Batumi's Breathtaking Seaview Apartment: 45th Floor Luxury!
Batumi's Breathtaking Seaview Apartment: 45th Floor Luxury! - My Honest (and Slightly Chaotic) Review!
Alright, buckle up buttercups, because I just got back from Batumi and, well, let's just say "Batumi's Breathtaking Seaview Apartment: 45th Floor Luxury!" is something else. It’s not just a hotel, it's an experience. An experience that, honestly, left me both utterly wowed and, at times, slightly bewildered. So, here's the lowdown, warts and all, because let's be real, nobody wants a perfectly polished, boring review, right?
First, the Location, Location, Location (and the Hurtle to the 45th Floor!)
Okay, so, accessibility is key in any review. And, well, getting to the apartment… that’s a journey. Good news? There’s an elevator (phew!). Bad news? It's a bit like riding the Wonkavator in Willy Wonka. I am not kidding. It shoots you up to the 45th floor with a speed that leaves your stomach somewhere between the second and third floors. Just… brace yourself. And for anyone with facilities for disabled guests, definitely check with the hotel beforehand about specific access points and features. I didn't personally need to assess this extensively, so I can't give a detailed breakdown, but from what I observed, the public spaces seemed relatively accessible.
Breathtaking Views…and Potential Vertigo!
And the view? Oh. My. God. It’s… breathtaking. Really. Breathtaking. That’s the truth! Sea stretched out as far as the eye can see, a vast canvas of blue. The pool with a view? Forget about it. Just make sure you’re not afraid of heights. Honestly, I spent a good amount of time just glued to the window, staring down at the tiny cars and people below, trying to wrap my head around just how high up I was. My first thought wasn't even positive, it was: "Oh my lord, what if the elevator breaks?" (See? Told ya I was slightly bewildered!)
The Apartment Itself: Luxury with a Capital "L" (and a Few Quirks)
Inside the apartment? Luxury! I mean, seriously, they've thought of everything. Let's delve, shall we?
The Essentials: Air conditioning? Check. Free Wi-Fi? (Yesss!) Air conditioning in public areas? Check. Alarm clock? Check. Bathtrobes? Absolutely. Bathrobes, the real mark of luxury! Blackout curtains? Essential for the jetlagged. Coffee/tea maker? Oh, yes! Thank goodness because I need my coffee in the morning! Complimentary tea? Brilliant. Daily housekeeping? My room was seriously spotless. Desk? Covered in my laptop. Extra long bed? Heaven for my tired bones. Free bottled water? A lifesaver, especially after that elevator ride. Hair dryer? Check. In-room safe box? For your valuables. Internet access – wireless? Check check. Ironing facilities? For the fancy folks not me. Laptop workspace? Very convenient for the work-from-hotel folks. Linens? Pristine. Mini bar? Loaded. Mirror? Check. Non-smoking? A must. Private bathroom? Of course. Reading light? Essential. Refrigerator? Useful. Satellite/cable channels? For when I couldn't sleep. Seating area? Very nice. Shower? Great. Slippers? Comfy. Smoke detector? Safety first. Sofa? Perfect for lolling on. Telephone? Still works! Toiletries? All the good stuff. Towels? Fluffy! Visual alarm? Very thoughtful. Wake-up service? I always use my phone. Wi-Fi [free]? Yes! Window that opens? I love that!
- Room for Improvement: The carpet felt a little dated, I'm not gonna lie. And, the scale in the bathroom, I never use.
The Extras (the REALLY fancy stuff): They offer bathtub, interconnecting rooms, and, I swear, room decorations that rivaled a Hollywood set designer. And, you can ask for extra long bed and additional toilet.
