Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
The main free
public beach
Offline map
Google map
is the stretch of sand lined
with cafes between the marina and Aqaba Fort. Forget the swimming and join the Jordani-
ans at leisure instead. There are macho youths strutting along the beach in pointed, shiny
leather shoes; babies being carried carefully in sports bags and wicker holdalls; footballers
of all ages, congregating under the giant Arab revolutionary flag at the end of the beach;
men in corduroy coats, sitting cross-legged on the seawall; pink-jacketed children racing
between poles of candyfloss; young women seated demurely on a variety of four-legged
transport; and listless vendors half bothering to wave snacks or Chinese trinkets at who-
ever passes by. Inevitably, given the garrulous and hospitable nature of Jordanian people,
you won't be left alone for long.
If you are determined to bare some skin and take a dip in the Gulf, head to a private
beach attached to one of the five-star hotels.
Mövenpick Resort Hotel
( /fax 2034020;
www.movenpick-aqaba.com
; King Hussein St; day use JD40; 8am
until sunset)
Day use of a clean beach, three pools, health club, sauna and Jacuzzi; in-
cludes a JD10 drink voucher.
SWIMMING
InterContinental Hotel
SWIMMING
( 2092222;
www.intercontinental.com
;
King Hussein St; day use JD50; 8am until
sunset)
Day use of beautiful gardens, pools and beach; includes a JD25 food and drink
voucher.
Water Sports
The top-end hotels are well equipped for various water sports (prices start from JD10 per
hour). Water-skiing, jet-skiing, windsurfing and kayaking are some of the water sports on
offer between March and October. All hotels can organise snorkelling and diving, al-
though these activities are best carried out from the diving clubs south of town (
Click
Cruises
Each of the big hotels has a cruise boat for swimming and lunch by day, or sundowners
and belly dancing by night. In addition, several boats moor by the harbour office in the
marina waiting for sufficient customers to leave.
