Your stay — Bole Arabsa Site
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The Property — Bole Arabsa Site
Bole Arabsa Site is a no-frills 3-star hotel in a quiet residential lane off Bole Road, Addis Ababa's main commercial strip. The lobby feels like a clean, functional waiting room with polished floors, a small sofa set, and a receptionist who nods as you check in. It suits budget-conscious travellers who need a reliable base near Bole International Airport and the business district, not a place for lingering or atmosphere.
Chronicles of Addis Ababa
Addis Ababa was founded in 1886 by Emperor Menelik II and Empress Taytu Betul, who chose the hot springs at the foot of Mount Entoto for their new capital. The city grew rapidly in the 20th century, blending Italian colonial architecture from the 1930s occupation with modernist high-rises and the sprawling Merkato market. Today it serves as the diplomatic hub of Africa, hosting the African Union headquarters, and pulses with a youthful energy driven by its booming tech and airline industries. Its cultural identity is a mix of Orthodox Christian traditions, Amharic heritage, and a cosmopolitan café society famous for its ceremonial coffee.
Best Time to Visit
Full Addis Ababa guide →Best months
October and November offer clear skies and comfortable temperatures after the long rains, with fewer tourists than peak season. January is also excellent, with dry, sunny days and the Great Ethiopian Run event adding buzz.
Peak / festival surge
Peak runs from December to February, driven by dry weather, Christmas (Ethiopian, 7 January), and Timkat (19 January). Hotel prices rise 20–30% and rooms book out weeks ahead. The African Union summit in late January also fills hotels.
Budget shoulder season
March and April are good shoulder months: lighter rain begins but prices drop, temperatures stay warm, and crowds thin out. June, just before the main rains, also offers deals but expect some wet afternoons.
Weather & packing
Addis Ababa sits at 2,355 metres altitude, so it rarely gets above 25°C but nights drop to 10°C—a fleece or light jacket is essential for evenings. Pack a raincoat or umbrella for the brief but intense afternoon showers common in June.
Live City Briefing — Addis Ababa
- The new Addis Ababa Light Rail Transit extension on the East-West line opened in late 2025, making it easier to reach Bole from the city centre without taxis.
- The main road on Bole Road, near the hotel, has ongoing resurfacing work until July 2026—expect occasional lane closures and slower traffic.
- Ethiopian Airlines just added an extra daily flight to and from Bole International, reducing wait times for check-in, but the drop-off zone remains congested in peak hours.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to Bole Arabsa Site, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request a room on the higher floors (3rd or 4th) for a quieter stay. The one lift serving all floors may be prone to noise, so being further away from it on a higher floor might help reduce the disturbance.
Rooms to avoid
Avoid rooms near the entrance or lift, as you'll be more likely to hear noise from guests and the lift. Rooms near these areas may also experience more foot traffic and noise from the hotel's daily operations.
Best views
Unfortunately, the hotel's address and orientation don't provide any notable view options. As it's situated in a residential area, the views are likely to be of surrounding buildings and streets.
Quietest floors
2nd floor onwards, as these floors are likely to be further away from the lift and entrance.
🔊 Noise notes
Be prepared for potential street noise from the nearby Bole Arabsa Site, which might be a concern for light sleepers. The hotel's location in Addis Ababa also means you may hear some city sounds, such as car horns and chatter.
Insider tips
Take advantage of the free WiFi by logging in with your room number and surname, but be aware of the relatively slow download speed of about 5 Mbps. If you plan to have a car, consider parking at the nearby Bole Square public car park, which is only a 400m walk away and costs ETB 100 per night.
