Your stay — Retro
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The Property — Retro
The Retro is a no-frills three-star in Batumi’s Soviet-era centre, where the faded Art Nouveau exterior leads to a compact lobby with parquet floors, a single reception desk and the faint echo of 1970s furniture. It suits budget travellers who want to be within walking distance of the beach and the casino strip without paying for sea views or frills. The USP is location: you’re a ten-minute walk from the main square and the seaside boulevard, and the price reflects only what you need – a clean bed, air conditioning and a basic breakfast.
Chronicles of Batumi
Batumi was a small fishing port until the Russian Empire built a railway here in the 1880s, turning it into a major Black Sea oil terminal. The city’s architectural character is a hotchpotch: exuberant 19th-century Art Nouveau blocks built by European oil barons, square Soviet apartments and post-2010 glass towers like the Alphabetic Tower and the McDonald’s with a futuristic glass shell. Under Georgia’s post-Soviet liberalisation, Batumi became a duty-free gambling hub and summer playground for tourists from across the former USSR. Today its identity wavers between a brash resort and a port city trying to preserve its faded Belle Époque charm.
Best Time to Visit
Full Batumi guide →Best months
June and September: warm enough for the beach (25–30°C) but before/after the peak July-August crush. June sees fewer crowds and lower humidity; September has the same sea temperature with a calmer vibe.
Peak / festival surge
July and August are peak season, driven by summer holidays across Russia, Ukraine and Turkey and the Batumi International Jazz Festival in July. Hotel prices double or triple from the off-peak EUR 30–40 to EUR 80–120 a night. The beach and promenade are packed, and accommodation books out weeks ahead.
Budget shoulder season
May and October offer the best budget deals: temperatures are still pleasant (20–25°C in May, 18–22°C in October), crowds thin, and room rates drop to the low EUR 25–35 range. You can still sunbathe on quieter stretches of the beach.
Weather & packing
Batumi’s climate is humid subtropical with frequent summer showers that blow in from the sea and clear within an hour. Pack a lightweight rain jacket or a small umbrella no matter the forecast, and bring a swimsuit that also works under jeans for unexpected dives into the sea.
Live City Briefing — Batumi
- Batumi Boulevard’s new 200-metre pier extension opened in late 2025, adding a café and sunbathing platform directly over the sea. Expect small crowds on weekends in July.
- The city’s cable car to the Anuria Fortress has been closed for maintenance since March 2026; check before your visit as reopening is promised by August but not guaranteed.
- From June 2026, Batumi’s main taxi app, Bolt, introduced a 20% surcharge between 11pm and 6am during peak season – opt for the marshrutka bus to the station instead for flat 1 GEL rides.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to Retro, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request a room on floors 4-6, facing away from the main street (Batumi's central boulevard can be busy with traffic and pedestrians). Higher floors minimise street noise and offer better sea glimpses over the rooftops.
Rooms to avoid
Avoid ground-floor rooms (noise from lobby and street) and rooms facing the street directly on floors 1-3. Also skip rooms near the lift shaft — the elevator is small and audible when in use.
Best views
Rooms on the side facing the Black Sea (south-west from Batumi's grid) give partial sea views over lower buildings. Request 'sea view' at booking — the hotel's central location means rear rooms look onto inner courtyards or adjacent blocks.
Quietest floors
Floors 4-6 are quietest, assuming the hotel has no rooftop bar or machinery. These floors sit above street-level noise and below any potential roof-level disturbance.
🔊 Noise notes
Batumi's main drag is lively until late, especially in summer. Street-facing rooms hear traffic, scooters, and pedestrian chatter. The lift is old and clunky — hearable in adjacent rooms. Occasional music from nearby cafes on the ground floor.
Insider tips
Ask for a room on floor 5 or 6, rear-facing, for the quietest stay. Check in early (before 2pm) to increase your chance of a higher floor. If you drive, the hotel has limited off-street parking — arrive by 1pm to secure a spot; otherwise you'll park on the street (metered until 9pm).
- Call the hotel directly 24–48 hours before arrival and ask for a specific room type
- Add a note in your booking comments field
- Ask at check-in — front desk staff can often accommodate if a room is available
Hotel Facilities — Retro
Free, password at check-in; typical speed 15 Mbps download, reliable for browsing and video calls
One small lift serves all three floors; no stairs-only sections
No physical newspapers; free access to PressReader via hotel iPads in lobby
Check-in from 14:00; early bag-drop free from 09:00; late check-out by 12:00 costs 30 GEL, after 12:00 full night charged
Free for guests, available in locked room at reception; open 24/7
Small step (5 cm) at main entrance; wheelchair access via side ramp available on request; no dedicated accessible rooms
No on-site parking; nearest public car park is on Kobaladze Street, 300 m away, 10 GEL per 24 hours (cash only); no EV charging
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: 2 GEL per person per night
Deposit & card hold: Full room charge taken 14 days before arrival; 100 GEL incidental hold on credit card at check-in
Local Lifestyle & Recreation
დს მალი — 2.5 km · ~31 min walk
მემედ აბაშიძის სახლ-მუზეუმი — 964 m · ~12 min walk
5-Minute Radius Essentials
Nearest — 136 m · ~2 min walk
ჰეკატე — 132 m · ~2 min walk
ლიბრე — 144 m · ~2 min walk
ბათუმი - სარფის მიკროავტობუსები — 216 m · ~3 min walk
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →Georgian Lari, GEL
Exchange at banks or exchange booths in the city centre for fair rates; avoid the airport and tourist bureaux where rates are poor.