Food, Glorious Food (and the Buffet Debacle)
- Dining Delights: Okay, so, let's talk food. A la carte in the restaurant, Asian cuisine, Western cuisine, and vegetarian restaurants… options galore! I mostly stuck to the breakfast buffet, which… well, it had its moments. The buffet itself was vast, with an array of breakfast [buffet] items: Coffee/tea in restaurant, desserts in restaurant, salad in restaurant, soup in restaurant… It was like they had restaurants built inside the restaurant! You never knew what you'd find. But the omelet station? Let's just say my first attempt was a culinary disaster; I ended up with scrambled egg-like substance! Thankfully, the room service [24-hour] was excellent, and the bottle of water in the room was a godsend.
- The Buffet Experience: The breakfast buffet, honestly, was a bit of a jungle, particularly at peak times. The breakfast service was efficient, but the noise level could be a bit overwhelming. Maybe I'm turning into a grumpy old man.
- Drinking & Snacking: Bar, poolside bar, coffee shop, and a snack bar – all the essentials covered. And if you're feeling fancy, there's happy hour!
Relax, Rejuvenate, and…Recover (From the Elevator)
- Spa Vibes: Now, this is where the hotel truly shines. The spa! It had a sauna, steamroom, and massage that was so good, I almost fell asleep mid-knead. They also offered a body scrub and a body wrap. The fitness center was well-equipped, and I actually did use it (shock, horror!). The pool with a view deserves special mention. I spent hours just floating, gazing at the city below, and feeling completely relaxed. The foot bath, I'll have to admit, I skipped; it was on my list though.
- Things to Do (Beyond the Pool): Laundry service was a lifesaver. The concierge were super helpful in arranging tours and activities. Business facilities and meeting/banquet facilities were there, but I did not use them.
Cleanliness, Safety, and Other Important Stuff
- Safety First: I felt very safe. They have CCTV in common areas and outside property. Fire extinguisher, smoke alarms, a security [24-hour], safe dining setup, staff trained in safety protocol… all the necessary precautions. They also offered room sanitization opt-out available – which made me happy. Hand sanitizer was readily available.
- Hygiene Habits: Every staff member I encountered followed the physical distancing of at least 1 meter, and there was daily disinfection in common areas. The rooms were sanitized between stays, and they used anti-viral cleaning products. Individually-wrapped food options were available.
Services and Conveniences (The Little Things That Matter)
- Conveniences Galore: Cash withdrawal? Check. Currency exchange? Check. Elevator? (Okay, we’ve covered this.) Doorman? Yes. Dry cleaning? Yes. Facilities for disabled guests? Appears to be some, but not intimately assessed by me. Food delivery? Indeed. Gift/souvenir shop? Yep. Invoice provided? Yes. Luggage storage? Convenient. On-site event hosting? Very nice. Safety deposit boxes? Always useful. Smoking area? Necessary. Terrace? A lovely place to drink your coffee.
For the Kids & Other Details!
- This wasn't on my radar, but they had babysitting service and kids facilities. It’s definitely a family/child friendly hotel (at least, that's what they say).
- Pet Policy: I do not have any information, so I couldn't give any input.
The Odd Bits & Bobs
- Cashless payment service: Yay for ease!
- Doctor/nurse on call: Always a good thing to have.
- Car park [free of charge] and, separately, car park [on-site]! Very confusing.
- Check-in/out [express] and check-in/out [private]!
Alright, buckle up, buttercup, because we're about to dive headfirst into my Batumi adventure, specifically the Seaview-Studio Apartment on the 45th floor of Orbi City. Forget pristine itineraries and perfectly scheduled events. This is going to be less "Travel Planner Extraordinaire" and more "Chaotic Human Unleashed on the Shores of the Black Sea." Ready? Here we go…
Day 1: Arrival & High-Altitude Hysteria
- 06:00 AM (ish): The alarm blares, a truly heinous sound betraying a 4 AM wake-up call to catch that flight. I'm pretty sure I dreamt of a giant donut, and my brain is still stuck in that sugary reverie. Ugh.
- 06:30 AM: Taxi to the airport. Tried to look chic, failed miserably. Managed to spill coffee on my new (and probably overpriced) white linen trousers before even reaching the departure gates. Fantastic start.
