Blog Traffic Report - August 2014

2 September, 2014 | Blogging | 9 seen

Month of August was good in terms of my blog traffic. Comparing to previous month (July) my blog's traffic has increased by 15.98% of unique visitors, totalling in 2,584 (2,228 in July).

I have managed to attract 356 more unique visitors this month, if compared to previous month.

Blog Traffic Report August (Data source: Google Analytics)

• 2,584 unique visitors makes average 83.35 unique's a day, what is up by 11.55 visitors in a day, compared to month of July (71.8)
• In total there were 12 days this month, I got more than 100 unique's in a day
• The least visitors, as usual, I got in weekends, the day with less visitors got me 50 unique's

One of my success cornerstones are  - continuously posting every day with minimum of 500 words per article. In fact last month I have written 37 articles, with average 1047 words per article, in total making more than 38K words. This is my absolute personal best. Compared with month of July - total word count has increased by 52%. It's pretty much I guess.

Learn more about my contenet marketing tacticts, of writting minimum 500 words per article

Power of Organic Search

My main traffic source is Google, and in month of August, organic traffic started to pick up really fast. In fact 71.72% of my traffic come from Google. What is 13% increase from 58% last month. I will be completely honest with you - that gives me some concerns.

This is what I said, when I managed decrease organic traffic to 58%:

Speaking of this I have ambivalent feelings - first - I'm glad I'm less dependant on Google, in last two month I have decreased Google users from 84% of total traffic share to 58% ( it's about 26% decrease). At second - I'm willing to have more organic search users, because it seems they convert better both for affiliate marketing and Google Adsense ads (yes I'm making few bucks from such a modest traffic already).

Since my traffic increased, I'm happy, but since organic traffic increases so much, I'm concerned of longer time period - I mean Google Panda's and Penguins. I believe that no one should completely relay on Google, as you never can predict what will happen next.

Though, I said following words as well last month:

Basically I'm willing to see increase in organic traffic - gaining some 25-35% of organic search traffic would be what I need -  to be more confident, that I can attract some 3000 unique visitors in close future.

In fact, this month I increased organic traffic for 41%, what is above what I hopped for.

Power of Social Media

This month social media generated modest 12.39% of websites unique visitors. This is down from 25.84% last month. Not a good trend!

• Twitter: 258 (up from 249 last month)
• Facebook: 21 (down from 259 last month)
• Pintereset: 15 ( up from 6 last month)
• Google+: 7 (down from 12 last month)

I overall I have find a Twitter a pretty good traffic generation source - traffic from Twitter is steadily increasing lasts months. 

Road to 100,000 Unique visitors in a month

Last month I set up a general goal, to achieve 100,000 unique visitors in a month:

I decided to make my long-term goal  - to achieve 100K unique visitors per month (and to probably earn a decent income). My forecasts - it could take me at least 5 years starting today. I will not focus right now to get them - but I will use 100K as an indicator to see - how I'm performing compared to virtual 100K.

Month of august brought me closer to 100K by 0.2%, by today I'm at 2.5% from 100K

In conclusion:

Last month I said following words:

Anything above 2200 unique visitors next month will be a great result. I will say 2500-2700 is my forecast for this month.

Since I got 2,585 unique visitors, I have completed my goal for this month.

Predictions for month of September?

To get above 3,000 unique visitors.

Top 5 Asus Gaming Laptops for Hardcore Gamers

1 September, 2014 | Laptop Reviews | 4 seen

Asus is a well-known brand in the gaming laptop market, offering a wide range of options for gamers who are looking for high-performance machines that can handle the latest games with ease. In this article, we will take a closer look at some of the top Asus gaming laptops that are available on the market.

Disclaimer: Please note that this article contains affiliate links to Amazon. This means that we may earn a commission if you decide to make a purchase through our links, at no additional cost to you.

The Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 is a powerful gaming laptop with a 14-inch Full HD display. It is powered by an AMD Ryzen 9 4900HS processor and has an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 graphics card, which can handle the most demanding games with ease. The laptop also has 16GB of RAM and a 1TB SSD, making it a top-performing machine for gamers.

The Asus ROG Strix Scar 17 is a high-end gaming laptop with a 17.3-inch Full HD display. It is powered by an Intel Core i9-11900H processor and has an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 graphics card, which can handle even the most demanding games at high settings. The laptop also has 32GB of RAM and a 2TB SSD, making it an ideal choice for gamers who need a lot of storage space for their games.

The Asus TUF Dash F15 is a powerful gaming laptop with a 15.6-inch Full HD display. It is powered by an Intel Core i7-11375H processor and has an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 graphics card, which can handle the latest games with ease. The laptop also has 16GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD, making it a high-performance machine that is also portable and lightweight.

The Asus ROG Zephyrus S GX701 is a high-end gaming laptop with a 17.3-inch Full HD display. It is powered by an Intel Core i7-9750H processor and has an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q graphics card, which can handle even the most demanding games at high settings. The laptop also has 32GB of RAM and a 1TB SSD, making it an ideal choice for gamers who need a lot of storage space for their games.

The Asus ROG Strix G15 Advantage Edition is a powerful gaming laptop with a 15.6-inch Full HD display. It is powered by an AMD Ryzen 9 5900HX processor and has an AMD Radeon RX 6800M graphics card, which can handle the latest games with ease. The laptop also has 16GB of RAM and a 1TB SSD, making it a top-performing machine for gamers.

In conclusion, Asus offers a wide range of gaming laptops that are suitable for gamers of all levels. The laptops listed in this article are some of the top-performing machines that Asus has to offer, and they all come with high-end specifications that are ideal for gaming. Whether you are a casual gamer or a professional, there is an Asus gaming laptop that can meet your needs and budget.

How to add Open Graph protocol for your Drupal site

31 August, 2014 | Drupal Development | 40 seen

The Open Graph protocol is a set of meta tags that can be added to web pages to improve how they are displayed on social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.

By including Open Graph tags, website owners can control how their content appears in social media feeds, including the title, description, and thumbnail image. In this article, we will discuss how to add an Open Graph protocol for your Drupal site.

