Top 5 Luxury & Spa Hotels in Kvareli, Georgia
| Hotel reviews | 15 seen
Here are the top 3 reasons to visit and stay in Kvareli - health spas, culturally diverse food & beautiful forests.
Kvareli is one of the most popular SPA hotel destinations in Georgia, or at least in the region of Kakheti.
I've stayed in several hotels in or near the town of Kakheti. With Royal Batoni being my favorite so far.
In today's article, I've listed top 5 Luxury & SPA hotels in Kvareli, Georgia. See Indie travel guides to plan your trip to the region of Kakheti
Disclosure: hotels listed below contain links to Booking.com, by clicking on links on this page and by making a reservation on Booking.com site, I might earn an affiliate income, at no cost to you.
Kvareli Eden
Read my review here: Hotel Kvareli Eden Review
Kvareli Eden Hotel is located in Kvarteli town center, on the right bank of the Bursa River. It features an indoor swimming pool and a wine therapy spa center. Free Wi-Fi and free private parking are provided.
All elegant rooms come with air-conditioning, a flat-screen TV, a safety deposit box and a mini-bar. Free toiletries and slippers are available in a bathroom.
The on-site restaurants serve various Gergian and European dishes, and guests can have a drink at one of the bars.
Kvareli Eden offers various treatments, including wine spa and different massage services. Guests can work out in a gym, play tennis, billiards or bowling and relax in a sauna.
Price: ~ EUR 91 Book this hotel on Booking.com
Royal Batoni
Located in a picturesque area on the bank of Ilia Lake, between the Kvareli Mountains and the Duruji River, Royal Batoni offers an outdoor swimming pool with beautiful views of the lake. Free Wi-Fi and private parking are available.
The elegant rooms feature modern design and furnishings. They offer satellite TV and private bathroom with a bath or shower, hairdryer and free toiletries. Rooms feature lake or mountain views.
Royal Batoni has a wine cellar, cigar room and restaurant serving local cuisine. It offers a games room with billiards and table tennis. The hotel has a terrace and BBQ facilities. Free bikes are available.
Price: ~ EUR 67 Book this hotel on Booking.com
Kvareli Oaks
Kvareli Oaks has air-conditioned accommodations in Kvareli. Located around 1.9 km from Ilia Chavchavadze State Museum, the hotel is also 20.9 km away from Gremi Citadel. Free WiFi is available.
At the hotel, rooms contain a closet. Kvareli Oaks provides certain rooms that have a terrace, and rooms come with a private bathroom with a bidet and free toiletries.
A buffet breakfast is served at the property.
You can play ping pong at the accommodation, and bike rental is available.
Price: ~ EUR 23 Book this hotel on Booking.com
Kvareli Lake Resort
Featuring a full spa and wellness center, this hotel is nestled between the Kvareli Lake and the Alazany Valley. Kvareli Lake Resort is located in Kvareli. Free WiFi is available.
All accommodations at Kvareli Lake Resort comes complete with satellite TV, air conditioning and a mini-bar. Each room has a private bathroom providing free toiletries, slippers and a hairdryer.
Guests are welcome to dine in the hotel restaurant and half-board options are available. Additonally, there is a bar on site as well as barbecue facilities and vending machines.
Guests can relax in the outdoor pool or make use of the fitness center. Alternatively, hiking and fishing are popular in the area. Guests can borrow bikes from Kvareli Lake Resort free of charge.
Price: ~ EUR 130 Book this hotel on Booking.com
Chateau Aznauri
Featuring a garden, terrace and free WiFi, Chateau Aznauri is located in Kvareli, 1.8 km from Ilia Chavchavadze State Museum. Providing a restaurant, the property also has a bar. The property is 17.7 km from Gremi Citadel.
A continental breakfast is available each morning at the hotel.
Price: ~ EUR 246 Book this hotel on Booking.com
Hryshko National Botanical Garden in Kiev
| Tourism objects | 20 seen
Turns out there are at least two botanical gardens in Kiev. In today's article, I will write and provide photographs from Hryshko National Botanical Garden taken back in Summer 2017.
Apparently, we got here by a taxi from our hotel (Hotel Ukraine), and as far as I remember we got back to the city center by trolleybus.
The M. M. Hryshko National Botanical Garden is located in Kiev, the capital of Ukraine.
Cash desks at Kievs Botanical garden
I don't remember exactly what was the price for entrance, but it was really cheap (compared to Western Europe)
The M. M. Gryshko National Botanical Garden is a botanical garden of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine. It is namedafter the Soviet botanist Mykola Hryshko who was born in Poltava. Founded in 1936, the garden covers 1.3 km² (120 hectares) and contains 13,000 types of trees, shrubs, flowers and other plants from all over the world. It has many coniferous trees and honey locusts, and flowers such as peonies, roses, magnolias, and bushes including lilacs.
Flower carpet at Hryshko National Botanical Garden in Kiev
You don't have to go to the Netherlands Keukenhof's tulip gardens to see the beauty.
The garden has hothouses, conservatories, greenhouses, and rosaries. It is the most popular amongst the residents, where one can see exotic plants, and attend flower exhibitions. The blooming lilacs at the end of spring are popular in the central garden.
Tropical house
Looks like some spaceship from the past has landed here, but in fact, there is a tropical house inside.
Tropical plants
The garden has a large collection of unique and rare tropical and subtropical plants that are represented in the greenhouse. The Botanical garden can impress with more than 350 species of orchids.
