View the route
Date of the journey:- October 2019
Distance travelled:- 218 miles
There was only one road in and out of Mestia, meaning to move on, we had to backtrack. With the bad weather set in, we were in no rush to leave Mestia. Next destination Borjomi. Too far to be reached in one journey so we planned an overnight stop in Kutaisi.
From our Guesthouse Mountain View, we made our way to the marshrutkas station in the centre of the town. Purchasing the tickets from the sales office, a shop that also sold tickets next door to Lile Cafe.
There were no direct marshrutkas to Kutaisi. So we had to make our way to Zugdidi first. Tickets cost 20 Gel per person for the midday marshrutkas. A journey time of 4 hours.
The marshrutkas going to Zugdidi was, to say the least, a little on the scruffy side. It was an old Ford Transit minibus with no luggage storage at the back. Luckily we had arrived about 15 minutes early, as it was now nearly full.
Backpacks went on the roof. Still raining we used our backpack covers before they went on the roof rack. There seemed to be a lot of confusion over who had tickets to travel to Zugdidi in this marshrutkas, we were on and sitting tight there was no way we were getting off. Eventually, the driver sorted it. He climbed onto the roof tied the bags to the roof rack and covered them with a waterproof cover.
We left Mestia in the overcrowded marshrutkas. The driver stopped for a break. We noticed that one of the tyres was bald with virtually no tread at all. We just looked at each other shaking our heads.
After 4 hours in the marshrutkas, we arrived in Zugdidi. The next marshrutkas to Kutaisi was waiting. A quick transfer of the backpacks, a visit to the disgusting toilet, and we were off again. The journey to Kutasi was a further 2 hours at a cost of 10 GEL per person.
Arriving at the Central Bus Station in Kutaisi we needed to get over to our accommodation. We had booked Hotel Sani through Hotels.com. On the main road outside the bus station, we checked with the marshrutkas to find which one was going in the direction of our hotel.
When we arrived at the hotel. There was an issue with our hotel booking. We had received a booking confirmation from Hotels.com. However, Hotel Sani hadn’t confirmed our booking with Hotels.com. Now fully booked there was no room at the inn. For an hour we sat in the hotel reception while Hotels.com and the hotel tried to resolve it. Eventually, Hotels.com arranged an alternative hotel for us, along with transportation.
A 5 min taxi ride and we arrived at Hotel Taia. In our opinion a lower grade of hotel we had previously chosen. Now late and Guy still not feeling well, we just checked in and went to our room.
500m down the road was Baraka Delicatessen. A very pleasant restaurant, serving lovely food.
Awaking the following morning to heavy rain. We stayed at the hotel until the midday checkout. The final leg of the journey to Borjomi was only 2.5 hours, so there was no rush.
Still raining heavily when we checked out, it was on with the wet weather gear and out to the main road to get the bus to the bus station. Only a 20 min walk to the bus station from the hotel, but the rain was too heavy to walk there.
From the Central Bus Station, we got another marshrutka for the 2.5-hour journey to Borjomi. Costing 10 GEL per person. The journey was along the main E60 road, not a particularly scenic or pretty journey.
The driver made a stop and collected everybody’s fare. He then said we needed fuel and started to drive down an unmade track. There was a filling point at the bottom of the track. We all had to get off while he filled up with fuel. For a moment Guy was concerned that he would drive off with everyone’s bags therefore, he found himself hanging around the fuel point exit next to a pile of rocks, if needed he could launch at the driver should he drive off.
The rocks weren’t required and all was well.
Arrival in Borjomi had a similar feel to most Georgian towns. A Soviet history ever present in the way of large apartment blocks and derelict buildings. The marshrutka stopped at the Borjomi Bus Station. From the bus station, it was a 650m, 8 min walk to our accommodation at the Hotel Victoria, booked through Booking.com.