Beach
Aqaba, in the extreme south of Jordan, provided us with some very pleasant days at the beach, after the interesting visit of history and desert.
Good hotels, friendliness of the people, calm and warm water, guaranteed the essentials. The contact with a different society complemented the stay.
Glass bottom boat
The glass bottom boat ride is interesting. Despite the sea floor not disguising the wear and tear of intense nautical activity, much of the beauty of the Red Sea is still there.
A stop at the richest spot allowed for snorkeling, with a strong current pushing us away from the boat and putting a Russian tourist in panic.
Dale Chihuli
For a professional in the glass industry like myself, who traveled expressly to Seattle to visit Dale Chihuly’s studio, it was extremely gratifying to come across one of his works in the lobby of the Intercontinental Hotel.
Good choice!
Ruins
Next to the beach, next to the Movenpick hotel, it is possible to visit a space with some ruins.
This is the ancient Islamic city of Ayla, which seems to have been inhabited between the 7th and 12th centuries.
Details in: Islamic City
Intercontinental – the best hotel
Intercontinental – the best hotel
I’ve been in Aqaba as a 3 day extension to a circuit across Jordan. Expecting to stay at the Movenpick, I was moved to the till then unknown Intercontinental.
Everything was absolutely perfect.
Though the standard prices are higher than in Movenpick, I paid the same, even in the extra four days extension I dealt locally -102 euros per day, in half-board (high season). The rooms, the location, the service, and the food, are really “6” stars.
Unique Qualities: Everything excellent, unless you expect to dive or snorkel from the hotel.
Movenpick – the challenger
Movenpick – the challenger
We made friends right at the beginning of the trip with a nice Portuguese woman, who stuck with us permanently.
In Petra she made a tremendous scandal, with abundant tears, because they put her in the Movenpick Hotel, better than ours, but far from the ruins.
In Aqaba it was clear that we all went to the Movenpick, and we were the ones diverted to the Intercontinental.
It was my turn to complain, but the guide shut me up when he assured us that ours was the best.
They were side by side, as I visited the Movenpick a few times, noting that it was an excellent hotel, with the same privileged location, but ours was perhaps even better. Choosing between the best Aqaba hotels it’s a situation where price could be the only tiebreaker.