Step 1: Install the Metatag module The first step in adding Open Graph protocol to your Drupal site is to install the Metatag module. This module allows you to add metadata to your site, including Open Graph tags. To install the module, go to the Drupal website and download the Metatag module. Once the module is downloaded, install it on your site by following the Drupal installation instructions.

Step 2: Configure the Metatag module After installing the Metatag module, you will need to configure it to include the Open Graph protocol. To do this, go to the configuration page for the module and click on the "Open Graph" tab. On this page, you can configure the Open Graph tags for your site, including the default title, description, and image.

Step 3: Customize Open Graph tags for individual pages While the Metatag module allows you to configure default Open Graph tags for your site, you may want to customize the tags for individual pages. To do this, go to the edit page for the content you want to customize and scroll down to the "Metatags" section. Here, you can add custom Open Graph tags for the page, including the title, description, and image.

Step 4: Test your Open Graph tags After adding Open Graph tags to your Drupal site, it's important to test them to ensure they are working correctly. You can do this by using Facebook's Open Graph Object Debugger or Twitter's Card Validator tool. These tools allow you to test how your content will appear on social media platforms and identify any issues with your Open Graph tags.

In conclusion, adding Open Graph protocol to your Drupal site can improve how your content is displayed on social media platforms and help drive more traffic to your site. By following these steps, you can easily add Open Graph tags to your site and customize them for individual pages. Remember to test your tags to ensure they are working correctly and make any necessary adjustments to improve your site's social media presence.

Dzveli Kalaki Tbilisi Restaurant Review

30 August, 2014 | Restaurant reviews | 33 seen

This is already third post in my Tbilisi restaurant series.

Today I got a chance to visit Dzveli Kalaki restaurant (near Didube bridge)

For a prelude - we found and interesting offer on Georgian Groupon clone site www.hotsale.com - Entricote with 30% Off. This hotsale systems works like this - you pay some small fee for coupon/voucher and then you get your discount. So we bought a coupon for Dzveli Kalaki - it was for about 2 GEL.

Since we had no clue, where exactly it's located, we used a local taxi service, and taxi for 4 GEL took us there (from our place)

Dzveli Kalaki Restaurant

It turned out it not just a restaurant - it's restaurant complex with brewery inside.

Outdoor exterior here is decorated with lovely sculptures like this

Dzveli Kalaki Restaurant Brewery

They make here German style beer - didn't tried it this time (I'm of for any alcoholic drinks this summer)

Spacious rooms

At time we arrived, this restaurant was completely empty - it created kinda not friendly attitude - like, who would like to enjoy his/her meal on such an empty place?

Fortunately, we find a balcony with river view - and waitress agreed to serve us there.

Balcony at Dzveli Kalaki

Turns out Dzveli Kalaki is close to Didube bridge, where I often make my cycling rides - so probably this is good idea, next time to include this restaurant in my ride? You can find more about my Tbilisi cycling here

View from Dzveli Kalaki - River Mtkvari and Didube bridge

Roasted Ribs at Dzveli Kalaki

Finally our food was served, although for me it looks like roasted ribs in delicious sauce (and tasted as well - DELICIOUS) - waitress on my argument that this is not an entricot, continued to say - yes, it's an entricot. I felt myself kinda dumb, because I still believe that baked ribs and entricot are two completely different things.

According to Wikipedia:

In French, the word entrecôte (French pronunciation: ​[ɑ̃.tʁə.kot]) denotes a premium cut of beef used for steaks.

A traditional entrecôte comes from the rib area of the carcass, corresponding to the steaks known in different parts of the English-speaking world as rib, rib-eye, club, Scotch fillet, or Delmonico.

The term may also be used in France to denote the sirloin cut properly known as a contre-filet, being the portion of the sirloin on the opposite side of the bone from the filet, or tenderloin. In English, a steak cut from the contre-filet may be called a Porterhouse steak (as the term is understood in Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom), a sirloin steak, a strip steak, a striploin steak, a wing steak, a club steak, a Delmonico steak, or a New York Strip. (As well, if the contre-filet is left on the bone with the filet, the entire steak is called a Porterhouse steak (as the term is understood in the United States and Canada) or a T-bone steak.)

But since this is Georgia - baked ribs, can become an entrecote as well.

Anyway they were delicious, kinda reminded the one I have eaten in States (Knoxville, Tennessee) 

Badridzhiani and Phali

We ordered traditional Georgian Badridziani and Phali, although I'm not huge fan of them.

Cucumber&Tomatoes salads

Few additional Turkish coffee's and Georgian lemonades.

Overall cheque here was around 60GEL including our 30% discount for so called "entricote"

This is place I can recommend for your for sure!

Luxury and Charm: Top Hotels to Stay in Louisiana's French Quarter

29 August, 2014 | Travel guides | 5 seen

The French Quarter in Louisiana is one of the most charming and historic neighborhoods in the United States. Known for its vibrant nightlife, famous cuisine, and stunning architecture, it's no surprise that the French Quarter is a popular travel destination for tourists from all over the world. With so many hotels to choose from in the area, it can be overwhelming to decide where to stay.

In this blog post, we'll highlight six of the top hotels in the French Quarter, Louisiana, each with its unique charm and amenities.

Please note: Hotels listed in this article contain affiliate links to Booking.com, and if you will click on them and make an actual booking I will earn an affiliate income from that

Hotel Monteleone

Located in the heart of the French Quarter, the Hotel Monteleone is one of the most iconic hotels in the area. This historic hotel dates back to 1886 and features 570 luxurious guest rooms and suites. The hotel also boasts the famous Carousel Bar, which is a rotating bar that gives guests a view of the French Quarter as they sip on their favorite drinks. With excellent amenities, an ideal location, and a rich history, the Hotel Monteleone is a top choice for anyone visiting the French Quarter.

Omni Royal Orleans

The Omni Royal Orleans is another historic hotel in the French Quarter that offers its guests unparalleled luxury and comfort. This hotel features 345 guest rooms and suites, each with stunning views of the city. The hotel's rooftop pool is a popular spot for guests to relax and enjoy the scenery. The Omni Royal Orleans is also known for its award-winning restaurant, Rib Room, which serves up some of the best steaks in the city.

