Never understand why Georgia and Armenia are considered European. Culturally, politically and geographically they simply are not. Even Ukraine is a stretch. Granted these things are not defined clearly but the Caucasus region has its own extremely distinct past and present, and is really in its own world.
@@thesampsoninstitute They were all member states of the Soviet Union but after the collapse they have been referred to as Eastern European countries, but they not not members of the European Union or NATO and are more closely aligned with Russia than than the EU..you really should try doing a little bit of research before commenting in the future..
My favourite cities in Eastern Europe are ; 1) Batumi 2) Novi Sad 3) Györ 4) Szeged As you can see from the list I prefer cities that are half a million inhabitants or less and gastronomy is very important to me.
Why "the Russians" ? Oh, yes, I forgot... Because they are bad ! Twice more Ukrainians moved to Georgia... but of course they are not responsible for driving up the prices... 😂
I've heard from a number of digital nomad friends who are leaving Georgia now, especially Tbilisi that things are no longer cheap and the service is dreadful.
@@tammylove8337 Russians have NO reasons to invade Georgia... unless of course America plays the shit stirrer there as it did in Ukraine... and in the rest of the world !
Service as well as quality of labor has diminshed all around the world. Have you been to the states lately? My goodness! The service is horrific and trying to find a quality product not made in China is near impossible. The products in Türkiye are still good, but the quality of labor is terrible, unless you pay American prices. I do everything myself now. I invested in Batumi for a reason. All of Adjaria is based on tourism, and because of that, service is better. Sure, we might not get the true taste of Georgian culture, but the country is small enough to drive to those places very quickly. The infrastructure in Batumi is good and getting better, from what I hear. Public trash is below ground in Batumi. ;) This war in Ukraine is horrible for everyone.
@@didierdenice7456 How stupid of you to say that Georgia invades and occupies its own land! like Russia is defending its country and nation from Ukrainian aggressors
The service has gotten worse all over the world. I see it in the US, Turkey, Italy, Colombia, etc.. I think it's due to the high inflation and people "quiet quitting".
I bounce back between Turkiye and Georgia quite often and the service industry in Turkiye is insanely better. This has been consistent over the past 7 years and is still. Georgian service is so bad that I often just skip going out altogether, even for a coffee.
Having travelled to Tbilisi a lot, this year alone over three times, I can attest to your claims. My wife and I nearly moved there as we have friends in Tbilisi. We came to realise the same things as you have and I too have had several situations where I did not take the terrible service kindly.
In many ways I have the same opinion of some of the Balkan countries, I haven't yet been to Georgia but plan to. It is one thing to have favorable conditions such as higher levels of freedom and low taxes to attract the capital to the country but they need to take the next step if they want to get their hands on that capital themselves. The way to do that is via providing amazing goods and services with a fantastic customer service ethic so that people happily spend their money at your establishment and want to come back. There's a little restaurant around the Ponta in Tivat that we keep going back to because it's always wonderful service with a smile. They get it because the little place is always full. Some other restaurants we go to people scowl at us because we didn't order a starter and dessert.
Anywhere that turns into a gringo hub surely drives the cost of living in the city exponentially and hence the resentment of locals who are in not so hot jobs and work at least 10 hrs a day. This pattern applies to anywhere in the world. Being open to foreign investment has its own side effects.
That's why these types of places come and go. East Berlin was one of the original hip places for digital gonads a dozen years or so ago but it has since then gentrified
Two months I spent there I was renting very cheap Airbnb's. I appreciated the signage in English everywhere since Georgian is indecipherable. But cheap Airbnb's don't insulate you from the negative elements. And I often felt an undercurrent of resentment. No matter my low budget, I was a "rich" American. But met some great people too. I think go to Georgia for the natural environment but for city lifestyle not so much. Did enjoy the parks in Batumi.
I figured out the Georgian alphabet. (I already know Thai so I wasn’t intimidated by the odd characters.) It’s really not that hard…just learn one or two a day
Well, 200k russians flodded in, along with a lot of ukrainians, I'd say the city got way worse after the war. And you have a good bit of that "they took our jobs" sort of thing, I've seen russians in taxis, russians in food delivery. Ukrainians begging in the streets. Tagging never really bothered me, its a 100 times better than Norway (take the train from Gardemoen airport into Oslo and you get a feel for how the country is). Bread is close to twice the cost of what it used to be when I moved here. I got power bills in the summer upwards of 400 lari. Sure, I'll survive, no problem. But there is a much stronger feeling of real poverty. My biggest annoyance is still that the government tries to copy bad european ideas, thus creating the traffic issues we've been in Vake area, ow, and the store just across the street is no longer 24/7.
@@genstian that's almost as expensive as the UK i think, which is surprising. I thought Norwegian population got subsidised/cheap energy. Everyone makes it out to be some kind of socialist utopia.
@@ln5747 used to be like 0.05$. and fun fact, the government owns most of the power infrastructure to they make a killing on the power cost. Its like a tax.
Ugh, so insufferable. “We put Tbilisi on the map, and we can take it off.” That’s how this sounds. Honestly, I’ve lived in Georgia for 13 years and trash has always been an issue. Everywhere. And there are many things to be said about poor planning in Tbilisi re parking and traffic movement. But the service is certainly not worse than it was a decade ago. It’s spotty. But it’s a fraction of the price of places where service is really high. I don’t live in Tbilisi, mostly because I’m not a city person at all. I hated living in Moscow. I even struggled living in San Diego at times. Too many people. But that has to do with my personal preferences and not the city. Let’s hope Ukraine is soon victorious, people can go back to their homes, rents can come back down a bit, and then we can talk about school programs to educate about litter, etc.
It may one day "come back" but history shows us that areas that start a slow, steady decline almost always have to hit rock bottom first and very often stay that way for some time before the task of bringing them back begins. By that time of course, the task at hand is colossal.
I find people at any capital grumpy and annoyed. It makes sense. Traffic, high cost of living, full of people, cut-throat competition. Once I go outside the capital, the picture completely changes.
I left Ukraine in January for Tbilisi, and spent three months there. It's a fascinating, wonderful city. Definitely lots of graffiti and trash, but the hardest thing for me was the dogs everywhere. None of them were violent or dangerous, and miraculously they weren't constantly being hit by cars (didn't even see a single close call), but dog shit everywhere, and lonely dogs looking for humans to belong to (cats in Istanbul are better off). I live in a city where dogs get trained as guide dogs for the blind, and where, unfortunately, there are about as many homeless people as there are homeless dogs in Tbilisi. I'm not sure how anyone fixes this, but it was simply heartbreaking to see so many well-fed dogs looking for belonging.
I was in a conversation with a few different people from different countries and we were talking about this exact thing. And one of the girls was from Georgia and when I asked about why there are so many stray dogs there, she simply responded by saying that they don't kill their stray dogs. I thought to myself "b!oody good point and answer" and realising how in the west we do put down a lot of dogs. Now, I discover what the consequences of that are from posts like yours. It is clearly a big problem. I'm not saying Georgians should change their belief and start killing dogs but I guess I am saying they need to make a decision about where they should be kept. Should that be stray and loose on the streets and driving away tourists, investment, and business, or maybe kept somewhere else or rehomed inside or outside the country so they can have a better life?
@@johnmknox I think they have made the best decision they can in their situation. Most people there live in very small apartments, not in sprawling suburban homes in California where Energy is both cheaper and in less demand (no snow!) Where I live there is a no-kill policy for dogs, and a strong community of volunteers to get animals neutered, trained and into good homes. Different World! I do not mean that Georgia is making bad decisions, and truly I saw many compassionate people helping and feeding dogs there. However I will say that I cannot imagine living there long term unless I had enough money to fix the problem for the entire nation. I just love dogs, and what differentiates them from other canines is that we bred them to belong to us, to be our companions and to work with us, and so it just feels like being in a nation of unemployed canines who are depressed because they have nobody to be loyal to! In the US when a city goes downhill (Detroit, let’s say), you end up with packs of feral dogs. Georgia doesn’t have that, they keep the dogs nice, well-fed, friendly. But the living situations don’t practically allow for family dogs, just neighborhood strays.
@@dionysios4714 Oh wow! I guess I had a limited view. The only aggressive dogs I saw were the ones on leashes, and one big furry one right at the main bus stop in Tbilisi (Orbeliani square?), who had it in for all the city workers wearing green pants and yellow jackets, whose job it was to sweep up all the poop....
Dogs are actually treated quite well in Tbilisi. They are spayed and neutered and given a tag and at that point are free to live out the remainder of their lives on the streets where they can socialize with other dogs and are given sufficient food by the public. It is a good system. Most of the dogs learn to poop in appropriate places to avoid beatings or being targeted for liquidation as a "problem dog" by animal control. And very few are violent. The typical way of handling dogs in Asia is either mass culling (cruel) or doing nothing whatsoever (which leads to poop and dangerous "soi dogs" that attack people). Because of the spaying, neuter, and tag system, the overall number of street dogs should plummet in the coming decades as those legacy dogs die off without reproducing.