Chinese tea house located in the botanical garden
The territory of the garden is divided into floristic complexes, such as Ukrainian Carpathians, Plains of Ukraine, Crimea, Caucasus, Central Asia, Altai and Western Siberia, Far East. In every zone plants typical for the particular region can be found. Geography and landscape of each territory were recreated as well.
View from the botanical garden
The Vydubychi Monastery and Trinity Monastery of St. Jonas are located on the grounds of the botanical gardens.
Bench in the botanical garden
Shio-Mgvime monastery
| Churches and Monasteries | 12 seen
The Shio-Mgvime monastery is a medieval monastic complex in Georgia, near the town of Mtskheta. It is located in a narrow limestone canyon on the northern bank of the Kura River, some 30 km from Tbilisi, Georgia’s capital.
It took me more than seven years since I've been living in Georgia and 60 GEL to get here.
Long story short: At the start of November 2018, we booked a 4-star hotel Gino Wellness in Mtskheta and the girl from hotels front desk organized us a taxi for 60 GEL. Now, this is really expensive actually for such a short drive, but it's OK just for one time.
According to a historic tradition, the first monastic community at this place was founded by the 6th-century monk Shio, one of the Thirteen Assyrian Fathers who came to Georgia as Christian missionaries.
Shio Mgvime monastery complex
St. Shio is said to have spent his last years as a hermit in a deep cave near Mtskheta subsequently named Shiomghvime ("the Cave of Shio") after him. The earliest building – the Monastery of St. John the Baptist – a cruciform church, very plain and strict in its design, indeed dates to that time, c. 560s-580s and the caves carved by monks are still visible around the monastery and along the road leading to the complex. The church has an octagonal dome covered with a conic floor and once housed a masterfully ornate stone iconostasis which is now on display at the Art Museum of Georgia in Tbilisi. The monastery was somewhat altered in the 11th and 18th centuries but has largely retained its original architecture.
Autumn at Shio Mgvime monastery complex
The Upper Church (zemo eklesia) named after the Theotokos is a central part of the Shio-Mgvime complex constructed at the verge of the 12th century at the behest of King David IV of Georgia. Initially a domed church, it was subsequently destroyed by a foreign invasion and restored, in 1678, as a basilica. A refectory was built between the 12th and 17th centuries and directly communicates with the Cave of St. Shio. A 12th-century small chapel adorned with medieval murals stands separately on a nearby hill.
An archaeological expedition revealed, in 1937, a 2 km long aqueduct supplying the monastic communities from the nearby village of Skhaltba, and chronicled in 1202 as being constructed by Bishop Anton of Chkondidi, a minister at Queen Thamar’s court.
Shio Mgvime monastery complex inside the limestone canyon
From this point, the place actually reminded the Montserrat Mountain in Spain
Shio-Mgvime quickly turned into the largest monastic community in Georgia and by the end of the 6th century it was populated by as many as 2,000 monks. It became a vibrant center of cultural and religious activities and remained under the personal patronage of Catholicoi of Georgia. David IV "the Builder" (1089-1125) made it a royal domain and dictated regulations (typicon) for the monastery (1123). The downfall of the medieval Georgian kingdom and incessant foreign invasions resulted in the decline of the monastery. It saw a relative revival when the Georgian king George VIII (r. 1446-1465) granted Shio-Mgvime and its lands to the noble family of Zevdginidze-Amilakhvari to whom the monastery served as a familial burial ground up to the 1810s.
Stairways at Shio Mgvime monastery complex
The monastery was ravaged by the invading Persian troops sent by Shah Abbas I of Safavid in 1614-6. Prince Givi Amilakhvari reconstructed it in 1678, but the 1720s Ottoman occupation of Georgia brought about another devastation and depopulation of Shio-Mgvime. Restored by Prince Givi Amilakhvari in 1733, the monastery was raided and the monks massacred by the Persians less than two years later. Subsequently, Shio-Mgvime was restored and its interior renovated in the 19th century, but it never regained its past importance and role in the spiritual life of Georgia. Under Bolshevik rule, the monastery was closed, but it is now functional and attracts many pilgrims and tourists.
Hotel Gino Wellness Mtskheta Review
| Hotel reviews | 12 seen
There are at least two Gino Wellness hotels in Georgia (probably more), one is located in the Rabati Fortress in the town of Akhaltsikhe and the other one is located really close to Tbilisi, in Mtskheta. In today's article, I will speak about the one in Mtskheta.
Offering free WiFi, a sun terrace with a swimming pool, spa and wellness center and garden, Hotel Gino Wellness Mtskheta is located in Mtskheta. Each accommodation at the 4-star hotel has mountain views, and guests can enjoy access to a children's playground and to a hot spring bath.
We booked this hotel at the start of November 2018, in the frames of Georgian Discount Week. Stayed here two nights at the deluxe room and paid for that GEL 270 + two evenings at the local hotel's restaurant ~ 130 GEL. It's interesting to note, that almost 4 years ago we paid the identical price for a stay at Rabati hotel:
For a two night stay we paid in total 260 GEL (USD140.00/EUR 115.00), in price was included breakfast and a visit to spa centre for 2 hours each day.
We paid around 60 GEL for supper at first night on Hotels restaurant. Other day we went to local Akhaltsikhe restaurants and got the same value for about 30 GEL.
