Overview of building

Living right on the beach is certainly a dream, but the reality turned out to be harsh because the humidity here is off the charts. Clothes in the closet start to smell damp after just a week, and we had to buy a powerful dehumidifier that runs 24/7. The sea view makes up for all the downsides, but in winter, the panoramic windows are so cold that our child crawls on the floor only in a warm suit.

Let me say right away: this is a place with a "wow" factor, but it requires compromises. Its main advantage over neighboring aparthotels is the presence of gas heating (be sure to check if there's a boiler; some apartments don't!).

It's a noisy area in general, and lately there's been a constant hum at night.

There was a problem with hot water in the apartment - the boiler somehow didn't work properly, and the water was either too cold or too hot

I chose this house not for its pretty eyes, but because it's Gumbati. In Batumi, that means the walls aren't made of cardboard, and the façade won't peel in a year. The apartment is dry. That's the main thing. There's a gas boiler, and the radiators keep the heat up. In the winter, I pay pennies for gas compared to those who rely on air conditioners in glass windows. But the layout... I have a "European-style two-bedroom," where the bedroom has no window (a blind room). That's how they like to build here. It seems cheaper, but there's not enough air. I had to fix the ventilation myself.

For those who don't know, the main problem in Batumi is mold. Well, Yalcin was built by Turks, and you can tell. The apartment is really dry and very warm. We have a gas boiler; in winter, we turn it down to low, and the house is in Tashkent. The dog sleeps on the floor without a bed, and I'm not afraid of drafts. The layout here is reasonable: we have a full-size two-room apartment with a separate kitchen (a rarity in Batumi, where there are mostly studio apartments).

It's best to have an apartment away from the elevator lobby and stairwells, as the doors slam loudly in the wind. The best views are toward Turkey from the 25th floor and above. The windows have a permanent ventilation gap, without a damper, which can let in cold air in the winter.

The apartment is typical for Batumi: a huge kitchen-living room and a windowless bedroom (or one with a window facing a well), proudly called a "Euro-two-bedroom." The main problem is the constant battle with mold in the winter, as the ventilation is spotty, and the humidity is 100%. The gas heating (boiler) is a lifesaver; without it, we'd die here, but the gas bills are exorbitant. The layout is silly, with lots of useless corners, but for the price ($400), it's a tolerable option.

Electricity reliability is better than in the surrounding area, thanks to our own supplier. However, the cost is high due to the commercial tariff and the lack of gas for heating, leading to high bills in winter (up to 300 lari can be incurred).

Expectation/Reality. The renderings make it look like a Hilton, but in reality, you're living on a premium construction site. The lobby is luxurious—marble, a grand piano (just kidding, there's no grand piano, but it looks expensive), and the reception is like a 5-star hotel. BUT! The elevators are often lined with plywood because they're hauling construction materials. The hallways are dusty from apartment renovations. It will be amazing when they finish, but for now, we have to wait patiently and humbly.