Orbi City Batumi – 6 Things to Know Before Booking

ORBI City Batumi may seem like the perfect spot on the Black Sea coast, with its subtropical climate and dreamlike holiday vibe. However, many travelers have reported significant issues with these properties. This guide will help you navigate the potential pitfalls of staying at an ORBI Group accommodation and provide you with better alternatives for your Batumi vacation.

What is ORBI Group?

ORBI Group is one of the largest development companies in Georgia, known for its extensive property complexes throughout the country. While their buildings dominate Batumi's skyline, traveler reviews often reveal a stark contrast between the impressive facade and the reality of staying in these properties.

6 Things to Know Before Booking ORBI City

Thinking of booking a stay at ORBI City? While it’s a popular choice for travelers, experiences can vary widely, with some guests facing unexpected challenges. Here’s what you need to know to make sure your trip goes smoothly and help you decide if it's the right fit for your stay or investment.

1. Poor Construction Quality and Poor Maintenance

Georgia's rapid hyperbuilding has resulted in hurried, low-quality construction. In terms of maintenance, dynamic lighting on the facade is already broken in many places. Also, look at the sign over the main entrance of the lobby in the cover photo—one light's out, and the others have been changed with bulbs that don't match.

2. Unfulfilled Promises

Many promised amenities, such as swimming pools and parking lots, are often incomplete or non-existent. For example, this popular unit on Booking.com has a picture of a small water park on the listing that's located down the street.

3. Elevator Problems

With thousands of rooms and only a handful of elevators, wait times can be excessively long. For example, there are complaints of people waiting over 30 minutes—we dive into this more below.

4. Lack of Amenities

Despite advertising luxury features, many basic amenities are missing or require additional fees. Guests report hotel amenities like swimming pools, fitness centers, parking lots, and dining options were nonexistent or located off-campus with additional fees.

5. Inconsistent Wi-Fi

Unreliable internet connectivity is a common complaint. The lack of standard apartment rental amenities leaves many feeling that ORBI City falls short of its advertised luxury.

Questionable Hotel Practices

Some areas around ORBI properties have been associated with illicit activities. Despite its upscale image, ORBI City in Batumi has faced criticism for issues beyond its luxury appeal. Forums, such as on Reddit, often highlight the presence of sex work and related activities in the area, raising concerns about safety and ambiance.

This discreet sex trade is reportedly prevalent in Batumi, impacting the reputation of developments like ORBI City. In other words, sex workers are frequently spotted in the lobby.

Alternatives to ORBI

While the Orbi Group has a significant presence in the city's hotel market, particularly along prime beachfront locations, visitors will find plenty of options across different areas and price ranges. When planning your stay, consider your preferences: Do you want to be right on the beach, close to the historic Old Town, or somewhere in between? Below's a breakdown of some top alternative accommodation options in Batumi.

Beachfront

Staying on the beachfront puts you at the heart of Batumi's seaside attractions, perfect for those who want to maximize their time by the Black Sea.

• Courtyard Batumi: A modern hotel on Sherif Khimshiashvili St., offering spacious rooms, an indoor pool, and a fitness center. Ideal for those who want comfort and convenience near the beach.
• The Grand Gloria Hotel: An elegant beachfront option with spacious rooms and an outdoor pool. Great for travelers looking for a luxurious seaside experience.

🏖️🏨 Courtyard Batumi > Check Availability

Best of Both Worlds: Near Beachfront and Old Town

These hotels offer a balance, allowing easy access to both the beach and the city's historic center.

• Le Méridien Batumi: A stylish hotel with modern design, excellent dining, and panoramic sea views. Perfect for those who appreciate contemporary luxury.
• Hilton Batumi: Located close to Batumi Boulevard, this modern hotel offers beachfront access and a rooftop bar. Great for travelers who want a well-known brand with a prime location.
• Sheraton Batumi: An iconic hotel with a prime beachfront location and elegant amenities. Ideal for those who want a classic luxury experience.

🏖️🏨 Hilton Batumi > Check Availability

Old Town Charm

Staying in the Old Town immerses you in Batumi's rich history and culture, with the beach just a short walk or drive away.

• Wyndham Batumi: A modern hotel offering luxurious accommodations close to Batumi's historic sites. A perfect location for those who prioritize exploring the city's heritage.
• Hotel Monarch: A boutique hotel blending traditional charm with modern comforts. Ideal for travelers seeking a more intimate, local experience.
• Mariinsky Apartments & Hotel: Elegant apartment-style accommodations, perfect for extended stays or those who prefer more space and home-like amenities.

