NOTE – first of two outward bound days for Bill
YYZ to LHR
flight number: AC848
Toronto Pearson International to London Heathrow
departure time: 20:35 departure terminal: 1
arrival time: 08:35 arrival terminal: 3
Petra to Aqaba
via Wadi Rum
(film locations for David Lean's film "Lawrence of Arabia")
After Petra, Little Petra. Continue to Wadi Rum for a three hour jeep ride. Then continue to Aqaba.
Marina Plaza Hotel, Tala Bay, near Aqaba O/N
NOTE: our hotel voucher reads "Marine Plaza Hotel, Aqaba", but I think this is our hotel; at least I hope so.
Websites:
1. http://www.marinaplaza.org/
2. http://www.talabay.jo/hotel.shtm#3
3. http://www.hotelscombined.com/Hotel/Marina_Plaza_Hotel_Aqaba.htm
4. http://www.hotels.co.uk/hotel-jordan/hotel-aqaba/marina-plaza-hotel/
Reviews from Trip Advisor:
1. “Relaxing Break”
Hampshire
Feb 26, 2009
We have just returned from a wonderful week at the hotel. Our room was very good, the hotel only has showers in the bathrooms, no baths. We were on half board basis and found the food wonderful, had a little problem on our first night but this was resolved and the rest of the week was fantastic. The staff and Chefs in the restaurant were so attentive and a credit to the hotel. It was a pleasure to go for our meals. Tala Bay is very quiet so perfect for a chill out week. The hotel has a shuttle bus 3 times a day to go into Aqaba, which is nice to walk around.The Beach Club and beach are about 250 metres away and very nice with a pool bar and restaurant.We had a wonderful week and would definitely recommend the hotel.
2. “Fantastic place”
fredericknyc , New York City
Feb 4, 2009
This was a most enjoyable place to stay and dine. The staff was outstanding, including the Hotel Doctor we had the occasion to utilize.
3. “A dream-like experience”
Stockholm
Jan 26, 2009
A new hotel, built in a very nice architectonical style, 400 metres from the beach in Tala Bay. Tala Bay is a tourist resort, just 12 km from Aqaba. The standard of the hotel is very good, it is clean and cosy. Every member of the personal is trying to sincerely do their best to make you feel welcome and at ease. The food at the restaurant is good and various. The beach is nice; the sea is full of wonderful fish. The hotel has 3 pools, one for children, and two for adults. The hotel offers a shuttle service to the city of Aqaba. Aqaba is nothing special from an architectural point of view, however is a very cosy city, especially in the SOUK (market )area in the evenings. It is also safe to go round and the sellers are not as obnoxious as in other Arab lands. Jordanian people are very nice and friendly. I really recommend this hotel for a relaxing week by the Red sea with possibility to day trips to Petra, Wadi Rum and even the Dead Sea. Local taxi driver can easily be hired as chauffeur for private trips at a reasonable price.
Liked — the friendliness of the personal and the location
Disliked — the prices at the bar and restaurant were quite expensive
4. “Very nice hotel - great value for your money”
Henrik85, Stockholm
Jan 25, 2009
We had a truly wonderful time at Marina Plaza. The staff was very friendly and helpful, especially the Asian women working in the restaurant/pool bar. There weren’t many guests staying at the hotel at this time, so you always got immediate attention from the staff whenever you needed something. The food was excellent and well varied. The dinner buffet on the other hand, was too expensive in my opinion (19 JD per person excl drinks). I recommend eating at the "Sea Horse Pool Bar" instead - the food there is just as good and much cheaper, and they serve food virtually all day long. One thing that struck me was how old and worn down the hotel felt considering its actual age. Our room looked to be at least 7 years old. I find this really odd, but it didn't really matter much since everything else about this hotel was so good. Another thing that wasn't so good is that they play loud music every night until around 23:00, which is quite annoying, especially considering that there's absolutely nobody around to listen to it (the hotel was completely dead at nights). The hotel is situated a bit outside Aqaba town, which is both good and bad. Good because it's peaceful, and bad because you need transportation to get you from/to the hotel. I can highly recommend this hotel!
