Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Al-Shula Hotel$
HOTEL
( 2015153; alshulahotel@yahoo.com; Raghadan St; s/d/tr JD22/27/34; )
With its
black-and-white marble reception desk and painted mirrors, the Al-Shula has been
thoughtfully redecorated. Most rooms have views to the sea across the new mosque com-
plex - good for a 4.30am wake-up call!
Aquavista Hotel$$
( 2051620; humanehabco@gmail.com; An-Nahda St; incl breakfast r JD50; )
The
rooms in this functional, nondescript hotel are clean and comfortable - if you can look
beyond the lime green walls and yellow ceilings.
HOTEL
Aqaba Star$
( 2016480; fax 2018147; King Hussein St; s/d JD30/35; )
This modern, Arabian-
style two-storey hotel with its pillars and blue linoleum tiles caters mainly for Arabic cli-
entele but the rooms are reasonable, if under-decorated. Ask for a room with sea views
and a balcony.
HOTEL
HOTEL
Al-Kholi Hotel$
( /fax 2030152; Zahran St; s/d JD15/20, d with balcony JD25; )
This very basic
hotel is at least central. The low ceilings are a serious inconvenience to tall people but if
you ignore the damp patches on the walls and the smell of food pervading the rooms, this
is a clean enough option if you get stuck for somewhere cheap.
BUYING BEADS IN AQABA
Walk around Aqaba's souq in the middle of town, and your eye will soon be drawn to chaotic windows festooned
with brightly coloured beads. There are strings of blue lapis lazuli; creamy tiger's eye; spangled goldstone; and
smooth round beads of pink coral, draped next to their plastic imitations. Beads of amber, agate, turquoise,
malachite, jet, amethyst and jade are stored in jars behind the counter like a mixture of all-sorts in a corner sweet-
shop. Most of these magnificent beads of natural stone are imported from neighbouring countries but they are usu-
