Answers to Frequently Asked Questions

 

 

 

 

 

Contacting Ethiopia Guest Home

  • How can I contact you?
  • Our US number is: 951-491-9675
  • You can also email us at: info@ethiopiaguesthome.com
  • What is your Guest Home phone number?
  • Our Ethiopia number is 0114 198367 (inside Ethiopia only)
  • Also, the complementary cell phone we provide for your stay is preprogrammed with your guest home's phone number and other important Ethiopian numbers.

Making A Reservation

  • What are your room rates?
  • Adoptive Family Lodging - $85/night
    • A smaller room with the potential of sharing a bathroom with another room. For more information, click here.
  • Adoptive Family Lodging with bathroom - $99/night
    • A smaller room with a private bathroom. For more information, click here.
  • Adoptive Family Suite - $125/night
    • A large suite with a private, luxury bath and sauna. For more information, click here.
  • Nathaniel Adoptive Suite - $145/night
    • A large suite with a private bathroom and full size kitchen with seating for six. For more information, click here.
  • Adoptive Family Deluxe Two-Room Suite - $175/night
    • A spacious suite that includes a spacious living room, two smaller bedrooms, a kitchen and private bathroom. For more information, click here.
  • Entire Fourth Floor - $195/night
    • The entire floor includes two rooms, a full bathroom, and a private living room. For more information, click here.
  • Volunteer Lodging - $40/person/night
  • Do you require a deposit?
  • Yes. Adoptive family lodging requires a non-refundable deposit of $100 dollars ($200 for Entire Fourth Floor) that will be applied to the total.
  • Volunteer groups require a non-refundable deposit of $500 dollars that will be applied to the total.
  • What is Emergency Medical Insurance?
  • While medical emergencies are not something we've had to worry about, we still recommend you pick up international medical insurance. Insurance can be ordered when you make your reservation for $4.50 per person per day.
  • What does Emergency Medical Insurance cover?
  • Medical Insurance is provided by Seven Corners International Travel Medical Insurance and includes $100,000 medical maximum per person with a $250 deductible, Hospital Indemnity of $150 per night, Dental (Emergency $100 and/or $500 for accident), Emergency Medical Evacuation of $300,000 (in addition to the Medical Maximum), Emergency Reunion of $50,000, Interruption of trip of $5,000, Loss of luggage of $250, Local Ambulance of $5,000, Accidental death & dismemberment of $25,000.
  • What payment methods do you accept?
  • We currently accept Visa, Master Card, American Express, and Discover cards for payment through online booking.
  • Your online reservation calendar shows full, but I still need a place to stay, what should I do?
  • Call us. Generally, the availability calendar on the website is accurate, but on rare occasions if we can find out more about your needs we may be able to accommodate your needs in Ethiopia.
  • I need to be out of the city for one day in the middle of my stay, how do I indicate that in my reservation?
  • Place your reservation from the day you arrive until the day you depart. Indicate in the comments section the date you will leave the city and the date you will return. We will manually process the discount for unused nights upon checkout.

Getting to Ethiopia Guest Home

  • Where can I book my flight?
  • There are a number of great travel agents who can find you competitive rates for travel to Ethiopia. We recommend MKI Group Travel.
  • What entry documents do I need?
  • Ethiopia requires a passport valid for at least 6 months after your stay and an entry Visa. A 3-month Visa can be obtained upon arrival at Bole International Airport or in advance through the Ethiopian Embassy.
  • Which airport will I arrive at in Ethiopia?
  • Your flight will arrive in Bole International Airport in Addis Ababa.
  • How do I get to the Ethiopia Guest Home from the airport?
  • Our professional drivers will pick you up from the airport at no charge to yourself. Drivers are not allowed inside of the airport, but will be waiting for you just outside the exit holding a sign with your name on it. In the highly unlikely event that your driver does not arrive to pick you up, please call 011 491 8367 or 091 117 7325 (both Ethiopian numbers).

About Ethiopia Guest Home

  • Where are you located?
  • We are located in the South West part of Addis Ababa, 15 minutes from the center of the city and 15 minutes from the airport.
  • What style of lodging are you?
  • Our five properties (located 100 yards apart) are new (2008/2009) three and four story homes that could pass for California beach houses!
  • Are there places my children can play?
  • Each property includes a large community play room where children can play with toys or enjoy a game with their parents! Some properties also include outdoor areas for your children to run and play.
  • What security do you have at the guest home?
  • We are located in a quiet, residential, and (most importantly) safe neighborhood. Addis Ababa is considered to be one of the safest cities in Africa. There is almost no violent crime and pick pockets are rare outside of busy public areas. To ensure your absolute comfort and safety while at Ethiopia Guest Home, we have 24-hours security guards at each house and razor wire fence on the walls surrounding our property. Your safety is our priority.