It should also be noted this was the second hotel for our little 3-month-old baby. For the second night, we got a baby crib. Not for the first though, as by the time we arrived there was another little person already checked in. Seems they have just one baby crib.
Deluxe room at Gino Hotel in Mtskheta
I'm not sure what makes it Deluxe, from what I have seen when compared to other rooms, this one was a bit larger.
Guest rooms are fitted with air conditioning, a flat-screen TV with satellite channels, a fridge, a kettle, a bath, and a desk. Rooms have a private bathroom with free toiletries and a hairdryer. All rooms include a wardrobe.
Breakfast at Gino Wellness Hotel in Mtskheta
A buffet breakfast is available each morning at the property.
The outdoor pool at Gino Wellness hotel in Mtskheta
Guests can make use of the hot tub and sauna.
Now, again, not so fancy as in Rabati hotel, but the sauna and Roman bath they have here are excellent.
October 2018 Dividend Income Report - $168.10
| Investments | 9 seen
Welcome to the eighteenth (#18) dividend income report, covering earnings I've made from dividend-paying stocks, peer to peer lending (both fiat and cryptocurrencies) in October 2018.
In case you are wondering why I'm sharing online my earnings - the answer is pretty simple - I like transparency and these reports help me to observe my progress or bounces. Hopefully, my reports can give some inspiration to you as well. (If so, please leave a short comment below) Also, I have a goal to reach one million dollars in my bank account by the time I will turn 60 (27 years still to go).
In short, last October turned better than expected - mostly because I received two dividend payments which were missing in September, plus interest received on Mintos.com platform increased if compared to the previous month.
Disclosure: This article contains affiliate links to mintos.com peer to peer lending website, by clicking on links on this page and by making an investment on mintos.com, I might earn affiliate income at no cost to you. Also, I'm not a financial advisor and I don't give you any advice, I'm just sharing my own experience. Investments in stocks, funds, bonds or cryptos are risk investments and you could lose some or all of your money. Do your due diligence before investing in any kind of asset.
Both individuals and entities can invest through Mintos. Individual investors must be at least 18 years old, have a bank account in the European Union or third countries currently considered to have AML/CFT systems equivalent to the EU, and have their identity successfully verified by Mintos. At the moment, US citizens or taxpayers cannot register as investors at Mintos.
Sign up for Mintos.com here. By using my affiliate link for registration both you and I will receive — 1% of our average daily balance which should be paid in 3 installments for the first 90 days.
Interest income in October 2018
From the stocks, Mintos.com peer to peer lending and from cryptocurrency lending on Poloniex.com I got following income last month:
Ticker
2018
2017
Mintos.com
€48.18
€35.94
LNR1L
€12.21
€0.00
GZE1R
€11.70
€0.00
NRZ
€10.07
€0.00
PNNT
€9.54
€0.00
OLF1R
€8.91
€0.00
EPA:VTA
€8.70
€0.00
ESO1L
€8.33
€13.68
VIE:ATRS
€6.75
€0.00
EDF
€6.72
€0.00
CLM
€6.18
€0.00
EDI
€5.08
€0.00
Poloniex.com
€2.66
€1.98
NCN1T
€0.00
€11.70
€145.07
€63.30
Total: €145.07 / $168.10
In total there were 13 great companies paying us dividends in October, that's 9 companies more if compared to the previous October.
The YoY growth rate for my dividend income in October is 130.37%. That's just USD 95.53 more than a year ago. Now, this is the growth I really love to see.
Monthly income to the date
The cumulative earnings for 2018 are $1,194.66 which is exactly 99.56% of my goal for 2018 ($1200). It's just a matter of $5.34 and I will reach my yearly dividend goal. Awesome. As there are still 2 months till the end of the year.
2017 in Review and Financial Goals for 2018
Monthly Income chart as of October 2018
On the average, I should pull about $2.67 each month for the next 2 months to reach my $1200 goal for 2018. Easy!
Goals for October 2019
This is my favorite part of the reports - trying to forecast/set goals for the next year. But before setting goals for October 2019 dividend income, let's see what I forecasted for this October a year ago:
A year from now I'm looking for a humble $120 dividend income in October 2018
Well, we not only made $120 but exceed it by more than $48. Awesome.
When setting goal/forecast for October 2019 I will forecast $230 goal for next year. Should be easy!
Halloween 2018
| Living in Georgia | 2 seen
Halloween 2018, was celebrated on Wednesday, October 31.
This was our first Halloween together with our newborn baby and we made some really cool photos and video's in our new Tbilisi apt.
But as each year,it's all about carving the pumpkin and having a lot of fun.
How To Carve a Pumpkin and Make Stunning Halloween Photos
Halloween pumpkin 2018
I bought this one at local Tbilisi market and paid 9GEL for it (2 gel/kg). Turns out this was a 4 and a half kilos.
Pumpkin carved
Apple prepared for baking
Filled with yolk/sour cream filling
Halloween 2018
Top 10 Hotels in Mtskheta, Georgia
| Hotel reviews | 14 seen
Here are the top 3 reasons why visit Mtshekta, an ancient Georgian capital Georgia - old town, history & architecture.
Independent Travel Guide to Mtskheta
In 2018, there are no 5-star hotels in Mtsheta (as its really close, think top 5-star hotels in Tbilisi),but there are some 4-star and many decent no-star hotels available in Mtshketa.
