Your stay — La Source Guest House
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The Property — La Source Guest House
La Source Guest House is a calm, no-fuss three-star in the Bole district, a short walk from the airport and a clutch of good restaurants. The lobby feels like a modest living room, with tiled floors, a few armchairs and a quiet honesty bar where guests chat over a beer. Its USP is location and reliability: a clean, quiet base for a quick stopover or a first night in the city, not the place for a resort-style stay.
Chronicles of Addis Ababa
Addis Ababa was founded in 1886 by Empress Taytu Betul, who chose the hot springs at the base of Mount Entoto as the site for a new capital. Emperor Menelik II expanded it rapidly, and the arrival of the railway in 1917 cemented its role as Ethiopia's political and economic hub. Italian occupation in the 1930s left a legacy of fascist-era architecture, which now sits alongside modernist high-rises and the soaring African Union headquarters. Today the city is a dense, energetic sprawl of six million people, known for its coffee culture, its vibrant art scene, and the vast Mercato market. It remains a diplomatic centre, home to the African Union and the UN Economic Commission for Africa.
Best Time to Visit
Full Addis Ababa guide →Best months
October to December: the long rains have cleared, skies are often blue and the landscape is lush, without the July–August crowds. February to March: the short dry spell offers warm, stable days before the main rainy season.
Peak / festival surge
Peak is December and January. Addis Ababa's dry season draws business travellers and tourists combining a city stay with northern Ethiopia safaris. Hotel prices rise by 20–30%, especially near Bole International Airport. The Great Ethiopian Run (a 10K in late November) also pushes demand.
Budget shoulder season
April and September are shoulder months: lighter crowds, possible short rains but still good for sightseeing. Prices soften by 15–25% and sites like the National Museum are quieter.
Weather & packing
Addis lies at 2,355m, so daytime highs rarely top 25°C and nights can drop to 10°C even in June. You'll need a warm jacket or fleece for evenings, plus a lightweight rain jacket—the short rains of June can bring sudden downpours.
Live City Briefing — Addis Ababa
- The Bole Road flyover project near the airport is nearing completion in 2026, but expect occasional lane closures and be aware that taxi rides to central Meskel Square can still take 30 minutes during peak hours.
- A new light-rail line extension connecting Bole to the city centre opened in early 2026, providing a cheap and direct route for visitors to bypass traffic jams.
- The coffee ceremony is a daily ritual in Addis; the Ethiopian Coffee Festival runs in late June at the Addis Ababa Stadium, a good chance to sample regional varieties without joining a tour.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to La Source Guest House, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request a room at the back of the building (away from Bole Subcity's main roads). First floor rooms on the rear side get less traffic noise and streetlight glare.
Rooms to avoid
Avoid rooms directly overlooking the street at the front of the guest house – Bole Subcity can have loud motorbikes and honking, especially on weekdays. Also skip rooms near the main entrance (by the one-step door) as it's a pinch point for comings and goings.
Best views
Rear-facing rooms look onto the guest house's garden or internal courtyard – modest but green, and cut out street view. Front-facing rooms overlook the street (cars, people, small shops).
Quietest floors
All rooms are on the first floor (no lift, one flight up). The rear-facing first-floor rooms are quietest; front-facing ones are noisier.
🔊 Noise notes
Main source: Bole Subcity road traffic (motorbikes, taxis, minibuses) on the front side. No bar or restaurant mentioned, but evening peak hours (18:00–21:00) also coincide with WiFi drops – so expect some ambient chatter from nearby homes/shops. No lift noise, but stairs can amplify footsteps.
Insider tips
Arrive early (before 14:00) to secure one of the 6 free parking spots – street parking is free but can be tight. As there's no lift, request a room at the back when booking; if you're light-sensitive, bring an eye mask because street-facing curtains may not block all light.