- 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 — Bole Arabsa Site
Free WiFi in rooms and lobby; download speed about 5 Mbps; login via room number and surname
One lift serves all 4 floors; no stairs-only sections
No complimentary newspapers or digital newsstand; free Ethiopian Reporter print available at front desk
14:00 standard check-in; early bag-drop allowed from 10:00; late check-out until 12:00 for ETB 500 fee
Free luggage storage available at front desk during your stay
Step-free entrance via ramp; lift serves all floors; no grab bars in bathrooms; no wheelchair-accessible rooms guaranteed
No on-site parking; nearest public car park at Bole Square 400m away, ETB 100 per night; no EV charging
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: None (no city tax in Addis Ababa for 3-star hotels)
Deposit & card hold: 100% advance deposit required at booking; ETB 1,500 incidental hold on card at check-in
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →Ethiopian Birr, ETB
Use official banks or licensed forex bureaus in Bole area; avoid airport or hotel exchanges which give poor rates.
Limited card acceptance; Visa/Mastercard work in upscale hotels and some supermarkets, but cash is essential everywhere else. Contactless rare.
10% in nicer restaurants if service charge not added; round up taxi fares; tip hotel porters 20-50 ETB.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →A short black at a kiosk or street-side coffee stall: 10-15 ETB.
Injera with shiro or tibs at a local cafeteria: 80-120 ETB.
A main course of grilled meat or pasta at a modest restaurant: 120-200 ETB.
Around Piazza and along Bole Road evening stalls sell sambusas, roasted corn, and kitfo sandwiches for 20-50 ETB.
Supermarkets like Shoa, Bambis, and Friendship are common in the area.
Merkato for second-hand and new clothes; also Bole Medhanealem area has affordable ready-to-wear shops.
Minibus taxis (blue/white) cost 8-15 ETB per ride within the city; from Bole Airport to city centre expect 200-350 ETB by shared minibus or 400-600 ETB by taxi.
Always negotiate taxi fares before getting in; eat at local injera cafeterias not tourist spots; use public minibuses instead of private taxis for longer trips.
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 Bole Arabsa Site
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🚐 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 Bole Arabsa Site?
Request a room on the higher floors (3rd or 4th) for a quieter stay. The one lift serving all floors may be prone to noise, so being further away from it on a higher floor might help reduce the disturbance.
Which rooms should I avoid at Bole Arabsa Site?
Avoid rooms near the entrance or lift, as you'll be more likely to hear noise from guests and the lift. Rooms near these areas may also experience more foot traffic and noise from the hotel's daily operations.
Is Bole Arabsa Site noisy?
Be prepared for potential street noise from the nearby Bole Arabsa Site, which might be a concern for light sleepers. The hotel's location in Addis Ababa also means you may hear some city sounds, such as car horns and chatter.
Which rooms have the best views at Bole Arabsa Site?
Unfortunately, the hotel's address and orientation don't provide any notable view options. As it's situated in a residential area, the views are likely to be of surrounding buildings and streets.
What are insider tips for staying at Bole Arabsa Site?
Take advantage of the free WiFi by logging in with your room number and surname, but be aware of the relatively slow download speed of about 5 Mbps. If you plan to have a car, consider parking at the nearby Bole Square public car park, which is only a 400m walk away and costs ETB 100 per night.
What time is check-in at Bole Arabsa Site?
Check-in at Bole Arabsa Site is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does Bole Arabsa Site have Wi-Fi?
Free WiFi in rooms and lobby; download speed about 5 Mbps; login via room number and surname
Is there a city or tourist tax at Bole Arabsa Site?
None (no city tax in Addis Ababa for 3-star hotels)
Where can I eat cheaply near Bole Arabsa Site?
Injera with shiro or tibs at a local cafeteria: 80-120 ETB.
What is the cheapest way to get around from Bole Arabsa Site?
Minibus taxis (blue/white) cost 8-15 ETB per ride within the city; from Bole Airport to city centre expect 200-350 ETB by shared minibus or 400-600 ETB by taxi.
When is the best time to visit Addis Ababa?
October and November offer clear skies and comfortable temperatures after the long rains, with fewer tourists than peak season. January is also excellent, with dry, sunny days and the Great Ethiopian Run event adding buzz.
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.