score:4
The minibuses leaving from Didube station in Tbilisi cost about GEL10 and take around three hours; they'll take you into Kazbegi (Stepantsminda) town. You don't need to speak Georgian. The signs for the Kazbegi minibuses are (at least often) in the Latin alphabet in addition to Georgian--although Kazbegi is often transliterated as Qazbegi--and the drivers will speak enough English to work out the essentials with tourists.
Kazbegi (Stepantsminda) town is a small place, and there are always people willing to drive you from the minibus station to anywhere in the surrounds (including your hotel) for the right price.