Reservations

  • When is check in/out time?
  • Check in time is 12:00 pm. Check out time is 10:00 am.
  • Do you offer late check out?
  • Late check out is available to guests who need it for the price of half one night's stay. Since this fee varies depending on your room, please contact us about any questions you have about late check out fees.
  • Do you offer early check in?
  • Early check in is available if your room is available. If your flight arrives before 7:00 am, you will be charged for the previous night.
  • When will I be charged for my stay?
  • All room charges are paid through our online booking system at the end of your stay.
  • What if my reservation changes?
  • You can change the dates of your stay at no charge. Just inform us of the new date and we will alter your reservation. You only lose your deposit if you cancel your reservation entirely.

Amenities

  • What meals are included with my stay?
  • Breakfast and lunch are included with your reservation. Dinner is available upon request for $5 dollars per person (no charge for children 5 and under).
  • What kind of food do you serve?
  • We serve mainly American style cuisine, but do offer Ethiopian food throughout the week.
  • How is the water in Ethiopia?
  • We do not recommend you drink tap water in Ethiopia. As a part of your stay, a 1-liter bottle of water per person per day is provided for free. Additional water bottles can be purchased at the front desk for a small fee. Volunteer teams are encouraged to bring hiking style, refillable water bottles which can be refilled at no charge.
  • Do you have a phone I can use during my stay?
  • Every reservation receives a complimentary cell phone for use in Ethiopia. For fees and calling card information click here.
  • Do your rooms have safes in them?
  • Lockable night stands are included in every room. You will receive the key for your night stand at check in and return it at check out. In addition, every house includes a locked safe that guests can use. The safe can only be open by the House Manager.
  • Do you have adapters in your rooms?
  • All rooms include adapters for your electrical appliances. However, we do not supply converters in our rooms. Please verify your appliances convert to 220 volts before packing them.
  • Do you offer drivers and translators for my stay?
  • We offer transportation within Addis for a low hourly fee plus the price of gasoline. Transportation is $10 for 1 hour, $20 dollars for 2 hours, $40 for up to 4 hours, and $60 dollars for more than 4 hours. Excursions and Transportation include one van rental, a driver, and a translator. Transportation outside of the city costs $75 dollars. Gas prices vary in-country and are paid in addition to the hourly rental rate.
  • Do you offer internet at the guest home?
  • High-speed, wireless internet is available to all guests for a one-time $25 dollar fee that is automatically added to your bill.
  • Why is there an Internet fee?
  • The fee is used to offset the high price of Internet in Ethiopia and is considerably cheaper than comparable 4-star hotels which usually charge $15 dollars per hour for Internet use.
  • Is the internet reliable in Ethiopia?
  • Due to factors beyond our control, there are times in which the Internet is not accessible in Ethiopia, regardless of our equipment's ability to access it. While we will make every possible effort to keep connected to the Internet, refunds cannot be given due to the sporadic nature of the Internet in Ethiopia.
  • How much are your massages?
  • A complimentary one-hour massage is given to each adult guest. Additional massages can be purchased for $20/hour.
  • Do you offer laundry and dry cleaning services?
  • Laundry services are available for a minimal fee ($0.40 to $0.80 cents depending on the items being washed). This allows you to take your entire wardrobe home clean and fresh...one less thing to worry about when you get home!

Cell Phones

  • Will my cell phone work in Ethiopia?
  • It is unlikely your cell phone will work in Ethiopia. All rooms come with a complimentary cell phone, preloaded with 25 birr, that works 24 hours a day.
  • What does it cost to make and receive calls on the cell phone loaned by the guest home?
  • Calls to numbers inside Ethiopia are inexpensive; however international calls are very expensive. We recommend you purchase a calling card to talk with friends and family internationally. With this card you can make phone calls to Ethiopia for 20 cents a minute instead of 2 dollars per minute.
  • Where can I get a calling card?
  • Click here for the Ethiopian calling card. This virtual calling card allows you to put money from your credit card onto an account.
  • How do I use the calling card?
  • After purchasing the calling card, you will recieve an 800 number and a pin (so that it costs your friends and family nothing to call you). After calling the 800 number, enter the pin and then enter the number in Ethiopia they wish to call. It will look like this: Toll free number + Pin + Ethiopian number. Example: 888-783-6569 + 1234567890 + 011 251 114 198367 (actual Ethiopia land line).
  • How much money should I put on my calling card?
  • That's up to you! We recommend $20 dollars to insure your friends and family can call for as long as they need to. If you have money left over, you can use it to call anywhere in the world!

