20th ICES Organising Committee:
ices20additional
Travel Information
View of Mekelle town from outside of the conference venue
1. Bus Service (shuttles) from the Airport/Town to the Conference Venue
There will be a free bus service (shuttles) with the following schedule. The pick-up spots and ESTIMATED times are as follows. Alternatively, from airport to town, you could also take airport taxi (200 birr from airport to town) or line taxi (4 birr from the road outside the airport to town) or hotel’s transportation service (in case of high-grade hotels). From town to the conference venue, you could also take bajaj (around 50 birr for the locals) or line taxi (3 birr from town, ask a MU staff for directions). If you are taking bajaj from town, please be sure to say “Arid” campus, as there are several MU campuses in town.
From town to conference venue
| No. | Pickup Sports | Morning Pickup time | Afternoon Pickup Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Milano Hotel | 8:10am | 1:30pm |
| 2 | Hatsey Yohanes Hotel | 8:13am | 1:31pm |
| 3 | Post office/ Hawzen square | 8:15am | 1:32pm |
| 4 | Juburik Dashen Bank | 8:17am | 1:35pm |
| 5 | Red Cross office | 8:20am | 1:37pm |
| 6 | Sheba college/Mekelle Commercial Bank | 8:23am | 1:40pm |
| 7 | REST (Relief Society of Tigary) | 8:25am | 1:42pm |
| 8 | Axum Hotel | 8:25am | 1:42pm |
| 9 | Noble House | 8:28am | 1:46pm |
| 10 | Debre Amo Guest House | 8:30AM | 1:48pm |
| 11 | Endayesus Campus | 8:45am | 1:55pm |
From town to conference venue
- 15min after the final sessions finish (sometime between 6:45pm ?7:30pm, depends on the day)
- Lunchtime service: 12:35pm
2. Hotels and Pensions
Pensions and hotels of middle to high level are available in Mekelle and surroundings. Please find a partial list of hotels and pensions below.
Notes:- Each participant is requested to manage his/her hotel reservation. If you need assistance, we may refer you to a private travel agent.
- The rate is written in terms of USD, but hotels basically accept payment in Ethiopian Birr. US Dollar/Euro/British Pound can be exchanged to Ethiopian Birr in sevaral banks in Mekelle. Some other currencies (AED, CAD, CHF, DJF, DKK, JPY, NOK, SAR, SEK, ZAF) can also be exhanged to Ethiopian Birr at the main branch of the Commercial Bank of Ethiopia in Mekelle.
- In some of the cheaper hotels, separate fee may be required for breakfast/airport shuttle.
- Regarding the payment by credit card, the availability may change over time, so the participants themselves are advised to check with the hotel if needed. Althogh credit card payment is usually available in high-end hotels, it is generally better to prepare payment by cash.
- As cheaper hotels may not be experienced in managing reservations well in advance, it is recommended to confirm the reservation with the hotel/pension towards the start of the conference (such as 1-2 weeks before the conference).
- Some of the cheaper hotels may not be regularly checking their emails. Thus, if you do not get a response from them, we advise you to call them.