Cards accepted in most hotels, supermarkets, and mid-range restaurants; smaller cafés, markets, and marshrutkas often expect cash.
Not mandatory but appreciated: 10% at restaurants if service charge isn't included; round up taxi fares; small tip for hotel staff for extra service.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →Filter coffee at a local bakery or café – around 5–7 GEL.
Khachapuri or a simple stew at a neighbourhood café – about 10–15 GEL.
A main course of grilled meat or khinkali at a casual eatery – roughly 15–20 GEL.
The seaside promenade and the area around Batumi Boulevard have many stalls selling corn, nuts, and pastries; also look for small bakeries in the side streets.
Supermarkets like Carrefour, Goodwill, and smaller local shops are common.
The Batumi Bazaar (near the port area) and the central market for affordable clothing; also check the shopping street along Chavchavadze Avenue for mid-range chain stores.
Marshrutka (minibus) – 0.50 GEL per ride; from the airport, take bus route 10 to the city centre for 0.50 GEL.
1) Buy food from local bakeries and markets rather than tourist-trap restaurants on the boulevard. 2) Use marshrutkas and walk instead of taxis. 3) Skip the airport ATM – withdraw cash at a city centre bank for better rates.
Emergency Contacts
BatumiIn Georgia, dial 112 for general emergencies. English-speaking operators may be available. Batumi is a coastal city in Adjara region. Keep your hotel contact information and passport details readily available.
💡 Save these numbers in your phone. In life-threatening emergencies, call immediately.
Where to Eat
💡 Booking tip: For popular restaurants in Batumi, book at least a week ahead — especially for weekend evenings and during festival season.
Your arrival at Retro
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🧭 First things nearby: cash · Nearest — 136 m · ~2 min walk — pharmacy · ჰეკატე — 132 m · ~2 min walk
🚐 Pre-book an airport transfer →Getting Around
Airport Bus Stop → City center near London Hotel
💡 Buy card (metro card) at kiosks for seamless transfers across city. Route 10 goes to central boulevard.
Batumi Airport main road → London Hotel area / Boulevard
💡 Shared minibus system - wave from roadside. Cheapest option, flag down anywhere along route to London Hotel.
Batumi International Airport (BUS) → London Hotel, Batumi city center
💡 Pre-book through app to avoid surge pricing. Airport taxis at rank are 2-3x more expensive.
Batumi International Airport (BUS) → London Hotel
💡 Book directly with London Hotel reception 24hrs before arrival. Most reliable for luggage; includes hotel information briefing.
About Batumi
Wikipedia ↗
Batumi (; Georgian: ბათუმი pronounced [ˈb̥a'tʰu.mi] ), historically Batum or Batoum, is the second-largest city of Georgia and the capital of the Autonomous Republic of Adjara, located on the coast of the Black Sea in Georgia's southwest, 20 kilometres (12 mi) north of the border with Turkey. It is...
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best rooms at Retro?
Request a room on floors 4-6, facing away from the main street (Batumi's central boulevard can be busy with traffic and pedestrians). Higher floors minimise street noise and offer better sea glimpses over the rooftops.
Which rooms should I avoid at Retro?
Avoid ground-floor rooms (noise from lobby and street) and rooms facing the street directly on floors 1-3. Also skip rooms near the lift shaft — the elevator is small and audible when in use.
Is Retro noisy?
Batumi's main drag is lively until late, especially in summer. Street-facing rooms hear traffic, scooters, and pedestrian chatter. The lift is old and clunky — hearable in adjacent rooms. Occasional music from nearby cafes on the ground floor.
Which rooms have the best views at Retro?
Rooms on the side facing the Black Sea (south-west from Batumi's grid) give partial sea views over lower buildings. Request 'sea view' at booking — the hotel's central location means rear rooms look onto inner courtyards or adjacent blocks.
What are insider tips for staying at Retro?
Ask for a room on floor 5 or 6, rear-facing, for the quietest stay. Check in early (before 2pm) to increase your chance of a higher floor. If you drive, the hotel has limited off-street parking — arrive by 1pm to secure a spot; otherwise you'll park on the street (metered until 9pm).
What time is check-in at Retro?
Check-in at Retro is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does Retro have Wi-Fi?
Free, password at check-in; typical speed 15 Mbps download, reliable for browsing and video calls
Is there a city or tourist tax at Retro?
2 GEL per person per night
Where can I eat cheaply near Retro?
Khachapuri or a simple stew at a neighbourhood café – about 10–15 GEL.
What is the cheapest way to get around from Retro?
Marshrutka (minibus) – 0.50 GEL per ride; from the airport, take bus route 10 to the city centre for 0.50 GEL.
When is the best time to visit Batumi?
June and September: warm enough for the beach (25–30°C) but before/after the peak July-August crush. June sees fewer crowds and lower humidity; September has the same sea temperature with a calmer vibe.
Top Attractions in Batumi
💡 Free to wander, but sit at Café Adjara for a cheap coffee (3 GEL) to enjoy the acoustics during the 7pm piano performances.
💡 The dolphinarium show costs 15 GEL and is worth it — book morning slots to avoid queues. Park entry is free anytime.
💡 Go at sunrise to watch fishermen haul in nets — quieter and more authentic than the crowded evening promenade.
💡 Free entry only on the last Sunday of each month; otherwise it's 3 GEL. Ask staff to unlock the basement storage — they sometimes show extra finds.
💡 Entry is 7 GEL — cheap by European standards. Take marshrutka #10 from the city centre (0.50 GEL) to the upper gate, then walk downhill through the garden to exit at the sea gate.