Soniat House

For a more intimate experience, the Soniat House is an excellent choice. This 18th-century townhouse is now a luxury hotel with only 31 rooms and suites, each with its own unique decor and furnishings. The hotel is located on a quiet street in the heart of the French Quarter, making it a peaceful retreat for those looking to escape the hustle and bustle of the city. The Soniat House also features a lush courtyard where guests can relax and unwind.

Hotel Mazarin

Located just a few steps away from Bourbon Street, the Hotel Mazarin is a modern and chic hotel that offers guests all the comforts of home. The hotel features 102 spacious guest rooms and suites, each with luxurious bedding and state-of-the-art amenities. Guests can also enjoy a complimentary breakfast buffet, evening cocktail reception, and access to the hotel's fitness center.

The Ritz-Carlton, New Orleans

The Ritz-Carlton, New Orleans is a luxurious hotel that offers guests the ultimate in elegance and sophistication. The hotel features 527 guest rooms and suites, each with stunning views of the city. The Ritz-Carlton, New Orleans also boasts a world-class spa, which offers a variety of treatments to help guests relax and unwind. The hotel's restaurant, M Bistro, is also a popular spot for those looking to indulge in some of the city's famous cuisine.

Hotel Le Marais

Hotel Le Marais is a trendy and modern hotel located just a block away from Bourbon Street. The hotel features 66 stylish guest rooms and suites, each with luxurious bedding and state-of-the-art amenities. The hotel's courtyard and pool area is a popular spot for guests to relax and enjoy the beautiful Louisiana weather. With its prime location and chic decor, Hotel Le Marais is a top choice for anyone visiting the French Quarter.

FAQs:

Are the hotels in French Quarter pet-friendly

Some hotels in French Quarter, such as The Roosevelt New Orleans, Hotel Monteleone, and Royal Sonesta New Orleans, allow pets, but it's always best to confirm with the hotel before booking.

What is the best time to visit French Quarter?

The best time to visit French Quarter is from February to May when the weather is pleasant, and there are many festivals, including Mardi Gras.

Which hotels in French Quarter offer a balcony with a view?

Hotels like Royal Sonesta New Orleans, Omni Royal Orleans, and Bourbon Orleans Hotel offer balconies with a view of the French Quarter and the city.

Do the hotels in French Quarter offer shuttle service to the airport?

Yes, many hotels in French Quarter offer shuttle service to the airport, but it's always best to confirm with the hotel before booking.

Summary

French Quarter, Louisiana, is home to some of the best hotels in the state that offer a comfortable and luxurious stay. The Roosevelt New Orleans, Hotel Monteleone, Royal Sonesta New Orleans, Omni Royal Orleans, Bourbon Orleans Hotel, and The Westin New Orleans Canal Place are some of the top hotels in the area that provide excellent service, beautiful views, and a range of amenities such as spa, fitness center, rooftop pool, and on-site dining. Whether you are looking for a romantic getaway or a family vacation, these hotels offer a memorable stay in the heart of New Orleans. Don't forget to check if the hotel is pet-friendly, offers shuttle service to the airport, and has a balcony with a view.

The Bears Restaurant/Pub in Tbilisi Review

28 August, 2014 | Restaurant reviews | 16 seen

This is my second post on series covering Tbilisi restaurants. A while ago I decided to start a new topic series, with aim for locals and foreigners find great dinner places in Tbilisi. I'm reviewing only places I have tried by myself.

Update, this restaurant seems is out of the business, but on its location is some other restaurant (2021)

I'm an expat living in Georgia (Tbilisi). You can find some articles covering topic Living in Georgia. I'm huge lover of restaurants and coffee shops, and Living in Georgia I have came even a bigger fan of eating outside the home. 

Since I'm eating out pretty regular - there are my favourite places, then there are places, that once was my favourite places, and then there are places better to avoid. 

I'm willing to make an description of them and to photograph the food I have tasted on those places.

Please note, this is just my subjective opinion.  For taking photographs I'm using my Samsung phone and using Instagram (then taking them from Instagram and adding to posts - you can read a blog post on how I turned my Instagram account into a photo blog - speaking of what - I decided there is no need and place to keep up with 2 blogs - so I decided to shot tourgeorgia down - and starting today - any restaurant,  sightseeing places will be found on my blog exclusively)

Now, back on the subject.

Tbilisi Bears Restaurant

• Location: Agmashenebeli St. 141 0112 Tbilisi, Georgia
• Hours: Mon - Sun: 11:00 am - 3:00 am

Entrance doors Tbilisi Bears Restaurant

This was my second time visiting The Bears Restaurant in Tbilisi, first time I was here in Spring.

We ordered a meal using local groupon clone site (www.swoop.ge), the meal included roasted meal and sausages for price of 29GEL (Down from regular GEL 60)

Roasted pork, sausages and potatoes

As it might look delicious in the image. In fact it was over baked and really dry roasted pork. Not delicious. Sausages the same. Although potatoes and salads were OK. I got feeling the pork is not very fresh - I didn't find any other explanation, why it was over baked?

This place has Georgian only menu, no English or Russian menu's here - although personal could help you out. We ordered additional water, soda and Turkish coffee. 

Service here is fine.

Interior at The Bears Restaurant

In conclusion:

For a large portion of roasted pork with sausages, potatoes and salads plus + additional drinks, in total we paid 39GEL. What is very affordable price for such a menu. The quality for food  - average!

You might wonder, can two people can eat all of this? No, they cannot. One of the neat features in Georgia, you can always ask to pack your not eaten food for takeaway. This is really neat. 

Speaking of negative - The menu is Georgian only, and stuff has not taken in consideration to translate menu when I first indicated them this problem on Spring. Actually, at first time they told me - this is for Georgians only restaurant. Since it sounded pathetic, I wont complain about that. 

Second, there are no people, and that is a warning indicator - that there is something wrong. Maybe the location is not the best one in the city?

Interior is great though.

Verdict - I cannot recommend this place for you completely - if you are just for drinks go for it - if you are for food - be cautious!

How to Get 10,000 Followers on Twitter Without Buying Them

27 August, 2014 | Blogging | 9 seen

Twitter is one of the most powerful social media platforms used to build your personal or business brand, connect with your audience and keep up with the latest trends. With over 330 million monthly active users, it's not surprising that many individuals and businesses strive to increase their followers to enhance their social media presence.

