Hello Guys,
Here is my two cents on this topic. I have traveled to Ethiopia three times so far in the past five years. Here are some basic things you will need. You should always have some candy with you at all times. Because everywhere you go, you will be followed by kids. If you start giving out money, then everyone will be following you. So candy is the best solution.

Also, use bottled water. First time I tried tap water, let's just say my stomach didn't like it. Try to stay away from eating uncooked vegetables and salad. Take simple things like Tums and that pink stuff with you. Make sure you have all your shots and enjoy your trip with less worries.

Bon voyage,
Joseph H.

I just got back from visiting Ethiopia. Actually, it was more of a business trip than leisure. To be honest, I didn't know what to expect. I can honestly say it was an experience of a lifetime. I loved the people, the food, the music, nightlife, the tours, and even the market place.

My advice to new travelers from the United States, prepare to bargain for almost anything you buy. The local stores will try to take advantage of tourists. Most of the time the price they give you initially is two to three times more than what it really is. It was difficult in the beginning. And yes, I was fooled a couple of times. I paid 75 birr [Ethiopian currency] for a 20 birr shirt. Here is my advice, decide how much you want to spend and start your bargaining at half of what you want to pay. Every time you walk away, they will cut their price drastically, so pretend that you are going to go to another store few times. This worked like a charm every single time. If you know some words in Amharic, then they assume that you have been there for a while and know the tricks.

Make sure you have enough money on you when you are out; there are no ATM machines and credit card is useless at the market place. The conversion rate of dollar to birr changes a lot when you use it in stores.

That is about all the advice I have beside the usual things you should take with you such as hygiene products (specially female hygiene products), medication, and so on. You can find all this stuff there but it is just unnecessary hustle and a waste of time.

I hope this helps. Make sure you take the tours, they are worth every penny and try to go to as much restaurants and asmaribet as you can. Have fun!

Best regards,
Lourdes Robles