Hotel Al Qidra Hotel Aqaba 3 * (Jordan, Aqaba): description

Coral underwater world is traditionally attractive not only for those who are interested in diving holidaymakers, but also for less sporting, "ordinary" holiday-makers, who want to improve their health and taste new bright impressions. Our tourists acquaintance with the sea nature is most often associated with staying in Egypt, on the coast of the many-faced Red Sea (it is to this European name for this watery surface we are all accustomed). It is curious that the Egyptians themselves, in turn, call the sea Green. It turns out - not much more - two opposite colors of a traffic light. However, strangely enough, in Israel and in Jordan, he is also called completely different: the Sea of Reeds. By the way, all the countries listed above have ports and resorts where you can relax.

Recently, the political instability of Egypt increasingly makes tourists consider alternative leisure options. This article does not pretend to be global, it will tell about rest only in one small three-star hotel in Jordan - a deserted country that owns only 27 of 1500 kilometers of the coast of the Red (Green, Reed) sea. It's another matter what this part of the coast is! The bay of Aqaba (with the same name as the city, the center of the resort) is considered by scientists the most interesting and diverse water area of the Red Sea. Over a season of divers here make about 250,000 dives.

Climate, geography

Guests Al Qidra Hotel Aqaba 3 * (Jordan, Aqaba) in their reviews are excellent about the climate of the resort. Indeed, the mountains do not pass to the coastal patch of land as sultry desert air, and seasonal cold winds.

It is not surprising that in this climate, a holiday on the Jordanian coast lasts a whole year. The average daily temperature of the resort from October to April is approximately 24 ⁰ C, while the water temperature in the Gulf of Aqaba is an average of 21 ⁰ C. This is the most acceptable season for Europeans holiday. However, in Aqaba, tourists are even more in high season: from May to September, when even air conditioners can not cope with the heat in hotel rooms, and the air temperature for months is rarely below 33 ⁰ C. However, this is not critical for diving, because the water temperature 27 ⁰ C is most comfortable for diving.

Location:

Al Qidra Hotel Aqaba 3 * (Jordan), a small four-story hotel with 43 hotel rooms, was built in the center of Aqaba city, along Alsaada Street, on the second line. From it to the beach 7-8 minutes walk. Newly arrived tourists usually arrive at the hotel after landing at the airport, named after King Hussein and located 10 kilometers away.

Al Qidra Hotel Aqaba is within walking distance from the main attractions of the city: the picturesque snow-white mosque of Hussein Bin-Ali, the excavations of the ancient Roman city of Aipa, the Al-Khamma-Matal boulevard, the Akkaba museum, the second highest flagpole in the world (130 m) with the flag of the Great Arab Revolution, a local, very remarkable and comfortable city hammam, the ruins of an ancient church.

About the hotel

Outwardly, the hotel building looks unpardonable, but it is quite worthy. It is universal: in it the hotel itself is thoughtfully adjoined with the shops, social and cultural institutions. The first floor has a one and a half height ceiling, which makes it possible to create a stylish design in the reception area, other public places and in the hotel restaurant.

The interior design of the hotel can, perhaps, be called classical. The decoration of the reception area is executed in combination: a spectacular, moderately presented decorative masonry of the stone walls adjoins with high-quality plaster. The warm pastel colors predominate: yellow and orange. In the decorative finish a lot of glass. The floor is predominantly light, tiled, with a harmoniously alternating uncomplicated pattern.

The design of hotel rooms is a natural continuation of the color scheme of the lobby. The furniture is new, the sanitary ware is good.

Thanks to the efforts of the staff, it significantly exceeds the "three-star" level of service of the Al Qidra Hotel Aqaba 3 *. Guest reviews about him are mostly positive. And this corresponds to the statistics of the resort, after all, judging by the rating of Jordanian hotels (and there are 56 in Aqaba), Al Cidra occupies rather worthy positions in the local spa business:

• The first place by the criterion of "price / quality";
• The sixth place by the criterion of "family hotel";
• The eighth place by the criterion of "romantic hotel".

Infrastructure

The hotel complex Al Qidra Hotel Aqaba 3 * (Aqaba), which provides accommodation for its clients, has a decent infrastructure. The guests eat at the hotel restaurant. The cost of most tours includes "only breakfast", however, some guests book (with surcharge) half board.

Recreation guests in the lounge style at the hotel provides an outdoor swimming pool with sun beds and umbrellas equipped with a seating area. To services of visitors - hotel dive center, hairdresser, laundry, parking and car rental, tour desk, doctor's services, currency exchange.

Rooms

The city hotel Al Qidra Hotel Suites Aqaba 3 * offers its guests the following types of rooms with air conditioning, a balcony, satellite TV, Wi-Fi, tea and coffee equipment and accessories:

• Standard rooms are triple and double;
• Deluxe rooms (superior) with a double or single bed;
• Junior suite (one-room with zoning and the latest generation of equipment);
• Executive suite (two-room suite with the latest generation equipment);
• Family suite (three bedrooms, two rooms, two bathrooms, the latest generation equipment).

