If you're working, the rooms are impossibly dark - by day and by night. They also suffer severely from a lack of maintenance, and I picked up what look remarkably like bed-bug bites...

Having said that (and perhaps I was just unlucky in the room I had?), it's in a great location - bang on the lake, but very central. It has a lovely garden / restaurant area, and one of the best wi-fi networks in town. If you're travelling on a budget, and not planning on spending much time in the room I'd recommend it. But you might want to take your own towel and travel sheet...

Want an early morning call? First there's the main mosque, then the St George chants, all interspersed with some amazing sounds from the amazing local birds. The first two are within easy walking distance; the birds are everywhere!

As others have said, prices for foreigners are variable. I was initially asked for 400 Birr a night, and my colleague 275...

Very basic. Rooms are dark and dirty. Toilet and showers barely passable. Sound from the adjoining room made us wonder whether there really is a wall between the two. Service is indifferent. We were here for only one night, so not a big deal---. Cost was $24 for a double in the off-season. We didn't eat at the hotel, so I can't comment about the food. One bright spot is that after we returned from dinner elsewhere, people were gathered outside around a dj spinning world music. There was conversation, singing, and even dancing . This made for a very pleasant evening before we headed off to bed. We heard that the Ghion often provides this kind of entertainment .

My husband and I stayed here for 2 nights. Ensuite rooms are large, clean and basic. Electricity is erratic so have a torch handy otherwise you will be left in the dark. Our room was quiet and secure. Get a room nearer the lake, away from the noisy main road. Open air restaurant by the lake has wonderful views and good food even if the service is a bit slow. Good place to meet other travellers.

There is something sad about the fact that a hotel with such lovely gardens and setting has been left to get so run down. My family and I stayed here for one night in May and then moved out to another hotel - the Papyrus - mainly because the other hotel was so much better value. Even though the Ghion staff gave us two really large connecting rooms, both rooms were so run down that even we, who have stayed in some very basic places, were a bit wary. One of the main troubles was that even though we had mosquito nets they had so many holes in them (and in the fly screen windows) that we spent a lot of the night sticky taping them up! The outside eating area at the Ghion is great and the food was ok. The service generally was ok, when we asked for soap and extra towels they brought them and the laundry service was very efficient, good and cheap - which is very important when traveling with a family. Basically the hotel just needs a bit of money spending on it.