Found on the third floor of a building in the heart of Tbilisi, Rustaveli Guesthouse offers a unique visitor experience. Coming from higher income countries, one would be forgiven for being wary of staying at a hostel that costs only 20 GEL a night. However, in Tbilisi, one finds value for money, even at such a relatively low price. Situated just just across the luxurious Biltmore Hotel, the Rustaveli Guesthouse provides the kind of luxury not even a seven-star hotel can: the feeling of being at home.

Cozy, quaint, and homely, this hostel offers a relaxing vibe and energy. While the decoration is minimal at best, it is still sufficient enough to make the place feel lived in; the beds offer a surprising degree of comfort, with their firm, though still-soft enough mattresses. A selection of snacks and cornflakes, in addition to milk, tea, and coffee, is included in the stay, in a tidy and cute little kitchen at the far end of the establishment. The owner even lives in a room connected to the hostel by a separate staircase, so one can rest assured that assistance is always at hand.

Alas, the only negatives to the hostel are its size and location. While it does offer a sitting and lounge area, it is not big enough to comfortably host over four or five people. Moreover, its location can prove a nuisance to light sleepers. Situated on one of the main avenues connecting the city, even its think windows can do little to prevent being disturbed by the shambolic and tone-deaf orchestra that is Tbilisi traffic.

Prices: 8 person mixed dorm: 20 GEL; double room: 80 GEL; double room with balcony: 80 GEL; 4 person VIP dorm: 30 GEL.