Hey Andrew, I am here in Georgia atm, from Australia.(Nov 2022) I find this country very behind the times, which I actually love about it. The history is amazing, the restaurants and atmosphere is incredible. One thing I do have to agree with you is the service. That was the first thing I did notice. If they just smiled a bit, it would make this place stand out on its own. I don't expect it to be like back home, cause I wouldn't want anything the same as where I have just come from. But if you want customers to return, a little smile goes a long way. That's my only down fall of Georgia.
That's how it is in the former communist countries in general. People will smile if they know you and like you, but there's none of that "be friendly towards the customers" attitude.
@Margo Mills what trouble would you be talking about? Purchasing a coffee or buying a meal is giving them trouble? My opinion is, if you get bad service, you just don't go back and you move onto the next cafe or restaurant. No trouble with doing that. And there's no need to create a scene either.
Thanks for the update. Graffiti and trash is a key reason my husband and I have ruled out several trendy retirement cities/towns. It is an aesthetic that really matters to me.
I spent 6 weeks in Georgia this spring and was disappointed after all the hype. Tbilisi is a dirty place, but there are also dilapidated buildings falling over everywhere. I wanted to love it because of all the digital nomad hype - but I just couldn’t. The wine is terrible. It’s made to be guzzled, and deliver quick intoxication. I went to a number of wine shops looking for something decent, and was looked at like a nut job for trying to nose and savor the wine rather than slam it down and get my buzz on. Yerevan Armenia on the other hand was amazing, and one of the most vibrant and upbeat cities I’ve ever been in.
@@A_Bunch_of_Savages LOL! I knew you were Armenian, making antireclama to Georgia and prising Armenia! that is what you do on fb too, I recognized you, everywhere is your ugly comments, while you steal everything Georgian and trying to be like they are too, hahaa you loser!
Georgia has a lot of Russians nowadays, which is the main reason why the rent is up. I was considering relocating there but changed my mind because of the issues with the war in Ukraine. I think for me as an EU citizen Bulgaria or Estonia will probably be where I would like to have my home base.
Like 10 new restaurants and 15 new coffee shops opened in Vera alone after the pandemic. Don't really know what you mean by things got "less". It is definitely more fun than 2019. The best part is many russian, Ukrainian and Belarusian workers came and they do an amazing job in restoring houses. So this got better too.
You want CLEAN? Go to Uzbekistan! I was just there for the first time. I was absolutely stunned by how spotless the place is. People have this low-key friendliness. Not much of interest in Tashkent, but the layout of the streets is really well-done. Broad, walkable boulevards, lots of trees. And Samarkand was beautiful! Clean, nicely landscaped, snow-capped mountains (Tajikistan) in the distance. And the Uzbeks are MUCH better drivers than the Georgians!
@@unknownninja4430 actually non of these nations are ethnically related but I don't think this matters to a true racist! Uzbeks are related to Turks so you should not be even commenting here
@@TheReal_E.IRIZARRY People like you make my blood boil spreading such nonsense, Turkic people were still in Central Asia riding around horses when we had Kartvelian Vassal states under Seleucid and Roman empires, our people have inhabited Caucasus mountains since Proto-Kartvelian tribes moved here thousands of years ago, we have nothing to do with Turks, Kurds or Persians genetically. We haven't been Tribal since we adopted Christianity in 4th Century and you haven't seen a real Georgian if you think we're not "White", We're Caucasians, not Europeans. Stop spreading misinformation, all it takes is a single Google search :)
@@TheReal_E.IRIZARRY "When you get to know the history of Georgia, you believe in God, because there is no objective reason for this nation to have reached this point" David Marshall Lang (English. David Marshall Lang) (b. 1924 - d. 1991) - English professor, historian, Georgian , specialist in Armenian, Bulgarian history, Caucasianologist, Kartviologist.
Well, this is the total contradiction at the core of this channel. See, if you want clean streets and excellent general services, somebody has to pay for them!!!
They had it before. Dumb decisions like super expensive, non-functional trash cans and lax attitude towards graffiti are the problem. Tbilisi is actually profiting massively from the war and has more money than ever. But money needs sound leadership to be effective.
Yeah, core of the channel is to go where your're treated best,right? and he's going where he's treated best, so he's not getting treated good there anymore, so he leaves.Let's see where he goes next.
Even as native Georgian I fully understand those difficulties with service, some time ago I used to work at night (had a remote job overseas) so I would visit groceries at night because that's when I was awake, it was blood boiling to always get one security guard that haunts your steps as if you are going to steal something.
As a Georgia Ex Pat living in the USA for years, it's evident that since US NGOs and EU NGOs entered, that degenerate culture grew exponentially that never existed before. Graffiti, drug use, and sodomy, and being Anti-Christ - all US/EU culture. Not to mention, Tbilisi is safer than any major city in Europe of the United States. Before my Ex Pat Georgian friends and I decided to leave US, we saw the rise of homelessness and petty crime unlike anything we've ever seen before in the last 10 years. This won't be permitted in Tbilisi, or Georgian culture thankfully.
Haha, every single person I've ever seen litter here has been Georgian. Every wreckless driver, every dumb fight on the street or restaurant, every guy yelling into his cell phone...all Georgian. Cutting in line? Georgians. Foreigners make very little problem here.
Totally agree, the trash everywhere annoyed me alot. Also the parks still in disrepair, horrible traffic and poor service. Batumi is better imo, better planned and cleaner
It is fascinating to listen to you Andrew. I have seen lots of American nomads settling in Tbilisi now. Originating from Kyiv, I have never seen much of them in my country even in pre war times. I am new to your channel, why did you or anyone reading this comment initially decided to choose this country for living?
I WAS ROBBED IN BATUMI GEORGIA DURING LUNCH HOURS CLOSE TO MCDONALD'S AND DISPITE SCREAMING NO BODY HELP SO I DECIDED NOT TO INVEST THERE. SADLY THIS HAPPENED TO US AND OTHERS I WAS TOLD
Batumi is a tourist destination. This can happen everywhere when you don't pay attention. So stop crying or punsh the guy? Pretty sure they don't Rob you at gunpoint...
I found a village in the mountains fer more appealing for long term stay. No infrastructure and limited selections of restaurants. But no traffic, great air quality. Outdoor activities! And Tbilisi and Kutaisi are relatively short drives.
@@Arsenit well borjomi is a small town and bakuriani is a ski/mountain resort that has kinda been overgrown with concrete over the last few years, wouldn't call either a village, not by georgian standards at least
I was really hopeful of my investments this year, but all my plans has been disoriented, I've been studying the market crashes and I realized some investors made millions from the 2008 recession and I was wondering if such success rate could be achieved in this present market
With the right strategy, it's not difficult to make monthly profits of up to 6 digits as I've made up to $75k per month since last year. Even though I have been investing for a while, it is very important for me to get help from a tutor to identify and take advantage of this market opportunity
@@andrewwiggins3190 "Laura Estelle Dealy" is my coach, you may have come across her on a few interviews, just look her up online to get in touch with her
It's totally possible. Once you know more about Georgian people and their success stories, you believe there are many things to do. No doubts, just watch several series of Sakartvelo Insight on UA-cam :))
So you don’t recommend people visit or settle down in Georgia because a Restaurant that you frequent sent four security guards after you when you tried taking the stairs to the terrace?.. Seriously?
i find it interesting as a native georgian/tbilisian that our president is more interested in advertising our country towards foreigners by having low taxes rather than improve the situation for natives who have been begging for any kind of positive change for decades.....
Georgia is open for all foreign investors, of course :)) you are more than welcome. What Georgia needs is foreign money and skills, most importantly. There are lot's of opportunities. However, it's important to understand the country before you arrive. Our series should help you to see the full spectrum of Georgia :))
I could not handle the food in Tbilisi, Georgia. Especially the street food. I got food poisoning also from non refrigerated chicken. There were good street food vendors at the skatepark. Everywhere else was poor quality. And the rest of traditional food I Found to be awful. I know this will piss some people off but even in the fancy restaurants it was not worth the price. I was supposed to stay 3 moths. I left after 3 weeks. The Georgian people were great and the markets were fun. I also almost got kidnapped there by a fake cabbie. It’s easy for most people to get in. I got the impression there were many criminals coming in. But a beautiful city and I was never afraid to walk around and explore.
The only dishonesty I noticed in Georgia was the cab drivers, to the point where I stopped using them. At first I was told that the official airport cab drivers were a ripoff, but after a time I decided that they were the only ones who were accountable to anyone, and even if that made them more expensive it was totally worth it when I had luggage. Otherwise I took the bus and metro, which worked fine.
It's certainly not for everyone. You can try Medellin too. I'm sure you'll walk away thinking Georgia is quite peaceful in comparison. It helps if you have local Georgians in court. I wouldn't say the country is great without a strong understanding of the Georgian people and culture and their support too.
I'm not sure I heard Andrew correctly did he say four security guards were sent after him because he took the stairs instead of an elevator at a restaurant?
It's the constant barking of all the dogs especially at night that basically represent how much they want people to come. If you say anything about it people will not hesitate to tell you to leave but those dogs don't pay the bills. The service is very hostile too and everyone complains that it's a poor place which is very ironic. The big propaganda banners everywhere and the trash is also not very welcoming. Good music, food and wine though.