In today's article, I've listed top 10 hotels in Mtshkheta, Georgia, alternatively see 11 Near Perfect Guesthouses and Hotels in Mtskheta (Georgia) With Free Breakfasts
Disclosure: hotels listed below contain links to Booking.com, by clicking on links on this page and by making a reservation on Booking.com site, I might earn an affiliate income, at no cost to you.
Hotel Gino Wellness Mtskheta
Read my review here: Hotel Gino Wellness Mtskheta Review
Providing free WiFi, a sun terrace with a swimming pool, spa and wellness center and garden, Hotel Gino Wellness Mtskheta is located in Mtskheta. Each room at the 4-star hotel has mountain views, and guests can enjoy access to a playground and to a hot spring bath. Guests can have a drink at the bar.
All guest rooms comes with air conditioning, a flat-screen TV with satellite channels, a fridge, a electric tea pot, a bath and a desk. Rooms contain a private bathroom with free toiletries and a hair dryer. All rooms include a closet.
A buffet breakfast is available each morning at the property.
Guests can use the hot tub and sauna.
Price: ~ EUR 70 Book this hotel on Booking.com
Old Capital
One of our best sellers in Mtskheta!Located in Mtskheta, Old Capital has air-conditioned rooms with free WiFi. With barbecue facilities, the property also has a garden. Certain accommodations at the property feature a terrace with a mountain view.
At the hotel, all rooms are equipped with a desk. Rooms come complete with a private bathroom equipped with a bidet and free toiletries, while certain rooms at Old Capital also provide guests with a seating area. Guest rooms are equipped with a flat-screen TV with cable channels.
A continental breakfast is available daily at the accommodation.
Old Capital has a playground. A variety of popular activities are available in the area around the hotel, including fishing and hiking.
Speaking English and Russian at the reception, staff are always on hand to help.
Price: ~ EUR 13 Book this hotel on Booking.com
Hotel Mtskheta Sanapiro
Offering a restaurant with Georgian cuisine, Mtskheta Sanapiro Guest House is located in Mtskheta, just 100 m from Svetitskhoveli Cathedral. Free WiFi access is available.
Each room here will provide you with a TV, air conditioning and a balcony. There is also a dining table. Private bathrooms also comes with a bath or shower and a hairdryer. Extras include satellite channels and cable channels.
At Mtskheta Sanapiro you will find a 24-hour front desk, a garden and a shared kitchen. Other facilities offered at the property include a shared lounge, dry cleaning and an ironing service. An array of activities can be enjoyed on site or in the surroundings, including fishing, hiking and canoeing. The property offers free parking.
Price: ~ EUR 26 Book this hotel on Booking.com
Hotel Prime
Featuring free WiFi, Hotel Prime offers accommodations in Mtskheta, 9.3 mi from Tbilisi. Free private parking is available on site.
Some units have a seating area to relax in after a busy day. A terrace or balcony are featured in certain rooms. A TV is provided.
Price: ~ EUR 17 Book this hotel on Booking.com
Hotel Queen
Hotel Queen is located in Mtskheta. Among the various facilities of this property are a garden and a terrace. The property provides a playground.
All rooms at the hotel are equipped with a seating area. Rooms contain a flat-screen TV, and some units at Hotel Queen have a mountain view. Guest rooms at the accommodation have air conditioning and a closet.
A continental breakfast is served daily at the property.
Price: ~ EUR 17 Book this hotel on Booking.com
Hotel Bagineti
Offering free WiFi, Hotel Bagineti is located in Mtskheta. All rooms have a flat-screen TV with satellite channels and a private bathroom. The hotel has a playground and a 24-hour front desk.
Guest rooms in the hotel are equipped with a coffee machine. Rooms are equipped with air conditioning, and selected rooms contain a terrace. All rooms will provide guests with a microwave.
Guests at Hotel Bagineti will be able to enjoy activities in and around Mtskheta, like cycling, fishing and hiking.
Price: ~ EUR 19 Book this hotel on Booking.com
Hotel The Balcony
Hotel The Balcony in Mtskheta provides accommodations with a seasonal outdoor swimming pool, a terrace and a bar. With free WiFi, this 4-star hotel offers a 24-hour front desk and dry cleaning services. The property has a restaurant.
A continental breakfast is served each morning at the property.
Price: ~ EUR 52 Book this hotel on Booking.com
Hotel Aragvi
Located in Mtskheta, in a building dating from 2014, Hotel Aragvi has a garden and guestrooms with free WiFi. Featuring a 24-hour front desk, this property also provides guests with a terrace. Staff on site can arrange airport transportation.
At the hotel, the rooms are equipped with a closet, a flat-screen TV and a private bathroom.
Guests at Hotel Aragvi can enjoy an Italian or a vegetarian breakfast.
Price: ~ EUR 26 Book this hotel on Booking.com
Hotel "Sani"
Hotel "Sani" is located in Mtskheta and has barbecue facilities and a garden. All rooms feature a kitchenette, a flat-screen TV with satellite channels, and a private bathroom. The property has mountain views, a terrace and a 24-hour front desk.
At the hotel, all rooms have a desk. Free WiFi is accessible to all guests, while some rooms have a balcony. The rooms at Hotel "Sani" are equipped with a seating area.
An Asian breakfast is served each morning at the property.
