Our Amazing Hotel and Fun on The Black Sea in Batumi, Georgia
We kicked off another amazing part of our Georgia trip in full luxury mode. Welcome to the Paragraph Resort and Spa, one of the few seven-star hotels in the world, located in Shekvetili near Batumi. It’s a bold claim, but once you’re here, you get it. This place is part tropical escape, part playground for grown-ups, and part luxury on the Black Sea.
Our first stop was the resort’s massive sports complex. Table tennis, basketball, tennis, even a full ropes and zip line course. Ryan was almost ready to test his soccer skills but didn’t have the right shoes. They also rent bikes if you want to explore the property on wheels.
Inside the hotel, we walked through a dramatic aquarium tunnel that opens into a tropical garden. The lobby itself feels more like a modern museum than a hotel entrance. The spa includes all the typical services, plus extras like haircuts.
One of our favorite parts? The water park. Several huge slides that can make any adult feel like a kids! Outside, you’ll find Europe’s largest outdoor pool. It jets out westward directly into the black sea, creating a stunning viewing deck for the gorgeous sunsets.
Thanks to our Marriott Bonvoy status and the kindness of Maria at the front desk, we landed the presidential suite. Calling it a room doesn’t do it justice. This place is larger than our actual house. We’re talking multiple bedrooms and bathrooms, a kitchenette, two fireplaces, an office, and a wrap-around balcony with enough lounge chairs to host a pool party. The master bathroom had a sauna and a soaking tub with a television. It’s going to be a tough hotel to top.
After soaking up luxury, we took a day trip into Batumi, about 40 minutes south. It’s the second-largest city in Georgia and feels totally different from Tbilisi or Stepantsminda. It has its own energy; modern, weird, and fun.
Our first stop was Batumi Boulevard. It runs along the coastline and has carnival rides, a beach, and the usual Georgian surprise, a funicular. The beach here isn’t soft sand, though. It’s mostly pebbles, but the local dogs love it.
We stopped to see the Alphabet Tower, which honors Georgia’s unique language. It has the 33 characters of the alphabet. We didn’t go up, but the design alone is worth a look. Another landmark, the moving sculpture of Ali and Nino, tells the story of forbidden love between a Georgian princess and an Azerbaijani nobleman. Every 30 minutes, the figures merge into one, then separate again.
Ryan braved a ride on the giant Ferris wheel. He may have regretted that decision once we were up top. Spoiler, he did.
Batumi’s skyline is a mashup of Soviet grit, sleek skyscrapers, and oddball architecture like the Le Meridien Hotel, which has a Ferris wheel built into its side. This city doesn’t try to make sense—it just exists in layers.
We found the Baklava House near the main square, and it lived up to the hype. The baklava is shipped in directly from Gaziantep, Turkey, and it was some of the best we’ve had. Sweet, flaky, buttery, AMAZING!
Before heading back to the resort, we stopped for a classic Georgian dish, Adjarian khachapuri. It’s a boat-shaped bread filled with cheese, butter, and an egg. You mix it all up and scoop it with the crust. Don’t use a fork or knife. That’s not how it works. The result is cheesy, messy, and perfect.
If you want to see the resort, the khachapuri, and Ryan’s terrified face on the Ferris wheel, check out the full video on our YouTube channel here:
