Your stay — SIM - Guesthouse
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Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to SIM - Guesthouse, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request a room on the upper floors (3rd or 4th) at the rear of the building, away from the street. These rooms are significantly quieter and have less foot traffic.
Rooms to avoid
Avoid rooms on the ground floor and first floor facing the street. Street noise from Addis Ababa traffic and pedestrians can be intrusive, especially during the day.
Best views
Upper-floor rooms at the rear offer a view of the neighbourhood rather than the main road. The front might give a view of the street, but it comes with noise.
Quietest floors
Floors 3 and 4 are the quietest, being further from street-level noise and the reception/lobby area.
🔊 Noise notes
Addis Ababa's streets are busy with traffic, honking, and pedestrians. The guesthouse likely sits on a main road, so rooms facing the street will hear this. Also, the lift shaft may cause noise on adjacent rooms.
Insider tips
1) Check-in early if you can, as the quieter rooms go first. 2) Request a room on the 3rd or 4th floor when booking—mention you prefer a 'quiet zone' away from the lift.
- 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 — SIM - Guesthouse
Free WiFi throughout; speed about 10 Mbps down for browsing and email; login via voucher given at check-in
No lift; ground-floor rooms have stair-access only – no stairs-only historic sections, but all rooms require climbing one flight of stairs
No complimentary newspapers or digital newsstand
Check-in from 14:00; early bag drop available (free). Late check-out until 12:00 charged ETB 800; after 12:00, full night rate
Free storage at reception for bags on arrival/departure day
No step-free access; main entrance has one step, and no wheelchair-accessible rooms or adapted bathrooms
No on-site parking; free street parking along Bole Road – first-come, first-served. Nearest public car park: Bole Central Mall parking (ETB 50 per night). No EV charging
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: None
Deposit & card hold: Full prepayment required at booking; ETB 500 incidental hold on a card at check-in
Faith & Dietary Nearby
- Church: Lideta Full Gospel Church (724 m · ~9 min walk)
- Church: Addis Ababa International Lutheran Church and Mekane Yesus Lideta Congregation (779 m · ~10 min walk)
- Church: Holy Savior Catholic Church (871 m · ~11 min walk)
- Place of worship: ተባረክ መስጅድ (ጀርመን ግቢ) (1.1 km · ~14 min walk)
Local Lifestyle & Recreation
Ahmed Mall — 1.5 km · ~19 min walk
Ethiopia-Cuba Friendship Memorial Park — 753 m · ~9 min walk
Post Museum — 881 m · ~11 min walk
National Theatre — 676 m · ~8 min walk
Club des Cheminots — 1.4 km · ~17 min walk
5-Minute Radius Essentials
Nearest — 443 m · ~6 min walk
Adowa Pharmacy — 472 m · ~6 min walk
Petram PLC — 558 m · ~7 min walk
Mojjo/Nazareth/Shashemene/Awassa Minibus Station — 715 m · ~9 min walk
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →Ethiopian Birr, ETB
Change money at Dashen Bank or Commercial Bank of Ethiopia branches; avoid the airport or tourist bureaux as they offer poor rates.
Cards work in hotels and upmarket restaurants; street food, taxis, and small shops accept only cash.
Restaurants: round up or leave 10% for good service. Taxis: round up the fare. Hotel staff: 20-50 birr for porters or housekeeping.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →A small cup of Ethiopian buna from a street-side coffee stall or kiosk costs around 10-15 birr.
A 'tibs' (meat) or shiro (chickpea) combo with injera and vegetables at a local cafeteria costs 100-150 birr.
A main course like firfir or kitfo at a basic restaurant runs 150-200 birr.
Bole Road near Bole Airport has lots of sambusa and grilled meat stalls; also the area around Piazza is known for cheap eats.
Supermarket chains like World Store or Nyala are common; small kiosks are everywhere.
Shola Market (Shiro Meda) and Merkato sell affordable second-hand clothes and traditional textiles.
Minibus taxis (blue/white) cost 5-10 birr per ride; from the airport, take a hotel shuttle if possible, or a minibus into Bole district for 10 birr.
Eat at local cafeterias rather than tourist spots; always bargain at markets; use public minibuses instead of taxis.
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 SIM - Guesthouse
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🧭 First things nearby: cash · Nearest — 443 m · ~6 min walk — pharmacy · Adowa Pharmacy — 472 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best rooms at SIM - Guesthouse?
Request a room on the upper floors (3rd or 4th) at the rear of the building, away from the street. These rooms are significantly quieter and have less foot traffic.
Which rooms should I avoid at SIM - Guesthouse?
Avoid rooms on the ground floor and first floor facing the street. Street noise from Addis Ababa traffic and pedestrians can be intrusive, especially during the day.
Is SIM - Guesthouse noisy?
Addis Ababa's streets are busy with traffic, honking, and pedestrians. The guesthouse likely sits on a main road, so rooms facing the street will hear this. Also, the lift shaft may cause noise on adjacent rooms.
Which rooms have the best views at SIM - Guesthouse?
Upper-floor rooms at the rear offer a view of the neighbourhood rather than the main road. The front might give a view of the street, but it comes with noise.
What are insider tips for staying at SIM - Guesthouse?
1) Check-in early if you can, as the quieter rooms go first. 2) Request a room on the 3rd or 4th floor when booking—mention you prefer a 'quiet zone' away from the lift.
What time is check-in at SIM - Guesthouse?
Check-in at SIM - Guesthouse is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does SIM - Guesthouse have Wi-Fi?
Free WiFi throughout; speed about 10 Mbps down for browsing and email; login via voucher given at check-in
Is there a city or tourist tax at SIM - Guesthouse?
None
Where can I eat cheaply near SIM - Guesthouse?
A 'tibs' (meat) or shiro (chickpea) combo with injera and vegetables at a local cafeteria costs 100-150 birr.
What is the cheapest way to get around from SIM - Guesthouse?
Minibus taxis (blue/white) cost 5-10 birr per ride; from the airport, take a hotel shuttle if possible, or a minibus into Bole district for 10 birr.
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.