Trying to plan ahead so any know if card payments are common at hostels in Georgia or cash is king?
My experience: in Tbilisi, card was fine in the bigger hostels near Freedom Square, but in Gori and Kutaisi, hostels wanted cash. Bank of Georgia ATMs worked best with my foreign card. If avoiding last-minute stress is your goal, withdraw enough lari when you arrive in Tbilisi. You’ll thank yourself later, especially if heading into the mountains where hostels simply don’t take card.
I stayed in three hostels in Tbilisi and only one actually swiped my card - the other two wanted cash. In Mestia, it was cash-only with no negotiation. ATMs are reliable in Tbilisi, but in mountain areas they can run out of cash. For planning, cards are convenient in the capital, but Georgia is still a cash-heavy country for hostels overall.
Georgia is mixed. My hostel in Batumi accepted Mastercard at check-in, but in Kutaisi, cash was the only way. Even in Tbilisi, one smaller hostel preferred cash even though they had a terminal. Bank of Georgia and TBC Bank ATMs are everywhere in cities, so cash isn’t hard to find. Just don’t assume cards will be accepted everywhere.
In Tbilisi, hostels in Old Town and near Rustaveli were card-friendly - my Visa worked without problems. But once I traveled to Kazbegi, the hostel only took cash and told me to use the Liberty Bank ATM in town. Same in Svaneti; cards were useless. If you’re planning ahead, expect cards in Tbilisi and Batumi, but carry plenty of lari for mountain regions.