Bakuriani Ski Resort, Samtskhe-Javakheti Region, Georgia

4Londoner351 5:00 PM Feb 29, 2020

Bakuraini ski February 2020 plus,minus and horrible
We were lucky it was snowing for 2 weeks prior to our arrival as winter this year was unusually snowless in December and January. Bakuriani offers different types of accommodation for every wallet and 3 major ski centres, Didvel, Kohta and Tetri. We did not get to Tetri but were impressed by the wide, not crowded and easy long blue slopes in didvel and Kohta. Kohta has much more red, blue and black slopes than Didvel.Didvel offers night skiing 5-10pm with a cafe(first stop on the mountain, not the one below at the entrance) offering snacks and full meals throughout a day. Queues were short and gondolas new. SERVICE: generally all waiters are helpful and speak English, the same some hotels/apartments of a high standard. Taxi drivers were not speaking English in 90% of cases (and you would need taxis there) so just write down from google translate what you want to say and be aware that Bakuriani centre to Didvel and Kohta is 10 lari the most, Didvel and Kohta to slopes 5 lari the most. Locals are friendly, supermarket cashiers generally speak English or happy with pantomime language and finger pointing. Lovely varied food and interesting decor in restaurants. Choose 4 star accommodation and lack of English would not be a problem. Menus in every restaurant we went had English transaltion.Service charge is included in the bill. Bakuriani centre has a small slope for children and a large park/playground with horses,amusement park, etc. Minus:we did not see any but can imagine that some more fussy travellers could be annoyed at lack of English speaking taxi drivers/service people on gondolas, etc. Horrible staff: We were plainly defrauded by the Didvel ski rental ski instructor manager (there is only one ski rental by Didvel slopes). He aked for 60 lari per hour and we explained that we wanted to spend 30mi for our son who skis much better and 30 min for us to practice technique. He agreed and gave us a ski instructor, a boy who looked 16 and did not speak any language but Georgian. However, he expained all to him (Soso was his name). The boy started arguing and this manager asked us to pay for his pass 21 lari, which was ridiculous. Then he went with our son for 30 min, came back and manager told him to go with us. But instead he picked up somebody else and started teaching them! He also took 60 lari from our son who stupidly paid him in advance. When I came to complain the manager pretended that he said that 30 min were 60 lari. Georgians are very open, generous and have a sense of pride. This is the first time we saw somebody displaying, alas, a very common among certain smart alecs attitude to foreigners, whom they consider to be filthy rich. . I want to be PC and would not name a list of countries where such people flourish in abundance but usually never hold position of a manager. Georgia was never on the list as many years ago they had reputation that they rather starve but treat guests. We were not supposed to be treated but in our hotel instructor's fee was 50 lari (she was sadly away on the day) and she had her passes paid. This was such a disgusting experience which overall somehow tarred the impression of the beautiful mountains and skiing. I guess this is due to me being sentimental as highlanders with their sense of pride are seeming to fell to Mammon in a rather revolting way.

4Sassy S 5:00 PM Mar 1, 2019

Beautiful Resort!!
My husband and I had the best time in Bukariani Ski resort! The place is magnificent, the mountains, the clouds, the snow, the views... plenty of eateries, loads of hotels, thrilling activities, plus several ski slopes. And everything is dirt cheap. My only problem with the place is we couldn't find even one store that sold souvenir for our kids! Oh, and also, beware that many publuc places do not have toilets!! You pay 1 Lari and open the stall door, to find a hope in the ground. Literally!! But still worth the travel!