10 Years Later In Ethiopia🇪🇹: Staying At The Plush 5 Star Skylight Hotel In Addis Ababa

“My smile as real as a hyena’s” – Nicky Wire. (de ja vu, just the 10 years later eh?!)

10 Years Later In Ethiopia: Staying At The Plush 5 Star Skylight Hotel In Addis Ababa

I have now racked up five visits to Ethiopia. I have known Addis Ababa was a hub since my legendary 2013 trip to the country where I got a visa on arrival, backpacked the capital city and took a death bus east to Dire Dawa for a wild trip of touring Holy Harar and feeding hyenas mouth to mouth. At the time I slept in dingy hostels and hotels with no mosquito nets, cockroaches, dirty beds and even a power cut for three days – I even reviewed those places – the Central Hotel in Harar and the Atelefugne Hostel in Addis Ababa though as a long-term backpacker back then it didn’t actually seem that bad!!

Backpacking in Ethiopia: Staying at Atelefugne Hostel in Addis Ababa

That 2013 trip was pure madness and for sure even aged 33, I felt younger like a 22! Now, aged 43 it was a welcome return. There’s something magical about Ethiopia and I can’t quite fathom it…

One of my crazy moments in Africa – feeding hyenas hand to mouth and mouth to mouth

It could even be that delicious food I devoured in this very capital city 10 years ago. (Friday’s Featured Food: Vegetarian Combination in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.)

Friday’s Featured Food: Vegetarian Combination in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

“I’m going to take that tiger outside for a ride” – Noel Gallagher.

This time on my MMM trip (Madagascar Malawi and Mozambique) I knew I would end up back in AA (Addis Ababa) and in fact the way fate happened, I’d end up here three times in 11 days. It’s a classic hub and I’m a big fan of Ethiopian Airlines who rarely disappoint.

Ethiopian Airlines Loyal

Ethiopian Airlines food top notch as always

My flight times were changed a few times on this trip, meaning I would have less time in Malawi and Mozambique than expected, but more time on returns to Ethiopia. Every silver lining has a cloud.

Back in Ethiopia

Even more outrageous, is that Ethiopian Airlines would pay for me to have a huge room in a five star hotel, free breakfast lunch and dinner, in room WiFi and a connection by minibus from the airport to the hotel and then back the next morning. They would also cover the visa for a night (officially two calendar days) and that one costs a usual $80 USD. I’d say all the freebies combined here, they gave me around $600 USD back and with a crazy extra bonus of having a sports bar that actually showed AFC Bournemouth’s impressive 1-0 away win at Leicester City. Are you kidding? No, Sir!

Sports Bar, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

That’s what really happened. I deserved this. Here are some cool things about my stay in the Skylight Luxury Hotel in Addis Ababa in Ethiopia.

1.Five Star Room. Wow.

I don’t even have any more words for thus. It’s the best hotel I’ve slept in for years. Just wow. Even better they put me in room C 220. My lucky number is 2 especially when repeated e.g. 22 222 202 2202 etc.

Five Star Room. Wow. Skylight Hotel, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

2.WiFi and Television. Wow.

The WiFi actually worked. And I had a Television in my room. If you know me, you will know that I have never ever bought a television in my life and the only one I ever owned was but by my parents before I took it to my university flats in 2003. In deep irony, as soon as I turned my television on, I was alerted that USA President Joe Biden was visiting Northern Ireland!

TV and WiFi in my classy room!

3.Free dinner.

I wasn’t even hungry enough to eat it all. I called Mum and Dad to tell them about my freebie. The range of food here was ridiculous. Classy chilli, spaghetti bolognese, chicken curry, Ethiopian beef and rice, vegetarian options and plenty of salad, bread, cheese and desserts!

Free dinner at the Skylight Hotel, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

4.Free breakfast.

The next morning, breakfast was also free and of course it was an all you can eat buffet with a decent ginger juice, coffee and tea and all you expect from any continental breakfast. As always, I’m not a big eater but I did give it a try…

Free breakfast at the Skylight Hotel, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

5.Range of bars.

For once I went alcohol free here for two days but the option had been there. I could gave tried a beer but I didn’t though I did visit the bars to check them out and witnessed Philip Billing sailing through the Leicester City defence to stab in a 1-0 away winner.

Watching Billing smash Leicester away in Ethiopia!

6.Bus To And From The Airport.

Transport to and from Addis Ababa Bole International Airport was also included free of charge so I didn’t spend any money at all in about 24 hours, brilliant!

Bus To And From The Airport.

7.Best sleep of that trip.

This was also easily my best sleep on my MMM tour in April 2023. Glory sleeps loyal.

My best sleep of that trip!

Five Star Room. Wow. Skylight Hotel, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

My best sleep of that trip!

8.Free Ethiopian Visa!

Thanks to Ethiopian Airlines, the Ethiopian visa fee (usually $80 US Dollars) was waived!! What a bonus for a free two days and night in Ethiopia – a great option for anyone who actually wants to visit Ethiopia and Addis Ababa. For me, on this trip I stayed in the hotel as I’ve been to Addis Ababa city twice before, and the airport 4 times, but wow a free visa!