Sona Hotel
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About
2.5
#9 of 9 small hotels in DebarkLocation
3.6
Cleanliness
3.1
Service
3.0
Value
2.8
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HOTEL STYLE
Classic
Family
Property amenities
Bar / lounge
Restaurant
Location
North Gondar, Debark Ethiopia
43Reviews1Q+A3Room tips
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Detailed Reviews
Rooms are very basic- the room I had was pretty ordinary:
*power points hanging out of the wall
*smelt of mildew, rot and urine
*room 108 is next to the stairs so VERY VERY noisy as everyone stomps by.
*power comes and goes
*bathroom in need of renovation- shower head was mouldy and yuck- no shower curtain
* room was cold and dark
If you want basic this hotel is probably OK- for a night...I wouldn't want to stay any longer. The smell of the room was terrible.'I'm not sure there's a lot of choice in debark though.
Wifi was good, when the power was on.
There is a bar and arestuarant as well as a little outdoor garden seating area where you can have a drink...this was nicer than the hotel rooms!
*power points hanging out of the wall
*smelt of mildew, rot and urine
*room 108 is next to the stairs so VERY VERY noisy as everyone stomps by.
*power comes and goes
*bathroom in need of renovation- shower head was mouldy and yuck- no shower curtain
* room was cold and dark
If you want basic this hotel is probably OK- for a night...I wouldn't want to stay any longer. The smell of the room was terrible.'I'm not sure there's a lot of choice in debark though.
Wifi was good, when the power was on.
There is a bar and arestuarant as well as a little outdoor garden seating area where you can have a drink...this was nicer than the hotel rooms!
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Date of stay: January 2019Trip type: Traveled with friends
Location
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Rooms are ok compared to the other hotels in Debark. The breakfast is certainly not too bad. We had an issue with the manager though, since Debark itself didn't seem too friendly to us (we arrived after a cancelled football match so tensions were high, we were advised to stay in). We initially booked for 2 nights but wanted to leave one night early. Manager turned us a deaf ear, we had to pay for 2 nights. Even after the offer of a cancellation fee, he didn't bulge a bit. So a bit disappointed by his unfriendliness and the price of the room (should have been at least $10 cheaper)
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Date of stay: May 2018Trip type: Traveled with family
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I have stayed in Sona Hotel twice in two consecutive years 2015 & 2016. Then, I also had the chance to visit all of the other hotels in this small town. By far, I found Sona Hotel singled out for its cleanliness, food and the personal touch of the owner/runner Girma. I am indeed very much upset to see this cruelly misplaced image up in front. Sona Hotel is the real choice for those planning to stay near the Simien Mountains National Park from where one can explore the park for few days.
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Date of stay: October 2016Trip type: Traveled on business
Value
Location
Service
Room Tip:Â Rooms on the first floor are more easily accessible for those with limits.
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I'm writing this review because I appreciate how reassuring it is when you can find a safe and comfortable place to sleep when you are in a place as beautiful as Ethiopia but as impoverished as poor remote Debark.
I've read all the other reviews of Sona Hotel and I agree with some of it but not all. So here's mine. I hope it helps you find a good night's sleep in Debark.
The quality of the bedrooms in Sona are far superior to anything you'll find in Gondar, in the same price range. It is a new build with very comfortable beds that are made up with crisp clean sheets and modern western style throws. Even the single room has a double bed.
The en suite bathroom is decorated in a modern style and not a throw back to the 1970's like most other's you'll find. The shower has its own supply of hot water on demand and is clean. Towels supplied.
The food is limited and after trying the western style food first I soon realised that the traditional Ethiopian Tibs is far superior and definitely the way to go. It was like a beautiful meet stir fry with a delicate lemongrass flavour. You can ask for spicy or non spicy. Debark is isolated so items on the menu are only available if the ingredients are. I couldn't order a macchiato a couple of times because there wasn't any milk 😔 This problem is not exclusive to Sona but effects all the hotels in the area. French fries are fabulous everywhere!
A word of advice to female travellers. ...don't send your underwire bra to be washed as it may well come back misshapen as mine did. I was gutted!
The only thing that let's this hotel down are the staff. Not the ladies who service the rooms, they are wonderful! But the receptionist and restaurant staff are very sour and indifferent. Since Ethiopian's are famous for their smiles it's a real shame because otherwise this hotel is a little oasis.
I've read all the other reviews of Sona Hotel and I agree with some of it but not all. So here's mine. I hope it helps you find a good night's sleep in Debark.
The quality of the bedrooms in Sona are far superior to anything you'll find in Gondar, in the same price range. It is a new build with very comfortable beds that are made up with crisp clean sheets and modern western style throws. Even the single room has a double bed.
The en suite bathroom is decorated in a modern style and not a throw back to the 1970's like most other's you'll find. The shower has its own supply of hot water on demand and is clean. Towels supplied.
