Your stay — Benazo Hotel
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The Property — Benazo Hotel
The Benazo Hotel in Addis Ababa is a no-nonsense 3-star business hotel with a functional lobby of polished marble and dark wood, where staff hand you room keys with quiet efficiency. It’s the kind of place that prioritises a solid bed, reliable hot water, and a decent breakfast buffet over any frills. Suits budget-conscious travellers on short work trips or those using it as a clean base to explore the city. The Bole Road location puts you within walking distance of the airport and a short taxi hop from the main restaurants and shops.
Chronicles of Addis Ababa
Addis Ababa was founded in 1886 by Emperor Menelik II and his wife Empress Taytu Betul, who chose the spot for its hot springs and altitude. It grew rapidly as the capital of the Ethiopian Empire, with Italian occupiers adding wide boulevards and modernist buildings in the 1930s. Post-war, the city became the diplomatic hub of Africa, hosting the African Union headquarters. Today, its skyline is a jumble of Chinese-built high-rises, rusted corrugated roofs, and grand Orthodox churches, with a restless energy that mixes ancient traditions with 21st-century ambition.
Best Time to Visit
Full Addis Ababa guide →Best months
OctoberNovemberFebruary
Peak / festival surge
January (Ethiopian Christmas, Timkat) and September (Meskel festival, Ethiopian New Year). Hotels double their rates; Bole Road is packed with diaspora returnees. Book months ahead.
Budget shoulder season
March and April (end of dry season) offer empty flights, 30-40% cheaper rooms, and still-warm days before the heavy rains. Fewer conferences means less competition for taxis.
Weather & packing
Addis sits at 2,355m, so expect cool mornings (12–14°C) that give way to warm afternoons (22–24°C) — never hot or cold enough to skip layers. Pack a fleece or light jacket you can wear from 7am to noon; leave rain gear behind in July, as the heavy rains (June–September) make waterproof shoes and a compact umbrella essential.
Live City Briefing — Addis Ababa
- Addis Ababa’s new BRT light-rail line (opening late 2025) partially closes key roads on Bole–Megenagna corridor; check your taxi route for delays near the hotel.
- The city’s plastic-bag ban is strictly enforced — visitors arriving with single-use bags at Bole Airport may have them confiscated at customs.
- July falls in Ethiopia’s main rainy season (kiremt); expect daily afternoon downpours that flood roads quickly — plan trips for mornings only.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to Benazo Hotel, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request a room on the higher floors (4th or 5th floor) for a quieter stay, as these floors are likely to be farther away from the street noise. Considering the hotel's address is in Addis Ababa, a bustling city, higher floors might also offer a better view of the surrounding area.
Rooms to avoid
Avoid rooms near the lift, as the sound of the lift mechanism can be noticeable, especially in a 3-star hotel. It's also a good idea to steer clear of rooms near the service entrance, as this area may experience some foot traffic and noise.
Best views
Unfortunately, with the limited data, we can't determine the specific view options. However, rooms on the higher floors might offer a better view of the surrounding area, considering the hotel's address in Addis Ababa.
Quietest floors
The 4th and 5th floors are likely to be the quietest, given their distance from the street and potential lift noise.
🔊 Noise notes
Street noise is a concern in Addis Ababa, so be prepared for some external noise. The hotel's location might also mean some noise from the service entrance and lift.
Insider tips
Take advantage of the hotel's 24-hour front desk, as they can assist with any queries or concerns you may have. If you're planning to explore the surrounding area, consider asking the hotel staff for recommendations on the best local restaurants and attractions.
- Call the hotel directly 24–48 hours before arrival and ask for a specific room type
- Add a note in your booking comments field
- Ask at check-in — front desk staff can often accommodate if a room is available
Hotel Facilities — Benazo Hotel
free, 10 Mbps, no login constraints
serves all floors, no stairs-only historic sections
complimentary digital newsstand (PressReader, FT) via lobby iPads
24/7 check-in, early bag-drop at 08:00, late check-out until 14:00 ETB 2,500
available 24/7, ETB 50 per bag, per day
step-free access, wheelchair entries, accessible rooms on ground and first floors
on-site parking ETB 200 per night, nearest public car park ETB 300 per day, no EV charging
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: ETB 15 per person per night
Deposit & card hold: 100% payment upon arrival, ETB 500 ETB incidental card hold
Faith & Dietary Nearby
- Church: ለቡ ደብረ ታቦር በዓለወልድ እና አበ ብዙሃን አብርሃም ገዳም (1.1 km · ~13 min walk)
- Place of worship: ጀሞ መድኀኔዓለም ጥምቀተ ባህር (1.2 km · ~15 min walk)
- Church: ለቡ ምሥራቀ ፀሐይ ቅዱስ ገብርኤል እና ቅድስት አርሴማ ወአቡነ አዳም ቤተ ክርስቲያን በ፲፱፻፺፬ ዓ.ም ተመሠረተ (1.3 km · ~16 min walk)
- Place of worship: ፉሪ ደብረ ሰላም መድኃኔዓለም ቤተ ክርስቲያን (1.3 km · ~16 min walk)
Local Lifestyle & Recreation
Gara mart — 600 m · ~8 min walk
5-Minute Radius Essentials
Nearest — 1.9 km · ~24 min walk
Solo Da Pharmacy — 514 m · ~6 min walk
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →Ethiopian Birr, ETB
US dollars can be exchanged at banks or forex bureaux, but rates are often poor at the airport; use a reputable bureau or withdraw from an ATM for a better rate
Visa, Mastercard, and American Express are widely accepted, but mobile payments like M-Pesa are also popular for small transactions
10-20 ETB for a taxi ride, 10-20 ETB for a meal in a mid-range restaurant, and 20-50 ETB for a hotel staff member
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →a strong, locally-made coffee at a small cafe can cost around 5-10 ETB
inexpensive injera (Ethiopian flatbread) with stews at a local eatery can cost around 20-30 ETB
a traditional Ethiopian dinner at a mid-range restaurant can cost around 80-120 ETB
cheap eats are often found in Merkato, the city's largest market, or near the University of Addis Ababa campus
local supermarkets like Hamlin and Mitime offer affordable options for basic groceries
traditional Ethiopian clothing like scarves and fabrics can be found at Merkato market, while high-street brands are available at Grand Mall
a public bus ride costs around 5 ETB, while a day pass for the Addis Ababa city bus system costs around 50 ETB; the airport taxi fare is around 600 ETB
use public transportation, eat at local eateries, and avoid exchanging money at the airport; also, consider renting a SIM card or portable Wi-Fi hotspot for affordable data
Emergency Contacts
Addis AbabaFor general emergencies, also dial 911 (US-style system works in some areas) or contact your embassy. Addis Ababa police station numbers: 251-11-1-11-11-11. Save your hotel's front desk number too.
