Why are paid lifts in Batumi and how to use them

Now Batumi is a rapidly developing tourist center of Georgia. A long, well-equipped embankment, the proximity of mountains, futuristic skyscrapers and, of course, the climate are what attracts our compatriots.

Moreover, many here speak Russian, that is, the problem of the language barrier disappears. In addition, out of season (that is, from November to May) in an already relatively budgetary city you can live for mere pennies: an apartment with a sea or mountain view will cost from 10 thousand rubles a month.

But it's not that simple. So, this price does not include electricity charges - from above you will have to add another 2 thousand rubles or more. But there is also a completely unexpected expense item for us: the fee for using the elevator.

So, in most houses in Batumi you have to pay for the ascent (and sometimes for the descent) by elevator. As far as I know, prices vary, but in all skyscrapers on the coast, the standard tax is 20 Georgian kopecks (tetri), or almost 4.5 rubles.

Why does everyone pay for the lift separately?

The fact is that the maintenance of elevators is often given to individual private companies, so the fees for using them are not included in the standard "communal". But naturally, no one will follow them for free. It would seem that it is possible to simply arrange a “common cash desk” at home, but friendly Georgians take a principled position on such issues. The logic is simple: everyone will throw off an equal amount, and the neighbor will ride the elevator twice as often as I do. It's unfair! So everyone pays for himself.

How it works?

There are three ways to pay for the lift: there is a box directly inside where you throw coins; with the help of a chip (looks like a “tablet” we are used to from an intercom); or using a card. Since I was faced with the last option, I will tell you more about it.

The card option is common in new buildings where apartments are rented. Accordingly, there is a reception there like in hotels - so you need to contact its employees in order to credit money to the balance. This can be done both in cash and by card.

Each elevator contains detailed instructions on how to use the card, moreover, most often it is duplicated in Russian. It would seem that everything is simple: I leaned the map against the sensor, pressed the desired floor - and you go. But there is a nuance: you need to poke the button of the required floor really quickly: more than once it happened that I hesitated for a couple of seconds and the money paid was burned.

Of course, you can always save money. For example, wait until someone else of the residents wants to take the elevator, and walk the difference in floors. Or, a Georgian trick I spied on (suitable for those who do not live alone): you enter the elevator on the first floor, call the person who is waiting for you at the right one. Voila, you are wonderful and saved as much as 4.5 rubles!

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