When you travel to a developing nation, you have to leave your American expectations behind. Some of the prior reviews are too harsh -- this is Ethiopia, people! That said, I stayed at the Hilton for 10 days in May and found it to be quite good, even if there were some quirks. Quirk #1: The constant incense in the hotel lobby. For the asthmatic, this is bothersome. But it's part of the Ethiopian coffee ceremony and that is offered at regular intervals in the lobby. Just don't hang around too long. Quirk #2: The weird, burning smell that sometimes permeated the hotel rooms. Somewhere between burning electrical units and burning plastic. I called the front desk about it but no one really seemed to understand the problem. I chalked it up to the generator. I was just grateful to have electricity. The rest of the nation is under electricity regulation due to the drought (no hydroelectric power). One of the pastors I went to visit only gets electricity in his house from 9:30 pm to 7:30 am, and he lives in a brand new section of town. That said, don't leave your laptop plugged in without a current regulator or surge protector. It's quite common for the electricity to cycle on and off at regular intervals. Quirk #3: The very old, heavy doors that slam all night and day. Bring good earplugs. Quirk #4: The worn carpet. But I found out later on that carpet is not easy to obtain in Ethiopia. After walking in dirt all day, I was glad to come back to what was there. Quirk #5: The constant, TSA-like security at the front door. But since the hotel was bombed a few years ago (so I was told), better to X-ray everything than to experience a bomb. Quirk #6: The very hard bed. But surprisingly, I slept very well. No aches or pains at all. So, am I negative on the Hilton? Not at all. I found the front desk to be EXTRAORDINARILY helpful, especially when one member of my party got seriously sick and had to be hospitalized. The hotel not only took us to the hospital, but sent a guide/interpreter with us, and apparently paid the bill, too. I was never charged by the doctor. Room service was also surprisingly top-notch -- always coming when they promised, with all the right food, and special touches. The room was large and clean. And the broadband connection was very fast--I could upload photos and watch videos online just like home. It was expensive, though -- about $22/day. But worth it when mobile phones are essentially useless. I don't know why I had such a great connection when my colleagues on another floor said it was super-slow. (I was on the 7th floor.) One member of my party stayed on the executive floor level and liked the private check in and breakfast that was served up in the executive club. But the rooms were identical and just as filled with the weird burning smell. A private breakfast was probably not worth the extra $50/night. Oh, yes, and kudos to the business center. They did everything I needed correctly and on time. Very good hours and well-maintained machines. The food was safe and clean and fairly varied. We did get tired of Spaghetti Bolognaise, but no one was forcing us to order it. I liked the outdoor restaurant by the pool best, but someone in my party said the Jacaranda restaurant was good, too. Because we were there on a packed business trip, we did not take risks with our eating. We ate at either the Hilton or the Sheraton, generally. Though on the last weekend, we did eat at a private banquet (raw meat, which we did not know! ugh!) and at the Cultural Center. And we survived both. Speaking of the Sheraton, there's no comparison to the Hilton. It truly is world-class luxurious, which is a HUGE surprise in Addis. But I wouldn't have wanted to stay there. It would have been too hard to enter that luxury while stepping over beggars--literally. The cognitive dissonance would have been too much. Plus the Sheraton is rather expensive. But definitely make sure to eat there. Several very good restaurants! In summary: the Hilton is quite sufficient for business travel and unparalleled luxury in comparison to the way many people live. If you stay, please ask the parking guards for Dawit, the young man who is a tour guide and often hangs out around the front gate. He is licensed by the Ethiopian tourism agency and was a superb tour guide and a bargain to boot. And buy some candies, shoes, and small gifts for the joyful young boys who also congregate there. Their happy greetings will make your daily arrival at the hotel and you will know you are making a small investment in Ethiopia's future. Oh, and try Island Breezes, a new restaurant in the city run by a couple from Oregon, as I recall. Great food and the cleanest restrooms anywhere in the city! (Note for travelers: Pack small tissue packs and sanitary wipes. Soap, water, TP, and clean toilets can be a rarity in Addis.) Random review now concluded. Bottom line: The Hilton is quite sufficient for the business traveler and despite all the quirks, it is remarkably reliable in the midst of a struggling city like Addis.

This is a hotel as they once were in the developing world. The centre of social life of the city's upper crust. It has everything you would want - if you have money - and what they city outside the hotel fences cannot offer. Playgrounds for kids, tennis courts, minigolf and of course the usual plethora of restaurants, airlines offices and shops. The latter even sell shoes and frying pans. Time seems to have bypassed the place. It looks stuck in the 70s or early 80s, when it must have indeed been an oasis in an otherwise unwieldy town. Today, though, the town around it is bustling. Malls are being built. Not that it has become any nicer. Corrugated iron is still the dominant feature. The big, big plus of the hotel is its pool, fed by hot springs. The rooms I should better not mention. Any Ibis hotel around the world would probably offer more decent rooms. Needless to mention, the hotel is heavily overpriced.

This hotel is a disgrace to the Hilton name. Dirty, old, poorly maintained, no air-conditioning, the list goes on. I was told to keep my door open to cool the room. In Africa? Really? I made reservations through Hilton's website and had paid, confirmed reservation. When I arrived, they could not locate my reservation and then proceeded to basically call me a liar even when I showed them my reservation. Don't depend upon them to pick you up at the airport either. Problems there also. I travel extensively througout Africa and know what to expect of hotels. Even a 3 star Ethiopian hotel at 1/2 the price is a better hotel and value than the Hilton. My advice...stay away from the Addis Hilton.