The service is hostile because you act hostile. I've never had bad experiences with service in Tbilisi, just learn some basic phrases in Georgian, just like when visiting ANY country on the planet.
@@drerri How would you know how I act? If you're the one person in the world that never runs into rude people that is absolutely amazing for you but us average and normal people unfortunately still have to deal with the real world. It's exactly this attitude that's the problem. Instead of trying to fix it turns into a blame and shame game. If I would own a business or ran a country I would want everyone that stops by to leave with a positive memory and come back. Even the people I've met there admit the service and outlook on life in general are not really inspiring so comment on UA-cam all you want but it's not going to help the situation described (in the video too). God bless you!
Quite irrelevant to the video but are you going to touch back on Caribbean CBIs now that St Lucia opened up to Iranian applicants, which the EU dislikes like Russian applicants?
I spend 10 - 12 weeks a year in Georgia, every year for the last 14 years and I used to divide my time as follows ; Tbilisi : 7 - 8 weeks (usually in the months of May & June or September & October) Batumi : 3 - 4 weeks (usually in the months of March and April or October & November). During the pandemic (I was in Georgia for 11 weeks in 2021 during the height of the pandemic) both Tbilisi and Batumi were fantastic because accommodation was super cheap (felt like it was 1999 all over again) and the restaurants and open air bars were semi deserted. However, starting in the autumn of 2022 and also in March & April 2023 (I spent 4 weeks in Batumi and 3 weeks in Tbilisi so far this year) it became obvious that Tbilisi is becoming a victim of its own success. Prices of everything (the exception is taxis that are always cheap and reliable if you use the 'yandex go' application) went up by 40% - 70% and the quality of wining and dining declined in Tbilisi. In truth Georgia has two or three very tasty dishes but to say that Georgia has among the "best food in the world" is an exaggeration. Vegetarian and health conscious people pay much more for food that is less on quality and less on variety than what is available in countries with a more evolved gastronomic culture like Hungary and Italy so let's put that myth to rest until Tbilisi innovates beyond the boring potato or mushroom filled khinkali (wow, big deal!). Also wine is superb in the villages where it is non purified and organic. In the commercial wine shops in Tbilisi in 90% of cases wine is an overpriced chemical cocktail. If you want a high quality organic wine in a Tbilisi shop you will pay similar prices to similar quality wine in Europe so it makes little sense to buy there at all. Breakfast culture is also terrible with the artery clogging processed meats and bland cheeses, tasteless salads etc. starring in every buffet... 'nuff said... There are also a lot of career beggars in Tbilisi. These are organised gangs that employ mostly children aged 6 to 14 years and they are a nuisance (the police don't seem to notice them. I wonder why...) Batumi, on the other hand, is getting more sophisticated in terms of the quality of food and outdoor spaces, the general upkeep, cleanliness etc. Because the traffic in Batumi is much less than it is in Tbilisi (the exception being July and August when it is best to walk anywhere and everywhere in Batumi between 17:00 - 22:00) taxis are also half the price you pay in Tbilisi and there is a more positive vibe. Because rents doubled in Tbilisi over the past year and a half a lot of the underclass find it increasingly more difficult to make ends meet and that is why there are more homeless and generally less happy people around. However, the graffiti and trash on the streets is mainly found in the area around Rustaveli and less in the areas that are slightly elevated on both parts of the river. Tbilisi is still a much cleaner, greener and much safer city than are Athens, Bucharest, Chisinau, or Paris... The shortcomings you mention in the video can be remedied and in fact they are gradually getting solved as many Russians and Ukrainians who are fed up with the high rental rates in Tbilisi move to the more affordable Kutaisi, Gori, Rustavi and Telavi cities. The unruly behaviour of many Georgians in Tbilisi (ie. loud music in their cars when they drive around aimlessly at night).is something the police should take care of. Yes, they are the natives but that doesn't give them the right to disturb others for no reason... The substandard airport with its smelly toilets and dodgy taxi drivers (never believe them. Just use the taxi apps), the terrible and very expensive food continues to be a hindrance. I hope it is renovated and cleaned up.
I agree on other parts but 2-3 decent Dishes? that's where it gets insulting lol, did you only eat in Restaurants with limited menu? you need to attend at least one proper Georgian feast with homemade food in the Countryside region to feel the cuisine, (Food served depends on the Region you visit, every Region has it's own food) there's so much food on the table you barely know what to eat most of the time. Restaurant food and Family served food are two completely different things. Our Cuisine doesn't only consist of Khachapuri, Khinkhali and Mtsavdi, those are popular foods. there's wide variety of Soups, Pastry, some common Georgian salads and even stuff like Elarji. (which I'm not a fan of but many like it) That being said taste is subjective, majority of people like Georgian cuisine so you might just not be into it. breakfast culture is almost non-existent so yeah can't expect some quality Italian or French type breakfast.
@@LukaMamukelashvili Thank you for taking the time to reply. Most tourists will not have access to Georgian feasts or Georgian homemade food in the countryside so my comment remains valid. Georgia needs to innovate on its cuisine and incorporate more healthy options especially for vegetarians and those who value a more varied and plant based diet. This is the trend in Europe and Georgia is simply and hopelessly behind the trend on that front. All the best and gaumarjos!
@@kvadratnixachapuri9745 No problem, sadly most tourists only get to experience food in Popular dining places where prices are ridiculous and menu is limited and I don't think it's gonna change anytime soon. There are small dining places owned by local families but they're harder to find in Tbilisi than outside the City. Overall people who travel all of Georgia and interact with local seem to have more positive experience because of this, I wouldn't live in Tbilisi even if you gifted me a house, rowdy city with shit traffic and half the people living there have attitude problems. I love it as a historical city with lots of charm but it's bad city to live in, even Batumi is a better option in terms of quality of life.
@@LukaMamukelashvili I agree but I think Tbilisi has its advantages, i.e the weather is milder than in many parts of Georgia (In winter it rarely snows and even when it does the weather is not too cold. In summer it is rarely oppressively hot). Tbilisi also has very good ethnic food (Lebanese, Syrian, and Uzbek). Thanks to the Russians Chinese food is also improving (it used to be a horror a few years ago). As for traffic - it depends on one's lifestyle. When I am in Tbilisi I happily use the metro and I always ride it outside rush hours so I am not too concerned. Taxis are also great as long as you use them in less congested areas. I will take up the offer for a free house 🏡 in Tbilisi 😁
Totaly agreee, a simple smile isnt a thing here, it eventually feel that they are forcefully serving you for free.. Thats why i mostly hang around venues owned and run by foreigners..
Spent 2.5 weeks in Georgia earlier in the year. I agree with these sentiments. I thought it was an ok place, but did notice the graffiti, rubbish and shoddy quality construction work in public parks etc. Also seemed to be some ethnic infighting problems. Thought Azerbaijan and Armenia seemed to be doing a better job.
Well, with the Russians still occupying approximately 20% of Georgia's internationally recognized territory, and with thousands of Russian troops stationed within 200 km of Tbilisi, I'd say that decision makes a lot of sense.
like how expensive is it now? I no longer live there but when I was living there 2 years ago I used to pay 350$ for a really nice 1 bedroom apartment located in the middle of Pekini avenue. *long-term rental (1 year).
I moved here two and a half years ago from the UK, and yes, I’ve noticed the graffiti has worsened, especially of the Russia-phobic variety in the past year and a half. Although I’m not Georgian I do feel ashamed that a small minority of locals in a place I call home feel the need to make visiting Russians uncomfortable. It seems some locals can’t distinguish between the actions of a state and those of an individual. Or they simply couldn't care less. As for service, I’d have to say that as a whole it’s been mostly fine at the larger hotels, restaurants, etc. However, at the smaller local businesses it seems there’s a general lack of understanding of the relationship between that initial instance of service and the effect it has on return custom. I've had the single worst excuse for service out of any of the countries I've travelled to, right here in Tbilisi. In short, I feel you're right. If I were to stick my neck out and choose a direction I think the city is heading in, I'd have to give it a thumbs down.
" It seems some locals can’t distinguish between the actions of a state and those of an individual. Or they simply couldn't care less." - it's the second one. but that couldn't care less is coming after decades of strife, it's not unfounded. I personally won't go and start unwanted trouble with them or even treat them differently, but I definitely would give them much fewer second chances and benefit of the doubt. Then again it is a divisive topic within the country, some people treat them better than other fellow georgians and some are just walking balls of unbalanced unthought-through emotional rage. also sorry, but the whole distinguishing the actions of the state and the populace, is kinda bullshit. yeah sure if some russian fiery opposition dude comes to georgia, fine he did his fair share. if some random dude who in private is against their government comes, they have the blame of complacency in my eyes, of course I can't demand that they ruin their lives, but when as a result the lives of the people around get ruined, it garners some distaste in my mind. and finally if you're someone who actively supports or uses this very popular russian phrase "I'm not into politics", then you are the fucking problem, and trust me quite a few of them have come to georgia and there has been many instances of them loudly protesting against and demanding better treatment, often with a very arrogant tone, this of course just exacerbates the emotional outrage on the other side.
