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Post by Ger on Sept 28, 2017 14:15:48 GMT
One to avoid if you are staying there.  So I should definitely cancel then?? Any recommendations guys? 😂 Part of the Wales away journey! Few places on booking.com with spaces available |
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Post by bridgendbluebird on Sept 28, 2017 14:19:16 GMT
Ok booked the Grako Metekhi Hotel
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Post by manulike on Sept 28, 2017 15:05:15 GMT
PUBLIC BATH HOUSES / BANYA / MASSAGE
Most bath houses are just off Meidan Square, in an area called ABANOTUBANI
Many more upscale baths only have private room hire (40 to 80 lari per hour). if you are female, private hire is the only option that allows access to sulphur bath / sauna. Note that most baths will only permit mixed sex private hire if all occupants wear swim suits! Otherwise , the normal is birthday suit.
Number 5 Baths, right on the main gardens /square (to your left with your back to the river - to the left of Cielo restaurant) is only 3 lari entrance (add 3 lari slippers + 2 lari sheet / towel). Obviously you may bring your own. 10 minutes scrub and 10 minutes massage are both 10 lari each, but not worth it, and done by young and extremely inexperienced lads! The sulphur hot tub holds about 12 people and is SUPER hot at around 55c-60c. The smaller dry sauna holds about 7 to 8 people. There is nowhere to laze/relax. Please invest in slippers if you don't have your own - as it's really slippery.
Queen's Baths is the place to go if you have 2 to 3 hours and actually want a decent massage. it's about 30m up hill from the Royal Baths. Open daily 7am til 10pm. The communal option ('opshe' in Russian) costs 15 lari, sheet/towel is 1 lari and slippers are free. Yes, there is a 5 lari room option, but that is sulphur showers only!
Here, a very decent 30 minutes massage is only 10 lari. Including scrub, birch wood pummelling and a very deep tissue massage. Ask for Pepe' or Lova. Sadly , the temprature of the large Sulphur pool is only around 42c-45c, but the dry sauna is large enough to hold 10 people comfortably and there are 4 lazing beds to lay on just outside the sauna room (at a comfortable temperature).
All said, depends on the amount of time you have and whether a massage is important to you. If yes, then Queens is the place. If all you wanted was the sulphur pool / sulphur shower experience - then don't look any further beyond Number 5 Barhs.
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Post by ontheroadagain on Sept 28, 2017 16:33:48 GMT
One to avoid if you are staying there. So I should definitely cancel then?? Any recommendations guys? 😂 I meant because you are staying there, not the the hotel was bad. Check out trip advisor. |
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Post by bridgendbluebird on Sept 28, 2017 16:59:38 GMT
So I should definitely cancel then?? Any recommendations guys? 😂 I meant because you are staying there, not the the hotel was bad. Check out trip advisor. I just cancelled it and payed £153 for another hotel slightly further away from freedom square 🤣 |
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Post by manulike on Sept 28, 2017 17:49:58 GMT
I just had another look at Pinn's this evening, and I understand that their 25 lari dorm might look a bargain, but there are genuinely hundreds of hostels in town, where you would probably get a better nights sleep...
I am not knocking the working ladies of Thailand. I actually enjoy having a laugh with them as I walk past. Their Russian is as bad as mine, and my Thai seems to lighten up their day :+)
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Post by holmesdaleultra on Sept 28, 2017 18:22:34 GMT
Pinn Hotel is about 50 metres from me. Looks like a classic Thai Massage come brothel. If you have booked a private room, you should be grand. If it's a dorm room, let me know how many beds, and I'll happily check it out for you By the way, just for you naive and unassuming lads out there... Thai massage (at a cost of 60 or 70 lari an hour) is MORE than just massage... If you want a deep tissue massage, the local banya / baths have 30 minutes for 10 lari + 3 lari entrance to the sulphur pool and dry sauna cabin etc. Gonna check out this pinn place bro? |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 28, 2017 19:17:13 GMT
Pinn Hotel is about 50 metres from me. Looks like a classic Thai Massage come brothel. If you have booked a private room, you should be grand. If it's a dorm room, let me know how many beds, and I'll happily check it out for you By the way, just for you naive and unassuming lads out there... Thai massage (at a cost of 60 or 70 lari an hour) is MORE than just massage... If you want a deep tissue massage, the local banya / baths have 30 minutes for 10 lari + 3 lari entrance to the sulphur pool and dry sauna cabin etc. My hotel (Margo Palace) offers in room massage too but it's far from a knocking shop by the looks of things.
How's the talent in general?
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Post by cymru58 on Sept 28, 2017 19:36:22 GMT
Where are the welsh fans likely to be drinking during Thursday afternoon and evening?
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Post by jono on Sept 28, 2017 19:42:38 GMT
Where are the welsh fans likely to be drinking during Thursday afternoon and evening? I presume the hangar will be the go to pub for most fans. |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 28, 2017 20:15:51 GMT
Where are the welsh fans likely to be drinking during Thursday afternoon and evening? I presume the hangar will be the go to pub for most fans. With a couple of thousand in town then we'll be pretty much everywhere. Just have a stroll and see who you see. |
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Post by Matt11 on Sept 29, 2017 10:15:40 GMT
Apologies if already been asked & answered whats best to take sterling or euro to change over there ? Cheers
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Post by Ger on Sept 29, 2017 11:53:25 GMT
Apologies if already been asked & answered whats best to take sterling or euro to change over there ? Cheers Im going to just get around £200 worth of GEL out of the airport cash machine when I land. |
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Post by holmesdaleultra on Sept 29, 2017 14:30:50 GMT
Anyone getting the London tube to any of the airports in the area be aware there is a strike planned next Thursday.
