No Visas for EU visitors

Hi

I just read in the Observer that EU people can visit without visas and that there are direct flights. Has anyone out there attempted this and who flies direct. I tried to find the Tbilisi airport website to check out arrivals and I couldn%26#39;t.

I%26#39;ve just ordered the Lonely Planet guide to Georgia but any other advice on what to do, where to stay and what to see and when to visit would be gratefully appreciated.

I have a feeling this will be an extremely interesting city to visit.

Thanks

Jackie

No Visas for EU visitors

I%26#39;ve not attempted the flights but British Airways has non-stop flights to Tbilisi (operated by BMED). Tbilisi airport website is www.airport.ge

No Visas for EU visitors

Jackie,

I travel to Tbilisi monthly from Baku, the rumor is true concerning visa for visitors from the EU you don%26#39;t need one! I wouldn%26#39;t think that the Tbilisi airport has a website just yet. But there are flights from most European hubs on most major carriers.

Suggest you get Mark Elliott%26#39;s ';Azerbaijan with Excursions to Georgia'; for a more comprehensive guide to Georgia.

It is exciting, have a bottle of wine, it%26#39;s some of the best I%26#39;ve had.

John P.

Hello Jackie, I don%26#39;t think Tbilisi airport has a website yet, but I%26#39;ll try to help you as much as I can. You can fly to Tbilisi non stop flights from London, Amsterdam, Paris, Prague, Moscow and Istanbul ( I think that%26#39;s it).

Best time to visit is September-October and/or April, May, June. If you like hot weather you can go in summer too. I wouldn%26#39;t recomend going in winter.

Regarding hotel... Depends how much you want to spend per night. There are big hotels like Marriott and Sheraton and also there are smaller private hotels (most of them are called Inns) pretty nice ones. If you want to stay on the main street in the city, that would be Marriott or Marriott Courtyard (also on the main street).

City is so old and has so many places to go and see that it would take me forever to write everything.

My brother works with a lot of tourists (groups, family, single) in Tbilisi so if you are interested, email me at maskmar@chrobinson.com and I%26#39;ll give you his email address and phone #.

Good luck.

Usually Visa is required but you get it at the airport customs for $20 or so.(please check with embassy before you travel)

The Airport code is TBS and some European companies fly there ( i think BA discontinued)

Also, you can fly by Georgian airways http://airzena.com/main.php#results, you may not get much service as you would expect from major airlines but you get what you pay for.

The city is something indescribable: if you heard about it that is it you gotta go an see it! I would not recommend winter time unless you like skiing. There is a great ski resort called Gudauri just 2-3 hours drive from TBS, at 3000m above sea level you get really good skiing.

There is lot of things to see in Tbilisi and Summer/fall/spring is best time for it.

Georgia is famous with there wines, songs and dances so try to attend the concert. As far as wine testing goes, you will find plenty of that J

Good Luck

VB

DC, USA

Hi,

I guess its rather late reply but who knows someone else might be able to use info. I know that EU, US and other major areas are exempted from visa. Entry is free. You might get just souvenir stamp in your passport.

all the best,

Levan

Actually the airport DOES have a website (www.airport.ge) but it is not updated as they are in the midst of a big privatization/reconstruction.

Absolutely all EU countries, USA and Japan can enter without fee or visa for up to 90 days. Almost all other nations can get their visas there at the airport, most for a fee of 10 or 20$ and good for 3 weeks to a month (depending on where you are from).

If you need to prolong your visa for any reason, just go to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs consular office together with a Georgian friend (and his passport) and they can pretty easily make a new visa or stamp for you within a week.

since when was georgia in asia anyway?

I am planning to go to Georgia too, it is supposed to be the most beautiful ex-soviet country. And now since there are cheap direct flights from Riga to Tblisi, it is much easier to acces.

AirBaltic is offering currently the cheapest connections from major European cities to Tblisi. It will cost you you ca 350 EUR both way all included price which could be even cheaper than to take a direct flight. Tickets can be comfortably bought online www.airBaltic.com

Did you end up going to Tbilisi? I have been to Georgia a few times and have always found it a very rich experience. I am very interested in your reactions.