Your stay — Block 265-271
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The Property — Block 265-271
Block 265-271 is a no-fuss, functional 3-star in the Bole area, a short walk from the airport and a useful base for layovers or early flights. The lobby feels like a busy transit lounge: clean tiles, checked guests, a small coffee corner. It suits practical travellers who prioritize location over luxury, and don't mind thin walls and basic breakfast.
Chronicles of Addis Ababa
Addis Ababa was founded in 1886 by Empress Taytu Betul, who settled near hot springs and built a camp that grew into the capital. Emperor Menelik II expanded it, and under Haile Selassie the city took on its modern form, with grand Italian neo-classical buildings from the 1930s occupation. Today, the city pulses as the African Union's host, with a skyline mixing glass towers, socialist-era blocks, and markets like Merkato. Its contemporary identity is one of rapid growth, construction dust, and a fierce coffee culture in every side street.
Best Time to Visit
Full Addis Ababa guide →Best months
October and November: the long rains end, skies clear, and the city is green. December is also good: mild days and fewer visitors than peak season.
Peak / festival surge
Peak is January (Ethiopian Christmas, Genna, on 7 January) and September (Meskel festival, finding of the True Cross). Hotels near Bole can double in price; book early or expect to pay 50-80% more.
Budget shoulder season
June is a solid shoulder month: the short rains are easing, crowds thin, and hotel rates drop by roughly 20% from peak. Good deals if you don't mind occasional drizzle.
Weather & packing
Addis sits at 2,355m, so evenings are cool even in June — don't assume warmth just because it's summer. Pack a light waterproof jacket and long trousers; leave shorts at home unless you're headed to the Rift Valley.
Live City Briefing — Addis Ababa
- The Addis Ababa light rail is operational but often crowded; a new BRT line along Bole Road is partly running, improving access to the airport.
- Several new hotels and cafes have opened along Bole Road, including a rooftop lounge at the Radisson Blu, but check construction noise at Block 265-271 — nearby building work continues.
- Visa-on-arrival is now available for most nationalities at Bole International Airport, though e-visas are recommended to avoid queues. Carry a printed copy of your confirmation.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to Block 265-271, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request a room on the 3rd or 4th floor facing the rear (away from Bole Road). These upper floors get less street noise and better airflow. Rooms at the back are quieter than those fronting the main road.
Rooms to avoid
Avoid ground-floor rooms (especially near the entrance or parking area); also avoid rooms directly above the lift shaft or the rooftop terrace (if accessible from above, though terrace has no lift access it still generates footfall noise). Rooms on the 1st floor facing Bole Road are subject to constant traffic rumble.
Best views
A rear-facing room on the 4th floor may offer a limited view of the neighbourhood and possibly the Entoto Mountains in the distance, but don't expect much. Bole Road side gives you a direct view of the busy street and surrounding shops – interesting for people-watching but noisy.
Quietest floors
Floors 3 and 4 (preferably rear-facing).
🔊 Noise notes
Bole Road is a major arterial: expect near-constant car and minibus traffic, honking, and street traders during the day. The single lift can be heard on all floors, particularly in rooms near its shaft. Parking area generates early morning engine starts. The rooftop terrace is a social space, so noise may carry down to top rooms.
Insider tips
1. Use the free on-site parking if driving — the public Bole Parking Plaza charges 50 ETB per hour, so overnight parking there would add up fast. 2. For quieter sleep, bring earplugs and request a rear-facing room on floors 3-4. If you need ground-floor accessibility, the wheelchair-accessible room is step-free but likely noisier — ask if it can be assigned away from the entrance.
- 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 — Block 265-271
Free WiFi with 30 Mbps download speed, no login constraints
One lift serves all four guest floors; no stairs-only sections
Complimentary access to PressReader on in-room tablets; no physical newspapers
Check-in from 14:00; early bag drop allowed from 10:00; late check-out until 13:00 costs 500 ETB, until 18:00 costs half the nightly rate
Free luggage storage for same-day arrivals and departures
Step-free access via ramp at main entrance; one wheelchair-accessible room on ground floor; no lift access to rooftop terrace
On-site secured parking free for overnight guests; nearest public car park is Bole Parking Plaza at 50 ETB per hour; no EV charging
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: None (no city tax applies in Addis Ababa)
Deposit & card hold: Full prepayment required at booking; a 2000 ETB incidental hold on card at check-in
Faith & Dietary Nearby
- Place of worship: ጊዮርጊስ ኦርቶዶክስ ቤተ ክርስትያን ሰሚት (1.1 km · ~14 min walk)
- Place of worship: ቃጥላ ማርያም ቤተክርስቲያን (1.5 km · ~19 min walk)
- Place of worship: የሰሚት በሻሌ መካነ ሰላም ዋሻ መድኃኔዓለምና ቅዱስ ኡራኤል ቤተ ክርስትያን (1.7 km · ~22 min walk)
- Place of worship: ባህታዊ በሻሌ ቅድስት ማርያም ቤተ ክርስቲያን (1.9 km · ~24 min walk)
5-Minute Radius Essentials
Eyased — 599 m · ~7 min walk
Elshalom Sheketasheket — 1.1 km · ~13 min walk
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →Ethiopian Birr, ETB
Change money at banks or licensed Forex bureaux in Bole area; avoid the airport and hotel exchange desks as they give a poor rate.