The food is limited and after trying the western style food first I soon realised that the traditional Ethiopian Tibs is far superior and definitely the way to go. It was like a beautiful meet stir fry with a delicate lemongrass flavour. You can ask for spicy or non spicy. Debark is isolated so items on the menu are only available if the ingredients are. I couldn't order a macchiato a couple of times because there wasn't any milk 😔 This problem is not exclusive to Sona but effects all the hotels in the area. French fries are fabulous everywhere!
A word of advice to female travellers. ...don't send your underwire bra to be washed as it may well come back misshapen as mine did. I was gutted!
The only thing that let's this hotel down are the staff. Not the ladies who service the rooms, they are wonderful! But the receptionist and restaurant staff are very sour and indifferent. Since Ethiopian's are famous for their smiles it's a real shame because otherwise this hotel is a little oasis.
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Date of stay: October 2015Trip type: Traveled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
The Sona was a pleasant surprise in November 2014. We never expected a tasty buffet and some Ethiopian dancers in Debark, but the Sona provided both. The buffet is prix fixe and the only offering for dinner, but it's good value. It has both traditional and westernized dishes. Breakfast is also buffet and equally good. There's a bar, and cold beer, too. The rooms were comfy, cklean, a fine value. The room was $25.
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Date of stay: November 2014Trip type: Traveled as a couple
Cleanliness
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We were looking for a place to keep our stuff and to come back to after our simien trip. Sona Hotel is an absolutley valid option for this. You can bargin a good price, people are friendly, there is warm water and clean rooms, cold beers and decent food. Not a place to spend a holiday but perfect for a night after trekking.
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Date of stay: February 2017Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Adéquate hotel for a night. Everything was clean and all functioned perfectly. The food was adéquate also. Good rest in clean surroundings. I do recommend this hotel when in Gondar,Ethiopia. Certainly the best in town.
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Date of stay: January 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
The Sona is unfortunately the best hotel in Debark but that didn't say much!
It does have a decent garden to drink a cold beer in and the staff are super friendly. ( Ask for Tigist)
The rooms are very basic and some better than others. Mine had a window eight foot high so I couldn't see out.
Good showers, comfy bed with clean bedding.
Good bar and restaurant and staff will go out of their wY to cook something for you that's not on the official menu although it can sometimes get lost in translation.
It does have a decent garden to drink a cold beer in and the staff are super friendly. ( Ask for Tigist)
The rooms are very basic and some better than others. Mine had a window eight foot high so I couldn't see out.
Good showers, comfy bed with clean bedding.
Good bar and restaurant and staff will go out of their wY to cook something for you that's not on the official menu although it can sometimes get lost in translation.
Read more
Date of stay: February 2018Trip type: Traveled on business
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
The Sona isn't a bad hotel (as such) but the rooms are definitely split into two types, those with decent windows with light and airy rooms and those akin to police cells (very small high window you can't open!)
That said the bedding etc was clean and I slept well until I ate the lamb one evening which (without being explicit) returned with some zeal from both ends for a whole night with wiped me out for the whole next day (my only tummy upset in 16 days in Ethiopia!)
The separate bar is a nice touch but would benefit from any form of heating at night.
That said the bedding etc was clean and I slept well until I ate the lamb one evening which (without being explicit) returned with some zeal from both ends for a whole night with wiped me out for the whole next day (my only tummy upset in 16 days in Ethiopia!)
The separate bar is a nice touch but would benefit from any form of heating at night.
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Date of stay: December 2017Trip type: Traveled with friends
Value
Cleanliness
Service
Room Tip:Â Make sure you request a room with large windows!!
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sona hotel is located in the center of Debark, very closed to the Simien Mountains park office and to the entry gates of the park.
Regarding African standards and value of the room the accommodation are pretty good. The room are clean, done daily and the manager is very friendly. He has offered me to switch my room to a bigger one as they were a water problem in the other. The rest of the staff have a law level in English,but few words in Amharic will definitely give you credit.
The breakfast was also very nice and generous. Occidental breakfast or Ethiopian one (ttibs, shiro, firfir) on demand.
Regarding African standards and value of the room the accommodation are pretty good. The room are clean, done daily and the manager is very friendly. He has offered me to switch my room to a bigger one as they were a water problem in the other. The rest of the staff have a law level in English,but few words in Amharic will definitely give you credit.
The breakfast was also very nice and generous. Occidental breakfast or Ethiopian one (ttibs, shiro, firfir) on demand.
Read more
Date of stay: September 2017Trip type: Traveled on business
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
LOCATION
EthiopiaAmhara RegionDebark
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Frequently Asked Questions about Sona Hotel
Which popular attractions are close to Sona Hotel?
Nearby attractions include Ethiopia Treks (0.5 miles), Limalimo Village (0.4 miles), and Simien Mountains National Park (3.3 miles).
What food & drink options are available at Sona Hotel?
Guests can enjoy an on-site restaurant and a lounge during their stay.
Is Sona Hotel located near the city center?
Yes, it is 0.4 miles away from the center of Debark.