Hello, have you heard that 20% of the territory of Georgia is occupied by Russia, and from these occupied territories we have 500,000 internally displaced persons, whom the Russian occupying forces do not allow in their homes?
How do you feel about Colombia these days? It used to be a libertarian, low tax, low cost country, but prices in the expat areas are skyrocketing, the new president is a communist and crime is getting worse by the month. My wife is from there and she does not even want to visit anymore.
Nope we won't, EU is bunch of lies same with NATO, NATO just want us to have war with Russia same like Ukraine, there is huge uprising of anti-EU anti-nato movements in Georgia and to be fair we are waiting for 30 years now..... It's laughable, and me as a Georgian I don't want to join EU which is not same as it used to be 15 years ago .....
I find Georgians both pretentious and a bit xenophobic. Other than that, they're fine. Andrew should pay a visit to Iran though, although the taxes and system of government are terrible. They have surprisingly nice cities.
@@tammylove8337 wow the level of uncultred woman you are, i don't drop down on that, have a nice life in some western european or american country enjoy
@NostaIgia one incident at one restaurant is no reason to put down the entire country. A lot worse things can happen than that, i don't see the big deal, to me it's just whining and complaining. it seems his reason is just based purely on his own subjective feeling, nothing more than that
Hey Andrew, Ive been watching your videos ever since Last year you've literally made me fall in Love with Tbilisi so much because of how much you've talked about it in your videos. I appreciate your kind advise and your Update on it. Although your opinion will not stop me from ever stepping foot and grabbing opportunities there. I am indeed a man of action and i like to get things done, Ive been working so much on my Plan B for overseas relocation and tax reduction as well, Ive been wounded alot by where Ive grown up as well and I am looking forward to migrate overseas next year sometime soon. Thank You so Much for keeping us all up to date. I truly appreciate your content am hoping to be a client someday as well. Best Regards Fred/K.S
Georgians have been taking things for granted. It’s an attitude problem. As if, they are a God’s gift to humanity and they are exceptional! You need to be grounded always to keep improving. Georgians thought that they have arrived too soon and prematurely which will lead to their downfall!
Can't agree with you, Alok. You should definitely learn more about the Georgian people and understand how courageous they are. And they are always improving. Watch some of our documentaries and change your mind :))
We have arrived, left and arrived many times over. Can't talk so reductively about a 3000 year old culture. You try receiving migrants in the number of 15% of your entire population in one year and then let me know how your attitude changes...
I'm British and I am not even allowed to enter the US for a holiday without taking the poison. Even if I were and you gave me a million bucks, The big guy would probably want half of it in taxes and I would need to use the rest to buy $7-00 gasoline, a wooden house that will get blown away by a hurricane, and I'd be in a country that is hostile to business and unfavoured groups. Land of the Free? In North America, it is surely Mexico now! 🇲🇽
Hi Andrew - yes sir, the only way to progress in business is what you have just done, revealing your inner thoughts, which is to be appreciated and with that I am convinced that discerning people will salute you for being so open minded. I said this because my mentality is similar, ha, ha, ha...
Can anyone answer a question for me? I've watched a number of videos about Tbilisi and I've noticed that so many Georgians were wearing face masks in the open air. Was this because of some government mandate or did Georgians do so voluntarily?
@@ChefEarthenware welcome! If you are interested in Georgia and want to understand how does the country work, check on UA-cam Sakartvelo Insight, you will find English language videos :))
@@eloianani4705 Thank you. I've looked at it and it seems to be mostly culture and crafts. My primary interest is in c0v1d freedom, but the UK Embassy doesn't seem to much information. I am also seeing conflicting info on whether a visa is required. Would you be kid enough to point me to any sites which deal with PCR testing and visas?
Andrew for a Serbia or Siberia which one do you like.? Can't you do enough show on them which one you like investor for America to get out of here and to become a nomad capitalist . I'm going to buy your book right now. My real name is Brian
In a word Russians. Their presence makes Georgia a target for Putin. The Ukrainians had to leave Ukraine because of, in a word, Russians. Though Russians who are political refugees should be welcome and I believe the first wave were. But subsequent waves, not all are against the war, they just don’t want to fight in it. But foreigners in general are driving up the rents so the locals can’t afford to live there
What is your favourite city in Eastern Europe?
Yerevan. Surprisingly.
Never understand why Georgia and Armenia are considered European. Culturally, politically and geographically they simply are not.
Even Ukraine is a stretch.
Granted these things are not defined clearly but the Caucasus region has its own extremely distinct past and present, and is really in its own world.
@@thesampsoninstitute They were all member states of the Soviet Union but after the collapse they have been referred to as Eastern European countries, but they not not members of the European Union or NATO and are more closely aligned with Russia than than the EU..you really should try doing a little bit of research before commenting in the future..
@@thesampsoninstitute BECAUSE OF THE INTERBREEDING
My favourite cities in Eastern Europe are ;
1) Batumi
2) Novi Sad
3) Györ
4) Szeged
As you can see from the list I prefer cities that are half a million inhabitants or less and gastronomy is very important to me.
Just a fyi - rentals have spiked in Tbilisi with the war in Ukraine, apparently lost of Russians headed there driving up prices
Why "the Russians" ? Oh, yes, I forgot... Because they are bad !
Twice more Ukrainians moved to Georgia... but of course they are not responsible for driving up the prices... 😂
I've heard from a number of digital nomad friends who are leaving Georgia now, especially Tbilisi that things are no longer cheap and the service is dreadful.
@@tammylove8337 Russians have NO reasons to invade Georgia... unless of course America plays the shit stirrer there as it did in Ukraine... and in the rest of the world !
Service as well as quality of labor has diminshed all around the world. Have you been to the states lately? My goodness! The service is horrific and trying to find a quality product not made in China is near impossible. The products in Türkiye are still good, but the quality of labor is terrible, unless you pay American prices. I do everything myself now.
I invested in Batumi for a reason. All of Adjaria is based on tourism, and because of that, service is better. Sure, we might not get the true taste of Georgian culture, but the country is small enough to drive to those places very quickly. The infrastructure in Batumi is good and getting better, from what I hear. Public trash is below ground in Batumi. ;)
This war in Ukraine is horrible for everyone.
@@didierdenice7456 How stupid of you to say that Georgia invades and occupies its own land! like Russia is defending its country and nation from Ukrainian aggressors
Thank you for the update. Would love to hear your latest thoughts on Montenegro and Serbia
Montenegro went bankrupt while trying to build their first major highway.
The service has gotten worse all over the world. I see it in the US, Turkey, Italy, Colombia, etc.. I think it's due to the high inflation and people "quiet quitting".
I once heard a famous Michelin star restaurateur say the secret to a successful restaurant are: 1) Service, 2) atmosphere, 3) food, in that order.
@@Josh.Stovall i used to live in New York, i know what you mean.
I bounce back between Turkiye and Georgia quite often and the service industry in Turkiye is insanely better. This has been consistent over the past 7 years and is still. Georgian service is so bad that I often just skip going out altogether, even for a coffee.
Having travelled to Tbilisi a lot, this year alone over three times, I can attest to your claims. My wife and I nearly moved there as we have friends in Tbilisi. We came to realise the same things as you have and I too have had several situations where I did not take the terrible service kindly.
You're totally right. They doesn't care about details. The wifi in the airport is a good example.
It is like that in a lot of US airports and cities as well. It's like people just don't care.
They really does. You should learn more about Georgian people and how they really are :))
In many ways I have the same opinion of some of the Balkan countries, I haven't yet been to Georgia but plan to. It is one thing to have favorable conditions such as higher levels of freedom and low taxes to attract the capital to the country but they need to take the next step if they want to get their hands on that capital themselves. The way to do that is via providing amazing goods and services with a fantastic customer service ethic so that people happily spend their money at your establishment and want to come back. There's a little restaurant around the Ponta in Tivat that we keep going back to because it's always wonderful service with a smile. They get it because the little place is always full. Some other restaurants we go to people scowl at us because we didn't order a starter and dessert.
Anywhere that turns into a gringo hub surely drives the cost of living in the city exponentially and hence the resentment of locals who are in not so hot jobs and work at least 10 hrs a day. This pattern applies to anywhere in the world. Being open to foreign investment has its own side effects.
Lol, gringo hub. Very true.
That's why these types of places come and go. East Berlin was one of the original hip places for digital gonads a dozen years or so ago but it has since then gentrified
Nah, it’s more like a rusky hub because of those army deserter russians and false Ukrainian sympathizers
Two months I spent there I was renting very cheap Airbnb's. I appreciated the signage in English everywhere since Georgian is indecipherable. But cheap Airbnb's don't insulate you from the negative elements. And I often felt an undercurrent of resentment. No matter my low budget, I was a "rich" American. But met some great people too. I think go to Georgia for the natural environment but for city lifestyle not so much. Did enjoy the parks in Batumi.
I figured out the Georgian alphabet. (I already know Thai so I wasn’t intimidated by the odd characters.)
