Pay with ethiopian Birr (ETB) in Duty-Free in ADD
Nov 1, 2017, 4:13 pm
#2
Join Date: Nov 2004
Programs: Aeroplan, Shebamiles, WorldPerks
Posts: 468
Nov 1, 2017, 9:50 pm
#4
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: NW London and NW Sydney
Programs: BA Diamond, Hilton Bronze, A3 Diamond, IHG *G
Posts: 6,344
I have not been to Ethiopia myself but my Ethiopian friend says that he has only spent US dollars in the airport.
In any case, you are not allowed to bring out more than 200 birr from the country which won't buy you very much. If you take more than 200 birr out and it is discovered then it will be confiscated. According to the UK foreign office, imprisonment is possible if you are discovered bringing more than 200 birr *into* Ethiopia - which my friend is getting worried about because he has about 6000 birr in the UK...
In any case, you are not allowed to bring out more than 200 birr from the country which won't buy you very much. If you take more than 200 birr out and it is discovered then it will be confiscated. According to the UK foreign office, imprisonment is possible if you are discovered bringing more than 200 birr *into* Ethiopia - which my friend is getting worried about because he has about 6000 birr in the UK...
Nov 3, 2017, 2:18 am
#6
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: Exile
Posts: 15,656
No Birr accepted at Duty Free shops. They want USD cash and credit card machines are hit or miss as to whether they are working on any given day.
There is now a money changer airside (opposite the Cloud Nine Lounge entrance) who can presumably change your leftover Birr back to dollars.
Outside of the airport and tourist areas, Birr is a must.
There is now a money changer airside (opposite the Cloud Nine Lounge entrance) who can presumably change your leftover Birr back to dollars.
Outside of the airport and tourist areas, Birr is a must.
Nov 9, 2017, 2:49 pm
#7
Join Date: May 2004
Location: TPE
Programs: AA EXP 2MM
Posts: 507
One shop recently let me do a combo payment of USD and birr, helping me get rid of my final couple hundred birr, but it's not something I would count on. I also accepted an unfavorable exchange rate on that birr, but for the small amount and to get rid of it, it didn't matter to me.
Jan 6, 2018, 2:03 pm
#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
Actually the DF operators at the airport are under constant pressure to generate foreign currency for the country that it is easier for them to say they don't accept Birr - but they do and will. There remains a desperate shortage of Forex in the country.
Ill check the 200 Birr supposed limit in a couple of weeks but I have never had any issues with this.
Ill check the 200 Birr supposed limit in a couple of weeks but I have never had any issues with this.