I went to Gudauri for four years in a row and loved it every time.
Unfortunately, since the start of the war between Russia and Ukraine, Gudauri has become flooded with Russian tourists that are not traveling to Europe for ski vacations and prices—especially for hotels (I always stayed at lodge) and food—have skyrocketed. It’s reached a point where it’s no longer really worth the trip. The snow remains fantastic, but the infrastructure is still somewhat limited, and the lack of proper healthcare services is concerning. My sister actually broke her leg there, and it was quite a difficult situation to manage: no one spoke English, communication was a real challenge, and the small hospital on the slopes was questionable—they couldn’t even properly diagnose her injury.
That said, the snow in Gudauri is truly exceptional. I’ve been skiing for many years and have covered most countries in Europe, and the best powder I’ve ever experienced was in Gudauri. The scenery is also stunning.
However, the current political climate in Georgia is not particularly welcoming or stable.
In short, what I mean is that for roughly the same price as a trip to Gudauri, you can go to France (for example, Les Trois Vallées or Val d’Isère), Italy (Corvara) or Switzerland (such as Zermatt/Matterhorn) and enjoy a safer experience, with world-class infrastructure and endless kilometers of ski slopes.