Ethiopia safe to travel to?
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2016
Posts: 81
Ethiopia safe to travel to?
Hey all,
I want to go to Ethiopia (all over) later this year, however it seems unclear to me if it's safe to travel there at the moment.
The country declared state of emergency last October and the Department of State website has as a travel warning. I always take these warnings with a grain of salt. Looked at Canada's and UK's travel website and seem to have similar warnings.
Conversely, I've read reviews on TripAdvisor and random sites about people who just came from Ethiopia and seems they had no issues.
Curious if anyone has recently returned from there or any thoughts or opinions on this?
Thanks,
j
I want to go to Ethiopia (all over) later this year, however it seems unclear to me if it's safe to travel there at the moment.
The country declared state of emergency last October and the Department of State website has as a travel warning. I always take these warnings with a grain of salt. Looked at Canada's and UK's travel website and seem to have similar warnings.
Conversely, I've read reviews on TripAdvisor and random sites about people who just came from Ethiopia and seems they had no issues.
Curious if anyone has recently returned from there or any thoughts or opinions on this?
Thanks,
j
#2
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: Exile
Posts: 15,638
I was in Addis last week and the city at least is exactly the same as it has always been. Internet access to some news sites and Facebook was more hit-or-miss than usual, but otherwise nothing to indicate a State of Emergency.
That said, there is probably more "unrest" in the areas inhabited by the minorities who have been expressing the protests that triggered the SoE, but even then it seems to have not affected tourists or tourist areas heavily.
That said, there is probably more "unrest" in the areas inhabited by the minorities who have been expressing the protests that triggered the SoE, but even then it seems to have not affected tourists or tourist areas heavily.
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2016
Posts: 81
I was in Addis last week and the city at least is exactly the same as it has always been. Internet access to some news sites and Facebook was more hit-or-miss than usual, but otherwise nothing to indicate a State of Emergency.
That said, there is probably more "unrest" in the areas inhabited by the minorities who have been expressing the protests that triggered the SoE, but even then it seems to have not affected tourists or tourist areas heavily.
That said, there is probably more "unrest" in the areas inhabited by the minorities who have been expressing the protests that triggered the SoE, but even then it seems to have not affected tourists or tourist areas heavily.
#6
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: usually somewhere between 30000 and 40000 feet...but actually the English countryside
Programs: BA GGL/Lifetime Gold, EK Gold, Lowly M&M, Marriott tit, Hhonors Diamond, numerous others
Posts: 1,156
The state of emergency still exists although has been relaxed. There remains a heavy military presence in the capital but is not particularly overt.
Internet access is restricted and 3G was not available whilst I was there the last 2 weeks. Facebook was not available, I didnt try other social media. WhatsApp worked OK on hotel wifi.
Dire Dawa and Jijiga were safe enough although don't get many tourists! I will be up in the North in a few weeks, Ill let you know how I get on...
Internet access is restricted and 3G was not available whilst I was there the last 2 weeks. Facebook was not available, I didnt try other social media. WhatsApp worked OK on hotel wifi.
Dire Dawa and Jijiga were safe enough although don't get many tourists! I will be up in the North in a few weeks, Ill let you know how I get on...
#7
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2016
Posts: 81
The state of emergency still exists although has been relaxed. There remains a heavy military presence in the capital but is not particularly overt.
Internet access is restricted and 3G was not available whilst I was there the last 2 weeks. Facebook was not available, I didnt try other social media. WhatsApp worked OK on hotel wifi.
Dire Dawa and Jijiga were safe enough although don't get many tourists! I will be up in the North in a few weeks, Ill let you know how I get on...
Internet access is restricted and 3G was not available whilst I was there the last 2 weeks. Facebook was not available, I didnt try other social media. WhatsApp worked OK on hotel wifi.
Dire Dawa and Jijiga were safe enough although don't get many tourists! I will be up in the North in a few weeks, Ill let you know how I get on...
Curious to hear how it goes. Do you mind sharing what cities in the North you are headed to?
#8
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: usually somewhere between 30000 and 40000 feet...but actually the English countryside
Programs: BA GGL/Lifetime Gold, EK Gold, Lowly M&M, Marriott tit, Hhonors Diamond, numerous others
Posts: 1,156
#9
Join Date: Feb 1999
Location: Sacramento area, CA USA
Programs: UA Gold Million Miler, HH Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 2,858
I would like to know which airline to take from California. We like Turkish Air but are intrigued by offers from LAX to ADD on Ethiopian Air. We would go economy and are Mileage Plus Gold. What we like about Turkish is that we have always had an open middle seat AND we love the lounge in Istanbul. However, I hear that you can get domestic flights in Ethiopia for half price if you fly in on Ethiopian Air. What about if you are on a UA award? Any info would be appreciated on hotels, flights, cities to see, etc. Thanks in advance!
#10
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: 4me
Posts: 11,957
I was in Addis last November and had a great time.
Regarding airlines: Going I flew EWR-ADD on Ethiopian which was nice. On the return I flew ADD-IST-LAX on Turkish. Very nice. They actually had a chef on board the IST-LAX segment. The only down side was the flight departed ADD 2 AM.
Regarding airlines: Going I flew EWR-ADD on Ethiopian which was nice. On the return I flew ADD-IST-LAX on Turkish. Very nice. They actually had a chef on board the IST-LAX segment. The only down side was the flight departed ADD 2 AM.
#11
Join Date: May 2000
Location: Nawlins, LA
Programs: Nada!
Posts: 419
I was in Addis over Easter and it was fine. I drove all over (Ambo and Metahara for work) and had no problems. Facebook never worked and WhatsApp was hit or miss. I flew MSY-ATL-CDG on Delta and then Ethiopian Air to ADD. I had a long layover in Paris but was too lazy to go into town and get dinner. But I liked the flight bc you flight overnight and arrive early in the am. It was a new 787 too. Turkish Air arrives late at night. Did same route going home with only a 4 hour layover in CDG. Everything was great and checked my bags in ADD to MSY and they made it with no problem. I've been twice in the last year and I couldn't tell any difference from before the unrest as opposed to after except for certain websites not working.
#13
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2016
Posts: 81
#15
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2016
Posts: 81