Price: ~ EUR 16 Book this hotel on Booking.com
Hotel Mtskheta Palace
Featuring an indoor swimming pool and free Wi-Fi throughout, Hotel Mtskheta Palace offers rooms in a quiet area in Mtskheta. The property is set on the Mtkvari riverfront, where some rooms have views.
With air conditioning, each room is equipped with a TV with satellite channels and refrigerator. The private bathroom comes with a shower, hairdryer and free toiletries and slippers.
The property features a restaurant that serves characteristic Georgian and European cuisine.
Price: ~ EUR 42 Book this hotel on Booking.com
Tbilisi by day (New Apartment Version)
| Living in Georgia | 13 seen
It has been already more than 10 days since we have moved into our new Tbilisi apartment.
For today's article in the series Living in Georgia, I just wanted to share some picture with surrounding views towards mount Mtatsminda, TV Tower and other.
For the first part, please visit: Tbilisi by night (New apartment version)
View towards mount Mtatsminda and TV tower in Tbilisi
No doubts,best viewed during night time. This is one of my favorite spots in the apartment to take daughter on the shoulder and tell stories. Quite impressive.
Rooftops of Tbilisi
Rooftops of Tbilisi
Street in Tbilisi
Next probably will be golden hour photography(HDR)
Istanbul Airport
| Airports | 19 seen
Istanbul Airport will be the main international airport serving Istanbul. It is based in the Arnavutköy district on the European side of Istanbul, Turkey.
The opening ceremony took place on 29 October 2018, scheduled so as to coincide with the 95th anniversary of the proclamation of the Republic.
On November 1 2018, five daily flights will start to arrive and depart from the airport: Ankara, Antalya, Baku, Ercan, İzmir.These flights will all be operated by Turkish Airlines. Regularly scheduled flights to these destinations will still depart from Atatürk and Sabiha Gökçen airports alongside these trial flights. On December 31 2018, all equipment from Atatürk Airport will be transferred by truck to the new airport via the O-7 Motorway.
Atatürk Airport, Istanbul's current main airport, is located in the Yeşilköy neighbourhood of the Bakırköy district and is surrounded by urban Istanbul. Additionally, there is an increasing problem of air traffic congestion. Atatürk Airport is one of the busiest airports in Europe. Since 2013, it has ranked among the five busiest airports in Europe by passenger traffic.
There is no space to build an additional runway on the Atatürk Airport site, as the airport is surrounded on all sides. Because of the limited capacity, the Turkish Airport Authority does not allow additional cargo or charter flights to the airport. Due to a lack of slot capacity and parking spaces, some of Turkish Airlines' aircraft are based in Sabiha Gökçen Airport. Sabiha Gökçen Airport itself is already at maximum terminal capacity of 25 million passengers, and handled 28 million passengers in 2015 after posting traffic growth rates averaging over 20% a year since 2013.
In 2015 and 2016, the two Istanbul airports handled almost 90 million passengers, with more than 95 million passengers in 2017. In terms of area airports, the six London-area airports serve more than 150 million passengers a year, while the three Paris-area airports serve around 100 million passengers a year.
An Inconvenient Border: Where China Meets North Korea
| Documentaries | 3 seen
An Inconvenient Border: Where China Meets North Korea is a great documentary by ABC news I would highly recommend to all interested in North Korea / China.
Both North Korea and China has been on my radar for the last decade at least.
Bob Woodruff’s daring 880-mile journey along the China-North Korea border examines the delicate relationship between the two countries and the United States.
Watch it on YouTube
Traveling to Madrid? Here are Top 14 5-star Luxury Hotels in City Center
| Hotel reviews | 11 seen
After two great week-long travels to the regions of Catalonia (2014) and Andalusia (2016) in Spain, Madrid is planned as our next destination in Spain.
To prepare better I decided to explore what are our options, this time staying in the city center.
Planning a Trip to Spain: How to Get a Prepaid SIM Card in Spain
Madrid City Center is a great choice for travelers interested in tapas, architecture, and parks.
In today's article, I've listed top 14 5-star luxury hotels in Madrid, Spain
Disclosure: hotels listed below contain links to Booking.com, by clicking on links on this page and by making a reservation on Booking.com site, I might earn an affiliate income, at no cost to you.
NH Collection Madrid Paseo del Prado
Located on Paseo del Prado Boulevard and offering wonderful views of the Neptune Fountains, NH Collection Madrid Paseo del Prado offers free WiFi, an on-site restaurant, and gym with city views.
Spacious, air-conditioned rooms feature a flat-screen TV and Nespresso coffee machine. Their Indian marble bathroom comes with a rain-effect shower, bathrobes and slippers.
Set in a 19th-century, Neo-Baroque palace, the hotel building still has some of its original features.
Tapas by Michelin-starred chef Paco Roncero are served at Estado Puro Tapas Restaurant, which also has a terrace overlooking the Neptune Fountains.
Guests can also enjoy the hotel's Antiox healthy buffet breakfast. The hotel also offers a tea and wine bar.
Prado Museum and Thyssen Museum are both less than 5 minutes’ walk from the hotel. Reina Sofia Museum is 10 minutes’ walk away.
Price: ~ EUR 150 Book this hotel on Booking.com
NH Collection Madrid Suecia
Featuring a rooftop terrace with panoramic views of the city, NH Collection Madrid Suecia is located in central Madrid, beside the Círculo de Bellas Artes Cultural Center and Gran Vía.
Modern, air-conditioned rooms feature flat-screen satellite TV, free WiFi and a mini-bar. The private bathroom includes a rain shower.