- 11.00 AM: Landed in Batumi. Holy moly, the humidity! Feels like I've walked into a giant, warm, slightly-fishy hug. Airport chaos ensues. Finding a pre-booked shuttle feels like trying to find a specific grain of sand on a beach. Eventually, success!
- 12:30 PM: Arrive at "Orbi City" – sounds majestic, right? It's… well, it’s tall. Very tall. My apartment, on the 45th floor. I am terrified of heights, but hey, seaview, right?
- 1:00 PM: The elevator ride. Pure adrenaline. My stomach is currently trying to decide whether to be impressed or evacuate everything. The view from the apartment… breathtaking. Utterly, stupidly, melt-your-face-off breathtaking. I spent a good ten minutes just staring, mouth agape, at the Black Sea. The reality of my room is a bit of a mixed bag. Modern, minimalist, and the air conditioning is a tad loud. But that view… I think I'll forgive a noisy AC.
- 2:00 PM: Unpack (mostly). Accidentally left half my clothes in London. Because of course, I did.
- 3:00 PM: First foray into Batumi: Wandered around the Old Town. Beautiful architecture, but the cobblestones? Pure ankle-twisting torture. Found a charming little cafe and ordered coffee. Not a cappuccino, the Georgian coffee is STRONG. I'm fairly certain I could wallpaper a room with how awake I am.
- 4:00 PM: "The Ferris Wheel." Okay, so maybe I wasn't ready for the heights. I was like a frightened kitten in a washing machine. Cried a little. Took pictures anyway. For proof.
- 6:00 PM: Dinner at a restaurant near the port. My Georgian food virginity was broken with Khachapuri (cheese bread of the gods, seriously) and Khinkali (soup dumplings). My face is still a mess from trying to eat the khinkali properly. I gave up and just devoured them with reckless abandon.
- 8:00 PM: Back to the apartment. Sat on the balcony, sipping local wine, watching the sunset. Seriously, the view. Did I mention the view? Just… wow.
- 9:00 PM: Fell asleep, fully clothed, on the (slightly firm) bed.
Day 2: Beach Bums and Botanical Gardens (Maybe)
- 09:00 AM (ish): Woke up. The sunrise painted the sea in glorious shades of pink and orange. I felt… almost human. Made some instant coffee. Tried to find the iron. Failed.
- 10:00 AM: Aimed for the beach. Failed. The wind was whipping. Decided to go back and re-evaluate. My inner sun worshiper is currently staging a protest.
- 11:00 AM: Breakfast. Found a bakery with phenomenal achma (cheese-filled pastry). Spent an embarrassing amount of time trying to communicate in broken Georgian and hand gestures. Success! Bought far too much, but no regrets.
- 12:00 PM: Another shot at the beach. This time, a little less chaos. Sat and watched the waves. It's a stark contrast to the pristine beaches of the Maldives. This is more… rugged. And a little bit gritty. And I kinda love it.
- 1:00 PM: Got sand in (and everywhere else). I'm pretty sure I swallowed half the Black Sea.
- 2:00 PM: Lunch. Decided to be brave and try another Georgian dish: Lobio (bean stew). Surprisingly delicious!
- 3:00 PM: Attempted the Botanical Garden. It's huge. And hilly. And my legs are already screaming. Went as far as the entrance. Admitted defeat. I'll go back, I swear. But only after a nap.
- 4:00 PM: Nap. An excellent decision.
- 5:00 PM: Wandered around the streets again. Batumi is a fascinating mix of old and new. Think crumbling Soviet-era buildings next to gleaming skyscrapers. It's both beautiful and a bit bonkers.
- 6:00 PM: Found a small art gallery. Had no idea what anything was, but enjoyed it anyway.
- 7:00 PM: Dinner. Tried the local fish. A bit bony, but fresh. Tried to order a beer. Somehow ended up with a glass of chacha (Georgian moonshine! Apparently). It hit me like a brick.
