Question 1

Do I pay a deposit or the full amount when I book?

Accepted Answer

It depends on the property. Most Ethiopia Bookings listings take the full amount at the time of booking, held securely until 24 hours after check-in. A minority of larger hotels accept a deposit (typically 20–30%) with the balance due at check-in. The exact terms are shown on the property page before you confirm.

Question 2

What is Ethiopia Bookings's cancellation policy?

Accepted Answer

Each property sets its own cancellation policy: flexible (full refund up to 24 hours before check-in), moderate (full refund up to 5 days before), or strict (50% refund up to 7 days before, no refund after). The policy is shown on every listing and on your booking confirmation.

Question 3

What happens if a property does not honour my booking?

Accepted Answer

Contact our WhatsApp support line immediately on +251 (the number is in your confirmation email). We will phone the property in Amharic, and if they cannot honour the booking we rebook you at a comparable verified property at our cost or refund you in full — whichever you prefer.

Question 4

Can I see prices in ETB instead of USD?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Use the currency switcher in the header to toggle between Ethiopian Birr (ETB) and US Dollars (USD). Domestic Ethiopian travellers see ETB by default; international visitors see USD by default. The exchange rate is updated daily from Commercial Bank of Ethiopia rates.

Question 5

Is my card information stored on Ethiopia Bookings?

Accepted Answer

No. Card payments are processed by ArifPay (PCI-DSS compliant) and Stripe. Card numbers, CVV codes and expiry dates never touch Ethiopia Bookings servers. We only store a tokenised reference so you can rebook without re-entering your details.

Question 6

Do I need an account to book?

Accepted Answer

You can search and view properties without an account. To complete a booking you need an account so that we can send you the confirmation, store your booking history and contact you if anything changes. Sign up takes under a minute with email or Google.

Question 7

Can I book for someone else?

Accepted Answer

Yes — enter the guest's name during checkout. The booking confirmation goes to the email you sign in with, but the property check-in is in the named guest's name. Useful for booking accommodation for diaspora family members visiting home, or for corporate travel managers booking for colleagues.

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