In this article, we'll share some tips on how to gain 10,000 followers on Twitter in a natural way.

Engage with your followers

If you want to gain more followers, it's essential to engage with the followers you currently have. Respond to their tweets, like and retweet their posts, and participate in Twitter chats. Engaging with your audience helps to build relationships and increases your visibility on Twitter.

Tweet consistently

To gain more followers, you need to be active on Twitter. Consistently tweeting quality content can help you attract more followers. Ensure that you provide value to your audience and avoid spamming them with irrelevant tweets.

Use hashtags

Hashtags are a powerful tool to increase your reach on Twitter. Use relevant and popular hashtags in your tweets to attract more followers. You can also create your hashtags to promote your brand or campaigns.

Tweet at the right time

Timing is crucial when it comes to tweeting. Tweet when your audience is active to increase your visibility and engagement. You can use Twitter analytics to determine when your followers are most active.

Collaborate with other Twitter users

Collaborating with other Twitter users can help you gain more followers. You can partner with influencers or businesses in your niche to reach a broader audience.

Promote your Twitter account

Promoting your Twitter account across various channels can help you attract more followers. Include your Twitter handle on your website, email signature, business cards, and other marketing materials.

Use Twitter Ads

Twitter Ads is a great way to promote your account and attract more followers. You can create targeted campaigns that reach your ideal audience.

At the end of the day, gaining 10,000 followers on Twitter takes time and effort. Focus on providing value to your audience, engaging with them, and consistently producing quality content. If you follow these tips, you'll likely see growth in your Twitter following.

If you found this article helpful, be sure to follow my Twitter profile at Reinis_Fischer for more social media tips and insights.

How I got 10,000 Unique Visitors to My Blog

26 August, 2014 | Blogging | 14 seen

On August 26th (2014) my Google Analytics account reported a 10,000 unique visitors milestone for my blog (www.reinisfischer.com).

For me, it was a small victory, and I decided to share with you my thoughts on that, but first, we must answer the answer - of how long time I needed to get those 10K unique visitors.

Update: Read how I got 10,000 page views in a day

10000 Unique Visitors

The time period covers the first day I started to blog or more precisely I went online (October 10, 2013) - August 26, 2014

To get a precise day count I used Time And Date application:

Day count

As you can see from the above image, it took me 320 days to get that 10K milestone or ten and a half months.

Is it a good result? It depends.

Overall many bloggers get more than 10K in a month easily, on the second hand - I'm talking of a blog built from ground Zero, without any backlinks-building tactics, or other white/black hat SEO methods.

Anyway, I will give my self-subjective opinion - claiming that 10K in 10 months is a modest result - and it could be double or even triple. 

But things are what they are.

Now let's see a graph by months

Now we can see what actually happened on my blog for the last 10 months. 

The time frame October - December (2013) generated just 156 Unique visitors. I mean - in 3 months - pathetic 156 uniques???

So  - I can agree that starting a blog - you shouldn't panic about the low results of your first 3 months. Keep writing good articles and everything will be great (At least I hope so)

Next - and as I guess - a major push happened in January when I got my first traffic spike. After this push, which generated more than 1000 unique users in a day (absolute best so far, read how I got 10,000 page views in a day two years later) - Google started noticing me, and in the following months, my search traffic started steadily to increase.

Well - it doesn't mean you should wait for your traffic spike to happen, you should just need to make sure - Google is noticing you.

Starting the month of May, my traffic is more than 1K visitors per month. Last month (July) and this month give me already more than 2K unique visitors a month.

When I started my blog adventures - I had no clue about traffic, but I did one prediction/goal - to achieve about 6,000 unique visitors a month by the end of my first blogging year:

I have overall expectation to reach 6000 unique visitors by the end of October 2014, but I have no clue, where I'll end up to next year.

Seems I will not end with 6000 unique visitors in the next two months, but I will not be ashamed of 50% of it.

Another interesting topic I would like to mention - is earnings.

Can you earn something from Blog with 10,000 users?

Yes, you can - and I will say - not a bad amount of side money (passive income). Although my earnings for August aren't yet finalized, counting them in I have made around $150. So technically speaking - yes it's not so much if speaking of a 10-month term - but in case, you can get 10,000 users a month - it's not so bad at all. Right?

Leave me a comment, on how did you achieved your first unique 10,000 visitors!

Looking for a Cool Getaway? Discover Borjomi, Georgia's Popular Resort Town

25 August, 2014 | Living in Georgia | 5 seen

If you're looking for a cool getaway, you can't go wrong with a visit to Borjomi, Georgia's popular resort town. Located some 155km from the capital city of Tbilisi, Borjomi is a picturesque destination known for its mineral water springs, national park, and scenic surroundings. In this article, we'll take a closer look at what makes Borjomi a must-visit destination, what to see and do there, and where to stay.

Borjomi is the perfect destination for nature lovers, outdoor enthusiasts, and anyone looking to escape the hustle and bustle of city life. One of the main reasons to visit Borjomi is its refreshing, cool climate. The temperature here is slightly cooler than in Tbilisi, making it an ideal destination for those looking for respite from the hot summer sun.

Another reason to visit Borjomi is its abundance of natural beauty. The town is situated in the Borjomi Gorge, surrounded by the stunning Lesser Caucasus Mountains. The Borjomi-Kharagauli National Park, one of the largest protected areas in Europe, is located here and offers a variety of outdoor activities, including hiking, camping, and bird watching. And of course, no visit to Borjomi is complete without a visit to its famous mineral water springs, which are said to have therapeutic properties.

What to See and Do in Borjomi

Borjomi offers a range of activities and sights to explore. The Borjomi-Kharagauli National Park is the perfect place to start. Here you can explore hiking trails that take you through lush forests, along rivers, and up to scenic viewpoints. You can also camp in the park, go bird watching, or even try your hand at fishing.

Another popular attraction in Borjomi is the mineral water springs. These springs are located in the town center and offer visitors the chance to taste the famous Borjomi mineral water straight from the source. The mineral water is said to have medicinal properties, and locals swear by its healing effects.

