A surrogacy journey abroad can mean weeks — sometimes months — away from home. Where you stay shapes everything: your comfort, your rest, your ability to be present for the moments that matter. Orbi arranges accommodation that feels like a home, not a hotel room in a strange city.
When you arrive in Tbilisi or Yerevan, you have enough to think about. You don't need to be hunting for apartments on booking platforms, worrying about whether a neighbourhood is safe at night, or discovering on arrival that your accommodation isn't prepared for a newborn. That uncertainty is exhausting — and entirely avoidable.
Orbi selects and arranges accommodation based on criteria that matter for an international surrogacy journey: proximity to the clinic, verified safety, adequate space, reliable internet, baby-appropriate infrastructure, and the kind of quiet that lets you rest and recover. Every property we use has been assessed by our in-country coordinators — not chosen from a website.
We arrange stays for every phase of your journey: your initial medical visit, the embryo transfer period, the weeks leading up to birth, and the post-birth documentation wait. Each phase has different needs, and we tailor the arrangement accordingly.
Tbilisi is a genuinely beautiful, walkable city with a rich cultural character and an excellent standard of modern serviced apartments. The areas we work with are safe, well-serviced, and within easy reach of the clinics, government offices, and the Australian Embassy — all the places you'll need to go.
We arrange stays primarily in Vake, Saburtalo, and central Tbilisi — modern, safe residential and commercial zones with good infrastructure, green space, and convenient access to both the clinic and the city centre.
All properties are chosen to be within a short drive of your clinic. During the post-birth documentation period — when you may be making daily or near-daily embassy and clinic visits — that proximity matters enormously for managing a newborn's schedule.
Tbilisi has modern supermarkets, international pharmacies, baby supply stores, and a wide range of restaurants and cafés. Our coordinators can point you to exactly what you need and, if required, assist with shopping runs during your first days in-country.
Georgia has warm summers and cold winters. We ensure all properties have adequate climate control — air conditioning for summer stays and heating for winter arrivals — and brief you on what to expect and what to pack for the season of your visit.
Georgia has reliable mobile data networks and our apartments have high-speed broadband. We also help you arrange a local SIM card on arrival so you're connected from the moment you land — essential for communicating with your coordinator and your family at home.
Every property we use is in a secured building with verified access. Our coordinators have personally assessed each accommodation for safety and reliability. You will never arrive to find a property that doesn't match what was described.
Yerevan is a compact, welcoming city known for its warmth and hospitality. The city's relatively small footprint means the clinic, government offices, and the Australian Embassy are all accessible within a short commute — which makes the post-birth documentation period considerably easier to manage than in larger capitals.
We focus on central Yerevan — the areas around Northern Avenue, Kentron, and the Republic Square district — which offer modern apartments, safe streets, and walking access to the city's main amenities. Compact city layout means nothing is ever far.
Yerevan's manageable size means clinic appointments and Australian Embassy visits can often be done by car in under 20 minutes. Our coordinator arranges all transport so you are never navigating unfamiliar streets with a newborn and a pile of embassy documents.
Yerevan has well-stocked supermarkets, pharmacies, and international baby product stores. The local food is excellent and the city has a growing café culture. Our coordinators know exactly which stores carry international brands and which pharmacies stock the medications you might need.
Armenia has hot dry summers and cold winters, with mild spring and autumn conditions. We brief you on the climate for your planned visit dates and confirm that your accommodation has appropriate heating or cooling. We also advise on what to bring for a newborn in the local climate.
Armenians are genuinely warm and welcoming to international visitors — particularly families. Our coordinator helps you navigate social and cultural norms so your interactions with locals, neighbours, and service staff feel comfortable and respectful from the start.
Yerevan's Zvartnots International Airport has growing connections from Australia via hub cities. Our coordinator arranges your airport pickup on arrival, and departure logistics are coordinated carefully around your baby's documentation readiness to avoid any last-minute scrambles.
A surrogacy journey involves multiple visits, each with different duration and needs. Orbi arranges the right property for each phase — not a one-size-fits-all solution.
For initial consultations, IVF procedures, or embryo transfer visits where your in-country time is focused and time-bound.
Arriving 4–6 weeks before the expected due date to be in-country for the final stages of pregnancy and ready for the birth.
The longest phase — waiting for birth registration, DNA results, citizenship, and passport while caring for a newborn.
We don't wait for you to land and then figure things out. Everything below is arranged, confirmed, and ready — so your arrival is calm, not chaotic.
Both Tbilisi and Yerevan have international pharmacies stocking most common medications and baby products. We brief you on locations and what to bring from Australia.
International formula, nappies, and baby care products are available locally. We stock the apartment with essentials before you arrive and can assist with restocking during your stay.