Hotels
(*/**: Committee recommendation)| SNO | Hotels/Pensions | Location | Rate Capacity | Phone | Shuttle pick-up | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Planet International Hotel
|
80-110 USD 80 Rooms |
+251-344-40-56-60 +251-344-40-56-48 +251-344-40-56-49 |
reservation@planetinternationalhotel.com | (take bajaj or line taxi to Post Office) | |
| 2 | Axum Hotel**
|
Qebele 17 | 30-80 USD 180 Rooms |
+251-344-40-51-55 +251-344-40-51-56 Fax:+251-344-40-61-15 |
axum.d@ethionet.et, axum.n@ethionet.et | Y |
| 3 | Hatsey Yohanes Hotel**
|
Qebele 14 (Opposite Yohannis the IV palaces ) | 38-79 USD 49 Rooms |
+251-914-31-09-37 +251-344-40-67-60 +251-344-40-67-62 Fax: +251-344-40-67-61 |
info@hatseyyohanneshotel.com, booking@hatseyhohannes.com | Y |
| 4 | Ze Yordanos**
|
Qebele 14 | 40-50 USD 25 Rooms |
+251-344-41- 37-22 | yordares@yahoo.com | (at Hatsey Yohannes hotel) |
| 5 | Desta International Hotel*
|
Addi Hawsi | 55-100 USD 32 Rooms |
+251-342-40-01-96 +251-342-40-01-97 +251-342-40-01-31 +251-342-40-01-41 +251-930-00-22-67 |
reservation@destainternationalhotel.com | (Take line taxi to sheba college/Mekelle commercial bank |
| 6 | Zemarias Hotel**
|
Qebele 16 | 55-80 USD 25 Rooms |
+251-342-40-60-00 +251-342-40-60-16 +251-342-40-60-94 |
reservations@zemariashotel.com sales@zemariashotel.com | (at Red cross office) |
| 7 | Northern Star International Hotel
|
Addi Hawsi | 40-70 USD 48 Rooms |
+251-914-70-00-39 +251-342-40-03-60 |
Northernstarhotel27@gmail.com | (Take line taxi to sheba college/Mekelle commercial bank) |
| 8 | Milano Hotel
|
Qebele 08 | 20-40 USD 100 Rooms |
+251-914-70-49-97 +251-911-25-99-95 |
Y | |
| 9 | Hilltop Hotel* | Qebele 08 | 20-30 USD 50 Rooms |
+251-344-40-56-84 | (Take line taxi to Milano hotel) | |
| 10 | Castle Hotel**
|
Qebele 17 | 23-45 USD 24 Rooms |
+251-344-40-65-55 | (go to the Commercial bank) | |
| 11 | Yoha Hotel*
|
Qedamay weyyane, Qebele 09 | 20-30 USD 24 Rooms |
+251-342-40-80-00 +251-914-30-05-36 |
info@yohahotel.com, abelhai2005@yahoo.com | (at The Noble House) |
| 12 | The Noble House
|
Haddennet, Qebelel 17 | 50-90 USD 32 Rooms |
+251-342-40-58-83 +251-342-40-80-41 |
ntphlcmekelle@gmail.com | Y |
| 13 | Moringa Hotel* | Qedamay weyyane, Qebele 09 | 20-30 USD 29 Rooms |
+251-344-41-41-75 +251-914-70-13-30 +251-914-72-78-08 |
moringa.hotel.mekelle@gmail.com | (at Milano Hotel) |
| 14 | Zema Hotel* | Qebele 16 | 15-18 USD 20 Rooms |
+251-342-41-84-85 | (at Romanat square) | |
| 15 | Misgana Hotel | Addi Hawsi, Opposite to Northern star hotel | 20-35 USD 24 Rooms |
+251-342-41-00-80 +251-914-73-16-45 +251-914-00-49-25 |
(Take line taxi to sheba college/Mekelle commercial bank) | |
| 16 | Seti Hotel | Qebele 14, Bazara Square | 10-18 USD 60 Rooms |
+251-914-30-16-80 +251-930-00-16-80 +251-344-41-09-09 |
(at Hatsey Yohannes hotel) | |
| 17 | Milina Pension | Haddennet, Qebele 17 | 14-20 USD 21 Rooms |
+251-342-41-61-20 +251-914-70-59-90 |
milinapension@gmail.com, fisseha16@yahoo.com | (at Axum hotel) |
| 18 | Romadi Hotel*
|
Qedamay weyyane, 19 (Near commercial bank) | 25-35 USD 21 Rooms |
+251-342-41-70-10 | romadihotel@yahoo.com | (at the Commercial Bank) |
| 19 | Genfel Hotel* | Qedamay weyyane, 16 (Djiburuk) | 28-20 USD 39 Rooms |
+251-342-41-55-88 +251-342-41-64-44 +251-930-00-18-01 |
genfelhotel39@gmail.com | (at Redcross office) |
| 20 | Momona hotel | Qebele 19 (Djiburuk) | 15-20 USD 19 Rooms |
+251-914-31-35-53 |
Pensions