It’s really not that hard…just learn one or two a day
AS LONG AS YOUR FROM KENTUCKY OR INDIANA YOURE WELCOMED
The USA is our strategic ally, welcome to Georgia
Well, 200k russians flodded in, along with a lot of ukrainians, I'd say the city got way worse after the war. And you have a good bit of that "they took our jobs" sort of thing, I've seen russians in taxis, russians in food delivery. Ukrainians begging in the streets. Tagging never really bothered me, its a 100 times better than Norway (take the train from Gardemoen airport into Oslo and you get a feel for how the country is). Bread is close to twice the cost of what it used to be when I moved here. I got power bills in the summer upwards of 400 lari. Sure, I'll survive, no problem. But there is a much stronger feeling of real poverty.
My biggest annoyance is still that the government tries to copy bad european ideas, thus creating the traffic issues we've been in Vake area, ow, and the store just across the street is no longer 24/7.
I thought energy in Norway was cheap? Is there much crime? Immigrants?
@@ln5747 I live in Tbilisi, but power costs in Norway have been at the 0.5$ per kwh range. Immigration in the capital region is about 15%.
What are they doing in Vake to create traffic? Bicycle routs!
@@genstian that's almost as expensive as the UK i think, which is surprising. I thought Norwegian population got subsidised/cheap energy. Everyone makes it out to be some kind of socialist utopia.
@@ln5747 used to be like 0.05$. and fun fact, the government owns most of the power infrastructure to they make a killing on the power cost. Its like a tax.
Ugh, so insufferable. “We put Tbilisi on the map, and we can take it off.” That’s how this sounds. Honestly, I’ve lived in Georgia for 13 years and trash has always been an issue. Everywhere. And there are many things to be said about poor planning in Tbilisi re parking and traffic movement. But the service is certainly not worse than it was a decade ago. It’s spotty. But it’s a fraction of the price of places where service is really high. I don’t live in Tbilisi, mostly because I’m not a city person at all. I hated living in Moscow. I even struggled living in San Diego at times. Too many people. But that has to do with my personal preferences and not the city. Let’s hope Ukraine is soon victorious, people can go back to their homes, rents can come back down a bit, and then we can talk about school programs to educate about litter, etc.
No chance of a Ukraine victory
@@bazmurfer43 🤣🤣🤣
try Batumi
It may one day "come back" but history shows us that areas that start a slow, steady decline almost always have to hit rock bottom first and very often stay that way for some time before the task of bringing them back begins. By that time of course, the task at hand is colossal.
You're describing most countries in the world right now. Georgia still seems pretty good in comparison despite the first-world problems.
@@johnmknox Totally agree, John. Moreover, Georgia has people who really push the country forward despite of many difficulties.
someone needs to give them tasks :)) maybe investors or local courageous people. There are many, btw.
I find people at any capital grumpy and annoyed. It makes sense. Traffic, high cost of living, full of people, cut-throat competition. Once I go outside the capital, the picture completely changes.
I left Ukraine in January for Tbilisi, and spent three months there. It's a fascinating, wonderful city. Definitely lots of graffiti and trash, but the hardest thing for me was the dogs everywhere. None of them were violent or dangerous, and miraculously they weren't constantly being hit by cars (didn't even see a single close call), but dog shit everywhere, and lonely dogs looking for humans to belong to (cats in Istanbul are better off). I live in a city where dogs get trained as guide dogs for the blind, and where, unfortunately, there are about as many homeless people as there are homeless dogs in Tbilisi. I'm not sure how anyone fixes this, but it was simply heartbreaking to see so many well-fed dogs looking for belonging.
I was in a conversation with a few different people from different countries and we were talking about this exact thing. And one of the girls was from Georgia and when I asked about why there are so many stray dogs there, she simply responded by saying that they don't kill their stray dogs. I thought to myself "b!oody good point and answer" and realising how in the west we do put down a lot of dogs. Now, I discover what the consequences of that are from posts like yours. It is clearly a big problem. I'm not saying Georgians should change their belief and start killing dogs but I guess I am saying they need to make a decision about where they should be kept. Should that be stray and loose on the streets and driving away tourists, investment, and business, or maybe kept somewhere else or rehomed inside or outside the country so they can have a better life?
@@johnmknox I think they have made the best decision they can in their situation. Most people there live in very small apartments, not in sprawling suburban homes in California where Energy is both cheaper and in less demand (no snow!) Where I live there is a no-kill policy for dogs, and a strong community of volunteers to get animals neutered, trained and into good homes. Different World! I do not mean that Georgia is making bad decisions, and truly I saw many compassionate people helping and feeding dogs there. However I will say that I cannot imagine living there long term unless I had enough money to fix the problem for the entire nation. I just love dogs, and what differentiates them from other canines is that we bred them to belong to us, to be our companions and to work with us, and so it just feels like being in a nation of unemployed canines who are depressed because they have nobody to be loyal to! In the US when a city goes downhill (Detroit, let’s say), you end up with packs of feral dogs. Georgia doesn’t have that, they keep the dogs nice, well-fed, friendly. But the living situations don’t practically allow for family dogs, just neighborhood strays.
I was attacked by a stray and almost attacked by another one while I was there
@@dionysios4714 Oh wow! I guess I had a limited view. The only aggressive dogs I saw were the ones on leashes, and one big furry one right at the main bus stop in Tbilisi (Orbeliani square?), who had it in for all the city workers wearing green pants and yellow jackets, whose job it was to sweep up all the poop....
Dogs are actually treated quite well in Tbilisi. They are spayed and neutered and given a tag and at that point are free to live out the remainder of their lives on the streets where they can socialize with other dogs and are given sufficient food by the public. It is a good system. Most of the dogs learn to poop in appropriate places to avoid beatings or being targeted for liquidation as a "problem dog" by animal control. And very few are violent. The typical way of handling dogs in Asia is either mass culling (cruel) or doing nothing whatsoever (which leads to poop and dangerous "soi dogs" that attack people).
Because of the spaying, neuter, and tag system, the overall number of street dogs should plummet in the coming decades as those legacy dogs die off without reproducing.
Hey Andrew, I am here in Georgia atm, from Australia.(Nov 2022)
I find this country very behind the times, which I actually love about it. The history is amazing, the restaurants and atmosphere is incredible.
One thing I do have to agree with you is the service. That was the first thing I did notice. If they just smiled a bit, it would make this place stand out on its own. I don't expect it to be like back home, cause I wouldn't want anything the same as where I have just come from. But if you want customers to return, a little smile goes a long way.
That's my only down fall of Georgia.
That's how it is in the former communist countries in general. People will smile if they know you and like you, but there's none of that "be friendly towards the customers" attitude.
Seriously? That's it?
Seems like you've had some real problems. lol!
Our smile has to be earned.
@Margo Mills what trouble would you be talking about? Purchasing a coffee or buying a meal is giving them trouble? My opinion is, if you get bad service, you just don't go back and you move onto the next cafe or restaurant. No trouble with doing that. And there's no need to create a scene either.
@@mishutoful yeah fair enough, but who pays your wages?
Check out Kutaisi or the outskirts of Batumi in the mountains.
Athens is similar I note, covered in grafitti and trash everywhere, smoking in every restaurant and cafe. not a good look.
Thanks for the update. Graffiti and trash is a key reason my husband and I have ruled out several trendy retirement cities/towns. It is an aesthetic that really matters to me.
I spent 6 weeks in Georgia this spring and was disappointed after all the hype. Tbilisi is a dirty place, but there are also dilapidated buildings falling over everywhere. I wanted to love it because of all the digital nomad hype - but I just couldn’t.
The wine is terrible. It’s made to be guzzled, and deliver quick intoxication. I went to a number of wine shops looking for something decent, and was looked at like a nut job for trying to nose and savor the wine rather than slam it down and get my buzz on.
Yerevan Armenia on the other hand was amazing, and one of the most vibrant and upbeat cities I’ve ever been in.
@@A_Bunch_of_Savages try istanbul
Thats why i ruled out Buenos Aires
@@A_Bunch_of_Savages LOL! I knew you were Armenian, making antireclama to Georgia and prising Armenia! that is what you do on fb too, I recognized you, everywhere is your ugly comments, while you steal everything Georgian and trying to be like they are too, hahaa you loser!
It should matter to everyone
Georgia has a lot of Russians nowadays, which is the main reason why the rent is up. I was considering relocating there but changed my mind because of the issues with the war in Ukraine. I think for me as an EU citizen Bulgaria or Estonia will probably be where I would like to have my home base.
EU is a trap, forget it
Like 10 new restaurants and 15 new coffee shops opened in Vera alone after the pandemic. Don't really know what you mean by things got "less". It is definitely more fun than 2019. The best part is many russian, Ukrainian and Belarusian workers came and they do an amazing job in restoring houses. So this got better too.
Where do you plan to spend most of your time now?
You want CLEAN? Go to Uzbekistan!
I was just there for the first time. I was absolutely stunned by how spotless the place is. People have this low-key friendliness. Not much of interest in Tashkent, but the layout of the streets is really well-done. Broad, walkable boulevards, lots of trees. And Samarkand was beautiful! Clean, nicely landscaped, snow-capped mountains (Tajikistan) in the distance.
