National Hotel

The government chain of hotels thuout Ethiopia with names such as ghion, Roha National are all great value for money.
The National just north of Meskel and next to the river overlooks the city centre and the leafy Menelik area. The lobby is standard with African business-types lurking around.. but the rooms are huge!I had a seperate living area and sleeping area, two tvs and then the shower room and toilet. Very clean and the staff spray the rooms for bugs nitely- as its too cold and high for mosquitoes to live -and turn your bed down. very comfortable. There however frequent power cuts and candles are provided as well as heated water...it is chilly at nites.

Unique Quality: Great view and large very clean & spacious rooms

Directions: north of Meskel Sq

This has to be one of the worst hotels i've ever stayed in.

Arriving at 4:45am from a red-eye flight from Cairo, i was looking forward to check-in, have a nice warm bath and sleep till lunch.

Initially, the receptionist insisted on charging me for the previous night. It's either that or i have to wait 1hr 15mins till 6am to avoid paying that previous night where i'll only be spending 1hr 15mins in my room.

I didn't want to have to pay another USD35 for just that!

After more than 20mins, she relented, called her manager and gave me my keys.

I spent only a night there.

Had lunch in the hotel restaurant. Spaghetti carbonara... HORRIBLE STUFF. Dry and rubbery and almost tasteless! I had to request for tomato sauce to make it more edible!

Bath water was FREEZING! Heater didn't work.

Most of the lights in my room didn't work either.

TV didn't work.

Lift could only fit 1 person comfortably. It was a little cramped with my backpack and daypack! And the lift wasn't working at its best!

Unique Quality: Don't stay here if you can help it.