If you're interested in history and culture, you can visit the Romanov Palace in Borjomi. The palace was built in the late 19th century for the Russian royal family and is now a museum that offers a glimpse into the life of the Russian aristocracy. You can also visit the Borjomi Museum of Local Lore, which showcases the history and culture of the region.

Where to Stay in Borjomi

Borjomi has a range of accommodation options to suit all budgets and preferences. From guesthouses and homestays to luxury hotels, there is something for everyone in Borjomi. One popular option is the Villa Likani guesthouse, which offers comfortable rooms, a restaurant serving local cuisine, and stunning views of the surrounding mountains. Another popular choice is the Crowne Plaza Borjomi Hotel, a luxury hotel with a spa, indoor pool, and a variety of dining options.

Borjomi is a hidden gem in Georgia, offering visitors a chance to relax and unwind in a stunning natural setting. From the national park to the mineral water springs, there is plenty to see and do in this charming town. Whether you're a nature lover, history buff, or just looking for a break from the city, Borjomi is the perfect destination for a cool getaway.

Keep reading to learn about our travel notes to Borjomi back from Summer 2014

To get here we took a minibus from Tbilisi Railway station

Borjomi Bridge

River in Borjomi

Sign of Borjomi National Park

Clown

Probably the most popular attraction here is the mineral water taking place - rumour has, it's healthy 

Mineral water taking place in Borjomi

For me it was interesting to compare, how city has changed since last Autumn, when I wrote following words:

the renovation works goes all through active recreation zone - mostly closer to Borjomi National park, but, there is one but - the same city looked like in 2011, when I first visited it

Read an artice on that  - Autumn in Borjomi

And the fact is - renovation works continues in summer 2014 as well

Borjomi renovation works

thus, this time roads and streets looks fine.

On Borjomi National Park I found a free WIFI, provided by Beeline. 

It was enough to login to Procredit mobile internet bank and top my phone credit (Procredit Bank has really cool and easy to use mobile internet bank) to continue to use Magti 3G internet in my phone.

We headed to restaurant located in the park, got some really great pork barbecue, but really bad chicken barbecue, topped with French fries, Coca-Cola, Turkish Coffee and... tkemali sauce in this lovely cup

tkemali sauce

Now it was a time to find a nice hotel in Borjomi, after negative experience with cheap accommodations here, we decided to find something valuable, and with help of taxi driver we found an excellent guest house Villa Likani.

On the next morning after fine Georgian style breakfast at Villa Likani, we decided to go home to Tbilisi.

Since our hotel was located out of city centre, we decided to hitch-hike to Borjomi to get a minibus there to Tbilisi.

After couple of minutes we stopped a van, and turned out it's heading to Tbilisi - we agreed to pay him the same fare we would pay for minibus. The driver - Merab was a cool guy, from Svaneti, during our drive he told us a lot of interesting things about Georgia and Georgians. we exchanged our phone numbers and agreed that we should make a trip to Svaneti together someday.

We stopped at Goodwill and took a great cappuccino here

Goodwill

So, that was our short trip to Borjomi, hope you liked it! feel free to add a comment!

Villa Likani Review

25 August, 2014 | Hotel reviews | 11 seen

The other day was damned hot in Tbilisi, and we decided to take a minibus to head to Borjomi (temperature there is significantly cooler than in Tbilisi). Said - done. In matter of few hours we were at Borjomi National Park eating barbecue and figuring out - should we stay or should we leave (As the song of The Clash - Should I stay or should I go).

Since this was not the first time visiting Borjomi and staying overnight here, we already knew - apartments for rent here sucks - they might be cheap, but they sucks. Maybe I'm getting old - but comfort is one of the things I'm looking for. There was internet connection problems in Borjomi, and we decided to catch a local taxi, and ask for his recommendations for the best hotel in the city (not very expensive, but definitely not the lauzy one - the normal hotel, with shower, TV, breakfasts e.t.c)

Taxi Driver soon realized what we are talking about and took us out of Borjomi city centre to Likani (or close to Likani), and there was two hotels/guest houses looking to us. We split - I went to the first one (Hotel Natali) and S went to second one - Hotel Villa Likani.

The host of Hotel Natali was kind of cheater persons, trying to sell me a room for $60 from person - in total $120. The Hotel Natali was Ok, but price was way too expensive.

S had a better luck at Hotel Villa Likani - we negotiated a duplex room for 120 GEL (140 with breakfast)

Villa Likani Duplex

View From Villa Likani Duplex to Borjomi city

Mountains

Outdoor Terrace at Villa Likani

Villa Likani

Bathroom at Villa Likani

Bed at Duplex room

Speaking of this bed - it was way too tiny, it was not even a queen size bed - but some kids bed with not very great mattress. For one night stay - it's OK - for longer stay - no way!

Lobby at second floor

Billiard table at Villa Likani

On the second morning we got Georgian style breakfast 

Breakfast at Villa Likani 

In overall

We got what we paid for - 140 GEL for one night overstay with hot shower, breakfast, a billiard table and scenic views - that's a great deal. For a bonus we got Free Wi-FI and Satellite TV

About Villa Likani

Located in Borjomi, 2 km from the town centre, Villa Likani features a shared, fully equipped kitchen, a tour desk, free private parking and free Wi-Fi throughout the property.

Rooms here provide guests with a TV with satellite channels, a wardrobe, and a private bathroom with a shower and free toiletries.

Other hotel facilities include a 24-hour front desk, a garden, a billiards table, a children’s playground, room service, and a daily maid service.

Romanov Palace is a 6-minute walk, and Petre Fortress is located across the Mtkvari River, 2.5 km away.

Villa Likani is 3 km from Borjomi Park Train Station, and the nearest airport, Kutaisi Airport, is 145 km from the property.

Book now

After this short trip to Borjomi town, I realized there is little or no hotels available for booking on the internet - so I listed the few best value hotels in Borjomi, it turns out Villa Likani is one of the best value hotels as well.

6 Best Value Hotels in Borjomi, Georgia

24 August, 2014 | Hotel reviews | 20 seen

Borjomi is a popular resort town in Georgia. The most popular recreation season here is summer. Local tourists from Georgia and international tourists from Russia, Poland, and Israel make the largest amount of tourists here.

