Lonely Planet Georgia, Armenia & Azerbaijan (Travel Guide) Paperback – February 1, 2022

Positive comments！

While it's interesting to read about the commonalities, I had hoped for more information on each single country.

I went to Armenia and Georgia and this book was great for that trip. Airport transfer info, hotels, historical stuff, neighbourhoods etc. Good on-the-ground knowledge.The overnight train from Yerevan to Tbilisi was great and the book has that info inside.It has been a while since I have traveled with a Lonely Planet but they are still great books to have, even in the interwebs.

The past editions of this book usually held up over a few years, it would be impossible for this one though. Since the book was published February 1st 2022 and Russia invaded Ukraine February 24th of 2022, things have radically changed. The most important thing is how many Russians and Ukrainians have come into Georgia and Armenia. Well over one hundred thousand Russians fleeing Putin's Russia have come to Tbilisi. Prices have gone UP. Inflation has risen by at least 25%. And renting a long term apartment has at become much more expensive. Life is good here, but culturally its quite different. Add to that the fact that these things were happening just as the pandemic was ending, we really need a seriously updated edition, maybe the 2024 Bradt Guide for Georgia will address the new realities.

I visited most of the places recommended by the guide book and loved them, it is a a great guide…Although, like all Lonely Planet guides, it’s approach to touring is very anglo-centric and it’s especially russo/soviet phobic… but that doesn’t take from the quality of the information, you just need to understand there’s a bias and judge art and architecture by what it is, its context and how it feels to you…