Volunteer Teams

  • What should I do to prepare for my trip?
  • Before coming to Ethiopia, we strongly recommend you read the book "When Helping Hurts" by Steve Corbett & Brian Fikkert. This book will prepare you for the trip and introduce you to the mindset behind Mission Ethiopia and Ethiopia Guest Home.
  • I am interested in coming to Ethiopia on a volunteer trip, but I don't know where to start.
  • Consider coming on a trip with a mission sending organization. For more information, please visit our Trips page.
  • I have an organization and would like to put together a trip for my team.
  • Call us, we're glad to help with as much or as little as you might need. We can provide help with your entire itinerary at no additional cost whatsoever.
  • What are your group rates?
  • Groups of 19 or less - $40/person/night.
  • Groups of 20 or more - $35/person/night.
  • Do you require a deposit for volunteer groups?
  • Volunteer groups require a non-refundable deposit of $500 dollars that will be applied to the total.
  • How is the water in Ethiopia?
  • We do not recommend your team drink tap water while in Ethiopia. As a part of your stay, a 1-liter bottle of water per person per day is provided for free. Additional water bottles can be purchased at the front desk for a small fee. Your volunteer team can instead bring hiking style, refillable water bottles which can be filled and refilled at no charge.
  • Do you offer box lunches for teams that will be gone during lunch?
  • Box lunches are included for volunteer teams traveling during normal lunch hours.
  • Do you offer Drivers and Translators for teams?
  • We offer transportation within Addis for a low hourly fee plus the price of gasoline. Transportation is $10 for 1 hour, $20 dollars for 2 hours, $40 for up to 4 hours, and $60 dollars for more than 4 hours. Excursions and Transportation include one van rental, a driver, and a translator. Transportation outside of the city costs $75 dollars plus the price of gasoline. Gas prices vary in-country and are paid in addition to the hourly rental rate.

General Ethiopia Questions

  • What is your tipping policy?
  • We encourage guests to leave a group gratuity that helps us demonstrate that all people have value regardless of position. Some families choose to provide an additional individual gratuity to one or more staff who has served them exceptionally well.
  • How much should I tip?
  • While we do not recommend a specific tip amount, we are glad to share patterns we have seen in previous guests. On average, families have tipped $125. Volunteer Teams average $2 to $3 per day, per volunteer on the trip. A tip of any amount is considered generous.
  • What is the accepted currency in Ethiopia?
  • The Ethiopian Birr (ETB) is the accepted currency in Ethiopia. There is no need to exchange currency at the airport. We are glad to bring you to a bank near to the guest home to allow you to change currency.
  • Can I bring currency out of Ethiopia?
  • Currently, the Ethiopian government only allows individuals to leave the country with 200 Birr. Also, the government does not allow individuals to leave the country with more than $3,000 USD. Please keep this in mind when planning spending in Ethiopia.
  • What is the time zone in Ethiopia?
  • Ethiopia is part of the East Africa Time (EAT) time zone. There are no adjustments for Daylight Savings Time.
  • What is the electric current in Ethiopia?
  • 220 volts, 50 cycles. However, please be advised that power spikes in Addis Ababa can reach 250v, which will burn out most appliances (including hair dryers). For this reason, the guest home can no longer provide hair dryers. If you do bring a hair dryer, make sure it is not your favorite!
  • Are power outages an issue in Addis Ababa?
  • Power Outages are common in Ethiopia. Be prepared by bringing a small flashlight.
  • How is the weather in Addis Ababa?
  • Addis Ababa is blessed with a very temperate climate. During the day, the average max temperature is around 77°F (25°C) and at night the low is around 50°F (10°C). This weather is consistent throughout the year. For this reason, the guest homes have neither Heat nor Air Conditioning.
  • What are the seasons in Ethiopia?
  • Ethiopia has two season, Dry (October - May) and Rainy (June - September). Both are great times to come to Addis!

 

 

 

Have a question we didn't answer? Feel free to email us at: info@ethiopiaguesthome.com