And the Uzbeks are MUCH better drivers than the Georgians!
georgians are the same race like armenians and turks, what you expect...
@@unknownninja4430 actually non of these nations are ethnically related but I don't think this matters to a true racist! Uzbeks are related to Turks so you should not be even commenting here
@@unknownninja4430 ??? what a nonsense. ethnic Georgians differ from other ethnicities of the world.
@@TheReal_E.IRIZARRY People like you make my blood boil spreading such nonsense, Turkic people were still in Central Asia riding around horses when we had Kartvelian Vassal states under Seleucid and Roman empires, our people have inhabited Caucasus mountains since Proto-Kartvelian tribes moved here thousands of years ago, we have nothing to do with Turks, Kurds or Persians genetically. We haven't been Tribal since we adopted Christianity in 4th Century and you haven't seen a real Georgian if you think we're not "White", We're Caucasians, not Europeans. Stop spreading misinformation, all it takes is a single Google search :)
@@TheReal_E.IRIZARRY "When you get to know the history of Georgia, you believe in God, because there is no objective reason for this nation to have reached this point" David Marshall Lang (English. David Marshall Lang) (b. 1924 - d. 1991) - English professor, historian, Georgian , specialist in Armenian, Bulgarian history, Caucasianologist, Kartviologist.
Well, this is the total contradiction at the core of this channel. See, if you want clean streets and excellent general services, somebody has to pay for them!!!
Dubai?
Shoveling tax money at your government still doesn't guarantee these things will be done.
They had it before. Dumb decisions like super expensive, non-functional trash cans and lax attitude towards graffiti are the problem. Tbilisi is actually profiting massively from the war and has more money than ever. But money needs sound leadership to be effective.
Yeah, core of the channel is to go where your're treated best,right? and he's going where he's treated best, so he's not getting treated good there anymore, so he leaves.Let's see where he goes next.
@@scottwillie6389 ARE YOU INSANE? I HAVE GIVEN TWO 450 GRAM BLOOD DONATIONS TOWARDS WOUNDED SOLDIERS DURING AUGUST WAR
Even as native Georgian I fully understand those difficulties with service, some time ago I used to work at night (had a remote job overseas) so I would visit groceries at night because that's when I was awake, it was blood boiling to always get one security guard that haunts your steps as if you are going to steal something.
As a Georgia Ex Pat living in the USA for years, it's evident that since US NGOs and EU NGOs entered, that degenerate culture grew exponentially that never existed before. Graffiti, drug use, and sodomy, and being Anti-Christ - all US/EU culture. Not to mention, Tbilisi is safer than any major city in Europe of the United States.
Before my Ex Pat Georgian friends and I decided to leave US, we saw the rise of homelessness and petty crime unlike anything we've ever seen before in the last 10 years.
This won't be permitted in Tbilisi, or Georgian culture thankfully.
Haha, every single person I've ever seen litter here has been Georgian. Every wreckless driver, every dumb fight on the street or restaurant, every guy yelling into his cell phone...all Georgian. Cutting in line? Georgians. Foreigners make very little problem here.
Graffiti is one of the reasons I am in Tbilisi , in fact compared to Berlin it does not have enough of it.
Totally agree, the trash everywhere annoyed me alot. Also the parks still in disrepair, horrible traffic and poor service. Batumi is better imo, better planned and cleaner
It is fascinating to listen to you Andrew. I have seen lots of American nomads settling in Tbilisi now. Originating from Kyiv, I have never seen much of them in my country even in pre war times. I am new to your channel, why did you or anyone reading this comment initially decided to choose this country for living?
Haha love your videos, Andrew, so heady, so good.
I WAS ROBBED IN BATUMI GEORGIA DURING LUNCH HOURS CLOSE TO MCDONALD'S AND DISPITE SCREAMING NO BODY HELP SO I DECIDED NOT TO INVEST THERE. SADLY THIS HAPPENED TO US AND OTHERS I WAS TOLD
Batumi is a tourist destination. This can happen everywhere when you don't pay attention. So stop crying or punsh the guy? Pretty sure they don't Rob you at gunpoint...
@chronicreader not so true try robbing someone in the middle East and your hands get chopped off
Even in Tbilisi there’s kidnapping people. I don’t know why
@@patrick1992 I AM GEORGIAN AND BEEN LIVING IN TBILISI FOR 42 CONSECUTIVE YEARS AND YOU'Re justifying robbers and putting whole guilt on the victim??
@@truehearteye-candy167 RARELY MAYBE 10 15 CASES EVERY QUARTER MOSTLY EXTORTION DRUG TRADE AND PROSTITUTION MAINLY
I was told there are nightengale birds there that warble a beautiful song
I found a village in the mountains fer more appealing for long term stay. No infrastructure and limited selections of restaurants. But no traffic, great air quality. Outdoor activities! And Tbilisi and Kutaisi are relatively short drives.
Can you post some locations names? Very interested.
Yes please can you share some of them?
@@browhatif Bakuriani, Borjomi are definitely worth checking out
@@Arsenit well borjomi is a small town and bakuriani is a ski/mountain resort that has kinda been overgrown with concrete over the last few years, wouldn't call either a village, not by georgian standards at least
I was really hopeful of my investments this year, but all my plans has been disoriented, I've been studying the market crashes and I realized some investors made millions from the 2008 recession and I was wondering if such success rate could be achieved in this present market
If you trade with the proper preparation and technics. You can beat the market several times
With the right strategy, it's not difficult to make monthly profits of up to 6 digits as I've made up to $75k per month since last year. Even though I have been investing for a while, it is very important for me to get help from a tutor to identify and take advantage of this market opportunity
@@karynplumm878 who is your financial coach, do you mind hooking me up?
@@andrewwiggins3190 "Laura Estelle Dealy" is my coach, you may have come across her on a few interviews, just look her up online to get in touch with her
@@karynplumm878 Thanks for sharing. I found her website
There are major protests there now about risks to freedom of speech. Best wishes to everyone who is there now. Take care.
Hey, dude, when was the last time you visited New York? Come by and let's talk about "clean" or all other things mentioned here then...
Ha! So true! And Tbilisi traffic jams and air quality are suddenly not that bad.
Make Georgia Great Again
It's totally possible. Once you know more about Georgian people and their success stories, you believe there are many things to do. No doubts, just watch several series of Sakartvelo Insight on UA-cam :))
So you don’t recommend people visit or settle down in Georgia because a Restaurant that you frequent sent four security guards after you when you tried taking the stairs to the terrace?..
Seriously?
i find it interesting as a native georgian/tbilisian that our president is more interested in advertising our country towards foreigners by having low taxes rather than improve the situation for natives who have been begging for any kind of positive change for decades.....
Georgia is not open for Asians investors
fortunately...
Georgia is open for all foreign investors, of course :)) you are more than welcome. What Georgia needs is foreign money and skills, most importantly. There are lot's of opportunities. However, it's important to understand the country before you arrive. Our series should help you to see the full spectrum of Georgia :))
Georgia recently opened up to Chinese investors and tourists. You are welcome!
What do you think about Batumi, Georgia?
I think Batumi is far better than Tbilisi on many levels and is my favourite city in Eurasia.
I could not handle the food in Tbilisi, Georgia. Especially the street food. I got food poisoning also from non refrigerated chicken. There were good street food vendors at the skatepark. Everywhere else was poor quality. And the rest of traditional food I
Found to be awful. I know this will piss some people off but even in the fancy restaurants it was not worth the price. I was supposed to stay 3 moths. I left after 3 weeks. The Georgian people were great and the markets were fun. I also almost got kidnapped there by a fake cabbie. It’s easy for most people to get in. I got the impression there were many criminals coming in. But a beautiful city and I was never afraid to walk around and explore.
The only dishonesty I noticed in Georgia was the cab drivers, to the point where I stopped using them. At first I was told that the official airport cab drivers were a ripoff, but after a time I decided that they were the only ones who were accountable to anyone, and even if that made them more expensive it was totally worth it when I had luggage. Otherwise I took the bus and metro, which worked fine.
It's certainly not for everyone. You can try Medellin too. I'm sure you'll walk away thinking Georgia is quite peaceful in comparison. It helps if you have local Georgians in court. I wouldn't say the country is great without a strong understanding of the Georgian people and culture and their support too.
You should use Bolt. That way you can't get ripped off. I'm surprised that someone complaining about cabbies doesn't know this.
I'm not sure I heard Andrew correctly did he say four security guards were sent after him because he took the stairs instead of an elevator at a restaurant?
yeah true story
That's nice. They probably wanted to make sure you got out safe.
In my personal opinion the city itself looks better than 10 years ago, in 2020 there was less trash than in 2014.
Why are you surprised by Tbilisi's garbage? Recently I had to travel to Cologne, Germany, there was much more litter on the streets than in Tbilisi.
It's the constant barking of all the dogs especially at night that basically represent how much they want people to come. If you say anything about it people will not hesitate to tell you to leave but those dogs don't pay the bills. The service is very hostile too and everyone complains that it's a poor place which is very ironic. The big propaganda banners everywhere and the trash is also not very welcoming. Good music, food and wine though.