Although in Borjomi you can find an apartment for rent literally on every corner, most often they are pretty bad, they might be cheap (I wouldn't pay more than 30GEL for a bad apartment in Borjomi), but if you are looking for comfort (restrooms, shower, linen, a TV set, air conditioner) then forget about those cheap apartments for rent. You will ruin your Borjomi holidays.

I have listed best value hotels in Borjomi, based on actual user ratings on Booking.com site - by booking one of those hotels, you will have not only towels and clean bed served, but you might get breakfast included, billiard table and some other extras. Don't worry - the price won't sky-rocket. Good hotel in Borjomi will cost you around 120-200 GEL (USD 70 - 115/ EUR 50- 85) for two persons per night with comfort. The best - for such money you can actually get a celebrity treatment and stay in a 5-star hotel in Borjomi

In this list, you will find both hotels, guesthouses and even vacation houses in Borjomi and nearby vicinity. Alternatively see Bakuriani Hotels - Enjoy Your Winter Holidays in Georgian Ski Resort

Disclosure: this article contains 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

Borjomi Likani Health & Spa Centre

Read my review here: Borjomi Likani Hotel, SPA and Health Centre

Located 350 m from the Kura River, Borjomi Likani features a spa and wellness center with indoor pool, sauna, hammam, hot tub and medical treatments. Free WiFi and free private parking are available on site.

The rooms offer air conditioning and a flat-screen TV. The bathrooms provide a hairdryer, bathrobes and slippers.

Guests can dine in the hotel’s restaurant or order room service and breakfasts in the room. Packed lunches and grocery delivery are provided upon request. Other facilities include a bar, concierge service, bicycle rental, 24-hour front desk and luggage storage. Tennis, squash, billiards and horse riding can be enjoyed on site or in the surroundings.

Borjomi Train Station is 2.8 mi away, and Tbilisi International Airport is 109 mi from Borjomi Likani.

Price: ~ EUR 88 Book now on Booking

Alma-Ata Hotel

Featuring a shared kitchen and a shared dining area, Alma-Ata Hotel is located in Borjomi’s city center. Free WiFi access is available throughout. The property is a 10-minute walk from both the Mineral Water Park and Plato Barjomi.

Each room here will provide you with a flat-screen TV, air conditioning and satellite channels. Featuring a shower, the private bathroom also comes with a hairdryer and free toiletries. Extras include a desk and bed linen.

At Alma-Ata Hotel you will find a 24-hour front desk. Other facilities offered at the property include a shared lounge, a tour desk and laundry facilities. Transfers can be arranged for an additional cost.

Price: ~ EUR 39 Book now on Booking

Inka home

Located in Borjomi, Inka home provides air-conditioned accommodations with a terrace and free WiFi. Guests staying at this vacation home can use the balcony.

The vacation home features 1 bedroom, a kitchen with an oven, a washing machine, and a bathroom. A flat-screen TV with cable channels is featured.

Bakuriani is 25.7 km from Inka home.

This property also has one of the top-rated locations in Borjomi! Guests are happier about it compared to other properties in the area.

Price: ~ EUR 56 Book now on Booking

Victoria-Panorama

Click on image to view more photos and book online

Gogiascixe Street 1, 1200 Borjomi, Georgia

This hotel is located in Borjomi town centre, just 1 km from Borjomi Train Station. It features free Wi-Fi, a 24-hour front desk, and rooms with a balcony offering views of the Caucasus Mountains.

Rooms at Victoria-Panorama feature large windows allowing for lots of natural light. Every room includes a wardrobe, work desk, and private bathroom offering a hairdryer and slippers.

Breakfast is provided at the hotel. Guests can choose to order room service and eat breakfast in their rooms.

Victoria-Panorama hotel is located 50 metres from Borjomi’s local history museum. From the hotel, guests enjoy views of the surrounding mountain region.

Price: ~ GEL 190 | Check Price and Book Now 

Borjomi Palace Hotel & Spa

Click on image to view more photos and book online

Gamsakhurdia Street 17, 1200 Borjomi, Georgia

Borjomi Palace Hotel & Spa is located in Borjomi town centre, just 200 metres from the mineral water spring. It features a spa centre and a gym. Free Wi-Fi and free private parking are provided.

All bright rooms come with air conditioning, a flat-screen TV, a kettle and a minibar. Modern bathrooms are fitted with a spa bath, and free toiletries are available.

Georgian Wine House Restaurant offers various Georgian and European dishes. Also guests can have a drink at the bar and sing karaoke.

The on-site spa centre offers various medical and cosmetic treatments, including massage services. You can work out in a gym, relax in a sauna and play billiards.

Price: ~ GEL 190 | Check Price and Book Now

Villa Likani

Click on image to view more photos and book online

View my review here: Villa Likani Review

Meskheti street 4, 1200 Borjomi, Georgia

Located in Borjomi, 2 km from the town centre, Villa Likani features a shared, fully equipped kitchen, a tour desk, free private parking and free Wi-Fi throughout the property.

Rooms here provide guests with a TV with satellite channels, a wardrobe, and a private bathroom with a shower and free toiletries.

Other hotel facilities include a 24-hour front desk, a garden, a billiards table, a children’s playground, room service, and a daily maid service.

Romanov Palace is a 6-minute walk, and Petre Fortress is located across the Mtkvari River, 2.5 km away.

Price: GEL 160 | Check Price and Book Now

Guest House Borjomi

Click on image to view more photos and book online

Guest House Borjomi is located in Borjomi. Private bathrooms also come with a shower. At Guest House Borjomi you will find a garden and a mini-market. Other facilities offered include shops (on site). The property offers free parking.

Price: GEL 96 | Check Price and Book Now

Guest house

Click on image to view more photos and book online

Offering a restaurant, Guest house is located in Borjomi. Free WiFi access is available. Each room here will provide you with a TV, a balcony and a terrace. There is a full kitchen with a microwave and an oven. Featuring a shower, private bathroom also comes with a bath and a hairdryer. You can enjoy city view and garden view from the room.

