Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
If you end up in a situation like this, offer to pay for anything you've consumed (a litre of quality
tej
shouldn't
be more than Birr65), and if it's not accepted, threaten to call the police. The area around the hotels in the Piazza
and Churchill Ave seem to be prime hunting grounds for potential victims.
Another increasingly popular pocket-emptying scam involves a passer-by 'accidently' spitting on you. He then
makes a big fuss trying to wipe it off and in the process relieve you of your wallet.
Another one involves someone waving a packet of tissues in your face pretending to sell it to you. As you're
distracted the accomplices pilfer the contents of your pocket or bag. Still, at least you'll have some tissues with
which to wipe off the spit!
SOUTHWEST
La Source Guest House $$
( 0114-665510; lasourceguesthouse@gmail.com; Meskal Flower Rd; incl breakfast d
US$25-35, tw US$35-40, ste US$45; )
Finally, Addis has produced a guesthouse
with style. It's sparkling clean with constant hot water and it even has that rare thing -
character, in abundance. All the rooms have loud and lovely African art and masks adorn-
ing the walls, rainbow-tainted bedspreads and furnishings made of twisted tree branches.
There's a pleasing communal area with a big-screen satellite TV. The front-facing rooms
can be very noisy, though, thanks to the proximity to the road and a loud bar.
GUESTHOUSE
Adot-Tina Hotel $$$
( 0114-673939;
www.adottinahotel.com
; Meskal Flower Rd; s/d incl breakfast from
US$100/125; )
The small and plush rooms of this intimate business-class hotel,
which come with either a deep, relaxing bath or a space-age shower that was far too com-
plicated for us to work out, are really good value. However, the seal on the deal might be
the free sauna and gym. It's a popular choice with tour groups and people coming to
Ethiopia to adopt a child. Discounts are common.
BUSINESS HOTEL
Palm Pension $
( 0114-162606; off Meskal Flower Rd; d Birr250)
If this wasn't so far out it would be a
great deal - it's very peaceful, has a pocket-sized garden, safe parking for exhausted jeeps,
HOTEL
