So, I%26#39;m wanting to go to Tbilisi. specifically.
But I%26#39;ve been having mixed advice from some of my friends on just how safe it is to go that far east and close to places like Iran and the Troubled end of Turkey.
Again I%26#39;m not completely certain about all this so I figured I would ask on such a forum as this.
So I%26#39;m a White, 23 year old English male that is fairly well of in terms of money and things. The biggest concern of my friends I have told about my wanting to visit Georgia has been that Countries in this part of the world can be unsafe, especially in these days.
My trip will involve me going by myself, I only really plan to stay in Tbilisi as I like to visit the different capital cities, It%26#39;s my plan to eventually visit every capital in the world but while I%26#39;m still young I%26#39;ll go to the closest :D.
So I guess my question is, are there any English or Europeon travellers here who have visited Georgia and have some stories to tell about it or if I would be safe enough by myself.
I guess I%26#39;m worried about what could happen but I really want to visit this country!
Thanks in advance.
So I'm thinking of coming here.
Have a look at a good few of the threads below, Lugar.
Tbilisi is a FANTASTIC place.
So I'm thinking of coming here.
I have travelled around the world and visited many countries and major cities.
On the spare of the moment I called a taxi from Yerevan and 5 hours later arrived in Tbilisi. I stayed one night and day. My love affair with the city and the country of Georgia started from there.
There are many Europeans (by the way Georgia is in Europe) living in Tbilisi either for work or study.
Georgians believe the visitors are gifts from the gods and will welcome you with open arms!!! You will make friends very easily.
I am currently planning on moving to Tbilisi, so I think that shows that the place is pretty amazing. I%26#39;m just a normal Londoner!.
Go and enjoy, and as Mr Sporran says read all the other posts on here. Everyone has had great and memorable experiences.
Have a great trip
Hey again.
Thank you for you%26#39;re advice. I%26#39;ve read the other posts around here and have found them to be quite helpful.
The problem though that I am facing is that I%26#39;m getting told many different things from different people.
First off, My friends and family are not comfortable with my idea of wanting to go to Tbilisi because of the area of the world it is in.
Other world news websites I have asked around on have also told me that Georgia is still in an area considered to be ';In Conflict';. Even with mujihadeen in hiding there!. Many of the people on Liveleak.com have also advised against me going to Georgia these days for the same reasons that the area is in conflict.
I guess I really need to do a lot of homework to find out more and decide wether or not I should make the trip. Though now it looks like if at all I go it%26#39;ll be a plane to Tbilisi and from there, I%26#39;d be too worried to leave the capital!.
The %26#39;scare%26#39; stories were doing the rounds before we went, and to be honest, we were a little hesitant. However, my good friend C_B allayed any fears, and we had a fantastic time.
Believe me, if you dont go, you will at least not be able to regret leaving.
Kirstiex, what are you planning on doing over there?
Its a shame that there are so many negative messages! I%26#39;m planning on making Tbilisi my home, looking for a job at the moment but a little difficult due to the language barriers! Where there%26#39;s a will etc!
Its great to be there when the footie comes to town though. There%26#39;s such a buzz, everyone talking about it. It%26#39;ll be a great in Sept!
I really don%26#39;t mean to sound negative!
It%26#39;s just when you have so many people telling you its a bad idea it tends to sort of stick.
I really really want to go but after being told about there being a no go part even for civillians and simple how close it is to Iraq :( Oh woe is me!
You really shouldn%26#39;t worry about the location of Georgia. I%26#39;ve been living here for 8 months and I barely even notice that I%26#39;m close to Iran, Iraq etc...other than rising prices on food.
Right now there are a lot of protests due to the recent re-election of the president, but unless you choose to protest or be where the protest is, you don%26#39;t need to worry.
To be honest sometimes I felt more unsafe living in south east london than I do here in Tbilisi.
Hello Luger84
loli is right (and anothers also), you can come here without hesitation. tbilisi really is not much dangarous than any other city.
there are 2 another countries between us and iran or iraq, so when read about it I was really surprised. there are some georgian formations of georgians in iraq, but it%26#39;s not a problem for georgian citizens and guests.
Turkey is really our neighbour, but there are no problems with this country also.
so, if you are interested in capitals, do not forget visit Mtskheta also, old capital of Georgia (it was till the 5th century).
wish you the good journey
Hi Luger84!
Your scare in regards of visiting Georgia is kind of exaggerated, and I totally understand your situation...not knowing much about the place and reading some horror stories all over the internet, etc. Simply consider this: majority of those scare stories are simply outdated, Georgia did have some problems few years ago, but now it%26#39;s totally different! This place use to hold a highest living standards during USSR membership and now Georgians are up for recapturing the status! Tbilisi city is so international (though it always was!) you%26#39;ll think you are in New York, or Jerusalem. Georgians are like typical westerners, little bit more mushier and friendlier though.
One more thing, it%26#39;s very easy to fall in love here!
Both, country and people are so inviting and friendly that believe me you%26#39;ll be pleasantly surprised!
Economy is expanding extremely fast! I%26#39;m not sure if you care about this, but look at World Bank records on Georgia. This place was chosen as one of the hot spots for foreign investments and economic development. Well, overall if you still need more assurance, you should find some RECENT information. I can%26#39;t say it%26#39;s a 100% trouble free country but, certainly it%26#39;s no more dangerous as any other place in the world. I personally think that any big US city, especially LA is way more dangerous than Tbilisi city! I definitely feel much secure walking or doing business here in Tbilisi than in the South Bronx of New York city (I%26#39;m from NYC!)
Hi Luger84,
Well I guess by now you realise that all the scare stories about Georgia are just a load of waffle. I have been here for about six years and never had any trouble. I know more places in Reading that I wouldn%26#39;t go to on a dark night than there is in Tbilisi. (I assume you are from Reading in Berkshire) I come from about ten miles from there.
If you really have any doubts about Tbilisi why not come for a short holiday. We are now coming out of the winter and looking forward to a nice warm Georgian summer.
My son (12years old) is also here with me. He is Ghanaian. He goes to school here and I can assure you that his standard of education is light years ahead of the UK. Actually Georgian has officially one of the highest literacy rates in the world.
I can remember the reservations Mr. Sporran had before coming here. I had the pleasure of meeting both him and Mrs Sporran and I know that they will return. They had a fantastic time here and I guess the only blurr on their visit was Georgia beating Scotland at the footbal.
Bye for now
C_B
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