The minimum price of a tour with a weekly stay in a room standard in Al Qidra Hotel Aqaba 3 * and meals including breakfast is 46,116 rubles, half board in the same room will cost 51,177 rubles. Suites and suites, of course, are more expensive.

Beach holidays

In the northern part of the 27-kilometer Jordanian coastline are sandy beaches, in the south - pebble beaches. They can be paid and free. This refers to the payability of the very right of presence. After all, the rent of sun loungers and umbrellas on the beaches of free costs the resort a $ 6 per day.

The guests of Al Qidra Hotel Suites Aqaba 3 * respond positively about the different types of beaches of Aqaba: municipal (free) and hotel. In their majority (Slavic mentality) they choose the first type. In doing so, they pay tribute to-the municipality of Aqaba takes proper care of the beach infrastructure. There are also showers, and locker rooms, and cafes, and toilets. In addition, swimming in the water area of such beaches there is an opportunity to have a snack in the coastal cafe, ride a banana, a cheesecake, a water motorcycle.

Resorts (fewer), valuing rest secluded, usually choose beaches hotel, paid. For fairness, we note that the service received in this case is almost identical to the municipal service.

Food

In fairness it is worth noting: the restaurant of the Al Qidra Hotel Aqaba 3 * is one of the best in the area. And they cook there tasty and adapted to the gastronomic tastes of Western tourists. However, as mentioned above, only breakfast is included in the tour from the hotel. Why is that? Yes, because even the best chef can not stand to compete with the over-saturated market of restaurant establishments.

In addition, the prices of dozens and hundreds of local restaurants and cafes are quite suitable for daily meals, their menu is quite diverse. In a word, a gourmet arriving in Jordan will see a real gastronomic paradise.

Therefore, let us ask a more pragmatic question: what is it worth to taste the tourist in Jordan from the local cuisine? The answer can be quite specific:

• Garnish hummus (flavored chickpeas);
• Mansaf (very softly cooked pieces of mutton with sour cream, almonds, parsley, rice);
• Falafel (fried in various kinds of legumes);
• Sesame biscuits;
• Baklava from pistachios;
• Pies local "kataef".

Do not neglect local coffee. It's amazing here, with the addition of cardamom.

Excursion

Guests of Al Qidra Hotel Aqaba 3 have the opportunity to use the hotel's tour desk services (which will cost more, because it uses the scheme of the tour operators). They can also use the services of specialized tour agencies (several of which are within walking distance), which will bring savings of 35-40%.

Judging by the reviews, tourists are in demand for the following excursions to the land of Jordan:

• A remarkably preserved Ottoman fortress of the 16th century, next to which is a local museum of local lore;
• Petra is a city carved into the rocks;
• For divers, a sailing trade flagship, Cedar Pride, will be specially flooded for them at accessible depth by the order of Prince of Jordan;
• For nature lovers, the desired place will be the picturesque Mujib reserve, in the west it is washed by the Dead Sea (400 m below the level of the world's ocean), and in the east it is transformed into a bizarrely altered mountain massif;
• The cave of Lot (the same one mentioned in the Bible).

By the way, just from the upper floors of the hotel you can see the nearby land of Egypt and Israel.

Shopping

Of course, tourists, leaving for a "distant world" always, except for a purely resort rest, rely on some special purchases that they can not make at home. What about this can be said, based on the experience of staying in Jordan? Judging by the guest reviews of Al Qidra Hotel Aqaba 3 *, they pulled out a happy ticket for shopping. Moreover, the same phrase in different interpretations brings out the feedback of the guests of the most diverse Aqaba hotels. The thing is that this resort is considered a zone of duty-free trade.

Experienced shopaholics advise home-grown connoisseurs of brands to purchase mainly in the shopping centers of Aqaba:

• Aqaba Gateway.
• Dream Mall.
• Shweikh Mall.
• City Center Mall.

In local markets, it is worth buying as souvenirs and not only:

• Dozens of species of local nuts;
• Jordanian coffee (it's something!);
• Oriental sweets.

Finally, you can buy a small cute little bottle with its land for the memory of Jordan from the handicraft merchant: natural, colorful sand, poured in such a way that a whimsical pattern is formed. Generally speaking, the assortment of "purely Jordanian" souvenirs is impressive: wicker carpets, traditional Dead Sea cosmetics, copper dishes, Nabataean or Hevron glass products, Bedouin handmade, ancient coins, graceful figures of stone, hookah, national embroidery.

Believers usually buy here a bottle made in the form of a cross, filled with holy Jordanian water.

Conclusion

Judging by the responses of seasoned holidaymakers, a good option of resort rest in Jordan is a tour to the hotel Al Qidra Hotel Suites Aqaba 3 *. The reviews of holidaymakers emphasize the powerful and not yet fully revealed resort potential of this unique and rich region, which received a powerful impetus to development at the end of the 20th century (it was only in the 90s that Aqaba was provided with energy, ie, oil and gas).

Tourists are attracted to Aqaba by the rich potential of the Red and the Dead Seas, duty-free trade, traditional oriental goods. Aqaba is ahead of the development of infrastructure and an increase in the number of entertainment night institutions, which is guaranteed to increase the tourist attraction.