- 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 — La Source Guest House
Free for all guests; no login required. Average speed 10 Mbps, drops during peak evening hours (18:00–21:00)
No lift; all rooms on first floor accessed by stairs only
Free digital access to PressReader (6 newspapers including The Reporter and Ethiopian Herald); physical copies available only in lobby
Check-in from 14:00; early bag-drop from 10:00 by arrangement. Late check-out until 18:00 costs 50% of nightly rate (subject to availability)
Free; left in locked luggage room behind reception
No step-free entrance; one step at main door and stairs to all rooms. Not suitable for wheelchair users without assistance
Free on-site parking for 6 cars (first-come, first-served); street parking available at no cost. No EV charging
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: None (no specific city tax reported for guest houses in Addis Ababa; 15% VAT included in rates)
Deposit & card hold: Full prepayment required via bank transfer or credit card 48 hours before arrival; 500 ETB incidental hold on card at check-in
Faith & Dietary Nearby
- Church: Thehadso International Church (700 m · ~9 min walk)
- Mosque: Welo Sefer Mosque (747 m · ~9 min walk)
- Church: Bole Bible Baptist Church (1.2 km · ~15 min walk)
- Place of worship: ፃድቁ አቡነ ጎርጎሪዎስ ቤተ ክርስቶያን ፲፱፻፺፫ ዓ.ም ተመሠረተ (1.2 km · ~15 min walk)
Local Lifestyle & Recreation
Grace Plaza — 2.3 km · ~29 min walk
Peacock Park — 1.9 km · ~24 min walk
5-Minute Radius Essentials
Nearest — 572 m · ~7 min walk
Ze Gelia Pharmacy — 701 m · ~9 min walk
Lancha — 1.8 km · ~23 min walk
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →Ethiopian Birr, ETB
Change money at Dashen Bank or Commercial Bank of Ethiopia branches; avoid airport and tourist exchange bureaux for poor rates.
Visa accepted in major hotels and supermarkets; Mastercard rare; Amex and contactless almost non-existent; mobile pay not widespread.
Restaurants: 10% service charge usually added, no extra tip needed unless exceptional. Taxis: round up to nearest 10 birr. Hotel staff: 20–50 birr for porters or cleaners.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →Fresh coffee from a street-side coffee stall, about 5–10 birr per small cup.
Injera with shiro or a tibs combo from a local café, 100–150 birr.
A main of kitfo or doro wat at a modest restaurant, around 150–250 birr.
Around Bole Medhanealem, Churchill Road, and Mercato district: roasted corn, kolo snacks, and sambusa stalls.
Supermarkets like Nyala, Shoa, or Almaz run by various chains, common across Bole and Kazanchis areas.
Bole sub-city around Dembel area or the Edna Mall area for mid-range fast fashion; higher quality at Shola market.
Blue minibus taxis (the cheapest) cost 5–10 birr per short trip; from Bole Airport, take the public bus to Meskel Square for 10 birr then connect.
Use minibus taxis not white cabs; buy street food and local bread to avoid tourist markups; negotiate everything at Mercato.
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 La Source Guest House
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🧭 First things nearby: cash · Nearest — 572 m · ~7 min walk — pharmacy · Ze Gelia Pharmacy — 701 m · ~9 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 La Source Guest House?
Request a room at the back of the building (away from Bole Subcity's main roads). First floor rooms on the rear side get less traffic noise and streetlight glare.
Which rooms should I avoid at La Source Guest House?
Avoid rooms directly overlooking the street at the front of the guest house – Bole Subcity can have loud motorbikes and honking, especially on weekdays. Also skip rooms near the main entrance (by the one-step door) as it's a pinch point for comings and goings.
Is La Source Guest House noisy?
Main source: Bole Subcity road traffic (motorbikes, taxis, minibuses) on the front side. No bar or restaurant mentioned, but evening peak hours (18:00–21:00) also coincide with WiFi drops – so expect some ambient chatter from nearby homes/shops. No lift noise, but stairs can amplify footsteps.
Which rooms have the best views at La Source Guest House?
Rear-facing rooms look onto the guest house's garden or internal courtyard – modest but green, and cut out street view. Front-facing rooms overlook the street (cars, people, small shops).
What are insider tips for staying at La Source Guest House?
Arrive early (before 14:00) to secure one of the 6 free parking spots – street parking is free but can be tight. As there's no lift, request a room at the back when booking; if you're light-sensitive, bring an eye mask because street-facing curtains may not block all light.
What time is check-in at La Source Guest House?
Check-in at La Source Guest House is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does La Source Guest House have Wi-Fi?
Free for all guests; no login required. Average speed 10 Mbps, drops during peak evening hours (18:00–21:00)
Is there a city or tourist tax at La Source Guest House?
None (no specific city tax reported for guest houses in Addis Ababa; 15% VAT included in rates)
Where can I eat cheaply near La Source Guest House?
Injera with shiro or a tibs combo from a local café, 100–150 birr.
What is the cheapest way to get around from La Source Guest House?
Blue minibus taxis (the cheapest) cost 5–10 birr per short trip; from Bole Airport, take the public bus to Meskel Square for 10 birr then connect.
When is the best time to visit Addis Ababa?
October to December: the long rains have cleared, skies are often blue and the landscape is lush, without the July–August crowds. February to March: the short dry spell offers warm, stable days before the main rainy 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.