Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
( 2022801;
www.nyazitours.com
;
King Hussein St)
Recommended adventure tour com-
pany run by Nyazi Shaba'an, former Director of Antiquities & Tourism in Petra. Camp-
ing, hiking, jeep tours and camel trips along Wadi Umran.
Wadi Rum Desert Services
( 2063882;
www.wadirumdesertservice.tripod.com
; 8.30am-11pm)
Located next to
Al-Shami Restaurant, off Zahran St.
TOUR
Sleeping
Aqaba is a popular place for Jordanian and Saudi tourists in winter (October to March),
with the season (and hotel rates) peaking in April, May, October and November. Holiday-
makers also flock to Aqaba from northern Jordan during long weekends and public holi-
days, especially around Eid al-Adha (immediately after the hajj). At these times, prices
may increase by as much as 30% and you must book in advance.
Campers, overlanders and dive enthusiasts should consider staying at one of the camps
along the beach south of Aqaba (
Click here
)
. The long-established camps have the budget
sector well weighed off here.
Unless otherwise stated, all hotels listed here include satellite TV, air-conditioning and
private bathroom with hot water. Most cheaper hotels don't include breakfast but can usu-
ally rustle up something uninspiring for around JD2 to JD5; better still, go for beans and
labneh
in the nearest cafe. On the whole, midrange accommodation in Aqaba offers better
value for money. As for top-end accommodation, don't dismiss the big hotels as charac-
terless chains: in Aqaba, as at the Dead Sea, each of these luxury complexes involves
stunning design and sympathetic landscaping.
InterContinental Hotel$$$
( 2092222;
www.intercontinental.com
;
King Hussein St; r from US$120;
)
An imposing full stop at the end of the bay, the InterCon boasts less of an infin-
ity pool than an 'infinity sea': on a calm day, the Gulf of Aqaba stretches in one seamless
ripple all the way to Egypt. With exceptional landscape gardening, pools, a lazy river and
a terracotta army of fully grown palm trees, the InterCon has stolen the top spot in
Aqaba's luxury accommodation, providing the kind of practical service that has made this
chain a favourite throughout the Middle East. With six restaurants and a shopping arcade
among its many amenities, you won't want to move on in a hurry.
RESORT