- 8:00 PM: Staggered back to the apartment.
- 9:00 PM: Decided to write in my journal. Then promptly dropped it in a puddle somewhere and gave up. Fell into bed and passed out.
Day 3: Exploring beyond the Tourist Bubble (And a Near Disaster)
- 09:00 AM: Refueled with Achma. Thank goodness for Achma.
- 10:00 AM: Decided to be adventurous. Took a marshrutka (mini-bus). The ride was a white-knuckle experience. The driver seemed to think the steering wheel was optional.
- 11:00 AM: Visited "Gonio Fortress." Ancient history! I tried to look knowledgeable, but I probably resembled a bewildered tourist.
- 12:00 PM: Walked along the Gonio beach. So much quieter than Batumi.
- 1:00 PM: Ate lunch at a local restaurant. They didn't speak much English, and I didn't speak much Georgian, but somehow we managed to order a plate of Mtsvadi (grilled meat). Delicious!
- 2:00 PM: Marshrutka back to Batumi. The driver was a bit less terrifying this time. Maybe I'm getting used to it. Or maybe I've just embraced the chaos.
- 3:00 PM: Back in the apartment. Took a shower. Suddenly the water pressure vanished. Called the reception, and had a meltdown. I really wanted to chill in the apartment. "No Water" is the story of this trip.
- 4:00 PM: Went out for another stroll.
- 6:00 PM: Dinner. Another restaurant near the port. The food is so good, I'm genuinely worried about returning home to my cooking.
- 7:00 PM: The most important experience of the trip. I did not want to fall in love with Georgia. But the people, the food, the culture… I had to succumb. Went to a Georgian wine tasting
- 9:00 PM: Sat on the balcony and watched the lights of Batumi twinkle. Reflecting on just how much I've loved this city.
- 10:00 PM: Packing. Trying to decide how to fit a Georgian wine bottle.
Day 4: Departure & Hangovers
- 07:00 AM: Wake up call. Ugh.
- 07:30 AM: Coffee.
- 08:00 AM: Get to the airport. Check-in.
- 10:00 AM: In the air, looking down on the beautiful Batumi.
- 11:00 AM: A trip to Georgia.
Reflections (or lack thereof):
Look, this wasn't a perfect trip. Far from it. I got lost, I messed up speaking and had a slight fear. But you know what? It was real. It was messy. It was fun. I've tasted the food of a new country, fallen in love with some beautiful places, and a city that I'm already missing. And, most importantly, I survived. Bring on the next adventure!
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Batumi's Breathtaking Seaview Apartment: 45th Floor Luxury! (But, Seriously Though...) - Your Questions Answered
Is the view *really* as amazing as it looks in the pictures? Because, let's be honest, photos are often…optimistic.
Okay, buckle up buttercup, because yes. YES. The view? It's not just "amazing." It's the kind of amazing that makes you briefly question your entire life's trajectory. Like, "Did I *really* spend the last 30 years in accounting? Should I have been a…a…*professional cloud gazer*?!".
Seriously. I walked in, dropped my bags, and just…stood there. Mouth agape. For a solid fifteen minutes. The sea, the city lights twinkling…it's like being in a damn James Bond movie. Except I was in sweatpants, eating instant noodles I'd brought from home. Still, Bond-esque in spirit!
Okay, there's one slight caveat. On a *really* foggy day…you can see the…well, it's like you're in a giant, luxurious cotton ball. But even then, it's kind of cool. The "mystery" of it all. Like, "What wondrous things are hidden in the mist?!" (Spoiler alert: Probably more apartment buildings.)
What's the deal with the elevator? Are you constantly waiting? I've heard horror stories about high-rise elevators!
Ugh, the elevator. Okay, let's be real. This is not the fastest elevator on the planet. Sometimes, I’d swear a sloth was working the controls. One time, I was so late for a fancy dinner (fancy, for me, is wearing a shirt that’s not covered in cat hair), and I was *this close* to just climbing down the fire escape. 44 floors… (shudders).