(*/**: Committee recommendation)| SNO | Hotels/Pensions | Location | Rate Capacity | Phone | Shuttle pick-up | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hatsey Pension* | Qebele 15 | 15-20 USD 18 Rooms |
+251-344-41-19-93 +251-914-70-86-15 +251-914-31-09-31 |
(at Hatsey Yohannes hotel) | |
| 2 | Caleb Pension/hotel | Qebele 08 (Old bus station) | 15-20 USD 21 Rooms |
+251-344-41-52-55 | ||
| 3 | Rodas Pension* | Qebelel 17 (near REST) | 10-18 USD 16 Rooms |
+251-914-50-56-56 | (at REST/Axum hotel) | |
| 4 | Sayzana Pension | Haddennet, Qebele 17 | 15-20 USD 30 Rooms |
+251-344-41-96-70 +251-914-31-41-69 |
(at REST/Axum hotel) | |
| 5 | Union Pension | Qebele 14 (Bazar area) | 10-15 USD 16 Rooms |
+251-930-47-90-26 +251-342-40-55-21 |
(at REST/Axum hotel) | |
| 6 | Abebu Pension | Qebele 14 (Bazar area) | 20-25 USD 16 Rooms |
+251-914-70-62-67 +251-914-73-52-27 |
(at Hatsey Yohannes hotel) | |
| 7 | Debre Amo Hotel** | Qebele 08 | 35-150 USD 14 Rooms |
+251-914-30-08-81 +251-344-40-02-51 +251-344-40-92-51 |
debreamo6@gmail.com, debreamo6@yahoo.com | Y |
| 8 | Tekeze Pension | Qebele 19 (St. Micheal church) | 20-25 USD 21 Rooms |
+251-930-69-70-33 +251-962-63-59-96 |
(at Milano hotel) | |
| 9 | Victoria Pension | Qebele 19 (St. Micheal church) | 8-15 USD 15 Rooms |
+251-938-79-72-91 | (at Milano hotel) | |
| 10 | Yetebaberut Pension | Qebele 17 (near Castle Hotel) | 15-20 USD 12 Rooms |
+251-932-03-85-65 | (at the Commercial bank) | |
| 11 | Witney Pension | Qebele 01 (Near Bazar) | 10-15USD 29 Rooms |
+251-345-59-32-33 +251-962-59-69-69 |
(at Hatsey Yohannes hotel) | |
| 12 | Bamin Pension | Qelqel Debri | 9-23 USD 13 Rooms |
+251-914-72-55-77 | (take line taxi to town and go to the Commercial bank) |
3. General Travel Guidance
3-1. Travelling to Mekelle city
Mekelle can be reached from Mekelle Airport (1 hour flight from Addis Ababa, around 150 USD/round-trip) or by bus (1 - 2 days from Addis Ababa depending on the grade). Each participant is expected to make their own travel arrangements. Your domestic airfare from Addis Ababa will be substantially discounted if you fly into Ethiopia by Ethiopian Airlines. Also, there is a discount of 15% if you purchase the domestic ticket on-line at Ethiopian airlines website. Although we will not have chartered flights, we may be able to increase the number of flights to Mekelle near the conference date. Thus, if you have problem obtaining the ticket to/from Mekelle, please inform the organizing committee at ices20additional.
Many of the good hotels have shuttle services from/to the airport, so please directly inquire the hotel. The contract taxi from the airport to Mekelle town is 200 Birr. As foreign currency exchange is NOT available at Mekelel airport, we recommend you to get Ethiopian birr in Addis Ababa airport.
3-2. Vaccination
Yellow Fever vaccination certificate may be checked if you arrive to Ethiopia from "countries with risk of Yellow Fever transmission (more than 12 hours of stay)." For details, please refer to http://www.who.int/ith/ITH_country_list.pdf (WHO). Mekelle has the altitude of around 2000m, and Malaria prevention is generally not needed. If possible, rabies vaccination may be recommended, as modern vaccines are generally not available in Mekelle, or sometimes even in Addis Ababa. (Old style post-exposure anti-rabies vaccine (nerve tissue vaccine administered over the abdomen, requiring 14 days of consecutive treatment and total of 17 shots) is readily available in Mekelle hospital.)