Check Price and Book Now

Grimi's Villa

Click on image to view more photos and book online

Grimi's Villa is located in Borjomi. Free WiFi access is available. Each room here will provide you with a TV, a balcony and a seating area. There is a full kitchen with a refrigerator and an electric kettle. Featuring a shower, private bathroom also comes with a bath or shower and a hairdryer. You can enjoy mountain view and city view from the room.

Price: GEL 100 | Check Price and Book Now

Find more hotel deals in Borjomi

Tbilisi - Borjomi Transfer by Marshrutka (Minibus) (2014)

24 August, 2014 | Living in Georgia | 71 seen

The Summers in Tbilisi can get damn hot, I mean +40 Celsius, common - it's not serious without air conditioning. And I'm not the person complaining.

So we decided to head to Borjomi, visit Borjomi National Park for some fresh and mountainous air, and to find a boutique hotel for an overnight stay.

This is not the first time of me heading to Borjomi, the last time I was there was during our rafting trip. As well you can find a photo set of Borjomi in Autumn I made in October 2013.

I decided to write this post and highlight some options for cheap and pretty fast travel between Tbilisi and Borjomi using the Marshrutka service.

I made the photos using my phone and published them to my Instagram wall as well (Learn more about how I turned my Instagram account into a photo blog)

About Tbilisi-Borjomi transfers

There are a few options to travel to Borjomi from Tbilisi available. One of them is by train, another great and by me most often preferred option is to choose Marshrutka (Minibus) service. Another option is to take a Taxi, but it might too pricey.

There are two places in Tbilisi, I know for sure where you can find a minibus heading to Borjomi. One of the places is located in Didube, second is located next to Tbilisi Railway station.

The price per person might vary for 6-8 GEL. This time we paid 7 GEL for Tbilisi-Borjomi by using Tbilisi - Akhatsikhe minibus.

Minibus at Tbilisi Railway Station. The Sign on it says - AKHSALTIKHE (Georgian, Russian)

The minibusses leave every round hour, starting 6 AM until late evening. Total time for the drive from Tbilisi to Borjomi ~ 2 hours.

This time we waited for 40 minutes in the open sun to leave Tbilisi. Did I mention it was +40 Celsius?

TV in Minibus

Our Minibus was equipped with a TV - it actually did not work, but still - formally they had a TV Set in Tbilisi- Borjomi route.

Market near Tbilisi Railway Station

Make sure you buy some mineral water before departure!

One thing to mention - it's rare when minibusses drivers turn on the air conditioner (most often the cars are so old, that they are just broken) - so the only option on hot summer days like this - is wide open windows. (Take a scarf - to not get cold)

View to Georgian Countryside

Bus stop near Gori

Bistro somewhere in the middle of our route

We had a 5-minute stop at some bistro, where you can try to buy a coffee, soda, or nuts.

Borjomi Bridge

We stopped marshrutka near this bridge in Borjomi, for our further Borjomi exploration.

In total, our drive took 2 and a half hours. Drive took us through Gori and Khashuri towns.

Speaking of transfer options in Georgia, you might find useful articles like.

• Georgian Bus - Great way to travel from Kutaisi to Batumi or Tbilisi
• Tbilisi - Yerevan Transfers By Taxi Car

How To Apply For Hotels.com Affiliate Program

22 August, 2014 | Blogging | 25 seen

Lately I have been starting to evaluate the power of affiliate marketing. So far I have been playing around with two affiliate marketing programs - Booking.com and Amazon Associates.

Speaking of first (Booking) - the results kinda suck, while second (Amazon) seems like a brilliant finding. 

Since I'm not seeing any return of using Booking I started to look to another hotel affiliate programs, after a few days guessing what could be a very good alternative for Booking - I decided to opt in for Hotels.com

About Hotels.com

Hotels.com has over 290,000 cheap hotels in more than 60 countries. Our 11 million genuine guest reviews will help you find a cheap motel, extended stay or hotel accommodation. Simply check our best deals, discounts and offers and find a hotel near me or the location you are searching for. Whether you are travelling last minute as a family or need a hotel for business, we have the right hotel at the lowest rates for you. We also have a 24-hour call centre, if you would prefer booking with a real person. Don't forget about our Best Price Guarantee and Last Minute Deals. Plus, no change or cancel fee from Hotels.com to ease your mind with your next hotel booking. The best prices for the accommodation of your choice are here.  Guaranteed.® Enjoy your stay with Hotels.com – An Expedia Inc. Company.

About Hotels.com Affiliates program

You will earn 5.5% commission on each booking that becomes a completed hotel stay. Bookings are posted to your account in near real time, but no commission is attributed to the booking until it becomes a completed stay.

Bookings are tracked by pixel and reported once the reservation is made; completed stays are batched once per day for the previous day's completed stays. Plus, we have a 7-day action referral period. 

Earn more with Hotels.com! Earn up to 6% commission with the following performance tiers:

• For monthly Sales equal to or greater than $8,000.00 increase commission to 5.75%
• For monthly Sales equal to or greater than $12,000.00 increase commission to 6.00%

One of the things I found most attractive - hotels.com offers xml data feeds and I already started to figure out what kind of XML import functions I could build using power of Drupal.

How to apply for Hotels.com affiliate program

Hotels.com handles their affiliates via third party services, like - Commission Junction, TradeDoubler, Affiliate Window, Zanox, Offer Forge and others. 

I opted in by using CJ (Commission Junction). If honest I'm complete newbie both to Hotels.com and CJ as well, not to speak of Affiliate Marketing as whole.

I haven't yet started to promote any of Hotels.com products (hotel rooms, obviously) - I'm just at the stage of exploration of integration options. 

My plan is simple - while it sounds tempting to build some XML feed parser, I doubt I will go this way completely - I might to build some XML feeds for Travel Deals and create some mashup review articles, but for a start I'm looking for deep link integration.

Strategy of my affiliate promotion for a start as usual will be simple - rather for chasing for commission's I will test how many users on monthly base I can send to their booking site. You might find useful my thoughts of setting first Booking.com affiliate marketing goal.

What are your thoughts about Hotels.com Partner Program? Drop a comment!