So, yes, you *might* wait. Especially during peak hours. Pack a book. Or, better yet, embrace the wait. Meditate on the fleeting nature of time. Or, you know, scroll through TikTok. Whatever floats your luxurious, 45th-floor apartment boat.
But, and this is a BIG BUT, the view from the elevator during the ascent? Pretty spectacular. So, a trade-off. Like, I wouldn't say I *love* the wait, but I've gotten used to it. And the elevator music? Occasionally, it's…questionable. But mostly innocuous elevator-y stuff. You know.
How noisy is it with the wind up that high? I'm a light sleeper.
Okay, so this is a real concern, especially if you're like my Aunt Mildred, who can hear a pin drop *five* floors down. Honestly? It depends. Some nights? Peaceful. Utter silence, broken only by the soothing roar of the sea (which, let's be honest, is more comforting than noisy). Other nights? WOOSH!
The wind, my friends, can be a *character* up that high. Some nights it's like a gentle lullaby. Other nights it's like a banshee is trying to break into your apartment. I'm not kidding. I swear, one night… I thought I was going to be swept out the window! (Dramatic, I know.)
So, pack some earplugs. Seriously. And maybe a white noise machine. Or, you know, become nocturnal. The wind is less dramatic when you're awake to be annoyed by it. I have not implemented this yet, but I think it is viable.
The apartment is luxurious, right? What about the *actual* luxury? And by that, I mean the creature comforts. Is the Wi-Fi decent? Is the shower hot?
Alright, let's get down to brass tacks, shall we? Luxury? Well, yes. The marble floors are gorgeous, the furniture is…modern, and the glass walls are amazing. But, but, but…the devil's in the details. The Wi-Fi? Fine. Sometimes. Occasionally, it’s like dial-up in 2023. It can be wildly infuriating, especially when you're trying to stream a movie and it buffers for five minutes. I nearly threw my laptop out the window more than once.
The shower? Ahhh, the shower. On the plus side, the water pressure is like a glorious, all-over massage. On the *minus* side…the hot water situation can be a bit…temperamental. One minute, you're basking in tropical bliss, the next you're doing the ice bucket challenge in your underwear. It's an adventure! Really, it is. Prepare for surprises. And probably, invest in a loofah. You'll need it after the arctic blast.
Minor issue: The AC wasn't fantastic. It kind of struggled. Then one day the fan stopped working. It was glorious, it was hellish. I learned to live with it. Embrace it. This is life! It's not perfect! It's a story!
Is the kitchen well-equipped? I LOVE to cook!
Okay, fellow foodies, listen up! The kitchen…it's…functional. Let's go with functional. There are appliances. A fridge. A stove. A microwave. The basics. But don't expect Michelin-star quality equipment, you know?
The knives? Dull. The pots and pans? A bit…seen better days. I'd recommend bringing your own chef's knife, unless you enjoy slicing tomatoes with the grace of a drunken walrus. I spent WAY too long trying to cut a bell pepper and wishing I had brought my own cutlery. It was a mess! (And yes, I am still slightly traumatized.)
There were, however, some lovely wine glasses. So, you know, priorities. I could *almost* overlook the dull knives when I was overlooking the ocean, from my 45th-floor perch, with a glass of Georgian wine. *Almost*.
What's the neighborhood like? Is it safe?
Okay, the neighborhood. It’s Batumi, which is generally pretty safe. I wandered about pretty late at night and never experienced any issues. The building itself. It's swanky. Lots of fancy cars and people in fancy clothes. And, I am very pleased to report, there were no incidents of any kind.
There's restaurants nearby, and touristy places, but you're also close to the beach, so you're not exactly slumming it. However, always be aware of your surroundings, anywhere you go. But yes, I feel pretty safe. Especially when I lock the door to my 45th-floor fortress and bask in the glory of that view.
Any hidden fees or surprises I should be aware of?
