find them on Booking.com
What to Do
TSITSINATELA AMUSEMENT PARK
No list of Kobuleti activities would be complete without Tsitsinatela! This park, whose name means firefly in Georgian, is a perfect place for children, but will delight visitors of all ages. There are more than 40 different attractions to explore, mainly classic carnival rides like a carousel, spinning swings, a drop tower, and a Ferris wheel that you can see for miles. Rather than an expensive entry ticket, Tsitsinatela lets you pay for rides as you go with a reusable, refillable card.
Shekvetili
577 16 22 53
MTIRALA NATIONAL PARK
Located less than an hour drive from the center of Kobuleti, Mtirala is an often-overlooked haven for nature lovers. The village of Chakvistavi hosts the visitors’ center of Mtirala National Park and several family-run hotels and restaurants where locals might try to ply you with locally produced honey vodka.
While the forests, rivers and waterfalls of this semi-tropical wonderland can all be enjoyed on foot or horseback, Mtirala also offers zip-lining and canyoning, which allows visitors to travel down rivers and waterfalls without climbing equipment. There is a 700m section of canyon set aside for this purpose, offering an exhilarating and very hands-on experience of nature.
The turn-off for Mtirala National Park is in the village of Chakvi, on the Borjomi-Kobuleti Road, and is marked by a big wooden sign.
Entrance to the park is free, and you can snag a campsite for just 5 GEL per person, per night, or a room in the visitors’ center for 50 GEL. They also have sleeping bags and hiking backpacks for rent.
BATUMI BOTANICAL GARDEN
If you want to venture a little further out to Batumi, the stunning botanical garden is worth the trip. Stretched over 108 hectares, the garden consists of nine sections divided by geography - Caucasian Humid Subtropics, East Asia, New Zealand, South America, the Himalayas, Mexico, Australia, and the Mediterranean. Opened in 1912, the Batumi Botanical Garden has since undergone many changes and is now part of BGCI (Botanical Gardens Conservation International) and includes a large scientific library alongside its herbarium. Apart from seeing the breathtaking greenery, you can also book various camping tours, have a picnic, or sign up for a guided tour.
Entrance: 8 GEL
Children under the age of 16: 1 GEL
THE BEACH
Of course, the main attraction in Kobuleti is the beach! Kobuleti’s beach is generally quieter, more family-friendly, and cleaner than the nearby Batumi beaches. While Kobuleti’s shores are rocky, renting a lounge chair for the day is cheap. Don’t forget water shoes to protect your feet if you want to swim. If you prefer sand, you can drive 30 minutes to an hour north to the beaches of Shekvetili, Grigoleti, or Ureki (which has black magnetic sand, said to have medicinal properties!). All summer, people walk up and down the beach selling hot corn, cold beverages, fruit, snacks, and water toys and floats.
So, slather on some sunscreen, and catch a wave!
By Samantha Guthrie