The hotel’s Casa Suecia Restaurant offers Mediterranean cuisine. You can also enjoy a drink at the lounge cocktail bar or on the rooftop terrace.
Meeting and event spaces are available at the hotel, and you will also find an on-site fitness center.
Originally opened in the 1950s by the Swedish royal family, NH Collection Madrid Suecia has hosted guests such as Ernest Hemingway and Che Guevara.
Price: ~ EUR 140 Book this hotel on Booking.com
VP Plaza Espana Design
Located in Gran Via, in Madrid city center, VP Plaza España Design offers 5-star accommodations with parking, a wellness center, and a seasonal pool.
All rooms in this stylish hotel offer an exclusive décor and are equipped with a flat-screen TV with satellite channels, free WiFi, and a desk with a coffee machine, and a private bathroom with shower and bath tub, including free high-end toiletries and bathrobe. Some rooms include a terrace.
Guests at the accommodations can enjoy a buffet breakfast, or have a meal at Botania, the Mediterranean restaurant located on-site. Guests can also relax after work at the Ginkgo Sky Bar, enjoying the stunning view of Madrid City.
VP Plaza España Design offers 1400 square yards of meeting and conference-rooms, as well as green areas and parking.
Price: ~ EUR 211 Book this hotel on Booking.com
Gran Hotel Inglés
Located in the Barrio de las Letras, Gran Hotel Inglés is set on a 19th century building, and offers 5* accommodations 300 m from Puerta del Sol and only 601 m from the main museums.
All rooms feature a stylish décor reminding its original art-decó style. They are all fitted with a seating area, and flat-screen TV.
Guests can enjoy an à la carte buffet breakfast with hot and cold options.
Lobo 8 is the restaurant from Willy Moya Chef, it offers a modern view of Mediterranean cuisine. Guests can also enjoy a meal at the cocktail-bar LobByto located at the hotel’s hall.
The Gran Hotel Inglés also offers business facilities such as conference or meeting rooms. Wellness services can also be provided at their wellness center, Egoïste.
Price: ~ EUR 340 Book this hotel on Booking.com
Westin Palace Hotel
This luxury hotel is located in the heart of Madrid, within the Art Triangle. The Parliament is across the road, and the Royal Palace and Opera House within walking distance.
The Westin Palace offers elegant facilities only 302 m from the Prado, Thyssen and Reina Sofia Museums.
The hotel is famous for its beautiful stained-glass dome. Here a fantastic buffet breakfast with music is served.
Rooms at the Palace are elegant and modern. They have the award-winning Westin Heavenly Bed and Heavenly Bath. There is also antique furniture and an internet TV.
Cocktails, coffees and aperitifs are offered in the Palace Bar, under the dome. Offering live music, the bar was made famous by Ernest Hemingway in his novel The Sun Also Rises.
Price: ~ EUR 262 Book this hotel on Booking.com
Hyatt Centric Gran Via Madrid
Hyatt Centric Gran Via Madrid is located in the heart of Madrid and features a 24-hour gym, a bar and on-site dining. Gran Via Metro Station is 150 m away. Free WiFi is offered throughout the property.
Each room is stylishly decorated featuring custom designed furniture, city views, functional work areas, 55-inch TV, air conditioning, and heating. The private bathroom comes with free toiletries, bath or shower, and hairdryer.
A buffet breakfast is served daily at the property and in the summer months, there is a secret rooftop bar with panoramic views. Hyatt Centric Gran Via Madrid also features a music studio, Ondas, where guests can enjoy a vermouth or gourmet coffee while listening to some foot-tapping tunes or enjoy a light snack.
The property has a 24-hour front desk and a concierge service and books and magazines about Madrid are available in the lobby.
A 7-minute walk will take you to Puerta del Sol while El Retiro Park is 0.9 mi away. Madrid-Barajas Airport is a 45-minute metro ride away.
Price: ~ EUR 226 Book this hotel on Booking.com
Hotel Villa Real
Set in the cultural heart of Madrid, this luxury hotel has a fine art collection. Each elegant room has an LCD TV and a CD player.
Hotel Villa Real is located in the Triangle of Art. The Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum is just 150 m away. The Puerta del Sol, Plaza Cibeles and the Retiro Park are also nearby.
Hotel Villa Real is considered a classic among Madrid’s luxury hotels, decorated with wood and marble. The art collection includes Roman mosaics and Greek ceramics, some from the 3rd Century BC.
Rooms at the hotel are soundproofed, and have a laptop safe and a mini-bar. Some rooms have a sofa or a balcony.
The hotel’s East 47 restaurant serves creative Mediterranean food, tapas and cocktails.
Guests have free access to the swimming pool at the Hotel Urban, open in summer. The hotel is also pet friendly.
Price: ~ EUR 220 Book this hotel on Booking.com
Gran Meliá Palacio de los Duques
Gran Melia Palacio de los Duques is located 300 m from Madrid's Royal Palace, the Royal Theater and the Cathedral. It features a seasonal rooftop pool and a terrace with panoramic city views.
Set on a 19th-century palace, Gran Melia Palacio de los Duques is inspired by Velazquez's famous paintings and has its own private lush historic garden. There is also a Thai Room wellness center and a 24-hour gym.
Rooms and suites at this hotel feature elegant decor, a 49-inch LED-TV, iPhone docking station, Nespresso coffee machine and free WiFi. The private bathroom includes a rain shower, bath, heated floors, and Clarins free toiletries.
