Maximizing a Layover in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia -- With Kids
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After an epic vacation to the Seychelles with my two boys, we returned to London via Addis Ababa on Ethiopian Airlines. Rather than fly home directly, I decided to stay a few days and explore the capital, catching up with friends who work there and exploring with my 3 year old and my 1 year old. I used a mix of private drivers and taxis during my visit and stayed within Addis Ababa itself, as people told me it was not safe to drive outside of the city so I didn't want to test my luck.
Visit the National Museum
The National Museum of Ethiopia is free to enter and has the feeling of a natural history museum with its early hominid skeletons in the basement. The most famous exhibit is "Lucy," a skeleton found in 1974 in the Afar region of Ethiopia. Lucy famously toured the United States from 2007 to 2013 before returning to Ethiopia. Lucy and her neighbor in the basement, "Selam," scared my son so just consider yourself warned if you have little kids.
The museum is a bit run-down by Western standards and did not have air conditioning but was an exciting way to pass the afternoon. I enjoyed learning more about former Emperor Haile Selassie, the defining ruler of modern Ethiopia, and the grounds outside the museum provided a calm oasis from the bustle of the main road just outside the gates.
Shiro Media Market for Local Textiles
Shiro Media is a group of stalls near the Spanish Embassy. There is not a defined sidewalk so I would suggest going either only with older children or with a baby in a carrier. There were beautiful cotton items but a rather intense shopping experience: I had people grab my face (just to touch it).
I bargained a bit for a scarf and ended up getting two for $10. You will need Ethiopian birr currency and note that local Ethiopians later scoffed that I paid too much, so use your bargaining skills.
Drink Some Coffee
You are never far from an amazing cup of coffee in Addis Ababa. My 3-year-old and I soon discovered that our favorite way to spend our days was to drink coffee (me) and eat homemade chocolate cake (him). Coffee ceremonies are performed at many cafes and hotels (the Hilton Addis Ababa lobby is known to have a good one; award nights there range from 42k to 50k Hilton Honors points). We went to a coffee ceremony at Lucy Lounge & Restaurant, which is named after our favorite skeleton and is located just next to the national museum. It had outdoor dining and the best Western kids menu I saw while in town, in case you need something easy for the kids.
On the east side of Addis Ababa, we went to a more modern coffee shop called Galani Coffee. I loved how open and spacious its industrial warehouse style space felt, with a courtyard where my son could run around. It also had delicious ice cream.
Dinner and Dancing Show
We went to Yod Abyssinia for a delicious dinner and to watch traditional dancing. While seemingly touristy and certainly more expensive than many other restaurants in Addis Ababa, it a great show where locals come to watch the dancing and drink tej (honey wine). It is located close to the airport and requires a reservation. We paid approximately $25 per adult for dinner and drinks.
The show starts at 7:30pm, and my exhausted 3 year old fell asleep on the traditional leather benches.
Sabahar Textiles
A Canadian woman founded Sabahar in 2004 in the area near the airport. More than 20 sets of hands touch each product they sell, and you can follow the whole process from silkworms up to seeing completed items in the retail shop. It was a great environment to explore as a family because it is gated and there is a lot to see on the grounds. The items are more expensive than at the markets, but the organization says in turn it pays its workers a livable wage and provides medical care. When I visited, there was a "seconds" pile where everything was 20% off. I bought silk napkins to bring back to London.
Bottom Line
Many points enthusiasts headed to Africa find themselves in the Addis Ababa Bole International Airport (ADD) at some point due to its variety of connections. Whether you are flying on Ethiopian Airlines or another carrier, it's worth considering using your layover in Addis Ababa with your family to explore some of the capital's sights.
The city has a surprising range of points hotels including a brand-new Hyatt Regency in Meskel Square available for 12k World of Hyatt points per night. There's also the previously mentioned Hilton Addis Ababa, as well as the Radisson Blu (from 44k points per night), Best Western Plus Bole (from 20k points) and the Sheraton Addis (Category 7, from 60k Marriott points).
Have you been to Addis Ababa? What did you like best?
Planning a family trip to Africa? Here are some more resources:
- A Guide to Planning Your Family’s African Vacation
- We've Taken Our Kids on Safari and You Can, Too
- How to Use Hotel Points to Visit the Seychelles
- Miles Away: A Trip to The Seychelles, Africa’s Tropical Paradise
- Why the World of Hyatt Credit Card Is Great for Family Travelers
- United to Fly Nonstop From Newark to Cape Town, South Africa
- Painting the Town Red: A Review of the Radisson RED in Cape Town, South Africa
All photos by Kathleen Porter Kristiansen/The Points Guy
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There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
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- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.
Rewards Rate
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro Offer
You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
$325Recommended Credit
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.Excellent to Good
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.