Taxis at Bole Airport

The section on taxis at Bole airport could be improved – and the idea that you should stay at the airport till sunrise is daft, especially as most international flights arrive after dark.

SO…………..re TAXIS at Bole Airport.

Suggested advice for those NOT being met by tour company, hotel or friends……

1.       When getting Eth birr from bank in corner of baggage hall ask for 100br in 10br notes…….

Ie banks will always give you most of your money in green 100br notes (each worth approx

5 euro/pounds). So give 1 or 2 green 100br back at bank and ask for it to be replaced by 10 x

10     Birr for taxis….

2.       Only exit door normally open is in far right hand corner after you emerge from baggage/customs into public arrivals area. (If you feel like a coffee or beer first, the café is to left of where you emerge.. ask a waiter for the menu to see prices. ”Menu please” or in Amharic “menu alla??”

3.       You may be approached by an individual inside the terminal (just past meeting/greeting point) asking if you want a taxi.  Ask for his I. D.  Ask if it’s a yellow or blue taxi…..shows you know a bit… Ask for price to your hotel. If yellow taxi, expect to pay more. Yellow taxis are operated by NTO – government tour operator, but agree price before accepting.

4.       Agree if you think price is reasonable. Prices to hotels near the airport will be hugely different to those in the north of city eg Simien, Ras Amba, Addis view.  Eg 40 birr to 120br range

5.       Don’t stay hours waiting for daylight… better to pay slightly over the odds and get some sleep.

6.       If you are used to Africa, been here before, brave, go down ramp into car park. Walk past all the guys touting for yellow taxis till you find a blue Lada taxi…..about half way across the car park.

Negotiate price before getting in. Accept say 50-75% of drivers first price…

7.       IF you know Addis, it is daylight, AND you  are back packing without suitcases, go right to far end of car park to find 12 seater minibus taxis to town for 3br…….

 

8.       In all this taxi seeking procedure you will have your luggage on a trolley pushed by you or a porter.  If it is dark there is a case for employing a porter in the baggage hall… guys in burgundy coloured boiler suit uniforms. May cost you 20/30br but could be a good idea if you are new.

Unofficial porter guys in car park may try to help you load the taxi…official porters will deter them.

Frank Rispin