Gran Melia Palacio de los Duques offers 3 restaurants serving Spanish and French cuisine and wines. There is also a cocktail bar and a tea corner.
Plaza Mayor is 500 m from Gran Melia Palacio de los Duques and Sabatini Gardens are 300 m away. The Prado Museum is 20 minutes’ walk away. There is private parking on site.
Price: ~ EUR 294 Book this hotel on Booking.com
Hotel Urban
This boutique hotel houses a permanent display of art from Papua New Guinea. Hotel Urban has a small rooftop swimming pool open in summer, a terrace and a cocktail bar.
The hotel has beautiful design, and facilities include a gym.
The hotel features a Michelin-starred restaurant: CEBO, with Aurelio Morales as the main chef. There is also a cocktail-bar on the roof-top terrace "La terraza del Urban", and a gastro-pub Glass-Mar with chef-made tapas and cocktails.
The décor of the hotel and the rooms includes special lighting, natural wood and stone and Oriental art. All rooms are soundproofed and offer free wired internet, a flat-screen TV and a DVD player.
The Thyssen-Bornemisza Gallery is 200 m away. Puerta del Sol, Madrid’s main square, is just 300 m away.
Price: ~ EUR 233 Book this hotel on Booking.com
URSO Hotel & Spa
Set in a restored palace, URSO Hotel & Spa is 5 minutes’ walk from Alonso Martínez Metro Station. It offers elegant rooms, free WiFi, a spa and gym.
Decorated with stylish, designer details, the rooms come with air conditioning, a flat-screen TV and a mini-bar. Each one has a private bathroom equipped with a bath and shower, as well as slippers, bathrobes, toiletries and a hairdryer.
The hotel spa includes a water area, hamman, massage service and a gym.
The on-site restaurant Media Ración offers local cuisine and tapas. Many dining options are also available in the surrounding streets. Serrano, a popular shopping area, is just 15 minutes’ walk from the URSO Hotel & Spa.
Staff at the 24-hour reception can provide tourist information and a ticket service. Madrid’s Puerta del Sol and the Retiro Park can be reached in under 20 minutes on foot.
Price: ~ EUR 200 Book this hotel on Booking.com
The Principal Madrid
Iconic views of Madrid’s Gran Via Avenue are offered at the elegant rooftop terrace and Atico restaurant/cocktail bar of The Principal Madrid. This luxurious boutique hotel offers a gym, and stylish rooms and suites.
The Wellness Suite with sauna can be booked entirely and exclusively for couples or individual treatment sessions. Some room and suite types include free access to Wellness Suite services.
Spacious air-conditioned rooms and suites all have a TV with cable and satellite channels. Each has a desk, safe, mini-bar and private bathroom with a hairdryer. Just a few of the extras in certain rooms or suites include butler service, and Nespresso coffee machines.
Apart from spectacular views, the hotel’s Atico restaurant/cocktail bar offers avant-garde haute cuisine and classic cocktails in a laid-back atmosphere of modern loft club with glamorous original architecture from 1917.
Located at the heart of Madrid, the hotel is surrounded by an array of entertainment, dining and shopping options, and is just 400 m from the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum.
Price: ~ EUR 264 Book this hotel on Booking.com
Barceló Torre de Madrid
Set in Madrid’s Plaza de España Square, Barceló Torre Madrid offers elegant rooms with free WiFi, an indoor pool and on-site restaurant. Plaza de España Metro Station is right beside the hotel.
Modern, spacious rooms come with large king-size beds, air conditioning, a 42-inch TV and a laptop safe. Their private bathroom comes with a rain-effect shower and hairdryer.
As well as an indoor pool, you will find a fitness center, sauna and therapy rooms for massages.
Barceló Torre Madrid’s restaurant offers á la carte meals. Guests can also enjoy a bar with a DJ.
Price: ~ EUR 189 Book this hotel on Booking.com
NH Collection Madrid Palacio de Tepa
Set in a restored, 19th-century palace, NH Collection Madrid Palacio de Tepa offers a 24-hour gym, free WiFi and on-site restaurant. Puerta del Sol is 350 m away.
Elegant, spacious rooms come with a flat-screen TV, air conditioning and a mini-bar. The modern bathroom includes free toiletries.
The hotel was built in a Neoclassical style and you can still see the remains of the historical canal system inside.
The hotel has an elegant and contemporary restaurant. Breakfast includes a wide range of quality products.
Located in Madrid’s Las Letras District, the hotel is 5 minutes’ walk from Plaza Mayor Square and 15 minutes from the Royal Palace.
Sol and Anton Martín metro stations are both a 5-minute walk away. The Prado Museum, Reina Sofia Art Center and Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum are within 0.6 mi of the hotel.
Price: ~ EUR 197 Book this hotel on Booking.com
Melia Madrid Princesa
With views of the Royal Palace, Meliá Princesa is a luxury hotel located in Madrid, 8 minutes’ walk from Plaza España and Gran Via. It offers a gym and modern rooms with flat-screen satellite TV.
The stylish rooms at the Meliá Madrid Princesa includes a private bathrooms with a hairdryer.
The hotel's restaurant features an elegant design and offers international gastronomy. There is also a bar integrated in the reception.
