You Won’t Believe How Cheap and Fun This Ski Trip Was!

Hey friend! Oh my gosh, I just got back from the most amazing trip ever and I had to tell you all about it right away. You know how much I love skiing, but usually, it costs so much money. Like, crazy money! But I found this secret spot in the Caucasus Mountains in a country called Georgia. No, not the state with the peaches, the country near Europe! I spent only $60 a day and I felt like a total queen. I fell in love with skiing all over again and you HAVE to go next winter. Put down your coffee and read this because your mind is about to be blown!

How to Get There Without Getting Lost

Okay, so first things first. You have to fly into a city called Tbilisi. It is a really old city with cool streets and lots of cats. Once you land, do not take a regular taxi from the airport because they might charge you too much. Use an app called Bolt. It is just like Uber but cheaper. It will cost you about $12 to get to the city center. Stay one night there just to eat some bread and then get ready for the mountains.

To get to the ski resort, which is called Gudauri, you have to drive up the Georgian Military Highway. It sounds scary but it is just a big road. You can catch a “marshrutka” which is a fancy word for a yellow van. It only costs $5! But since we are best friends, I’ll tell you a secret: pay $60 for a private driver. If you split it with friends, it is super cheap. The driver will stop at this old castle called Ananuri. Stand on the bridge right in front of the castle to take a photo. The water behind it is so blue it looks like Gatorade!

The Skiing is Totally Wild

When you get to Gudauri, you will see giant mountains that look like huge piles of whipped cream. They are so big! The best part? The lift ticket is only about $22 for the whole day. In America, that costs like $200! I felt like I was stealing because it was such a good deal. The lifts are fast and have bubbles to keep the wind off your face.

If you are a beginner, stay on the lower parts. But if you want to feel like a pro, take the gondola all the way to the top of Sadzele Peak. It is very high up! The air is thin so you might get tired fast, but the view makes you want to scream because it is so cool! You can see peaks for miles and miles. Stand right at the edge of the sign that says the altitude for your “I made it” photo. Your hair will be blowing in the wind and you will look like a movie star.

The snow is super soft. It’s not icy like the mountains back home. It feels like skiing on a cloud. If you fall, it doesn’t even hurt! I fell like ten times because I was looking at the view instead of my feet, and I just laughed every time because the snow was so fluffy.

What to Eat (This is the Best Part!)

You are going to get so hungry from skiing, and the food here is the best food I have ever had in my life. You have to order something called Adjaruli Khachapuri. It is a piece of bread shaped like a boat, filled with melted cheese, a big chunk of butter, and a raw egg on top. You take a fork, mix it all together while it’s hot, and then rip off the ends of the bread to dip in the cheese. It is a cheese party in your mouth! It costs about $7 and you will be full for the whole day.

Then for dinner, you have to get Khinkali. These are big soup dumplings. Do NOT use a fork! If you poke them with a fork, the juice runs out and that is a big mistake. You pick them up by the little handle at the top with your hands, take a tiny bite out of the side, suck out the hot soup, and then eat the rest. But don’t eat the handle! People leave the handles on their plate to count how many they ate. I ate ten! A plate of these will only cost you about $6.

For drinks, ask for “Chacha.” Be careful! It is like vodka but made from grapes and it is very, very strong. It feels like a little fire in your throat, but it warms you up after being in the snow. A shot of it is usually only $1 or $2.

Where to Snap the Best Photos

You need to go to the Russia-Georgia Friendship Monument. It is a giant concrete circle with bright paintings inside. It sits right on the edge of a cliff. Stand in one of the big open arches so the mountains are behind you. It looks amazing and all your followers will be so jealous. It doesn’t cost anything to go there!

Another great spot is the terrace at a hotel called the Gudauri Lodge. Even if you aren’t staying there, you can buy a coffee for $3 and sit outside. They have big fire pits and you can see all the skiers coming down the mountain. It’s the perfect place to take a video of yourself clinking glasses with the snowy peaks in the background.

Let’s Talk Money: Budget vs. Balling Out

I know you like to save money, but sometimes it is fun to spend a little extra. Here is how much things cost so you can plan your trip!

See? Even if you go for the “Balling Out” prices, it is still way cheaper than going to Colorado or Switzerland. You can live like a king for the price of a normal lunch back home. It is honestly the best-kept secret in the travel world.

Why You Need to Go Right Now

The people in Georgia are so nice. They will treat you like family. One time I got my ski stuck in the snow and three different people ran over to help me and then invited me to drink wine with them! You don’t get that anywhere else. The mountains are huge, the food is yummy, and you won’t go broke.

I am already planning my next trip back because I miss that cheese bread every single day. We should go together next time! Imagine us at the top of that mountain, taking selfies and then racing down to get some dumplings. It would be the best time ever!

If you want to see more photos of my trip or find more deals like this, you have to join our group! We talk about cheap travel all the time and help each other find the best spots. Come hang out with us here: https://www.facebook.com/CheaptravelVIP.FL

Talk soon! Love you!