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Post by manulike on Sept 29, 2017 14:48:59 GMT
MONEY ADVICE
Georgia seems very relaxed about Foreign exchange, there are actual bank branches around Freedom Square that are open 24/7. At least half the money changers will accept pounds, even in £5/£10 bills.
Yes. ATM machines everywhere. The Hanger bar and McLarens even accept credit card.
£ = 3.3
E = 2.95
Even if you spend all day at an Irish bar, eat breakfast, lunch and dinner there and have a dozen pints, you'd probably struggle to spend more than £50 a day.
Realistically, reckon on about £30 - £40 a day including 2 taxi trips and two good meals, but no Thai ladies :+)
Personally, I make do with spending 30 to 50 lari a day - that's about £10-£15
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Post by Ger on Sept 29, 2017 14:50:42 GMT
MONEY ADVICE The Hanger bar and McLarens even accept credit card. Lethal! |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 29, 2017 17:38:33 GMT
Anyone getting the London tube to any of the airports in the area be aware there is a strike planned next Thursday. I used to work in London and don't miss that whatsoever. Thankfully someone has offered to give me a lift to Gatwick on the Wednesday in exchange for petrol money and something from duty free.
Staying in the East End on the Tuesday and the Saturday.
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Post by ontheroadagain on Sept 29, 2017 20:14:19 GMT
Anyone else going out via Katowice on the Wednesday/Thursday.
Trying to get on the Georgian Bus website is a nightmare.
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Post by manulike on Sept 30, 2017 9:39:43 GMT
I don't think that it is physically possible to book tickets on Georgia bus website. Although it is possible to do it through local travel agents.
I remember that one of the Irish lads on YBIG actually got an email response saying that there is an unlimited number of buses available and that they can always add extra spaces if needed.
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Post by oscardelta on Sept 30, 2017 12:21:46 GMT
Anyone else going out via Katowice on the Wednesday/Thursday. Trying to get on the Georgian Bus website is a nightmare. Wizz air have it on their site as well |
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Post by ontheroadagain on Sept 30, 2017 13:07:22 GMT
Anyone else going out via Katowice on the Wednesday/Thursday. Trying to get on the Georgian Bus website is a nightmare. Wizz air have it on their site as well Thanks I will try there later. |
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Post by cymru58 on Sept 30, 2017 14:04:06 GMT
I presume the hangar will be the go to pub for most fans. With a couple of thousand in town then we'll be pretty much everywhere. Just have a stroll and see who you see. Will do. Thanks for the response.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 30, 2017 18:26:19 GMT
With a couple of thousand in town then we'll be pretty much everywhere. Just have a stroll and see who you see. Will do. Thanks for the response.
I’m coming alone so get in touch if you fancy a beer. I’ve done this before and everybody has been brilliant. You’ll be fine. |
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Post by manulike on Oct 1, 2017 6:56:48 GMT
GEORGIAN FOOD
Not in any particular order, all these places I have been to and are worth trying.
Freedom Square area - immediately across from the FAW hotel. Just to the left of Bank of Georgia. Menu with photos. Mains for 7 to 10 lari. Beer 3 lari.
20 yards away from the Sharden Hotel (opp the Jerusalem restaurant) in the tiny square. Very reasonably priced food, but be aware that wine price varies spectacularly (16 to 39 lari a bottle)!
Number 11 Nikolos Baratashvilli Blvd, About 200 yards from The Hanger Bar. walk pass the puppet theatre, to the main bulavard and turn left. Huge "11" . Fine dinning, but actually cheaper than The Hanger. Wine bottles from 16 lari.
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Post by georgeberrysheadband on Oct 1, 2017 17:14:35 GMT
What is the local forecast in Tbilisi for next weekend. Is it shorts and t-shirt weather?
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Post by adecolley on Oct 1, 2017 18:54:55 GMT
I am in Gori. It is not shorts and shirt weather. Forecast for Friday is 14-15 C, bring a coat.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 2, 2017 7:26:08 GMT
I trust nobody has flights booked with Monarch?!
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Post by manulike on Oct 2, 2017 9:44:08 GMT
I'd be surprised if that is the case, as one of the cheapest options back to Bristol was a Saturday Dept Kutaisi to Larnaca with Wizz and then a Larnaca Bristol with them ;+(
In the bright side, a day in Larnaca and (hopefully) an alternative via insurance /ATOL etc could be alright...
As for weather ... it's been bucketing down so hard all morning, it's now almost 2pm and I still haven't had my daily khachapuri :+(
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Post by CrackityJones on Oct 2, 2017 9:52:42 GMT
Supposed to clear up by Thursday which is when the bulk of fans will be arriving. 18-20 degrees and dry by Friday/Saturday, all the better for some al fresco drinking.
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Post by Ger on Oct 2, 2017 11:34:58 GMT
Supposed to clear up by Thursday which is when the bulk of fans will be arriving. 18-20 degrees and dry by Friday/Saturday, all the better for some al fresco drinking. No harm in packing a pair of shorts? Us Cymry can dream of a few rays of sunshine! |
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