The Sheraton Hotel in Addis Ababa is said to be the finest hotel in all of Africa. Basic (nicely-equipped) rooms cost $230-$250 a night and suites can be much more expensive than that. That was a little too pricey for me, and so I never actually stayed there. But I did walk through the lobby on the way to and from the bank and can tell you it is amazing. High ceilings, marble pillars, an upper balcony, a fountain. This place is posh.

Thanks to my 3 year old needing to use the restroom, I even got to check out one of the public restrooms. Black marble. Real towels, gold fixtures, and-- get this--... more

The Hilton Hotel in Addis is on of the two nicest hotels in Addis, topped only by the Sheraton. Many people say its amenities are nearly as nice as at the Sheraton, but at a more affordable price. Rooms at the Hilton are around $150 a night, as compared to the Sheraton's $230-$260 per night for a room.

Though we did not actually stay at the Hilton, we did spend one morning there, and I have to say I was quite impressed with the hotel. Staff was friendly, things appeared to be very clean, and it was a pleasant place to spend some time.

There are 5 restaurants, 3 bars, a gym, an internet cafe, a clothing shop, a duty free shop, a supermarket selling imported Italian... more

WHAT TO BRING When traveling to Ethiopia, it is best to disregard typical traveling advice regarding money. Traveler's checks and credit cards are mostly useless in Ethiopia.

Traveler's checks are very hard to cash in Ethiopia, and will probably only work at big hotels like the Sheraton. You will be required to show the receipt as well as the actual traveler's check, thus negating some of the protection of traveler's checks.

Credit cards, likewise, will only be honored at the big hotels. You can get a cash advance on your credit card at the Sheraton, which is... more

No advice about travel would be complete without mentioning the traffic in Addis. The vast majority of vehicles in Addis consist of 3 types: blue cabs, blue minibuses, and huge yellow and orange public buses. Very infrequently do any of these types of transportation have seatbelts.

Horn-honking is an integral part of driving in Addis. There are as many lanes in the road as will fit cars at any given moment. Minibuses stop anywhere, helter-skelter, causing drivers to detour around them. Then other drivers to detour around THEM, with horn-honking being the accepted way to say, ‘I’m coming through.'

... more

Here are some things to consider when deciding whether or not to bring your child to Ethiopia with you.

First, Consider The Child To Be Traveling The biggest consideration is probably the age of the child. In my experience, kids over 10 or so tend to do really well with this type of trip. With younger kids you'll want to take a hard look at their personality to make the decision.

For example: -- Is your child fairly easy-going? -- Can she fall asleep in unusual places? -- Is she good with new foods? -- Can she play somewhat independently? -- Is she an energetic walker? -- is she gracious about sharing your attention... more

Since many families already have kids when they decide to adopt from Ethiopia, a big concern for many people is what to do with the other children when you travel to pick up your new child. I have traveled to get children 4 times in the last 8 years, and so have spent a lot of time puzzling over the same dilemma.

With our first adoption (from Korea), our other kids ranged in age from 4 to 10 years old. We had family members willing to care for them at home. My husband and I both decided to travel. We were gone only 5 days, the kids did fine without us, and this turned out to be a very good solution.

The second time around, our first Korean child was not even 2 years old.... more

Something that comes up over and over among traveling adoptive families is the question of luggage and weight. Each ticketed passenger is allowed 2 checked bags of less than 50 pounds on a domestic flight. If you have an international leg of travel on your journey (which obviously you do if you're going to Ethiopia) then your bags are allowed to weigh up to 70 lbs, EVEN on the domestic flights.

One person recently reported that it costs $135 extra on Ethiopian Airlines to check a third bag of up to 70 lbs. I think unless you are planning to bring TONS of orphanage donations, most people could... more

One of the questions most frequently asked by adoptive parents is regarding travel shots. At this time there are no mandatory vaccinations to travel to Ethiopia.

However, there are several shots recommended. Make sure you've had a tetanus shot within the past 10 years. Some people also choose to have a flu shot.

Another recommendation when traveling to third world countries is the hepatitis series. This is a series of 3 shots taken over a 6-month period. If time is tight, it is acceptable to just get the first two before leaving, then get the final one upon homecoming.

Neither the Malaria or Yellow Fever shot is required. If you have further questions about... more

One of the most daunting tasks of preparing to go to Ethiopia is deciding what you really need to bring, and what wil just add extra weight to your luggage. I've come to realize that there are some great reasons to pack as lightly as possible.

--You'll have more luggage space on the way there for donations and supplies for your child's orphanage --You'll have more space on the way home for souvenirs. -- You'll have a less stressful trip if you have less to check and less to tote around the airport, especially on the way home with your child.

Having said that, you do want to make sure you have things that will be hard to find there and that you can't get by without.... more

One of the things I enjoyed most in Ethiopia was the shopping. I am a penny-pincher at heart, and had no trouble finding lots of bargains while there. The traditional dresses my little girls are modeling in this picture can be found for $10-$15.

The background fabric in both pictures is a large tablecloth that came with 12 napkins and cost around $40. Other textiles available include gorgeous hand-woven headscarves which come in stunning colors and patterns and are often worn by Ethiopian women.

Other things that are affordable include baskets (in the $3-$10 range for... more