Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
( 0116-615050; meridian-hotel@ethionet.et; Zimbabwe St; s/d/tw incl breakfast
US$60/74/85; )
It's a little dated, but still represents reasonably good value. Discounts
are also easy to come by. Oh, and no, it's not part of the worldwide hotel chain!
Rita's Guest House $$
( 0115-530979; Democratic Republic Congo St; d US$25-27, tw US$40; )
Cosy
(read: small) rooms in an excellent central location. Even though the rooms are tiny they
are well cared for and contain everything you might require. It's down a little dirt track off
the main road.
HOTEL
Tina Pension & Guest House $$
( 0115-549090; tinapension@yahoo.com; d incl breakfast US$25-60; )
On a dusty
back lane off Bole Rd and surrounded by flowering trees, this clean and secure guesthouse
offers somewhat overpriced but otherwise reasonable rooms with frilly bedspreads and
hot-water showers. It feels far removed from the hustle of the city centre.
GUESTHOUSE
Ceasars Court $$$
( 0116-189600; off Bole Rd; d/ste incl breakfast US$60/80; )
It's hard to know
what to make of this place. The fake columns and plastic statues of Roman Caesars are
tacky indeed, but the rooms are quiet and comfortable and come with extras such as com-
puters and printers (yeah, ok, so none of these actually seemed to work…).
HOTEL
ADDIS SCAMS
One scam that still seems to be snagging tourists is the 'siren scam'. It takes various forms, including offering you
a 'cultural show' or a traditional coffee ceremony.
The venue is usually somebody's living room, where a hostess will promptly dish out copious quantities of
tej
(honey wine) and, perhaps, traditional dancers and musicians will perform.
Suddenly the 'entertainment' comes to an end and an amount upwards of 1500Birr is demanded. Approaches
are made to couples or groups, as well as to single males. Most commonly, the person approaching you is a
young, well-dressed Ethiopian male, often claiming to be a student.