Liked — the staff
Disliked — the loud music playing at nights
5. “Great Service”
Natour , Jerusalem
Jan 6, 2009
This is not my first time to Aqaba, but this is my first time to enjoy my time in Aqaba like this. The Hotel was more than great. I liked its location away from downtown Aqaba and the markets, and the best thing you can experience in this hotel is the people. Each employee in the hotel is doing his best to make your stay comfortable and full of joy. I think the quality of service in this hotel is the best in Aqaba and Eilat, and the food also was very good.
Liked — Service
Disliked — Frequency of shuttle bus
6. “Great hotel, great food!”
tim4it , Amman
Dec 13, 2008
Great affordable hotel, the staff are very welcoming and the pools are heated, the food was great especially the beef burger on the pool :D, i'm going there again after 2 weeks!
7. “Fantastic”
MnMsAmman, Amman
Oct 6, 2008
The hotel was more than I expected. I have been to several hotels through the world but that was the best because all the facilities I need I have found here. The rooms are so comfortable and the tv channels are good. Bathroom is big and comfortable. Rooms aren't that big, but good. All the rooms are around the pool. Second floor is the best because you can see the 3 swimming pools and the garden from the balcony.
There are 3 swimming pools. Nicely designed. Including one for children. Great life savers are available. A big screen "data show" based beside the pool in a high place. You can request the channel you want and sit beside the pool and watch with a surround sound system around the pool. The best there was the FREE wireless internet access reaching all the rooms there and the swimming pools.
The breakfast was soooo rich - every thing you need you can find and more.
The hotel is not directly on the beach because it is a part of the Tala Bay compound. You have to walk about 200m from the hotel to reach the beach. All in all it was a really nice stay in October 2008.
8. “Small but Comfortable”
Kittygangar , Jordan
Jul 20, 2008
Just returned from a week staying at the Marina Plaza. On the whole a pleasant stay. The hotel is very clean and fresh as it is still quite new. The staff are very friendly and as there were hardly any guests, sometimes a bit too keen to fuss over you! The rooms are small though, with nowhere to sit other than on the bed (which is huge and very comfortable). Ours was made even smaller with the additional child's bed so was a squeeze. There are also no tea/coffee making facilities, which is a shame. There is a balcony but with only 1 chair, not possible to sit out and watch the sunset over the marina. The hotel's food was on the whole, excellent. The Tala Bay resort is still unfinished so very few people about, but it will be lovely when it is up and fully running, and we will be returning both there are to the reasonably priced Marina Plaza in the future.
Liked — Comfortable beds
Disliked — The room was very small compared to other hotels in Jordan
ADITIONAL HOTEL REVIEWS
9. From: Zsuzsa, Hungary
Date of Stay: October, 2008
Very good place. Nice hotel, good service, good breakfast.
10. From: L. T'Syen, Belgiuim
Date of Stay: December, 2008
Without any doubt nice clean hotel. Great food. However, some negative points:
1. rooms too small and not that luxurious (rather 3*)
2. only one seat on balcony
3. 2 out of 7 evenings no hot water in room
4. location: quite far from Aqaba city (14 km). For the time being Talabay is a deserted city resort. Almost no shops, bars ... . Boring dead. The same goes for the hotel itself.
5. Front desk staff not knowledgeable enough: No clue about departure tax at Aqaba airport. Said there was a bank at Aqaba airport but in fact there is no bank at all to change JD back into Euro.
6. Glasses into terrace door made noice. Glasses not properly fixed into window frame. Had to use carton in order for 6 (out of 8) glasses to stop trembling due to desert wind. Kept me out of my sleep first night.
7. Not ideal for singles. Always needed a 14 km taxi ride to Aqaba city in order to have some distraction during the evening.
L. T'Syen Belgium
11. From: Maassen, the NetherlandsDate of Stay: November, 2008
Very good hotel, friendly, clean, swimming pools are top! Good food. Good reception.
12. From: Reviewer has requested to be kept anonymous.
Date of Stay: September, 2008
Very bad they made me pay twice because they didn't know how to use the machine and they are very very bad service.