Cards work in upscale hotels, restaurants and supermarkets in Bole, but most street vendors, taxis and smaller shops insist on cash.
Tipping is not mandatory but appreciated: 10% in restaurants if service charge not added; round up taxi fares; small amount (50-100 ETB) to hotel porters/cleaners.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →Street-side coffee stall (a small cup of Ethiopian coffee served with popcorn) – around 10-20 ETB.
A vegetarian combo (shiro, lentils, vegetables) with injera at a local 'tibs bet' (grill house) – roughly 150-250 ETB.
Roasted meat or chicken with injera at a simple restaurant – about 200-300 ETB for a main.
Around Bole area, look for street-side stalls near bus stations or markets selling samosas, roasted corn (aashura), and fried sambussas.
Supermarkets like Addis Supermarket, Shoa Supermarket, and Zemen are common in Bole and Addis Ababa.
Bole's Mercato area (the largest open-air market) is the main spot for cheap new and second-hand clothes.
Minibus taxis (blue and white) charge around 8 ETB per ride on fixed routes; from Bole airport, negotiate a regular (not VIP) taxi for about 300-400 ETB.
Stick to local eateries (not tourist spots) for meals; always negotiate taxi fares before getting in; buy phone data from local SIM (Ethio Telecom) rather than roaming.
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 Block 265-271
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🧭 First things nearby: pharmacy · Eyased — 599 m · ~7 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best rooms at Block 265-271?
Request a room on the 3rd or 4th floor facing the rear (away from Bole Road). These upper floors get less street noise and better airflow. Rooms at the back are quieter than those fronting the main road.
Which rooms should I avoid at Block 265-271?
Avoid ground-floor rooms (especially near the entrance or parking area); also avoid rooms directly above the lift shaft or the rooftop terrace (if accessible from above, though terrace has no lift access it still generates footfall noise). Rooms on the 1st floor facing Bole Road are subject to constant traffic rumble.
Is Block 265-271 noisy?
Bole Road is a major arterial: expect near-constant car and minibus traffic, honking, and street traders during the day. The single lift can be heard on all floors, particularly in rooms near its shaft. Parking area generates early morning engine starts. The rooftop terrace is a social space, so noise may carry down to top rooms.
Which rooms have the best views at Block 265-271?
A rear-facing room on the 4th floor may offer a limited view of the neighbourhood and possibly the Entoto Mountains in the distance, but don't expect much. Bole Road side gives you a direct view of the busy street and surrounding shops – interesting for people-watching but noisy.
What are insider tips for staying at Block 265-271?
1. Use the free on-site parking if driving — the public Bole Parking Plaza charges 50 ETB per hour, so overnight parking there would add up fast. 2. For quieter sleep, bring earplugs and request a rear-facing room on floors 3-4. If you need ground-floor accessibility, the wheelchair-accessible room is step-free but likely noisier — ask if it can be assigned away from the entrance.
What time is check-in at Block 265-271?
Check-in at Block 265-271 is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does Block 265-271 have Wi-Fi?
Free WiFi with 30 Mbps download speed, no login constraints
Is there a city or tourist tax at Block 265-271?
None (no city tax applies in Addis Ababa)
Where can I eat cheaply near Block 265-271?
A vegetarian combo (shiro, lentils, vegetables) with injera at a local 'tibs bet' (grill house) – roughly 150-250 ETB.
What is the cheapest way to get around from Block 265-271?
Minibus taxis (blue and white) charge around 8 ETB per ride on fixed routes; from Bole airport, negotiate a regular (not VIP) taxi for about 300-400 ETB.
When is the best time to visit Addis Ababa?
October and November: the long rains end, skies clear, and the city is green. December is also good: mild days and fewer visitors than peak season.
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.