Terms of Service

1. Acceptance of Terms

These Terms of Service (“Terms”) constitute a legally binding agreement between you (“User”, “Guest”, or “Host”) and ETrip Ethiopia (“ETrip”, “we”, “us”, “our”), governing your access to and use of the website www.etrip.et and all associated booking and marketplace services.

By accessing our platform, creating an account, or completing any reservation, you confirm that you have read, understood, and agreed to these Terms and our Privacy Policy. If you do not agree, you must discontinue use of the platform immediately.

2. The ETrip Marketplace

ETrip operates as Ethiopia's integrated travel and lifestyle marketplace — a single platform where travelers and residents can discover, compare, and book services across all major hospitality and lifestyle categories. ETrip does not directly operate the underlying services; rather, it provides the technology, verification, and transaction infrastructure connecting Guests with independent verified Hosts and Service Operators.

The ETrip platform covers the following service categories:

• Hotels, Guesthouses & Stays: Short-term and extended-stay bookings at verified hotels, boutique guesthouses, serviced apartments, furnished villas, and private residences across Ethiopia. Listings include nightly rates, availability calendars, room types, amenities, and verified guest reviews.
• Car Rentals: Self-drive and chauffeur-driven vehicle hire for daily, weekly, or multi-week periods. Vehicle types range from economy cars and SUVs to 4WD safari vehicles and minibuses. All listed vehicles are verified for roadworthiness and valid insurance.
• Airport Transfers: Pre-booked, fixed-price transfer services between Addis Ababa Bole International Airport and hotels, residences, or event venues. Guests can select vehicle type and specify pick-up and drop-off locations at the time of booking.
• Food Spots & Dining: Table reservations and pre-bookings at verified restaurants, traditional Habesha dining houses, cafes, and specialty eateries. Listings include menus, pricing, cuisine type, location, and operating hours.
• Attractions & Experiences:Entry bookings and guided visits to cultural landmarks, UNESCO heritage sites, national parks, historical sites, and curated local experiences across Ethiopia's regions.
• Tour Guides: Bookings with certified local tour guides for individual, group, or multi-day itineraries. Guides are reviewed for professional credentials, language capabilities, and area expertise.
• Spa & Wellness: Appointment bookings at verified spas, thermal wellness centers, and massage therapy studios for relaxation and therapeutic treatments.
• Barbershops: Appointment reservations at verified barbershops offering haircut, grooming, and styling services.
• Beauty Salons: Bookings at certified beauty salons for hair, nail, skincare, and cosmetic services.

ETrip verifies listing information, operator identities, and where applicable, vehicle and facility standards. However, the specific hospitality, rental, or service agreement is entered into directly between the Guest and the respective Host or Service Operator. ETrip facilitates but is not a party to those individual service contracts.

3. User Accounts & Authentication

To book services or list on ETrip, you must create an account using a valid email address or via Sign in with Google. You agree to:

• Provide accurate, current, and complete information during registration and keep it up to date.
• Maintain the confidentiality of your login credentials and not share account access with others.
• Take responsibility for all activity that occurs under your account, whether or not you authorized it.
• Notify us immediately at hello@etrip.et if you suspect unauthorized access to your account.

ETrip reserves the right to suspend or terminate accounts that engage in fraudulent activity, misrepresentation, or violation of these Terms.

4. Pricing, Fees & Payments

• Transparent Pricing: The total price shown at checkout is fully inclusive. ETrip enforces a strict no-hidden-charges policy — what you see is what you pay.
• Platform Service Fee: A standard 5% service fee is applied to the booking subtotal to cover platform operations, customer support, and secure transaction processing. This fee is clearly displayed before payment confirmation.
• Refundable Security Deposits: For select categories such as private villas and vehicle rentals, a security deposit may be required. The deposit amount is disclosed at booking and is collected directly at check-in, refundable following satisfactory post-service inspection.
• Accepted Payment Methods: Payments are processed via Ethiopian and international payment methods, including Telebirr, CBE (Commercial Bank of Ethiopia) transfers, and authorized debit or credit cards.

5. Cancellations & Refunds

Cancellation conditions vary by category and the specific cancellation policy the Host or Operator has selected for their listing:

• Flexible Policy: Full refund when cancelled at least 48 hours before the scheduled start time, minus standard payment processing charges.
• Moderate Policy: 50% refund when cancelled at least 48 hours before the scheduled start time.
• Strict Policy: No refund for cancellations made within 48 hours of the scheduled start time, or for no-shows.
• Host or Operator Cancellation:If a confirmed booking is cancelled by the host or operator, the guest is entitled to an immediate 100% refund or equivalent rebooking credit at the guest's election.

The applicable cancellation policy for each listing is prominently displayed on the listing page and at the checkout confirmation screen before payment is processed.

6. Host & Partner Obligations

Hosts and Service Operators who list on ETrip agree to the following obligations:

• Maintain accurate and truthful listing descriptions, current photographs, live availability calendars, and transparent pricing at all times.
• Comply with all applicable Ethiopian laws, safety standards, licensing requirements, and sector-specific regulations (hospitality, transport, food safety, wellness, etc.).
• Honor all confirmed reservations accepted through the ETrip platform without imposing unauthorized fees or conditions upon the guest's arrival.
• Respond to guest inquiries and booking requests in a timely and professional manner.
• Notify ETrip promptly of any changes in availability, pricing, or service conditions that may affect active bookings.

Failure to meet these obligations may result in listing suspension, removal from the platform, or recovery of refunds paid to affected guests.

7. Guest Responsibilities

As a Guest booking through ETrip, you agree to:

• Treat host properties, vehicles, and facilities with care and respect, and comply with any house rules or usage conditions communicated at booking.
• Arrive at the agreed time and communicate any delays or changes to the host as early as possible.
• Refrain from using booked services for any unlawful purpose or in breach of applicable Ethiopian law.
• Provide honest and fair reviews based on your genuine experience to help maintain platform integrity.

8. Intellectual Property

All content on the ETrip platform — including but not limited to the ETrip brand, logo, website design, user interface, software, copy, photography, and data — is the exclusive property of ETrip Ethiopia or its licensors and is protected by applicable intellectual property laws. You may not reproduce, distribute, or create derivative works from any platform content without prior written consent from ETrip.

9. Limitation of Liability

To the maximum extent permitted by the laws of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, ETrip shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, or consequential damages arising from your use of or reliance on services booked through the platform, including but not limited to accommodations, vehicle rentals, dining, tours, wellness treatments, or grooming appointments. Our maximum aggregate liability for any claim arising from a booking is limited to the total platform service fees collected by ETrip for that specific booking.

ETrip does not guarantee the accuracy of listing descriptions provided by independent hosts and operators, and is not responsible for discrepancies between advertised and actual service conditions that are outside our control.

10. Governing Law & Dispute Resolution

These Terms are governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia. Any dispute arising from or in connection with these Terms, a booking, or your use of ETrip shall first be referred to ETrip's support team for good-faith resolution. If a resolution cannot be reached within 30 days, the matter shall be referred to the competent courts of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

11. Amendments

ETrip reserves the right to amend these Terms at any time. Significant changes will be communicated via the “Last Updated” date at the top of this page. Your continued use of the platform after any update constitutes acceptance of the revised Terms. We recommend reviewing this page periodically.

12. Contact & Legal Enquiries