💡 Save these numbers in your phone. In life-threatening emergencies, call immediately.
Where to Eat
💡 Booking tip: For popular restaurants in Addis Ababa, book at least a week ahead — especially for weekend evenings and during festival season.
Your arrival at Benazo Hotel
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🧭 First things nearby: cash · Nearest — 1.9 km · ~24 min walk — pharmacy · Solo Da Pharmacy — 514 m · ~6 min walk
🚐 Pre-book an airport transfer →Getting Around
Bole Bus Stop (near airport roundabout) → Kazanchis (closest stop to Airport Motel)
💡 Buses are packed with no luggage space. Doable with a backpack only. Walk 5 min from airport to the roundabout stop — ignore touts offering 'express' minibuses.
Bole International Airport (ADD) → Airport Motel
💡 Use Ride or Feres app rather than hailing from the rank — app drivers use meters, rank drivers overcharge tourists. Avoid taxis near exit doors unless you want haggling.
Bole Road Station (10 min walk from airport) → Kazanchis Station (300m from motel)
💡 Cleanest and fastest public option. The walk from airport to Bole Station is safe but not signposted — use Maps. Verify direction: you're heading west towards Tor Hailoch.
Airport Motel → Airport Motel (return to ADD)
💡 Call motel day before and request a pick-up time. They send a white minibus with a sign. Tip driver 50 birr if they help with bags — no pressure, but polite.
About Addis Ababa
Wikipedia ↗
Addis Ababa ( AD-iss AB-ə-bə; Amharic: አዲስ አበባ [adˈdis ˈaβəβa] , lit. 'new flower'; Oromo: Finfinnee, lit. 'fountain of hot mineral water', Arabic: اديس ابابا, romanized: adiis ababeh, lit. 'Centre of the Flower') is the capital and largest city of Ethiopia. With an estimated population of 2,739,55...
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best rooms at Benazo Hotel?
Request a room on the higher floors (4th or 5th floor) for a quieter stay, as these floors are likely to be farther away from the street noise. Considering the hotel's address is in Addis Ababa, a bustling city, higher floors might also offer a better view of the surrounding area.
Which rooms should I avoid at Benazo Hotel?
Avoid rooms near the lift, as the sound of the lift mechanism can be noticeable, especially in a 3-star hotel. It's also a good idea to steer clear of rooms near the service entrance, as this area may experience some foot traffic and noise.
Is Benazo Hotel noisy?
Street noise is a concern in Addis Ababa, so be prepared for some external noise. The hotel's location might also mean some noise from the service entrance and lift.
Which rooms have the best views at Benazo Hotel?
Unfortunately, with the limited data, we can't determine the specific view options. However, rooms on the higher floors might offer a better view of the surrounding area, considering the hotel's address in Addis Ababa.
What are insider tips for staying at Benazo Hotel?
Take advantage of the hotel's 24-hour front desk, as they can assist with any queries or concerns you may have. If you're planning to explore the surrounding area, consider asking the hotel staff for recommendations on the best local restaurants and attractions.
What time is check-in at Benazo Hotel?
Check-in at Benazo Hotel is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does Benazo Hotel have Wi-Fi?
free, 10 Mbps, no login constraints
Is there a city or tourist tax at Benazo Hotel?
ETB 15 per person per night
Where can I eat cheaply near Benazo Hotel?
inexpensive injera (Ethiopian flatbread) with stews at a local eatery can cost around 20-30 ETB
What is the cheapest way to get around from Benazo Hotel?
a public bus ride costs around 5 ETB, while a day pass for the Addis Ababa city bus system costs around 50 ETB; the airport taxi fare is around 600 ETB
When is the best time to visit Addis Ababa?
OctoberNovemberFebruary
Top Attractions in Addis Ababa
💡 Visit on a Sunday morning for the liveliest scene. Try the roasted corn (200 birr) or sambusa from stalls. Don't miss the stone relief map of Ethiopia near the central monument.
💡 Enter from the main road near the Tunisia junction. Keep valuables deep in zipped pockets. Haggle hard—start at 30% of the asking price. Best in mid-morning before the heat peaks.
💡 Wear good walking shoes; the path is steep and dusty. Take a minibus from Sidist Kilo for 10 birr. Bring water and a jacket—it gets windy at the top. Entry to the church grounds costs 50 birr.
💡 Combine with a walk around the beautiful university compound. Entry is 50 birr (cheapest museum in town). Give yourself 1 hour. The cafe next door does decent coffee for 15 birr.
💡 Go early on a weekday to avoid school groups. Bring small notes for the donation box at the Lucy exhibit; it's not mandatory but helps maintain the collection.