In the guesthouse of the Empress and other Ethiopia Hotel/Accommodation Reviews

In the Piazza, the Italian area of Addis Abeba, Empress Taitu, the wife of Emperor Menelik, built in 1907 the first governmental hotel for the imperial and governmental guests.

Nowadays it's one of the cheap hotels in this area. There are several buildings in the compound. The old original building looks very nice with its high ceilings, traditional furniture and creaking floors.
In this building you can find the restaurant and bar and some spacious rooms. The most rooms are situated in the other buildings annex, with or without private bathrooms.

There is a nice garden and terrace with a nice view at the surrounding mountains.


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Theme: Hotel
Comparison: least expensive
Prices: less than US$20  » Currency Converter
Phone: 553244 or 560787
Directions: In the Piazza area with many cheap hotels, south of the De Gaulle Square.

When you travel north by road, from Addis Abeba to Bahir Dar, and need a place to spend the night, there is not much choice.
We stayed in Dejen, in the Alem hotel.

It's a hotel with basic, but clean rooms. A room with private shower costs 50 Birr.
You can make reservations, but this is no guarantee they have a room at arrival.

There is a small bar and restaurant for a meal, but you can also eat in the restaurant at the other side of the village, which has more choice.


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Theme: Hotel
Comparison: least expensive
Prices: less than US$20  » Currency Converter
Phone: 710010
Address: Dejen
Directions: About 200 KM north of Addis Abeba, half way to Bahir Dar. In Dejen, just behind the Agip petrol station.

The Ghion Hotel in Bahir Dar has a splendid location at Lake Tana. They have bungalows, rooms and a campsite. We had a room with a verandah with view at the lake and the shady terrace.

The garden with flamboyant trees and flowers is beautiful. The food is good and cheap. For a full breakfast you pay 1,5 euro and for a dinner 2,5 euro.

There is a landing stage for boats to visit the islands with the monasteries. The hotel has its own internetcafe and giftshop.

For more pictures and information have a look at my Bahir Dar page.


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Theme: Hotel
Comparison: about average
Prices: less than US$20  » Currency Converter
Phone: 200740
Other Contact: ghionbd@telecom.net.et

The Bekela Mola Hotel at the Lake Langano has a lovely location at the lakeside. There is a beach, where you can swim or hire a pedal-boat. There are also horses for riding.

We had a lovely room with private shower and toilet for 17,5 euro. The terrace with view at the lake was gorgeous, especially at sunrise.

There is also a campsite in the shade of the trees, just at the beachfront (5,5 euro for one tent).

The place was very peaceful, when we arrived in the afternoon. But in the evening it was partytime in the bar and restaurant.


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Theme: Hotel
Comparison: least expensive
Prices: less than US$20  » Currency Converter
Phone: 190011
Directions: 3 KM from the Addis Abeba- Shashemene road.

In Turmi in the far southwest of Ethiopia we stayed at the Evangadi Campsite. Because of the extreme heat and dust we decided to hire a fixed tent with a roof, which protected the tent against the burning sun.

The fixed tent was furnished with chairs, table and beds, made of bamboo. To increase the ''Out of Africa'' feeling we opened the backside of our tent to catch some breeze and for a view at the savannah and bush behind. Though the only animals we saw, passing by our tent, were goats.

At the campsite were toilets, french style and showers, but there was a shortage of water.
We had to cook ourselves, but they just started to build a restaurant at the site.

Unique Qualities: Despite the dust, the heat and the shortage of water it was one of the most romantic places to stay during our trip in Southern Ethiopia. So it was worth the 200 birr pro tent.

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Theme: Campground
Comparison: about average
Prices: less than US$20  » Currency Converter
Phone: 00251-632597
Directions: About one KM east of Turmi. You can make reservations in Addis Abeba.
Other Contact: evangadilodge@yahoo.com