Both Georgia and Armenia use local currencies. We guide you on the best way to access cash, which ATMs to use, and whether card payments are accepted where you're going.
Local SIM cards with generous data plans are inexpensive and easy to set up. We arrange this for you on arrival so you're connected to us, your family, and your work from day one.
All clinic, hospital, embassy, and government office transport is coordinated by Orbi. For independent travel, both cities have reliable ride-hailing apps that work seamlessly.
Both cities have excellent local cuisine and a range of international options. Your coordinator can recommend restaurants near your accommodation and assist with any dietary requirements.
We provide you with a list of English-friendly private hospitals and emergency contacts in both cities. Your coordinator is always the first call in any health concern.
All extended-stay properties include a washing machine. For longer post-birth stays, we can arrange periodic housekeeping assistance so you can focus entirely on your newborn.
| Consideration | 🇬🇪 Tbilisi, Georgia | 🇦🇲 Yerevan, Armenia |
|---|---|---|
| City size | Large — ~1.2 million | Compact — ~1.1 million |
| Language | Georgian (unique script) | Armenian (unique script) |
| English availability | Moderate in central areas | Moderate in central areas |
| Apartment quality | High — modern central stock | High — growing modern supply |
| Clinic proximity | 15–25 min from central areas | 10–20 min from central areas |
| Australian Embassy | ✓ In-city | ✓ In-city |
| International pharmacy | ✓ Multiple locations | ✓ Multiple locations |
| Baby supply stores | ✓ Available | ✓ Available |
| Ride-hailing apps | ✓ Bolt, Yandex | ✓ GG Taxi, Yandex |
| Climate (summer) | Hot — 30–35°C typical | Hot & dry — 32–38°C |
| Climate (winter) | Cold — 0–5°C, occasional snow | Cold — -5 to 5°C, snow likely |
| Direct flights from AU | Via Dubai, Istanbul, Doha | Via Dubai, Istanbul, Doha |
| Flight time from Sydney | ~20–22 hours with connection | ~20–22 hours with connection |
| Currency | Georgian Lari (GEL) | Armenian Dram (AMD) |
| Card payments | Widely accepted | Growing acceptance |
As soon as your travel dates are confirmed — ideally at least 3–4 weeks in advance for short stays, and 6–8 weeks for extended pre-birth or post-birth periods. During peak surrogacy periods, quality central apartments can be in high demand, so early confirmation is always better. For your post-birth stay, where the exact duration cannot be known in advance, we arrange the property on a flexible basis that can be extended week by week as the documentation process progresses.
This is one of the most common scenarios, and we plan for it. All post-birth accommodation is arranged with built-in flexibility for extension. We maintain close communication with the property manager and your coordinator so that any extension is handled without disruption. You will never be in a position of scrambling for new accommodation in the middle of an already stressful documentation process. We also work hard to keep the documentation timeline on track to minimise the length of your stay.
Accommodation costs are not included in the clinic package price — they are a separate expense. Orbi arranges the accommodation and coordinates all logistics, but you pay for the property directly. Costs vary depending on the city, the type of property, and the duration of stay. We provide a realistic cost estimate during your initial consultation so you can budget accurately. Tbilisi and Yerevan are both considerably more affordable than Australian cities — quality central apartments are available at a fraction of equivalent Sydney or Melbourne rates.
You can, but we don't recommend it for extended or post-birth stays. Booking platforms don't allow you to assess safety, building access, or the actual condition of a property before you arrive — and with a newborn, arriving to find an unsuitable apartment is not a minor inconvenience. Our coordinator has physically assessed every property we use. We know the buildings, the owners, and the neighbourhoods. For short medical visit stays where flexibility matters, a platform booking may be fine — but even then, we're happy to advise on areas to avoid and what to look for.
Absolutely. Many families bring a parent, sibling, or close friend for support — particularly during the post-birth period. We arrange apartments with the full group size in mind, and we're happy to look for properties that can accommodate additional guests. Let us know who will be travelling during your initial planning discussion and we'll ensure the accommodation is sized accordingly. Having support people with you during the documentation wait can make an enormous difference to your wellbeing.
Your Orbi coordinator is your first call. They have an established relationship with the property owner or manager and can resolve maintenance issues, equipment problems, or other concerns quickly — in the local language, without you having to manage an awkward communication across a language barrier. If a problem cannot be resolved and the property is genuinely unsuitable to continue in, we have backup options and will arrange an alternative as quickly as possible. We've never had a family without a place to sleep.
Every journey is different — different timelines, different group sizes, different needs. Book a free consultation and we'll walk you through exactly what accommodation looks like for your specific programme in Georgia or Armenia.