🏖️🏨 Hilton Batumi > Check Availability

Tips for Choosing Your Accommodation

Before you click that "Book Now" button, take a moment to consider these key factors. They'll help you find the perfect spot that fits your style, budget, and travel goals. Here's what you need to keep in mind:

• Location: The beachfront area is lively and perfect for sea lovers, while the Old Town hotels offers a more cultural, historic atmosphere. Choose based on your main interests.
• Budget: Prices can vary significantly. Generally, beachfront properties are pricier, especially during peak season (June to August).
• Amenities: Consider what's important to you, such as pools, fitness centers, on-site restaurants, or apartment-style facilities for longer stays.
• Booking time: Book well in advance, especially for beachfront properties, in the high season.

What to Expect - ORBI Group Monopoly

The ORBI Group owns and operates over 20 buildings in Batumi, including several large-scale complexes like Orbi City, Orbi Plaza, Orbi Sea Towers, and Orbi Residence. When travelers search for accommodations in Batumi, ORBI dominates the market with the majority of available units.

ORBI's extensive building projects in Batumi are so in your face that they're hard to miss. While the buildings look impressive from afar, travelers' reviews often show that up close, the facade of luxury and glamour quickly fades. Furthermore, one of the most troubling and cumbersome aspects of staying at ORBI City is the elevators.

The Elevator System at ORBI City is Frightening

To understand the volume of apartments available, consider that ORBI City in Batumi consists of two main residential towers, with a total of approximately 4,500 hotel-style apartments. Each tower contains around 2,300 rooms, making ORBI Towers one of the largest hotel complexes in the region. Remember that each building has only 12 elevators, with frequent reports of some being out of service.

The elevators in ORBI properties are truly something else—an absolute nightmare. In Batumi, we experienced multiple instances where people cram in shoulder to shoulder, leaving no room to move. All we can think is, "If this elevator breaks, we'll be stuck in a claustrophobic, smelly nightmare with strangers for hours!"

Impatient guests push and shove, bypassing lines to try and squeeze in, with some travelers reporting waits of up to 40 minutes just to reach their rooms. Now, imagine this in an emergency such as a fire, power outage, or earthquake.

ORBI's properties have serious design flaws, and it's concerning how the developers could have not thought of something so basic such as an elevator-to-guest ratio.

5 Tips for Booking ORBI Properties (If You Must)

When booking a stay at an ORBI property, it's important to be aware of potential travel scams. Many travelers who book through third-party sites often assume they're reserving directly with ORBI.

In reality, they’re renting from various owners, both foreign and domestic, who have purchased rooms in bulk. Much like a timeshare, understanding who handles things like maintenance, amenities, and customer service can be confusing, leading to mixed experiences—especially for budget travelers drawn to the low-cost rooms.

As budget travelers, balancing comfort and cost is sometimes necessary. If you find a host who genuinely cares about the guest experience, savvy travelers can snag a great room in an ORBI property for a very low price.

Quick Tips

These tips can help you navigate the quirks of staying at an ORBI property and make the most of your time in Batumi.

1. Select Rooms with Reliable Reviews: Choose a room with consistently positive feedback from various guests. This means only 5.0 for Airbnb or 9+ on Booking.com. Standards of luxury can vary greatly—what a tourist from Bangladesh might consider luxurious, someone from Western Europe or the U.S. might find inhospitable. Do your homework on the host and property.
2. Beware of Fake Reviews: Unfortunately, it's hard to decipher what reviews are fake on online booking websites. Some guests report choosing a room with great reviews, only to be assigned a dirty room that ruined their Batumi vacation. This is a common trend in Batumi. Consider asking your contact if the room in the listing will be the same provided on arrival.
3. Timing Your Visit: Batumi sees a surge in tourism during July and August, leading to crowded conditions with longer wait times. If you prefer a quieter experience, consider visiting during the shoulder season or winter, when the properties are less busy.
4. Assess Your Host: The quality of your stay heavily depends on your host's approach to hospitality. Reviews can give you a good sense of whether the host views guests as just another booking or genuinely values their experience. Ask questions about what's included in the rate, such as linens, electricity, laundry services, and how well-equipped the kitchenette is, before booking.
5. Stay Duration Matters: Many travelers find that ORBI properties are better suited for short stays. Most units aren’t well-equipped for long-term stays, so plan accordingly.

Enjoy and Explore

Remember, regardless of where you choose to stay, Batumi's excellent public transportation, cheap ride-hailing services, and walkable layout make it easy to explore all areas of the city. Whether you're soaking up the sun on the beach, strolling through the charming streets of the Old Town, or enjoying the modern buildings along the Boulevard, Batumi offers a memorable stay for every type of traveler.

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