When planning a trip or business trip to Georgia, you should think about the issue of currency exchange in advance. Going to Georgia with rubles and hoping to exchange them in Georgian exchange offices is at least unreasonable, since the exchange rate of lari for rubles directly in this country is very unprofitable. Therefore, it is recommended to go to this mountainous country with international currency and change it on the spot.
The official Georgian currency is Georgian lari. Both the ruble of one hundred kopecks and one lari (GEL) contain 100 tetri. This currency has been in circulation since 1995 by decree of the country's President Eduard Shevardnadze.
Within the country, you can pay only in Georgian lari. If you try to pay in rubles or dollars, you may well be fined.
Many experienced travelers do this: going on vacation to Georgia, they buy lari for rubles in their homeland at any well-known bank at the most comfortable rate and part of the funds, converting into dollars or euros, are left on a plastic bank card.
How much to take with you
An average tourist spends an average of 75-100 GEL per day on food, accommodation, travel by local passenger transport and excursions. At the exchange rate for 2018, this amount is equal to 1800-2400 rubles. Depending on how far you travel to this country, you should also plan your supply of funds (how much money to carry on the card and in cash).
Cash or card
It is not recommended to take all the money in cash, because ATMs and payment terminals (with the function of exchanging for the desired currency) can be found in all major cities of Georgia. When you pay with a card from an account with euros (dollars), the funds will be converted into local laris.
Why is it not recommended to pay from a ruble account? In this case, you will have to pay a commission for a triple conversion: rubles - into US dollars / euros - into local money. Please note that in markets, in small shops, grocery stores and in remote villages, only paper money may be required (there may not be a terminal at all).
When converting currency from dollars or euros through an ATM and withdrawing cash, an official commission of up to 2-2.5% of the funds issued may be charged. An important point: in many Georgian banks, when withdrawing cash from a plastic card, there is a limit - you can cash out only 300 GEL per call.
Cashing out
Cash in Georgia should be cashed in large banks, you should not be carried out on the flashy signs "No commission" on the doors of small exchange offices, illegal fraud and fraudulent actions are not uncommon here.
If it so happened that in Georgia there is only cash rubles on hand (they did not have time to exchange at the bank, the bank card was blocked or lost), then this situation is also solvable. In any establishments where money exchange is offered, you can exchange rubles for lari at the local (albeit not always favorable) rate. For your own safety, it is better to apply for such operations to local large banks.
The largest and most reliable banking institutions in Georgia are Bank of Georgia, CartuBank Georgia and Bank TBC. Accordingly, they will offer you the most favorable exchange rate. As in Russia, there are also small currency exchangers in Georgia, their offer may seem beneficial to a tourist. When exchanging at any bank, you will be asked to show your passport; at a private exchange point, an identity card is not required, but you may well be left without money at all. Be careful!
Import and export amounts
It should be noted that you can import the edge of eternal spring in currency in a multiple of up to 25,000 lari. Leaving Georgia, you can have an amount of not more than GEL 3000 with you. Experienced tourists recommend handing over all lari to a local bank when leaving the country in exchange for dollars or euros (this is also beneficial at the Georgian rate).
Secrets of travelers in Georgia:
- The best option for import to Georgia is dollars, euros or lari itself.
- The most favorable exchange rate in Georgia is in the city of Batumi.
- Before exchanging currencies, take a look at both the selling rate and the buying rate - the difference should not be more than 8-12 tetri.
- Have cash in your wallet in the currency of this country, you may need it in small towns, at gas stations, in kiosks.
- The traveler may need lari already at the airport. And if you have not taken care of their availability in advance, exchange a small part of the imported rubles, euros or dollars directly at the exchange office of the airport. Small, because a bank in any major city will offer you a more favorable rate.
- Avoid dealing with money changers. As in Russia, they often offer very favorable conditions, but they possess many methods of deception, which boil down to one thing - stealing your cash.