The hell are you talking about
"If you say anything about it people will not hesitate to tell you to leave"... Sounds like the US huh?
@@cream583 I'm obviously talking about my experience with Tbilisi
The service is hostile because you act hostile. I've never had bad experiences with service in Tbilisi, just learn some basic phrases in Georgian, just like when visiting ANY country on the planet.
@@drerri How would you know how I act? If you're the one person in the world that never runs into rude people that is absolutely amazing for you but us average and normal people unfortunately still have to deal with the real world. It's exactly this attitude that's the problem. Instead of trying to fix it turns into a blame and shame game. If I would own a business or ran a country I would want everyone that stops by to leave with a positive memory and come back. Even the people I've met there admit the service and outlook on life in general are not really inspiring so comment on UA-cam all you want but it's not going to help the situation described (in the video too). God bless you!
"Andrew doesn't like the new mayor of Tbilisi, and is complaining about graffiti and the wifi"
Tbilisi is BOOMING
The city is congested because people in the districts cannot get the same services as in the capital.
Quite irrelevant to the video but are you going to touch back on Caribbean CBIs now that St Lucia opened up to Iranian applicants, which the EU dislikes like Russian applicants?
Is Tbilisi still the best city in Eastern Europe? How does it compare to Belgrade?
I spend 10 - 12 weeks a year in Georgia, every year for the last 14 years and I used to divide my time as follows ;
Tbilisi : 7 - 8 weeks (usually in the months of May & June or September & October)
Batumi : 3 - 4 weeks (usually in the months of March and April or October & November).
During the pandemic (I was in Georgia for 11 weeks in 2021 during the height of the pandemic) both Tbilisi and Batumi were fantastic because accommodation was super cheap (felt like it was 1999 all over again) and the restaurants and open air bars were semi deserted.
However, starting in the autumn of 2022 and also in March & April 2023 (I spent 4 weeks in Batumi and 3 weeks in Tbilisi so far this year) it became obvious that Tbilisi is becoming a victim of its own success.
Prices of everything (the exception is taxis that are always cheap and reliable if you use the 'yandex go' application) went up by 40% - 70% and the quality of wining and dining declined in Tbilisi.
In truth Georgia has two or three very tasty dishes but to say that Georgia has among the "best food in the world" is an exaggeration.
Vegetarian and health conscious people pay much more for food that is less on quality and less on variety than what is available in countries with a more evolved gastronomic culture like Hungary and Italy so let's put that myth to rest until Tbilisi innovates beyond the boring potato or mushroom filled khinkali (wow, big deal!).
Also wine is superb in the villages where it is non purified and organic.
In the commercial wine shops in Tbilisi in 90% of cases wine is an overpriced chemical cocktail.
If you want a high quality organic wine in a Tbilisi shop you will pay similar prices to similar quality wine in Europe so it makes little sense to buy there at all.
Breakfast culture is also terrible with the artery clogging processed meats and bland cheeses, tasteless salads etc. starring in every buffet... 'nuff said...
There are also a lot of career beggars in Tbilisi.
These are organised gangs that employ mostly children aged 6 to 14 years and they are a nuisance (the police don't seem to notice them. I wonder why...)
Batumi, on the other hand, is getting more sophisticated in terms of the quality of food and outdoor spaces, the general upkeep, cleanliness etc.
Because the traffic in Batumi is much less than it is in Tbilisi (the exception being July and August when it is best to walk anywhere and everywhere in Batumi between 17:00 - 22:00) taxis are also half the price you pay in Tbilisi and there is a more positive vibe.
Because rents doubled in Tbilisi over the past year and a half a lot of the underclass find it increasingly more difficult to make ends meet and that is why there are more homeless and generally less happy people around.
However, the graffiti and trash on the streets is mainly found in the area around Rustaveli and less in the areas that are slightly elevated on both parts of the river.
Tbilisi is still a much cleaner, greener and much safer city than are Athens, Bucharest, Chisinau, or Paris...
The shortcomings you mention in the video can be remedied and in fact they are gradually getting solved as many Russians and Ukrainians who are fed up with the high rental rates in Tbilisi move to the more affordable Kutaisi, Gori, Rustavi and Telavi cities.
The unruly behaviour of many Georgians in Tbilisi (ie. loud music in their cars when they drive around aimlessly at night).is something the police should take care of.
Yes, they are the natives but that doesn't give them the right to disturb others for no reason...
The substandard airport with its smelly toilets and dodgy taxi drivers (never believe them. Just use the taxi apps), the terrible and very expensive food continues to be a hindrance.
I hope it is renovated and cleaned up.
I agree on other parts but 2-3 decent Dishes? that's where it gets insulting lol, did you only eat in Restaurants with limited menu? you need to attend at least one proper Georgian feast with homemade food in the Countryside region to feel the cuisine, (Food served depends on the Region you visit, every Region has it's own food) there's so much food on the table you barely know what to eat most of the time. Restaurant food and Family served food are two completely different things.
Our Cuisine doesn't only consist of Khachapuri, Khinkhali and Mtsavdi, those are popular foods. there's wide variety of Soups, Pastry, some common Georgian salads and even stuff like Elarji. (which I'm not a fan of but many like it)
That being said taste is subjective, majority of people like Georgian cuisine so you might just not be into it. breakfast culture is almost non-existent so yeah can't expect some quality Italian or French type breakfast.
@@LukaMamukelashvili
Thank you for taking the time to reply.
Most tourists will not have access to Georgian feasts or Georgian homemade food in the countryside so my comment remains valid.
Georgia needs to innovate on its cuisine and incorporate more healthy options especially for vegetarians and those who value a more varied and plant based diet.
This is the trend in Europe and Georgia is simply and hopelessly behind the trend on that front.
All the best and gaumarjos!
@@kvadratnixachapuri9745 No problem, sadly most tourists only get to experience food in Popular dining places where prices are ridiculous and menu is limited and I don't think it's gonna change anytime soon. There are small dining places owned by local families but they're harder to find in Tbilisi than outside the City. Overall people who travel all of Georgia and interact with local seem to have more positive experience because of this, I wouldn't live in Tbilisi even if you gifted me a house, rowdy city with shit traffic and half the people living there have attitude problems. I love it as a historical city with lots of charm but it's bad city to live in, even Batumi is a better option in terms of quality of life.
@@LukaMamukelashvili
I agree but I think Tbilisi has its advantages, i.e the weather is milder than in many parts of Georgia (In winter it rarely snows and even when it does the weather is not too cold.
In summer it is rarely oppressively hot).
Tbilisi also has very good ethnic food (Lebanese, Syrian, and Uzbek).
Thanks to the Russians Chinese food is also improving (it used to be a horror a few years ago).
As for traffic - it depends on one's lifestyle.
When I am in Tbilisi I happily use the metro and I always ride it outside rush hours so I am not too concerned.
Taxis are also great as long as you use them in less congested areas.
I will take up the offer for a free house 🏡 in Tbilisi 😁
@@kvadratnixachapuri9745 Touché, depends on how you look at it. 😊
Um. So you’re saying you used them to get rich and now don’t think they’re bougie enough for you?
Totaly agreee, a simple smile isnt a thing here, it eventually feel that they are forcefully serving you for free..
Thats why i mostly hang around venues owned and run by foreigners..
Spent 2.5 weeks in Georgia earlier in the year. I agree with these sentiments. I thought it was an ok place, but did notice the graffiti, rubbish and shoddy quality construction work in public parks etc. Also seemed to be some ethnic infighting problems. Thought Azerbaijan and Armenia seemed to be doing a better job.
Why does it seem like I miss EVERY SINGLE BOAT?!
I was in Georgia couple times, and was facing constantly a bit rude, careless attitude towards. With no smile, or any emotions of the face. Pity.
Welcome to the Slavic world. Smiles come after shots of chacha.
In that case why you visited as you say ´a couple of times´ I wonder, 1 was not enough? if you did not like
@@graviolaguanabana4579 unfortunately yes, I’ve visited. Since there is cheap flights with stop over via kutaisi
@@Sourcefedisnewsporn Georgians are not Slavs.
@@Maleficarum999they seem to act like it..
Time to take profit?
Anyone know a similar channel content wise that does not have the self aggrandisement and spotty school boy superiority vibe to it?
It is a bit crowded now.
Well, with the Russians still occupying approximately 20% of Georgia's internationally recognized territory, and with thousands of Russian troops stationed within 200 km of Tbilisi, I'd say that decision makes a lot of sense.
I too spend less time in Tbilisi and more time in Batumi.
Batumi is more affordable and less congested.
Tbilisi is gone, more expensive tha NYC now, full of russians, instable political situation...
more expensive than NYC come on now lol. and I hate Tbilisi.
Sadly true. Its little russia now. Unbearable.
@@johngalt6378 and what's wrong with Russians? We don't want racist scum in Tbilisi either, you can get out
What do you smoke? I rented a Airbnb near Fabrika for 400 Euro for 6 weeks.. if you book short term everywhere it's expensive
like how expensive is it now? I no longer live there but when I was living there 2 years ago I used to pay 350$ for a really nice 1 bedroom apartment located in the middle of Pekini avenue. *long-term rental (1 year).
