Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Sleeping
Samrat Hotel $$
( 0251-130600; samrat@ethionet.et; d Birr643-750, tw Birr822; )
The
dour exterior of Dire Dawa's best lodging hides a classy lobby. The rooms themselves are
in-between, but lean more towards the latter than the former and are well appointed
(though not all have air-con), with the stiff mattresses being the biggest knock. There's a
good nightclub and restaurant.
HOTEL
African Village $
( 0251-126006;
www.african-village.net
; s incl breakfast Birr173-253, d incl breakfast
Birr253-288; )
An attractive mesh of traditional and modern, the comfortable rooms
with satellite TV surround a communal courtyard and excellent restaurant. The only real
knocks are the squat toilets in the cheapest rooms and the lack of air-conditioning in the
pricier rooms, though the traditional construction does help cool the rooms. The Swiss
owner prohibits alcohol. It's west of the centre, signposted down a side street.
HOTEL
Blue Bird Hotel $$
(
HOTEL
0251-130219; s incl breakfast Birr300-350, d incl breakfast Birr400-450;
)
Formerly Salem Hotel, this blue-glass spot northeast of the centre along the road to the
airport was once the smartest in town and now offers the best value. All rooms are good,
but the suites, with ornately carved beds and wardrobes, are a steal at this price. Its
nightclub is popular.
HOTEL
Continental Hotel $
( 0251-111546; d without bathroom Birr45, tw Birr90)
A bit noisy because of the pop-
ular restaurant-bar, but rooms at this old-timer are clean enough and offer fair value.
Mekonnen Hotel $
( 0251-113348; d without bathroom Birr70)
Housed in an old Italian colonial building
facing the train station, the rooms and hallways are quite clean, but no amount of scrub-
bing can bring the common bathrooms up to the same level.
HOTEL
