Articles · for expats in Batumi
Moving to Batumi: a tech checklist for your first week
I have helped many newcomers settle in Batumi — and the same questions come up every time. Here is the checklist I go through with expats in their first week, so that your phone, laptop and internet simply work.
Phone and mobile internet
- Get a local SIM or eSIM in the first days — the main mobile operators have shops across the city, and you will need a Georgian number for many local services.
- Keep your home-country SIM active, or move your two-factor codes to an authenticator app: many banks still send login codes by SMS.
- Save your important contacts and codes before you swap SIM cards.
Home internet
- Most new buildings have fibre. Ask your landlord which provider is already connected — switching can take days.
- Concrete walls in new apartment blocks eat Wi-Fi signal: plan where the router goes before the installer leaves.
- For a large flat, a mesh system or a second access point works better than a stronger router.
Power and plugs
- Georgia uses 220 V / 50 Hz and European plugs (types C and F). Laptop and phone chargers usually handle this; check older devices before plugging in.
- Use a good surge protector for your computer and TV — short power cuts and voltage spikes can happen, especially in storms.
- UK and US plugs need adapters; buy a couple of quality ones rather than the cheapest.
Your laptop
- Add the keyboard layouts you need — English, Russian, Georgian — and a quick switching shortcut.
- Back up everything before and after the move: one copy in the cloud, one on an external drive.
- Turn on disk encryption (BitLocker or FileVault) — a lost laptop then does not mean lost data.
Need a hand?
I do exactly this for expats: a home visit in English, Russian or Georgian — internet, Wi-Fi, laptop, printer and TV set up in one go. You get the price before I come.
FAQ
Questions and answers
Can you help in English?
Yes. I am a qualified English teacher, and I work in English, Russian and Georgian.
How quickly can you come?
In Batumi, usually within 1–2 hours during the day.
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