I moved here two and a half years ago from the UK, and yes, I’ve noticed the graffiti has worsened, especially of the Russia-phobic variety in the past year and a half. Although I’m not Georgian I do feel ashamed that a small minority of locals in a place I call home feel the need to make visiting Russians uncomfortable. It seems some locals can’t distinguish between the actions of a state and those of an individual. Or they simply couldn't care less.
As for service, I’d have to say that as a whole it’s been mostly fine at the larger hotels, restaurants, etc. However, at the smaller local businesses it seems there’s a general lack of understanding of the relationship between that initial instance of service and the effect it has on return custom. I've had the single worst excuse for service out of any of the countries I've travelled to, right here in Tbilisi. In short, I feel you're right. If I were to stick my neck out and choose a direction I think the city is heading in, I'd have to give it a thumbs down.
" It seems some locals can’t distinguish between the actions of a state and those of an individual. Or they simply couldn't care less." - it's the second one. but that couldn't care less is coming after decades of strife, it's not unfounded.
I personally won't go and start unwanted trouble with them or even treat them differently, but I definitely would give them much fewer second chances and benefit of the doubt. Then again it is a divisive topic within the country, some people treat them better than other fellow georgians and some are just walking balls of unbalanced unthought-through emotional rage.
also sorry, but the whole distinguishing the actions of the state and the populace, is kinda bullshit.
yeah sure if some russian fiery opposition dude comes to georgia, fine he did his fair share.
if some random dude who in private is against their government comes, they have the blame of complacency in my eyes, of course I can't demand that they ruin their lives, but when as a result the lives of the people around get ruined, it garners some distaste in my mind.
and finally if you're someone who actively supports or uses this very popular russian phrase "I'm not into politics", then you are the fucking problem, and trust me quite a few of them have come to georgia and there has been many instances of them loudly protesting against and demanding better treatment, often with a very arrogant tone, this of course just exacerbates the emotional outrage on the other side.
Hello, have you heard that 20% of the territory of Georgia is occupied by Russia, and from these occupied territories we have 500,000 internally displaced persons, whom the Russian occupying forces do not allow in their homes?
I see tiblisi which has a good potential in becoming the youth Hotspot around the world
How do you feel about Colombia these days? It used to be a libertarian, low tax, low cost country, but prices in the expat areas are skyrocketing, the new president is a communist and crime is getting worse by the month. My wife is from there and she does not even want to visit anymore.
I think Mexico City is much better these days. Chose it over Bogota as my base in the Americas, couldn't be happier.
but it seems that it might become part of the EU right ?
Nope we won't, EU is bunch of lies same with NATO, NATO just want us to have war with Russia same like Ukraine, there is huge uprising of anti-EU anti-nato movements in Georgia and to be fair we are waiting for 30 years now..... It's laughable, and me as a Georgian I don't want to join EU which is not same as it used to be 15 years ago .....
Maybe but that won't happen in this decade.
@@sbadrawi2011a next decade there won't be any EU
@@georgefenrirbitadze4757 yeah, that’s the same they were saying a decade ago lol
@@alexntrn nobody said that a decade ago
I find Georgians both pretentious and a bit xenophobic. Other than that, they're fine.
Andrew should pay a visit to Iran though, although the taxes and system of government are terrible. They have surprisingly nice cities.
Doesnt this provide a business opportunity? Or is there no market?
You are in Belgrade i think you like it here.
@@tammylove8337 so don't comeback no moore.
@@tammylove8337 wow the level of uncultred woman you are, i don't drop down on that, have a nice life in some western european or american country enjoy
@@tammylove8337 Belgrade is a great European capital. As for NATO, it’s good that people remember their history.
Belgrade is overpriced now
Armenia seems to be easier to get residency
so in other words everything is totally fine, but you are becoming more and more stuck up
@NostaIgia one incident at one restaurant is no reason to put down the entire country. A lot worse things can happen than that, i don't see the big deal, to me it's just whining and complaining. it seems his reason is just based purely on his own subjective feeling, nothing more than that
Hey Andrew, Ive been watching your videos ever since Last year you've literally made me fall in Love with Tbilisi so much because of how much you've talked about it in your videos. I appreciate your kind advise and your Update on it. Although your opinion will not stop me from ever stepping foot and grabbing opportunities there. I am indeed a man of action and i like to get things done, Ive been working so much on my Plan B for overseas relocation and tax reduction as well, Ive been wounded alot by where Ive grown up as well and I am looking forward to migrate overseas next year sometime soon.
Thank You so Much for keeping us all up to date. I truly appreciate your content am hoping to be a client someday as well.
Best Regards
Fred/K.S
Where's there place to buy property?
The story about the restaurant and the 4 security guards is a little vague. Did they think you were gonna leave without paying?
It's it finally done to pay taxes for services?
Spend more time in the good, ole
US of A. We need you back in the tax net!
Thank you, but no thank you for Georgia:)
Wait, what? "I went up the stairs and four security guards came after me". And? Why? Further explanation required.
It happens in upscale places. The KGB type security is a kind of status symbol. In Georgia, it makes the customers feel they're special.
With 100k u can get the permanent residence is that true ?
Our team would be happy to review your question and assist. Apply here: nomadcapitalist.com/apply/
Georgians have been taking things for granted. It’s an attitude problem. As if, they are a God’s gift to humanity and they are exceptional! You need to be grounded always to keep improving. Georgians thought that they have arrived too soon and prematurely which will lead to their downfall!
Can't agree with you, Alok. You should definitely learn more about the Georgian people and understand how courageous they are. And they are always improving. Watch some of our documentaries and change your mind :))
We have arrived, left and arrived many times over. Can't talk so reductively about a 3000 year old culture. You try receiving migrants in the number of 15% of your entire population in one year and then let me know how your attitude changes...
or maybe we Georgians simply got tired of asking to be validated by others who arrived next
as a sedentary capitalist i don understand
Million bucks at the end of the day you will come back the 🇺🇸
I'll take that bet i could use $1M 😄
I'm British and I am not even allowed to enter the US for a holiday without taking the poison. Even if I were and you gave me a million bucks, The big guy would probably want half of it in taxes and I would need to use the rest to buy $7-00 gasoline, a wooden house that will get blown away by a hurricane, and I'd be in a country that is hostile to business and unfavoured groups. Land of the Free? In North America, it is surely Mexico now! 🇲🇽
@@johnmknox I lived in Mexico. It’s a shit hole
He can't!
He has no passport!
And the reason is RIP headphones users.
Hi Andrew - yes sir, the only way to progress in business is what you have just done, revealing your inner thoughts, which is to be appreciated and with that I am convinced that discerning people will salute you for being so open minded. I said this because my mentality is similar, ha, ha, ha...
Trump 2024
Can anyone answer a question for me? I've watched a number of videos about Tbilisi and I've noticed that so many Georgians were wearing face masks in the open air.
Was this because of some government mandate or did Georgians do so voluntarily?
@@eloianani4705 Even outside?
@@ChefEarthenware yes, everywhere.
@@eloianani4705 Thank you for that information.
@@ChefEarthenware welcome! If you are interested in Georgia and want to understand how does the country work, check on UA-cam Sakartvelo Insight, you will find English language videos :))
@@eloianani4705 Thank you. I've looked at it and it seems to be mostly culture and crafts. My primary interest is in c0v1d freedom, but the UK Embassy doesn't seem to much information. I am also seeing conflicting info on whether a visa is required.
Would you be kid enough to point me to any sites which deal with PCR testing and visas?
Start a new city in Georgia. Apparently none other exist outside .
As a fart sniffer I would have expected elevators to be right up your alley.
If Tlibisi is in decline, why should nomads even consider it? Andrew has raved about Tlibisi for years. Seems the bloom is off the rose.
The rents are crazy high right now. Landlords are milking it in favour of Russians and Ukrainins
I would mention;Georgia's bad driving habits, stray dogs and gypsies everywhere! terrible!
Interesting to hear. And yes, of course the cost doesn't "impact" (crash into) you; it _affects_ you (albeit probably not by much).
Kaladze is one of the best Maayors this town had - talking this a s Georgian
Kaladze is one of the worst Maayors this town had - talking this a s Georgian
Andrew for a Serbia or Siberia which one do you like.? Can't you do enough show on them which one you like investor for America to get out of here and to become a nomad capitalist
. I'm going to buy your book right now. My real name is Brian
In a word - Russians
In a word - Ukrainians
In a word Russians. Their presence makes Georgia a target for Putin. The Ukrainians had to leave Ukraine because of, in a word, Russians. Though Russians who are political refugees should be welcome and I believe the first wave were. But subsequent waves, not all are against the war, they just don’t want to fight in it. But foreigners in general are driving up the rents so the locals can’t afford to live there
you should spend more time in Armenia instead then.
Honestly I'd prefer to live in a place you don't like
"Critic Comment about thumbnail"
Bro just admit that Tbilisi is a shit hole
Maybe we can change your mind: ua-cam.com/video/pmcIz-MhQ8g/v-deo.html 👀
blablbala talking for 30 mins with zero information
Where the best women at is what I want to know