The upper floors of the hotel are dedicated to The Level exclusive rooms, with panoramic views over the city or the mountains as well as specific superior services and facilities such as a wellness area or an indoor pool for adults only. Guests can enjoy elegant and spacious rooms with pillow menu, private check-in and check-out space, Nespresso space, concierge service and high quality and exclusive bathroom amenities and toiletries, organization of activities around the city, a private area with drinks and snacks and private show cooking, press in the lounge, etc.
Oeste Park and the beautiful Debod Temple are 7 minutes’ walk from the Meliá Princesa. Ventura Rodríguez Metro Station, located next to the hotel, provides links to the center of town in around 10 minutes.
Price: ~ EUR 179 Book this hotel on Booking.com
Tbilisi Office 2.0.
| Living in Georgia | 11 seen
In October 2018, we changed not only apartments but also offices as well. In short, we moved from Agmanashabeli avenue to Vake district in Tbilisi.
There is a little change compared to previous years when trying to find a new office in Tbilisi. Let's say this, this time we got lucky. See: Renting an Office in Tbilisi
See pictures from the previous office here: Audio & Video Transcription Service by Caucasus Translations
Working space in the new Tbilisi office
The office is located on the tenth floor in a residential / office/aparthotel building in Vake
Interior at the new office
We bought furniture (shelf, table, and chairs) at local Jysk store, paying about $1,000 for it
Second room
It's planned to equip this space as a meeting room
View from the balcony
The dwelling house in the front kind of reminds me of the ones I have seen a lot in Turkey.
View from the balcony
As you can see, construction is booming in Tbilisi (at least in 2018). If I would have a spare couple of millions I would most probably invest right now in Tbilisi real estate development.
View from the tenth floor
TP-Link TL-WN725N 150Mbps Wireless N Nano USB Adapter Review
| Gadget Reviews | 11 seen
TP-Link is a popular brand in Georgia, and most probably in CIS region, manufacturing Wireless routers and wireless adapters (probably a lot of other useful gadgets as well).
I remember about 10 years ago I used a PCI WIFI adapter to have a WiFi functionality for a desktop PC.
Now, in 2018, when moving into a new office, I decided it would be cool to get rid of at least some of the wiring for or desktop computers. And here comes miniature, I would even say nano-sized TP-Link Wireless adapter
- Sleek miniature design so small that once plugged in, can be left in a Laptop’s USB port
- Speedy wireless transmission at up to 150Mbps ideal for video streaming or internet calls
- Advanced Security: Supports 64/128 WEP, WPA, PA2/WPA-PSK/WPA2-PSK(TKIP/AES)
- Connect in no time with easy setup utility in 14 languages
I was amazed I even didn't have to run any installation, once plugged in the PC's USB port, it just worked out of the box
Office Computers Equipped with WIFI USB adapters
Audio & Video Transcription Service by Caucasus Translations
TL-WN725N in the box
Really small USB WiFi adapter
Tbilisi by night (New apartment version)
| Living in Georgia | 6 seen
It has been a while since I last time did a night photography (one of my favorite photography techniques).
The thing is, recently we moved in to a new apartment here in Tbilisi, which offers a very fantastic views towards Mtatsminda, TV tower and other..
Back in the night of October 21, 2018 I took out my tripod, put it on one out of three huge balconies and here you go:
Tbilisi by night - long exposure
What's really great, the next time I will want make those cool stripes I won't even need to leave my apt. Everything I can get from the balcony. Awesome.
See: Practicing Photography: Doing Night Shots - Tbilisi By Night
View towards mount Mtatsminda
Guess what? I now have the best spot in the city to make New Years fireworks photography. Ha.
- Old New Year's fireworks in Tbilisi
- Happy New Year! Fireworks Photography from Tbilisi 2018
View towards Tbilisi Railway station
Here I'm playing with long exposures, high ISO and wide aperture.
Old and New
King David tower in the background. Been documented for the last 5 years. See: Super moon Total Lunar Eclipse 2015: Tbilisi, Georgia
Growing Blog Audience to 200,000/mo users in next 365 days
| Blogging | 8 seen
Five years ago I started this blog with an experiment - Can you blog 365 days in a row? Now, five years later I know for sure, yes you can, you even can blog 5 X 365 days in a row. At least that what I just did.
Now, five years ago, when started this experiment I was looking to get a blog traffic of 6,000 users/mo at the end.
Here was my motivation five years ago:
The reason I'm asking this question is - when starting something new - it all seems so exciting, so adventurous. But then comes routine, especially for blogging thing - you see that results are not so great.
In the past five year's blog has attracted more than 3 million users and generated more than 4.2 million page views.
Blog traffic October 2013 - October 2018 (Data source: Google Analytics)
For the past five years, I have been writing every single day - that's more than 1800 days not missing an article (Ok, I missed two days back in 2014 actually) - consecutive writing has been my corner strategy.
Since the second half of 2017, the average blog's audience has been more than 100,000 monthly, with the following being the top 3 months in the past
- 121,000/users - July 2018
- 120.000/users - January 2018
- 113,000 /users - August 2017
Unfortunately, or for good, there has been a decline for the blog's traffic since the August 2018, with the past two months traffic being less than 100,000/mo
Goal: 200,000 users monthly by November 2019
To beef it up and add some spice to the blog, I have decided to almost double blog's traffic in the next 12 months. Currently, I plan to use content marketing and Facebook advertisement to reach my goal. I believe more in depths, top best of articles will be produced much more for this challenge.
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