Georgia Expects Visa Free Travel to EU by End of 2015

21 August, 2014 | Living in Georgia | 21 seen

Georgian citizens might have Visa Free Travel with European Union (Schengen area) by end of 2015 or at start of 2016 - told Georgian Minister of Foreign Affairs - Maia Panjikidze on live translations on Imedi TV station, Wednesday, August 20, according to NewsGeorgia 

I have a assumption based on realistic data that by the end of 2015 - beginning of 2016 we will have visa-free travel with the member countries of the Schengen Agreement

 - told Panjikidze

According to the official Tbilisi - visa free travel between Georgia and European Union will boost process of the  Georgia's Euro integration, as well the development of political and business cooperation with the European Union.

Update: Visa-Free Travel For Georgian Citizens Entering European Union has been in force since the late 2015

Georgian citizens might get up to 90 days Visa Free stay in EU. 

Some time ago EU gave Visa Free travel to EU for another ex-Soviet country Moldova.

For me it seems just logical move that Georgia is next on the list, in that article I wrote

I guess it's not long time to wait to see Visa Free travel to EU for Georgian citizens as well.

One thing to note - the lift of the Visa requirements, doesn't mean it offers legal stay and job opportunities in EU. It does what it does - it offers Visa Free Travel.

Visa requirements for Georgian citizens

Visa requirements for Georgian citizens are administrative entry restrictions by the authorities of other states placed on citizens of Georgia. In 2014, Georgian citizens had visa-free or visa on arrival access to 62 countries and territories, ranking the Georgian passport 68th in the world (tied with Philippines).

Visa requirements for Georgian citizens

List of countries Georgian citizens don't need Visa

Data source: Visa requirements for Georgian citizens

As you can see from the list above Georgia have Visa Free Travel mainly to some exotic Central and Latin American states, as well with many former Soviet Union states.

Georgia even doesn't have Visa Free Travel with Russia. Taking in account that - the question arises - what will be emigration effect to more wealthier Western European states if Visa requirements will be lifted?

For now there is not many attractive countries Georgians could semi-legally migrate and stay for a better life. But in case of Visa lift with Schengen area - I believe there will be a huge emigration wave. Well it will be pretty hard to find a job, without a legal stay (I mean Visa Free Travel still doesn't mean a permit residence e.t.c.)

At the end of 2013 Israel lifted Visa requirements for Georgian citizens - month latter Israeli ambassador to Georgia - told - Dear Georgians, Visa list still exclusively means Visa Free Travel..

So that's is the question concerning me.

Speaking of next moves of Georgia's Euro integration path - I have already written an article about Georgia's aim to became a full European Union member country in next 5-10 years. Will it happen? I guess it could happen - but doubt it will happen in next 5 years.

How To Hide Drupal Block For Nodes In Specific Taxonomy - Example With Google Adsense

20 August, 2014 | Drupal Development | 43 seen

<p>In this Drupal Development tutorial I will show how one (perhaps you) can hide a block for nodes on specific taxonomy. But before we dig in, lets look to an example.</p><p>Let's say you are displaying Google Adsense ads on your Drupal website or blog, ads are displayed by using blocks. Everyhting fine. But then you realize, there are some pages (nodes) you are not willing to show Google Ads. For example you are doing an affiliate marketing, and you have specific taxonomy, in which all affiliate marketing nodes are tagged in.&nbsp;</p><h2>So how to hide that block containing Google Adsense?</h2><p><img src="http://www.reinisfischer.com/sites/default/files/drupalads.jpg&quot; alt="Google Adsense For Drupal" title="Google Adsense For Drupal" width="948" height="562"></p><p><em>Google Adsense's block in article.</em></p><p>In above image you can see Google Adsense being displayed in articles for my blog.</p><p>So, but I do affiliate marketing as well, and there are few articles on my blog I down want my readers been distracted and taken away by Google Adsense.</p><p><strong>So what's the solution?</strong></p><p>In previous Drupal 6 version I used to use a php code display or hide blocks based on taxonomies. The thing is - in Drupal 7 I have found this doesn't work I want (if you have a working example - please, drop a comment).</p><p>So I started to look into existing Drupal Modules, that might help to achieve behaviour I'm looking for. And, the thing is - after a quick search I have foud one useful module, what does what I need it to do.&nbsp;</p><p>Meet the <a href="https://www.drupal.org/project/block_term">Block Visibilty by Term</a> module</p><blockquote><p><span>Block Visibility by Term extends the block visibility interface in Drupal 7 and allows the user to control block visibility based on the terms that a node is tagged with. For each block, taxonomy terms can be selected. If the displayed node is tagged with at least one of those terms, the block will be visible; if not, it will be hidden.</span></p></blockquote><p><span>Add this module to your drupal site, and now by configuring your block you should see a following scene</span></p><p><span><img src="http://www.reinisfischer.com/sites/default/files/blockvisibiltysettings…; alt="Block Visibility Settings for Drupal" title="Block Visibility Settings for Drupal" width="931" height="324"></span></p><p><em>Block Visibility Settings for Drupal</em></p><p><span>Now, by checking specific taxonomy terms we can configure for which terms <strong>to display</strong> block, <span style="text-decoration: underline;">unfortunetalty this is not working vice verse.</span></span></p><p>So, this is not a complete solution, but it's rather temporary fix, on the other hand, as I like to think - keep it simple - Drupal as I do believe is one of the most powerful CMS in the industry, but still the main reason is to have visitors on site, right?</p><p>Anyway, here is the page with Block Terms module on action:</p><p><img src="http://www.reinisfischer.com/sites/default/files/drupalhideblock.jpg&qu…; alt="Drupal Block visibilty" title="Drupal Block visibilty" width="932" height="437"></p><p><em>Hidden Adsense block on Drupal articles</em></p><h2>In Conclusion</h2><p>There are times we need to achieve some specific behaviour &nbsp;- we can spend hours and days to write some custom codes, but there are times and cases, when we can achieve that results by using already deployed modules. This is one of the reasons I love Drupal, it's agile - you can do both ways - work with existing modules or write your own.</p><p>And, yes with help of above mentioned module, we can hide Google Adsense block for specific terms (or rather display it on specific terms).</p><p>Drop a comment and/or find more what I have to say on <a href="http://www.reinisfischer.com/drupal-development&quot; target="_blank">Drupal Development</a></p>