3-3. Weather
The weather in Mekelle at the conference time is comfortable. During the daytime, there will be a strong sunshine, and you may feel quite warm (one layer of light long-sleeved clothing would be suitable). On the other hand, during the nighttime, it becomes a bit chilly, and it would be a good idea to bring some jacket or cardigan. Rainfall is usually not expected at this time.
3-4. Power plug sockets
The majority of the plug type is “Type F” as listed in http://www.power-plugs-sockets.com. (The same ones as the ones usually used in continental Europe.) However, in some of the older buildings, you may also find “Type C” (thinner rods and further distance between the rods than "Type F". In more expensive hotels, adapters for different plug shapes are generally available. The adapters can also be easily obtained in town, but the quality (such as how well it fits) may vary.
The most common power plug socket type (Type F)
3-5. Security
The general security situation in Mekelle is very good, and good in Addis Ababa. In Mekelle, it is safe to walk outside alone or take public transportations during daytime. At nighttime before 9 p.m., it is okay to walk outside alone in busy streets or take public transportations. Generally locals recommend avoiding walking outside alone after 9 p.m. or taking bajaj (three-wheeled small car) alone at nighttime.
3-6. [IMPORTANT] Special attention to peole flying out of Mekelle airport
Mekelle airport STRICTLY enforces the security check of making sure that electronic equipments such as smartphones, tablets, or laptops CAN BE STARTED. At the security check point at the entrance of the airport, each of you will be asked to start these equipements in front of the security officer. If these machies cannot be started due to ANY reasons (including lost/broken adapters or broken machines) YOU WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO ENTER INTO (and therefore fly out of) MEKELLE AIRPORT. Therefore, please make sure that you do not forget bringing your adapters. If your electronic equipements become disfuctional during the confernece, we recommend that you make arrangements to trasnprot your equipment by some other means (such as by bus to Addis or by shipment) WELL IN ADVANCE.
Also, according to our experience, Mekelle airport security sometimes asks questions on large amount of money (or many sheets of paper which could be mistaken as money via X-ray machine), though this usually does not seem to create a problem.
4. Money Matters
4-1. Foreing currency exchange
Euro, US Dollar and British Pound can be exchanged into Ethiopian Birr in Addis Ababa airport, many banks in Mekelle, through some ATMs, and in some hotels. There is no currency exchange desk in Mekelle Airport, so you should exchange your money in Addis Ababa airport if your hotel does not have airport shuttle service. Some other currencies (JPY, CHF, SEK, NOK, DKK, DJF, CAD, SAR. AED, ZAF) can also be exchanged in limited branches of Commercial Bank of Ethiopia. (Confirmed as of Sep 2018 for JPY: Airport in Addis Ababa, Main Brach in Addis Ababa, and Main Branch in Mekelle.) Please also note that it is extremely difficult to change Ethiopian Birr back into foreign currencies. Foreign currencies are only accepted in some of the hotels but generally not in restaurants/shops in Mekelle. As ICES20 organizing committee does not have the license to handle foreign currency exchange, we ask the participants to prepare the registration fee in Ethiopian birr, if paying directly in Mekelle.
4-2. Usage of credit cards
Most shops, restaurants and hotels only accept payments in Ethiopian Birr (cash). Some hotels do accept credit card (VISA) payments (please inquire the hotels), but please beware that sometimes Credit Card payments may not work due to electricity/network issues. There are several ATMs in Mekelle, where you can withdraw cash using VISA credit cards, but the availability is inconsistent due to electricity/network issues. In Mekelle, Citibank card can be used in Wegagen Bank ATM near Yohannes Palace (but NOT in other Wegagen Bank ATMs.), but again, availability is inconsistent (Citibank card usage only confirmed as of September 2015). Traveller's Checks are not accepted.